Daily Report Wednesday, 20 December 2017 CONTENTSqnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadaily... · 12/20/2017 · During the period 1 January 2015 to 13 December 2017, 1,429 employees

Daily Report Wednesday, 20 December 2017

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 20 December 2017 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:39 P.M., 20 December 2017). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 7

ATTORNEY GENERAL 7

Attorney General: Families 7

Attorney General: Labour

Turnover 7

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 8

Business: Hampshire 8

Business: Regulation 9

Consumers: Prices 9

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

Data Protection 10

Department for Business,

Energy and Industrial Strategy:

EU Nationals 10

Energy: Consumers 10

Foreign Companies:

Ownership 11

Green Deal Scheme 11

Horizon 2020 12

Regulation 12

Small Businesses:

Government Assistance 13

Sugar: Manufacturing

Industries 13

Working Hours: EU Law 14

CABINET OFFICE 14

Amazon: Government

Contracts 14

Electoral Register 15

National Security 15

TREASURY 16

Channel Crossing: Customs 16

Charities: VAT 16

Cryptocurrencies 16

Cryptocurrencies: Tax

Collection 16

Defibrillators: VAT 17

Emergency Services: Scotland 17

Environment Protection:

Taxation 17

Equitable Life Assurance

Society: Compensation 18

Exeter-Plymouth Railway Line 18

First Time Buyers: Stamp Duty

Land Tax 18

Income Tax: Angus 18

Money Laundering 19

North Sea Oil: Pipelines 20

Revenue and Customs 20

Revenue and Customs: Data

Protection 21

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Revenue and Customs: ICT 21

Revenue and Customs:

Training 21

Self-employed: Tax

Allowances 22

Tax Collection 23

Tobacco: Smuggling 23

Treasury: Families 23

Treasury: Written Questions 24

Universities 24

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENT 25

Homelessness: Kirklees 25

Terrorism: Greater Manchester 25

DEFENCE 26

Armed Forces:

Commonwealth 26

Defence: Finance 26

EU Defence Policy 27

Korea: HMS Queen Elizabeth 27

Military Aircraft 27

Ministry of Defence: Brexit 28

Ministry of Defence: Data

Protection 28

Ministry of Defence: Families 29

Ministry of Defence: Staff 30

Nuclear Weapons 30

Rifles Regiment: Military

Bases 30

RM Condor 31

Shipbuilding: Jarrow 31

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 32

Arts: Meetings 32

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport :

Brexit 32

Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport:

Families 33

Musicians: Free Movement of

People 33

Ofcom: Complaints 33

Telecommunications 34

UK Anti-doping: Legal Costs 34

Young People 34

EDUCATION 35

Adoption 35

Apprentices 35

Care Leavers 35

Children in Care 36

Children: Day Care 36

Children: Protection 37

Children: Social Services 37

Department for Education: EU

Nationals 39

Department for Education:

Families 39

Department for Education:

Written Questions 41

Erasmus+ Programme 41

Foster Care 41

Further Education: Training 42

GCE A-level: Knowsley 42

Innovation Fund 43

Offences Against Children 43

Overseas Students: Loans 44

Pre-school Education: Colne

Valley 45

School Meals: Per Capita

Costs 45

Schools: Finance 45

Special Educational Needs 47

Teachers 47

Teachers: Job Satisfaction 48

Teachers: Part-time

Employment 48

Vocational Guidance:

Disability 49

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 50

Agriculture: Floods 50

Agriculture: Subsidies 50

Animal Welfare: Sentencing 50

Birds: Conservation 51

Carbon Monoxide 52

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit 52

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs:

Buildings 53

Fisheries 54

Fisheries: Quotas 54

Fisheries: West Sussex 54

Food: Waste 55

Health Hazards: Pesticides 55

Horses: Animal Welfare 56

Inland Waterways: Lancashire 56

Pesticides 56

Plastics: Seas and Oceans 57

Ritual Slaughter: Animal

Welfare 57

Rivers: West Midlands 57

Rivers: West Sussex 58

Water Supply: Technology 59

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 59

Borders: Northern Ireland 59

Department for Exiting the

European Union: Brexit 60

EU Emissions Trading

Scheme 60

Shipping: Coastal Areas 60

Trade Agreements 61

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 61

Algeria: Protestantism 61

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Families 62

Gaza: Fisheries 62

Iraq: Marriage 62

Papua: Human Rights 63

Yemen: Baha'i Faith 63

HEALTH 63

Abortion 63

Abortion: Disability 64

Breastfeeding 64

British Pregnancy Advisory

Service 65

Care Homes 65

Clinical Trials 66

European Medicines Agency 66

Foetal Death 67

General Practitioners 67

General Practitioners:

Advertising 68

General Practitioners:

Attendance 69

General Practitioners: Digital

Technology 70

Genito-urinary Medicine:

Greater London 70

GP at Hand 72

Health Insurance: Japan 73

Hepatitis 73

Hepatitis: Health Education 74

Incinerators: Health Hazards 75

Infant Foods 75

Influenza 75

Liver Diseases: Health

Services 76

Marie Stopes International:

Maidstone 77

Mental Health Services 78

Mental Health Services:

Children and Young People 78

Mental Health: Females 79

Neuromuscular Disorders:

Mental Health Services 79

Obesity: Health Services 80

Rare Diseases 80

Rare Diseases: Medical

Treatments 81

Slaughterhouses: Inspections 81

Social Services: Finance 82

Social Services: Oxfordshire 82

Strokes: Medical Treatments 83

Urinary Tract Infections 84

HOME OFFICE 84

101 Calls: Fees and Charges 84

Abortion: Clinics 85

Abortion: Freedom of

Expression 85

Disability: Bullying 85

Fire and Rescue Services: Pay 86

Fire and Rescue Services:

Statistics 87

Firearms: Licensing 87

Fraud 88

Home Office: EU Nationals 89

Members: Correspondence 89

Police: Pay 89

Stop and Search: Ports and

Airports 89

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 90

Department for International

Development: Families 90


Development: ICT 90

Kashmir: Overseas Aid 91

Syria: Humanitarian Aid 92

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 92


Trade: Data Protection 92

JUSTICE 93

Community Rehabilitation

Companies 93

Courts: Video Conferencing 93

HM Courts and Tribunals

Service: Temporary

Employment 93

Magistrates: Ethnic Groups 94

Magistrates: Females 95

Ministry of Justice: Contracts 96

Ministry of Justice: Data

Protection 97

Ministry of Justice: EU

Nationals 97

Prison Accommodation 98

Prisoners On Remand 98

Prisoners on Remand:

Females 99

Prisoners: Employment 102

Prisoners: Females 103

Prisoners: Muslims 105

Prisoners: Parents 106

Prisoners: Wales 106

Prisons: Transport 107

Probation: Staff 107

Voting Rights: Prisoners 108

NORTHERN IRELAND 108

Apprentices: Northern Ireland 108

Brexit: Northern Ireland 108

Northern Ireland Government 109

SCOTLAND 109

Food Banks: Scotland 109

Scotland Office: Advertising 109

Scotland Office: Data

Protection 110

Scotland Office: Families 110

Scotland Office: Written

Questions 110

TRANSPORT 111

A1: North of England 111

Department for Transport:

Brexit 111

Department for Transport:

Families 112

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

Agency: Databases 112

Manchester-Sheffield Railway

Line 113

Railways: Fares 113

Roads: Kirklees 113

Ryanair 114

Southeastern 114

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 115

Government Equalities Office:

Families 115

WORK AND PENSIONS 115

Employment: Disability 115

Housing: Energy 116

Industrial Injuries Disablement

Benefit: Dupuytren's

Contracture 117

Personal Independence

Payment 117

Personal Independence

Payment: Autoimmune

Diseases 118

Social Security Benefits 118

Social Security Benefits:

Disqualification 119

Universal Credit 119

Universal Credit: Angus 121

Universal Credit: Glasgow 121

Work Capability Assessment 121

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 123

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 123

Update on Post Office 123

TREASURY 124

Combatting fuel duty fraud -

evaluation of the first two

years of new fuel marker 124

Financial Services Update 124

DEFENCE 126

Defence Industrial Policy

Refresh 126

Future Nuclear Deterrent:

2017 Update to Parliament 127

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 127

Delivery of Universal

Broadband 127

EDUCATION 128

Special Educational Needs

and Disability (SEND) Update 128

PRIME MINISTER 129

Intelligence Oversight 129

UK Delegation to the

Parliamentary Assembly of the

Organisation for Security and

Co-operation in Europe 131

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: Families

Fiona Bruce: [119128]

To ask the Attorney General, to which legislation his Department has applied the Family

Test, published in August 2014.

Jeremy Wright:

The AGO has not been the sponsoring department for any legislation in this session.

Attorney General: Labour Turnover

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [118119]

To ask the Attorney General, how many members of staff have left the Law Officers'

Departments since 1 January 2015; and how many of those members of staff were

nationals of non-UK EU countries.

Jeremy Wright:

The following number of staff left the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Government

Legal Department (GLD) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI)

during the period 1 January 2015 to 30 November 2017:

Attorney General’s Office 41

Government Legal Department 543

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 18

Of these 602 moves, 266 were to other government departments.

During the period 1 January 2015 to 13 December 2017, 1,429 employees left the

CPS.

The number of staff who have left the SFO since 2015 is as follows:

2015 72

2016 72

2017 64

The recording of nationality information within the AGO, GLD and HMCPSI is the

responsibility of the individual to input via employee self-service. The information held

relating to the above 602 moves is as follows:

British 385

No declaration 205

Irish 2 ( taken to be Republic of Ireland as Northern Irish is a separate option )

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-12-12/119128


Other nationality 10 ( the data held does not distinguish between EU and non-

EU )

The CPS acts in accordance with guidance on the handling of this information and

does not keep certificate information for any longer than is necessary once a

recruitment (or other relevant) decision has been made. This is generally for a period

of up to six months, to allow for the consideration and resolution of any disputes or

complaints. The CPS is unable to confirm therefore how many of those members of

staff who left during this period were nationals of non-UK EU countries.

As there is no legal requirement for employers to keep records on the nationality of

staff, the SFO does not collate information on how many of these individuals were

non-UK EU nationals.

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Business: Hampshire

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [119608]

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

assessment he has made of the potential effect on businesses in Hampshire of the

industrial strategy.

Claire Perry:

The Government’s Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the

productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK. It focuses on the five

foundations of productivity: Ideas, People, Infrastructure, Business Environment and

Places.

Central to achieving these ambitions is ensuring that places across the UK are a

global draw for innovators. Key policies to secure this ambition include the launch

and roll-out of Sector Deals, driving investment in innovative and high potential

businesses, and launching a review of the actions that could be most effective in

improving the productivity and growth of small and medium-sized businesses across

the country. We will also continue to ensure that all businesses have access to a

local Growth Hub. I have been delighted at the positive reception the Industrial

Strategy has received from business leaders across Hampshire.

The Industrial Strategy also builds on previous reforms to empower local leaders to

address local barriers to growth. This includes working in partnership with places to

develop long-term Local Industrial Strategies. These will identify local strengths and

challenges, future opportunities and the action needed to boost productivity, earning

power and competitiveness.


Business: Regulation

Sir Michael Fallon: [119452]

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

estimate the savings to businesses of the repeal of regulations in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Margot James:

Details of the savings to business that were delivered through improvements to

regulation during the 2010-15 Parliament are set out in TheNinth Statement of New

Regulation, published in December 2014. It is available on www.gov.uk.

The Government has not yet published its final report on the savings to business

delivered during the 2015-17 Parliament, but we will do so in due course.


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

plans to publish a list of new UK and EU business regulations that will come into force in

the next six months.

Margot James:

The Government no longer publishes a statement of new regulations every six

months. Under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, the

Government is required to publish an annual report that among other things lists all

measures’ impact on business or voluntary bodies, which came into force in the

preceding year. The final report for the 2015-17 Parliament will be published in due

course.

Consumers: Prices

Patricia Gibson: [119801]

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

has any plans to address the loyalty penalty in essential markets.

Margot James:

The Government is committed to addressing penalties for those who are on the

poorest value tariffs and the detriment found by the Competition and Markets

Authority, which is why we have published the draft Domestic Gas & Electricity (Tariff

Cap) Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

The Government will also issue a Consumer Green Paper in due course that tackles

areas where markets are not working for consumers and businesses.

Patricia Gibson: [119802]


discussions he has had with regulators on the loyalty penalty faced by consumers who

don't switch provider.





Margot James:

We want markets that work well for all consumers and my right hon. Friend the

Secretary of State regularly meets with Ofgem and other regulators to discuss a

range of consumer issues.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Data Protection

Jon Trickett: [119460]

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

data incidents his Department (a) recorded and (b) reported to the Information

Commissioner's Office in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

Margot James:

BEIS was created in July 2016. The data incidents recorded and those reported to

ICO for BEIS since its creation are:

DATE RECORDED INCIDENTS REPORTED TO ICO

2015-16 n/a n/a

2016-17 12 1



times his Department's Senior Information Risk Officer roles been vacant for a week or

longer since 2012.

Margot James:

BEIS was created in July 2016. The Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO) role has

not been vacant at any time since the creation of the Department.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: EU Nationals

Caroline Lucas: [119294]


non-UK EU nationals started employment in his Department since 23 June 2016.

Margot James:

This information is not available. The nationalities of staff that join the Department are

checked as part of usual recruitment processes but that information is not thereafter

collated centrally and it would be above the cost threshold to do so.

Energy: Consumers

Dr David Drew: [119979]

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

Ofgem plans to review its social obligations reporting system relating to vulnerable

energy consumers.





Margot James:

As the independent regulator, it is for Ofgem to decide when to review its social

reporting system. Ofgem set the terms in the licence that require suppliers to provide

information on their performance in relation to their social obligations. This includes

their dealings with domestic customers in relation to payment methods, levels of debt

and debt repayment rates, prepayment meters, disconnection rates and non-financial

support for consumers in vulnerable situations.

Foreign Companies: Ownership

Dr Rupa Huq: [119810]

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

plans to create a public register showing the beneficial owners of overseas legal entities

which (a) own or buy property in the UK and (b) secure contracts from central

Government.

Margot James:

On 11 December the Government published its new Anti-Corruption Strategy. In the

Strategy we have committed to publish a draft bill in this session of Parliament for the

establishment of a public register of beneficial ownership of overseas legal entities.

The Department ran a call for evidence on this policy earlier in 2017. We will publish

a response to the call for evidence early in 2018 and will also set out more detail on

the timeline for publishing the legislation.

Green Deal Scheme

Mr Paul Sweeney: [119868]

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

regulatory framework is which is used to accredit Green Deal Assessors; and if he will

make a statement.

Claire Perry:

Green Deal Assessors are accredited by Green Deal Certification Bodies, who in turn

are authorised to act as Green Deal Certification Bodies by the Secretary of State for

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Green Deal Framework (Disclosure,

Acknowledgement, Redress etc.) Regulations 2012 provide the regulatory framework

for this activity.

Mr Paul Sweeney: [119870]


companies accredited under the Green Deal were subsequently investigated for

breaches of the Green Deal Code of Practice.

Claire Perry:

Since the Green Deal was introduced, two companies have been investigated for

breaches of the Green Deal Code of Practice. One of the investigations led to a




sanction against the company Home Energy and Lifestyle Management Ltd. The

other investigation did not lead to a sanction.

Horizon 2020

Bill Esterson: [119237]

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

the oral contribution by the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and

Innovation on 12 December 2017, Official Report, col. 172, what plans he has to make up

the funding to the UK from Horizon 2020 which that programme has not contributed to the

UK in the last 12 months.

Joseph Johnson:

Until our departure from the EU, we remain a fully paid up Member State, with all the

rights and obligations that entails. This means that while we remain a member of the

EU, UK businesses and universities continue to have full access to funding through

the EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon 2020. The

important work being done by our researchers, universities and innovative

businesses must continue throughout this period.

The joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom

Government approved by the European Council on 15 December stated that UK

entities’ right to participate in EU programmes will be unaffected by the UK’s

withdrawal from the EU. This means that UK based organisations and individuals will

be able to bid for funding, participate in and lead consortia, in 2019 and 2020, and will

continue to receive funding for the lifetime of the project.

It remains the case that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, which is why the

Government’s underwrite guarantee remains in place. UK businesses and

universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds while we remain a

member of the EU and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when

funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards,

even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.

Regulation


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

the Government to achieve its target to cut £10 billion of red tape.

Margot James:

The target to deliver £10 billion of savings only applied in respect of the last

Parliament, which was originally expected to run for five years from 2015 to 2020.

The Government is currently considering its approach to setting a Business Impact

Target in respect of the current Parliament.



Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Jo Platt: [119838]

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

the Answer of 15 December 2017 to Question 118099, for what reasons no reference

was made as to whether support to small businesses forming part of the Government's

assistance to small businesses as the UK leaves the EU was to be financial or just other

support.

Margot James:

I continue to meet with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and their

representative bodies, as part of our preparation to leave the EU, to understand the

concerns of small business owners and to find out what support they want from

government. This is a work in progress and my hon. Friend the Undersecretary of

State for the Department for Exiting the European Union has committed to join me in

regular meetings with SMEs and representative bodies whilst we develop our plans.

Alongside this, the Government is working with the European Union to agree a deal

on an implementation period and future partnership following the UK’s exit; a deal

that provides certainty and clarity and that safeguards UK businesses’ ability to trade

with their EU27 partners. Support provided to small businesses will also be informed

by the outcome of these ongoing negotiations.

Sugar: Manufacturing Industries

Philip Davies: [119700]

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

coal has been used in the manufacture of sugar from sugar beat in each year since 1992

to the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington:

BEIS does not hold coal consumption statistics at this level of disaggregation;

however, the table below presents the final consumption of coal by the UK food and

beverage industry as a whole from 2005 to 2016:

Final consumption of coal by the UK food and beverage industry, 2005 – 2016:

THOUSAND

TONNES

THOUSAND

TONNES

2005 26 2011 45

2006 25 2012 44

2007 34 2013 55

2008 39 2014 62

2009 48 2015 54



THOUSAND

TONNES

THOUSAND

TONNES

2010 43 2016 44

Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, table 2.4, available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solid-fuels-and-derived-gases-chapter-2-

digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

Working Hours: EU Law

Hugh Gaffney: [120058]


assessment he has made of the future operation of the Working Time Directive in the UK

after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James:

The Government has firmly committed to protect workers’ rights, and the Withdrawal

Bill will ensure that EU-derived employment rights, including those under the Working

Time Regulations, will continue to be in force via domestic law after the UK has left

the EU. On 11 December 2017, the Government published draft statutory instruments

to illustrate how the proposed amendments will ensure the legal framework that

provides for employment rights continues to operate effectively after exiting the EU.

The draft statutory instruments and an accompanying explanatory note can be found

by searching ‘Withdrawal Bill’ on the Gov.uk website.

CABINET OFFICE

Amazon: Government Contracts


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the contract between the

Government and Amazon Web Services covering Platform as a service.

Caroline Nokes:

Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of

£10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February

2015 can be viewed at:

https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive

Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:

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

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solid-fuels-and-derived-gases-chapter-2-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solid-fuels-and-derived-gases-chapter-2-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes



https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive

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

Electoral Register

Alex Norris: [119260]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the evidential basis is for the

Government's position that individual electoral registration is the most effective method of

voter registration.

Chris Skidmore:

Organisations such as the Electoral Commission had long advocated for the

replacement of the household registration system with individual electoral

registration. When the new system was introduced in 2014 this was with cross-party

support.

Since the end of the transition to individual electoral registration in 2015 we have

gathered considerable evidence that the system is working well, including thanks to

the introduction of online registration. In July 2016, the Electoral Commission

reported that the December 2015 registers were 91 per cent accurate, a statistically

significant increase compared to the 2014 registers (the last compiled using

household registration). Completeness was seen to be stable at around 85 per cent.

By the time of the 2017 General Election, the electoral register had grown to its

largest ever size. Our registration service has seen the submission of more than 30

million applications.

We are not complacent and we will continue to make efforts to modernise the

registration system and to improve access to it, including through our democratic

engagement plan.

National Security

Kirstene Hair: [119933]

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

national security capability review.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timetable is for the review of national

security capabilities to be published.

Damian Green:

The review of our national security capabilities is currently taking place in support of

the ongoing implementation of the 2015 National Security Strategy (NSS) and

Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). Ministers will consider the

conclusions of the review in due course.




TREASURY

Channel Crossing: Customs

Anneliese Dodds: [118850]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) HM

Revenue and Customs have had bilaterally with customs officers and management at the

port of Calais on potential capacity issues at the French end of the Eurotunnel and ferry

services?

Mel Stride:

The Government recognises the importance of trade fluidity through the UK’s key

ports to the country’s economy. The Government is committed to maintaining trade

fluidity, so traffic can flow as freely possible through ferry ports and the Channel

Tunnel.

Negotiating guidelines for EU exit mean that there is a two stage process to

negotiations. The UK Government looks forward to discussing the UK’s future

customs arrangements with the EU as part of the next stage of negotiations.

Charities: VAT

Mr David Jones: [119341]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of opportunities

to reform the VAT system to support the charity sector following the UK’s departure from

the EU.

Mel Stride:

All taxes remain under review and future decisions on VAT will be continue to be

taken as part of the normal Budget process following the UK’s departure from the

European Union. In the meantime, the UK remains a member of the EU and will

continue to meet its rights and obligations. That includes the application of EU VAT

rules.

Cryptocurrencies

Chris Evans: [120115]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of assets held by the Government

in digital currencies is.

Stephen Barclay:

The Government does not have any holdings of digital currencies.

Cryptocurrencies: Tax Collection

Chris Evans: [120116]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has made an estimate

of potential savings to the public purse arising from UK taxpayers being able to pay their

taxes in digital currencies.





Mel Stride:

HMRC does not currently offer digital currencies as a payment method and there are

no plans to do so in the future.

Defibrillators: VAT

Thelma Walker: [119000]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the accrued to

the public purse from VAT on community-purchased defibrillators in each of the last five

financial years.

Mel Stride:

This level of detail is not required on VAT returns, so there is not data available on

how much revenue is raised on the purchase of particular products.

Emergency Services: Scotland

Ged Killen: [119085]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 5 December 2017 to

Question 116912, whether it is his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to refund

all VAT paid by Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service since the

establishment of those services in 2013.

Mel Stride:

Autumn Budget 2017 announced the government’s intention to amend legislation so

that Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be eligible for VAT

refunds from April 2018. This change will be enacted through the Finance Bill and will

save these services c.£40 million a year.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Dr Alan Whitehead: [119066]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out in pounds per tonne of Carbon

what estimate he has made of the total carbon price in pounds per tonne in the years

2018 to 2025.

Andrew Jones:

The Total Carbon Price is currently made up of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Price and the Carbon Price Support. In 2014, the Carbon Price Support was frozen at

£18 per tonne of carbon from 2016/17 until 2020. In 2016, the Chancellor announced

that the Carbon Price Support for 2020/21 will be uplifted with RPI. In Autumn Budget

2017, the Chancellor announced that the Total Carbon Price would be maintained

similar to its current level until unabated coal is no longer used.




Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of

Equitable Life policyholders who have received payments (a) of less than a quarter of

their relative losses, (b) more than a quarter of their relative losses and (c) totalling their

relative losses.

Stephen Barclay:

I refer the right honourable member to my answer of 7 November 2017 (PQ 110748).

Exeter-Plymouth Railway Line

Luke Pollard: [119264]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary

of State for Transport on allocating funding in line with the Peninsula Rail Task Force

group's recommendations to improve journey times between Plymouth and Exeter.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Secretary of State for Transport has regular bilateral meetings with the

Chancellor, discussing a range of issues. Decisions on allocation of funding for rail

enhancements are a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport.

First Time Buyers: Stamp Duty Land Tax

Vicky Foxcroft: [119344]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether first time buyers on Share to Buy

schemes can access the reduction in stamp duty announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.

Mel Stride:

Relief for first time buyers is available for shared ownership schemes in respect of the

grant of a shared ownership lease on which the buyer has opted to be taxed on the

market value of the property.

Where market value treatment does not apply or has not been opted for, relief for first

time buyers is not available in respect of shared ownership schemes.

Income Tax: Angus


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people paid the (a) top, (b) higher and

(c) basic rate of income tax in Angus constituency in each of the last five years for which

figures are available.

Mel Stride:

Estimates of the number of individuals in Angus parliamentary constituency by their

highest marginal rate of income tax for the tax years 2010-11 to 2014-15 are provided

in the following table.





TAX YEAR BASIC RATE HIGHER RATE ADDITIONAL RATE

2010-11 36,200 3,500 ..

2011-12 36,500 4,700 ..

2012-13 36,500 5,000 ..

2013-14 34,700 5,900 400

2014-15 36,300 6,000 400

Source: Survey of Personal Incomes

Notes on the table

1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest one hundred.

2 The 2014-15 tax year is the latest year for which these figures are available.

3 The Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) is based on a sample of taxpayers. Values

in the table based on particularly small numbers of taxpayers have been suppressed,

to protect the confidentiality of individuals’ information.

4 Symbols used in the table:

.. Suppressed

- Negligible

. Not applicable

5 As is the case with the published Personal Incomes Statistics, these figures are

statistical estimates and will be subject to sampling variation. The sample is not

stratified by geography and all SPI estimates for sub-UK geographical areas (e.g. by

country, region, county, parliamentary constituency, etc.) should therefore be treated

with caution. For further information, please see the Personal Incomes Statistics

release (Annex B), at the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-incomes-statistics

Money Laundering


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the decision was taken to

exempt Companies House from the requirements of anti-money laundering due diligence

during company registration; and whether that decision was as a result of the statutory

status of Companies' House.

Stephen Barclay:

This Government is committed to ensuring that the UK is a hostile environment for

illicit finance. The UK’s anti-money laundering regime is based on risk to reduce the

burdens placed on legitimate businesses. The EU’s 4th Money Laundering Directive,

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-incomes-statistics


which has recently been transposed into UK law, does not require national company

registers to conduct due diligence upon companies at formation. Higher risk company

formation activities in the UK will generally be done via Trust or Company Service

Providers, who are subject to the Money Laundering Regulations.

Companies House employs systematic checks for accuracy, and has implemented a

number of reforms to improve the quality of data. The most recent reform was adding

a “Report It Now” feature in July 2017 to make it easier for users of the register to

report any concerns with the data. While the function is relatively new, Companies

House are receiving between 180-200 contacts a day through this service. Additional

reforms underway include improved procedures to follow-up and cleanse redundant

entries, and increased automation to reduce errors.

Maintaining one of the most open and extensively accessed company registers in the

world – viewed over 2 billion times last year – is a powerful tool in identifying false,

inaccurate, or possibly fraudulent information. Furthermore, the Government has a

statutory obligation to review the operation of the People with Significant Control

Register in 2019. This review will consider statistics on the operation of the register

and evidence from the main users (law enforcement, obliged entities and civil society)

and from the companies that supply the information.

North Sea Oil: Pipelines

Alex Cunningham: [120020]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the (a) direct and (b) indirect

costs to the public purse of the decision by Ineos to invoke a force majeure clause in its

contract for the Forties pipeline.

Elizabeth Truss:

The government is monitoring the situation with the Forties Pipeline System closely.

Energy Minister Richard Harrington has spoken to Ineos and the Department of

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy continues to liaise with industry operators to

monitor the situation. Any material economic or fiscal effects would be considered by

the Office for Budget Responsibility as part of their next forecasts at Spring

Statement.

Revenue and Customs


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase the capacity

of the HM Revenue Customs (HMRC) in customs regulations and procedures in the next

twelve months; and where HMRC has advertised additional posts?

Mel Stride:

HMRC continues to consider staffing requirements, including for customs regulations

and procedures, as part of its planning for EU Exit. HMRC is considering a number of

resourcing options including redeployment of existing staff and use of existing



reserve lists to fill additional posts as part of that process. Recruitment to the Civil

Service typically involves advertisement on Civil Service Jobs.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many data incidents HM Revenue and

Customs (a) recorded and (b) reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in (i)

2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

Mel Stride:

HMRC recorded 31 data incidents 2015-16 and 15 in 2016-17. 5 incidents were

reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in 2015-16 and 5 in 2016-17.

Revenue and Customs: ICT


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase information

technology skills in the HM Revenue and Customs needed for the planned introduction of

the CHIEF system and the extension of existing customs processing systems?

Mel Stride:

Introducing the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Programme is a key priority for

HMRC, and we are ensuring that it has the resources that it needs for both the

development and subsequent operation. This includes active recruitment,

reprioritising resources and adapting existing supporting organisations within the

department. We are migrating customers from the current CHIEF system to CDS

between August 2018 and January 2019, when CDS is due to be fully rolled out.

Revenue and Customs: Training


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what level of expertise HM Revenue and

Customs staff have on customs procedures; whether such expertise is accredited through

(a) formal qualifications and (b) membership of professional bodies; and how many such

staff are trained to the level of the BTEC intermediate award in Customs Export and

Import Procedures.

Mel Stride:

HMRC is recognised globally as a leading customs authority and for the

professionalism and expertise of its staff. HMRC staff are trained in customs

procedures through a comprehensive internal blended Learning Framework that

includes formal learning, coaching, mentoring, practical application, and mandatory

continuous professional development. This blended Learning Framework covers all

the tax areas HMRC is responsible for.

HMRC no longer aligns its training programme with BTEC qualifications, and instead

relies on the Learning Framework which has been designed to build capability in




incremental stages. This ensures that HMRC has the high quality training necessary

to meet their bespoke knowledge and skills requirements. Ongoing assessment

through a Quality Assurance Framework is used to ensure the capability of staff to

carry out their role.

External accreditation includes World Customs Organization training in specialist

areas such as Strategic Trade Control Enforcement.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment he has made of

the number of HM Revenue and Customs staff trained in customs regulations and

procedures with the number of such staff in other EU countries per capita of relative

population size.

Mel Stride:

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not carried out a comparative assessment of

the numbers of trained customs staff across EU countries. The European

Commission collates data on the number of customs staff in the EU but recognises

that Member States are not able to provide definitive answers.

This is because the administrative structures to deliver customs functions differ

considerably across the EU. Customs functions are often merged with tax

administrations or interior ministries and this prevents a comparative assessment

between Member States from being undertaken.

Self-employed: Tax Allowances

Martyn Day: [120032]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will establish a new tax allowance covering

digital training costs incurred by self-employed businesses.


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to allow tax-

deductions for training courses for the self-employed that develop (a) digital training and

(b) other new skills.

Mel Stride:

Expenditure on training to maintain or update existing skills, including digital skills, is

already tax deductible for self-employed individuals when it is wholly and exclusively

for the purposes of the business.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2017, the government will consult in 2018 on

extending the scope of tax relief currently available to employees and the self-

employed for work-related training costs. This consultation will cover the tax

treatment of new skills.




Tax Collection

Darren Jones: [119557]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs uses fully

automated processes to (a) calculate under or overpayments of tax and (b) notify

taxpayers of such under or overpayments of tax..

Darren Jones: [119558]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs has sent

any inaccurate notifications of under or over payments of tax due to the use of fully

automated processes.

Mel Stride:

At the end of each tax year HMRC reconciles the PAYE accounts of individual

customers who are outside Self-Assessment. This exercise is called End of Year

Reconciliation. Information used includes the final pay and tax deductions for the year

as reported by employers, alongside taxable benefits and any additional

income/benefits supplied by the individual customer. In addition, HMRC carries out

assurance checks to ensure that the calculation is correct. Some re-calculations may

be necessary if the position has changed, for example, due to further changes to

income, expenses claims, or benefits.

Tobacco: Smuggling


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will introduce legislative proposals to

introduce licensing for tobacco manufacturing machinery in accordance with the

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol.

Andrew Jones:

Legislation for the licensing of tobacco manufacturing machinery in accordance with

the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol was included in

the Finance (No 2) Act 2017. Draft implementing regulations were published for

consultation on 7 November 2017 and will be laid before Parliament in the new year.

Treasury: Families


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017 to

Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen families.

Elizabeth Truss:

At the Autumn Budget the government announced that it will continue to provide

funding for DWP’s relationship support work, to help keep families together and

reduce parental conflict. The government will also be investing around £6 billion

every year by 2020 in childcare support - more than ever before.





The government applies the Family Test to all its policies, to ensure that potential

impacts on family relationships are recognised in the process of developing new

policy.


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, to which legislation his Department has applied

the Family Test, published in August 2014.

Mel Stride:

As announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014, the objective of the Family Test

is to introduce an explicit family perspective to the policy making process, and ensure

that potential impacts on family relationships are recognised in the process of

developing new policy.

The Treasury carefully considers all relevant obligations, including the family test,

when formulating all policies including those delivered through primary and

secondary legislation.

Treasury: Written Questions

Chris Ruane: [118867]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of his

Department's Answers to Written Parliamentary Questions have advised that the

requested information was not available on the grounds of disproportionate cost

associated with data collection and collation in the current session.

Andrew Jones:

The Treasury have answered 39 written parliamentary questions explaining that the


during the current session. This is out of a total of 1796 parliamentary questions that

have been answered.

Universities

Simon Hoare: [119894]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the

universities sector on mitigating any negative effect on the sector after the UK leaves the

EU.

Elizabeth Truss:

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in

the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and

delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external

organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are

available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-

and-overseas-travel




https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

The government is committed to maintaining the position of our world-class

universities and is listening closely to the sector as we implement the Higher

Education and Research Act 2017 and begin the exit process from the European

Union. The Chancellor has recently met the Russell Group in this regard.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Homelessness: Kirklees


To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of

the £28 million funding for Housing First pilot schemes he plans to allocate to projects in

the Kirklees local authority area.


To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he

has made of the number of rough sleepers in the Kirklees local authority area in each

year since 2010.

Mr Marcus Jones:

At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor announced £28 million of funding to pilot the

Housing First approach for some of the country’s most entrenched rough sleepers.

The pilots will cover the West Midlands Combined Authority, Greater Manchester,

and the Liverpool City Region.

This action builds on wider action that we have taken to achieve our manifesto

commitment of halving rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminating it altogether by 2027.

This includes:

establishing the Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce, to drive

forward the implementation of a cross-Government strategy;

allocating over £1 billion to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping through to

2020; and

implementing the most ambitious legislative reform in this area in decades: the

Homelessness Reduction Act.

The Department for Communities and Local Government publishes regular statistics

on rough sleeping which are published at national, London and local authority level.

The latest statistics can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics

Terrorism: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: [119803]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the

Answer of 12 December 2017 to Question 118073, if he will list the requests received by

Manchester City Council.



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics


Jake Berry:

My department does not hold a list of funding requests received by Manchester City

Council.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Commonwealth

Andrew Bowie: [119082]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Commonwealth citizens have been

recruited into (a) the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air

Force in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster:

The requested information is provided below:

Intake into the UK Regular Forces - Commonwealth Nationalities

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Royal

Navy/Royal

Marines

60 40 20 10 40

Army 550 180 70 60 560

Royal Air

Force

10 ~ 10 10 ~

Notes

1. Figures cover the 12 months ending 30 September in each year.

2. Figures of 5 and below are indicated by "~". Figures above 5 have been rounded to

the nearest 10. Numbers ending in a 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple

of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

3. Intake comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including

professionally qualified Officers) and intake from the Reserves.

Defence: Finance

Mr Kevan Jones: [118661]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2017

to Question 116427, on defence: finance, which sections and sub-heads within his

Department's Estimates have been subject to virement in the last financial year; and what

the value was of any transferred budget.



Gavin Williamson:

These virements were reflected in the Department's 2016-17 published Annual

Report and Accounts on pages 117 to 120, which is available on the gov.uk web site

at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-

accounts-2016-to-2017

EU Defence Policy


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

his Department's polices of the proposed European Council and Parliament regulation to

establish a European Defence Industrial Development Programme.

Harriett Baldwin:

With the proposed regulation still subject to EU Council and EU Parliamentary

approval, and to be tested in practice in 2019 and 2020, it is too early to draw any

substantive assessment of its effects on Departmental policies. To help ensure a

positive outcome, our current priorities are: to ensure that the terms of the regulation

are flexible enough to attract a wide range of innovative industrial proposals; that

while the regulations focus is on encouraging industrial cooperation within the EU it

also supports other international cooperation, such as through NATO; and that it

allows third country industrial participation. We have also made it known to the EU

and our partners that we are open to considering options and models for participation

in the European Defence Industrial Development Programme after we have left the

EU, though any final decision shall form part of the wider withdrawal negotiations.

Korea: HMS Queen Elizabeth


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to deploy the Queen

Elizabeth class aircraft carrier near the Korean peninsula when it enters service.

Mark Lancaster:

The details of specific operational deployments will be determined in response to

national priorities at the appropriate time.

Military Aircraft


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the awarding of

contracts for his Department's Air Support to Defence Operational Training programme.

Harriett Baldwin:

On current plans, we aim to award the contract for air support to defence operational

training in the first quarter of 2020.




Ministry of Defence: Brexit

Hilary Benn: [119137]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has established a

market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) has carried out or

(b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the implications of the withdrawal of

the UK from the EU.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) has drafted or (b)

is drafting a market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK

from the EU.

Harriett Baldwin:

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is undertaking a programme of analytical work

looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU, as they apply to the

defence sector. Our analysis includes input from a wide range of businesses and

industry bodies and is continuously updated.

The Department is examining the economic implications for the defence sector and

seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform

our negotiations with the EU. The MOD works closely with the Department for Exiting

the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these

issues.

Ministry of Defence: Data Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many data incidents his Department (a)

recorded and (b) reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in (i) 2015-16 and (ii)

2016-17.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

2,519 data incidents were recorded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the period

01 April 2015 - 31 March 2016. One was reported to the Information Commissioner's

Office (ICO).

4,034 data incidents were recorded by the MOD for the period 01 April 2016 - 31

March 2017. Three were reported to the ICO.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times his Department's Senior

Information Risk Officer role has been vacant for a week or longer since 2012.






Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence Senior Information Risk Officer role has not been vacant

during this period.

Ministry of Defence: Families


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017

to Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen families.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to which legislation his Department has

applied the Family Test, published in August 2014.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Our Armed Forces are among the most extraordinarily talented and hard-working

people in our society. We recognise the vital role that their families play, and that

operational capability relies on recognising the Service person as part of a wider

family unit. This is why we launched the first ever UK Armed Forces Families’

Strategy in 2016, which focuses and coordinates activity to support Service families.

Priorities for this work include childcare, partner employment and accommodation,

which have consistently remained areas of interest for both the Service Families’

Federations and the Department. In delivering the strategy we work closely with a

number of external stakeholders to provide support to spouses and partners, for

instance to those who are looking to gain employment, as we recognise that the

demands of Service life can impact on the careers of family members.

Welfare support is provided to families via the single Service welfare organisations;

additionally there are a significant number of other organisations that can be

accessed via welfare referrals. The Covenant Fund has assigned £4 million to

projects that support ‘Families in Stress’, enabling specialist organisations such as

Relate to provide immediate or local support to families experiencing episodes of

significant strain. To date the Fund has awarded eleven grants, totalling almost £2

million, to specialist and expert charities.

In addition to keeping the range of welfare support under continual review and

launching the Families’ Strategy, we have expanded the Defence People Mental

Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2022 to incorporate all Defence People,

including the families of Service personnel. We have also embarked on a partnership

with the Royal Foundation to deal with issues of stigma and the treatment of mental

health problems across the defence community. We are developing options for the

Future Accommodation Model which recognise the 21 st century family and we are

developing flexible engagements for those who wish to vary their deployability to

better fit their Service career around family life, all of which aims to contribute to

increased family stability.

A key component of the Families’ Strategy is to ensure that Service families are

considered in people policy development, supporting the principles outlined in the



Family Test. This is achieved through consideration of the Service family as part of

each relevant submission or policy discussion, and through regular engagement with

the single Services and the three Families’ Federations who represent the needs and

views of Service families. The Department also monitors the development and

implementation of policy to assess the impact on families. In the period since August

2014 none of the legislation implemented by the Ministry of Defence has required the

application of the Family Test.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Martin Docherty-Hughes: [119109]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.61 of the 2015

Strategic Defence and Security Review, what the reason was for the increase of 710

civilians employed by his Department as set out in the Quarterly Location Statistics of 1

October 2017.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence has made a robust start in delivering the ambitious

headcount and financial targets set in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security

Review and 2015 Spending Review, and has a number of programmes and projects

currently under way, as part of the Department’s commitment to improving the

efficiency of Defence business. There have, however, been recent manpower

increases for value for money reasons; for example, to reduce costs in Defence

Equipment and Support, more expensive private sector support partners are being

replaced by appropriately trained, but significantly less costly, civil servants. The

underlying trend on Civil Service headcount across Defence as a whole is firmly

downward.

Nuclear Weapons


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of Defence

Equipment & Support Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17, if he will provide further

details of the cost overruns associated with demonstration and manufacture phase

projects under the DG Nuclear Command Acquisition and Support Plan.

Harriett Baldwin:

The aggregated forecast cost variance of £505.2 million reflects ongoing

demonstration and manufacture work associated with the Astute programme.

Disclosure of further details may prejudice commercial discussions and interests.

Rifles Regiment: Military Bases


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the barrack locations are of the Rifles

Regiment; and what plans he has to move those barracks.




Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Details of the current and planned future locations of the regular battalions of The

Rifles regiment are:

BATTALION CURRENT LOCATION PLANS

1 st Beachley Barracks, Nr

Chepstow

As announced in the ‘A Better

Defence Estate Strategy’ on

15 November 2016, Beachley

Barracks has been identified

for disposal in 2027. A future

location for the battalion

remains to be determined.

2 nd Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn No change

3 rd Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh Will move to Catterick Garrison

in 2021 as part of a Strike

brigade (and will be replaced

in Dreghorn by another infantry

battalion)

4 th New Normandy Barracks,

Aldershot

No change

5 th Ward Barracks, Bulford No change

The regiment also has three reserve battalions (6 th , 7 th , and the new 8 th Battalions)

which are spread over multiple locations but broadly recruit from the Southwest,

South and Northeast of England respectively.

RM Condor


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

economic contribution of RM Condor to the local area.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

It is Ministry of Defence policy not to provide a breakdown by geographical or

economic area of the potential commercial and economic benefits of Government

expenditure.

Shipbuilding: Jarrow

Mr Stephen Hepburn: [119679]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if will visit shipyards in Jarrow constituency to

demonstrate support for their potential future role in the new National Shipbuilding

Strategy and the Type 31e General Purpose Frigate programme.



Harriett Baldwin:

Following the launch of the Government's National Shipbuilding Strategy in

September, the previous Defence Secretary my right hon. Friend, Sir Michael Fallon,

visited A&P Tyne on 30 October 2017 as part of the programme to visit the UK

shipyards around the country. We are pleased with the positive engagement that we

have received from UK industry on the Type 31e programme.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Meetings


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

Department's publication Ministerial Meetings: January to March 2017, if she will publish

the names of the attendees at the Arts and Museums Roundtable attended by Robin

Walker MP.

John Glen:

We do not publish names of attendees to encourage full and frank dialogue in such

meetings.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport : Brexit


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

Department has established a market access commission on the implications of the

withdrawal of the UK from the EU.



Department (a) has carried out or (b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the

implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.



Department (a) has drafted or (b) is drafting a market access commission on the


Matt Hancock:

We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the

implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all areas of

the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry

bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our department works closely

with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed

of our understanding of these issues.





Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Families


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

her Department has applied the Family Test, published in August 2014.

Matt Hancock:

The government is committed to supporting families. To achieve this, in 2014 we

introduced the Family Test, which aims to ensure that impacts on family relationships

and functioning are recognised early on during the process of policy development

and help inform the policy decisions made by Minsters. The Family Test was not

designed to be a ‘tick-box’ exercise, and as such there is no requirement for

departments to publish the results of assessments made under the Family Test.

Musicians: Free Movement of People

Thangam Debbonaire: [R] [118830]

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

Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) UK and (b) non-UK

EU touring musicians.

Matt Hancock:

Since the referendum we have held a series of ministerial meetings and roundtables

with the creative industries on the impact and opportunities of the UK leaving the EU.

These meetings have included input from the UK music industry on the impact of

leaving the EU on touring musicians.

We are committed to supporting and promoting a thriving live music industry and

ensuring the continued growth of this vital and vibrant sector.

Ofcom: Complaints

Chi Onwurah: [119825]

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

made an assessment of the comprehensiveness and quality of Ofcom’s quarterly

telecoms complaints data in terms of enabling consumers to make informed decisions;

and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock:

Ofcom publishes quarterly data on the number of complaints it receives about

communications providers. In addition, the government has recently legislated in the

Digital Economy Act 2017 to give Ofcom the power to collect and publish a wider

range of service quality data from providers. This data will be published in Ofcom’s

annual Comparing Service Quality reports and will ensure that consumers have

access to better and more comprehensive data on service quality metrics in addition

to complaints statistics.





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

made an assessment of the potential merits of including data from Alternative Dispute

Resolution schemes in Ofcom’s quarterly telecoms complaints data in order to enable

consumers to make better informed decisions; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock:

CISAS and Ombudsman Services: Communications are the two Ofcom-accredited

providers of Alternative Dispute Resolutions for telecoms customers. Both are

required by Ofcom to publish data on the types of complaints that are referred to

them and the outcomes that are reached in these cases. This and other data about

Alternative Dispute Resolution is available in quarterly reports on their websites.

Telecommunications


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

Department's publication Ministerial Meetings: January to March 2017, if she will publish

the names of the attendees at the Telecoms Roundtable attended by Robin Walker MP.

Matt Hancock:

We do not publish names of attendees to encourage full and frank dialogue in such

meetings.

UK Anti-doping: Legal Costs

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [119799]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will

take steps to cover the legal costs of UK Anti-Doping as part of the ongoing tailored

review.

Tracey Crouch:

The Tailored Review, which we are currently carrying out, is assessing all areas of

UK Anti-Doping’s efficiency, effectiveness and governance and how it is preparing for

the future.

Young People

Cat Smith: [118787]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her

policy to include responsibility for young people within the portfolio of a specified Minister;

to establish a champion for young people; and take steps to ensure co-ordination of

policy regarding young people across all Government Departments.

Tracey Crouch:

Youth policy is already part of my Ministerial portfolio. Making sure young people can

access the support and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential is a priority

across Government. Departments collaborate closely on policies relating to young





people and as demonstrated by the attendance of the Secretary of State for

Education and the Minister for Sport and Civil Society at the recent Youth Parliament,

Ministers are personally committed to championing young people.

EDUCATION

Adoption

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [118812]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many prospective adopters are (a) UK

and (b) non-UK EU nationals.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

I am sorry, but the department does not hold the information requested.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities have contracted out

their adoption services to a third party; and what the name is of each such contractor.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

I am sorry, but the Department for Education does not collect information on whether

local authorities contract out their adoption services to third party organisations.

Apprentices

Jo Platt: [119010]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December to

Question 117219, for what reasons the Minister did not answer if her Department has set

a target for the number of apprenticeship starts in the year after the introduction of the

Apprenticeship Levy.

Anne Milton:

The department wants to allow the market to evolve towards the 2020 target of 3

million apprenticeship starts and so we have not set targets for the number of starts

each year.

Care Leavers


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of care

leavers were (a) UK and (b) non-UK EU nationals in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

I am sorry, but the department does not collect information on the nationalities of

looked after children or care leavers.





Children in Care


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children are (a) UK

and (b) non-UK EU nationals.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The department does not collect information on the nationalities of looked after

children.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on

the number of public sector children's homes in England; and what the total capacity is of

those homes.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

This is a matter for Amanda Spielman, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, who will write to

the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both

Houses.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children she has met

with since her appointment as Secretary of State.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many social workers she has met with

since her appointment as Secretary of State.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has met many looked-after

children and social workers since she was appointed as Secretary of State. She has

been on several visits and attended a large number of events where social workers,

and in some cases young people and children with a care background, were present.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Allan: [119351]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of people qualifying for the

15-hour free childcare for the most disadvantaged two-year-olds have taken up that

provision in the borough of Telford and Wrekin.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

As at January 2017, take up of the 2-year-old entitlement in Telford and Wrekin is

79%.

This is 12 percentage points above the average in the East Midlands, and eight

percentage points above the average in England. Take up in Telford and Wrekin has

increased by 15 percentage points since 2015.






Children: Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what is the (a) average, (b) shortest and (c)

longest period of time a child has spent subject to a Child Protection Plan in the last five

years

Mr Robert Goodwill:

I am sorry, but the department does not hold the data in the format you requested.

Children: Social Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the amount

spent under section 17 of the Children's Act 1989 by public bodies in each of the last five

years.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Department for Education collects data on local council spending on a range of

services for children and young people. Local councils are not required to provide

separate data regarding spend on children provided with support under section 17 of

the Children Act 1989.

The following local authority gross spend may be on children in need but may also

provide services to children not assessed as needing support under section 17:

2012-13 £000S 2013-14 £000S 2014-15 £000S 2015-16 £000S 2016-17 £000S

Child

protection and

safeguarding

£1,965,569 £2,026,366 £2,122,368 £2,226,843 £2,334,268

Early years

and children’s

centres

£1,193,408 £1,053,716 £945,453 £843,954 £774,349

Family support £973,056 £1,043,722 £1,078,865 £1,073,944 £1,087,140

Other children

and families

services

£110,534 £100,008 £86,959 £102,933 £87,175

Services for

young people

£815,910 £712,771 £627,070 £527,980 £447,532

Source: Section 251 Outturn




To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value is of private sector contracts

for Children's Social Care in England.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many contracts with private sector

companies to provide children's social care services in England were in operation on the

latest date for which figures are available.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The department does not hold information on the value of private sector contracts for

children’s social care. Local authority expenditure data on private provision on

children’s social care are published annually in the statistical first releases available

at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-local-authority-school-

finance-data.

Private provision is defined as expenditure on services provided/managed by private

sector entities such as profit-making companies.

The department does not hold information on the number of contracts with private

sector companies to provide children’s social care services.

In 2014 the government made regulations that prevent local authorities contracting

out child protection functions to organisations carried on for profit.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has spent on the

(a) consultation on (b) preparation for and (c) introduction of the National Assessment

and Accreditation Systems for social workers, social work supervisors and leaders.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has

allocated to (a) phase 1 and (b) phase 2 of the implementation of the National

Assessment and Accreditation system.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the funding allocated to

the consultation on the National Assessment and Accreditation system was spent on (a)

private sector consultants and (b) local authorities.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The government has spent £3.66 million in consulting on and preparing for the

introduction of the National Assessment and Accreditation System for children and

family social workers.

The government has allocated for phase 1 and phase 2 of the National Accreditation

and Assessment System: £2.7 million for the preparation of local authorities and

social workers; and £4.86 million for the introduction, operational delivery and

evaluation of the assessment.






This total is split £2.7 million for local authorities and £8.52 million for private

companies.

Department for Education: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many non-UK EU nationals started

employment in his Department since 23 June 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

All government departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to

work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Evidence of

nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider

pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this

information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.

Department for Education: Families


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November

2017 to Question HL3576, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen families.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Department for Education is pursuing a range of policies aimed at supporting

and strengthening families.

On 14 December the Secretary of State published, Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling

Potential: A plan for improving social mobility through education:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-to-boost-social-mobility-through-education

The government is funding a £5 million trial of evidence-based home learning

environment support programmes in the north of England, to improve the support

available to parents to enable them to ensure their children are ready to thrive when

they start school.

The cost of childcare is a big issue for many families. The government offers 15

hours of free childcare to disadvantaged two year olds and all three and four year

olds, up to 30 hours’ free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds,

tax-free childcare and the childcare element of Universal Credit. The Evaluation of

Early Implementation and the Evaluation of Rollout of 30 hours Free Childcare

showed evidence of positive benefits. From the evaluation survey of parents taking

up 30 hours in early implementer areas, some 78 percent reported that the extended

hours had given them greater flexibility in their work choices. The case studies

showed that increased work flexibility helped parents to obtain more secure

employment, enhanced career opportunities and improved their work-life balance and

84 percent reported that they had slightly or much more money to spend:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-

implementation-evaluation



https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-to-boost-social-mobility-through-education

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-implementation-evaluation

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-early-implementation-evaluation

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642007

/Evaluation_of_early_rollout_of_30-hours_free_childcare.pdf

We want to ensure that all pupils are taught about healthy and respectful

relationships and have the knowledge required to prepare for adult life, which

includes family life. The Children and Social Work Act has required Relationships

Education to be made compulsory in all primary schools, and Relationships and Sex

Education compulsory in all secondary schools through regulations. The subject

content will cover the core, age-appropriate knowledge that all children need to form

safe, positive relationships based on respect.

We are also taking steps to ensure that all children can develop into confident adults.

On 4 December, in our Green Paper, Transforming Children and Young People’s

Mental Health Provision https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-

proposals-on-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health the Department of

Education and the Department of Health set out new proposals on children’s mental

health. These include commissioning further research into interventions that support

parents and carers to build and/or improve the quality of attachment relationships

with their babies.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, to which legislation her Department has

applied the Family Test, published in August 2014.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

Guidance to departments on the application of the Family Test to domestic policy was

published on 31 October 2014. The criteria for assessing policies, including those

which require primary legislation, are set out in the guidance. Policy is to be assessed

against the Family Test questions if it has a demonstrable impact on family

relationships and functions, and if the impact is not small, indirect or temporary.

We have therefore published assessments of the impact on families on a number of

occasions when legislation was introduced to Parliament.

For the Childcare Act 2016 the assessment can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-bill-impact-assessment.

For the Education and Adoption Act 2016 the assessment can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-and-adoption-bill-impact-

assessment.

For the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 the assessment can be found at


/bis-16-295-he-research-bill-detailed-impact-assessment.pdf.

For the Children and Social Work Act 2017 the assessment can be found at

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA16-008.pdf.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642007/Evaluation_of_early_rollout_of_30-hours_free_childcare.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642007/Evaluation_of_early_rollout_of_30-hours_free_childcare.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-proposals-on-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-proposals-on-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-bill-impact-assessment

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-and-adoption-bill-impact-assessment

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-and-adoption-bill-impact-assessment

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/528005/bis-16-295-he-research-bill-detailed-impact-assessment.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/528005/bis-16-295-he-research-bill-detailed-impact-assessment.pdf

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA16-008.pdf

Department for Education: Written Questions


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of her




Mr Robert Goodwill:

In the current parliamentary session (as at 13 December 2017) 2,365 written PQs

have been answered by the Department. 33 (1.4%) of which were answered advising

that the requested information was not available due to disproportionate costs.

Erasmus+ Programme

Jo Stevens: [119523]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there are any contingency plans for

a replacement for the ERASMUS+ scheme for UK Universities in the event that the UK

does not renegotiate access to ERASMUS+.

Joseph Johnson:

[Holding answer 19 December 2017]: The Department for Education continues to

make rigorous preparations for a range of possible outcomes from the UK's

negotiations with the EU. Under the agreement made last week, the UK would

participate in Erasmus+ until the end of the programme. No decisions have yet been

made about post-2020 programme participation since the scope of this programme

has not been agreed. Options will be discussed as part of phase two of negotiations.

Foster Care


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many foster carers are (a) UK and (b)

non-UK EU nationals.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The department does not collect data about the nationality of foster carers in the UK.

Local councils are responsible for the provision of sufficient foster carers to meet the

needs of the looked after children in their area.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on

the number of independent fostering agencies in England.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

This is a matter for Amanda Spielman, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, who will write to

the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both

Houses.





Further Education: Training

James Frith: [118778]

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

post-16 educational sector has the capacity to train young people to find employment in a

post-automation jobs market.

Anne Milton:

It is essential that we have training providers that are able to deliver the high quality

training that employers and learners need. Following a series of locally led Area

Reviews, significant recommendations have been made that will deliver a more

efficient post-16 system.

Our focus is on further improving the quality of the education provided through a risk-

based Ofsted inspection programme, a robust intervention framework where failing

colleges are referred to the Further Education (FE) Commissioner, who will also have

an extended role by working to support improvement. We have introduced a new

Strategic College Improvement Fund, worth £15 million over two years, to enable

weaker colleges to access support from their stronger peers and a National Leaders

Programme for FE, to help drive improvement across the sector. These initiatives

should help us to achieve our ambition of a further education sector comprised of

high status institutions, which can confer the same advantages as academic

institutions.

Having the best-quality teachers and leaders is also key to delivering high-quality

provision across FE. We have invested £40 million in the FE workforce since 2013.

This has provided bursaries to support over 1,200 graduates to train to teach maths

or English in the FE sector. It has also funded training for thousands of teachers in

FE institutions to help them improve their teaching of English and maths.

To complement further education colleges and other training providers, and to

support wider reforms to technical education, government is establishing five new

post-16 specialist providers. The department is investing £80 million alongside

contributions from business to establish National Colleges which will target sectoral

skills gaps, where existing providers are not able to equip people with technical skills

the sector’s employers need. We are also providing £170 million capital funding to

create prestigious Institutes of Technology (IoTs) to deliver the higher-level technical

skills employers demand, with a Call for Proposals to establish IoTs being launched

on the 15 December. IoTs will be a prestigious and high quality employer-led

institutions delivering hig

GCE A-level: Knowsley

Maria Eagle: [118977]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will allocate capital funding to the

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area to enable a new provider of academic A

Levels to be established in Knowsley?



Maria Eagle: [119011]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what date she expects the provision of

academic A Levels to be restored in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley?

Anne Milton:

The Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley will have A level provision restored through its

delivery at SK College Group’s Knowsley campus from September 2018. The

Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) understands that the college has

received 60 A level applications to date for the 2018/19 academic year, and is

assured that the college continues to participate in activity with Knowsley local

council, and schools, to promote the expansion of the A level offer.

The department is in discussions with the local council Executive Director (Children)

on a continual basis, to determine the future demand for A level provision beyond

existing accessible provision. The local council, as the commissioning body,

acknowledges that there is no need to establish a new A level provider in Knowsley

at present. However, should this position change, the ESFA would support the local

council’s submission of a 16-18 market entry application to the department to help

determine the appropriate provider type to enter the borough. The decision on which

would dictate the applicable capital funding method.

Innovation Fund


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

allocated to Innovation Fund projects since the creation of that fund.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The Department for Education has currently invested over £190 million in 95 projects

through the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme since 2014. Innovation

Programme projects are developing, testing and scaling new ways of delivering

children’s social care services with the aim of improving outcomes for children and

families and delivering better value for money. The Innovation Programme is also

developing a bank of good practice evidence and tools to enable other councils to

improve their own practice and systems and in turn improve outcomes for children.

Information about the Innovation Programme, including funding amounts for

individual projects as well as independent evaluation reports, is available at

http://springconsortium.com/.

Offences Against Children


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the outcome of

the Government's 2016 consultation on mandatory reporting.



http://springconsortium.com/


Mr Robert Goodwill:

The consultation 'Reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect' sought views on a

mandatory duty to report child abuse and neglect and an alternative duty focused on

taking appropriate action, as well as the effects of embedding current government

reforms. The consultation was a broad exercise which invited views on a range of

different models, including the potential scope of any duty and the types of abuse

such a duty might pertain to.

The government has committed to laying a report before Parliament on the outcome

of the consultation. Submissions are being considered and a government response

will be published in due course. Just as it was right to consider in depth the evidence

around these questions, it is important that we apply equally careful consideration to

formulating our response in such a complex policy area, with such vitally important

implications for the safety and welfare of children.

The government’s ongoing social work reform programme continues to seek to create

a world class child protection system, where the needs of individual children are

identified early and they get the help and support they require as soon as possible to

keep them safe.

Overseas Students: Loans

Jim Shannon: [119183]

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

prevent foreign students from not repaying outstanding loans in respect of private

university fees.

Joseph Johnson:

An eligible student qualifies for financial support in connection with a designated

course subject to and in accordance with these the Education (Student Support)

Regulations 2011 (as amended). To meet the requirements for support, a student

should have settled status or a recognised connection with the United Kingdom:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1986/regulation/4/made.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) has arrangements in place to collect repayments

from borrowers who move away from the UK and establishes a repayment schedule

based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of

repayment available.

If borrowers based overseas fail to remain in contact with the SLC, the SLC will set

up a fixed repayment schedule and place those borrowers in arrears. Borrowers with

post-2012 loans who have not remained in contact with the SLC are charged the

maximum interest rate of RPI+3% until they get back in touch. Further action,

including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery.

The department published a Joint Repayment Strategy in February 2016, which sets

out how action will be taken to trace borrowers and act to recover loans where

avoidance or evasion is identified. This publication can be found on the government’s

website.


Pre-school Education: Colne Valley


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children who were (a)

eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved school readiness standards at

the end of the Early Years Foundation Stages in each year since 2010 in Colne Valley

constituency.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

Data has been provided for years 2013 to 2017 in the attached table. Data prior to

2013 is not readily available.

Following an independent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, a revised

profile was introduced in September 2012 with the first assessments taking place in

summer 2013. The revised profile is very different to the previous profile which has

led to a break in the time series as the results are not comparable.

Attachments:

1. Data table for years 2013 to 2017 [119002 Table 15.12.17.docx]

School Meals: Per Capita Costs


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what has been the cost-per-child of

children's school meals in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

School governing boards are responsible for their school meals service at a local

level and the department does not collect this information.

Schools in England do not receive specific funding for school meals. We allocate the

Dedicated Schools Grant to local authorities on a per pupil basis and this is then

distributed to schools and academies on the basis of a local formula. It is then for

individual schools to decide how to use their budget, including how much to allocate

to pay for school meals and how much to charge.

Schools: Finance

Justin Tomlinson: [118920]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what expenditure her Department has

allocated from the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund to (a) the Condition Improvement Fund

and (b) the School Condition Allocations for the period 2018-19.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

£100 million of revenue generated from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will be utilised

for the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund (HPCF). This fund is intended to improve

children’s and young people’s physical and mental health by enhancing access to

facilities for physical activity, healthy eating, mental health and wellbeing and medical




conditions, such as kitchens, dining facilities, changing rooms, playgrounds and

sports facilities.

The HPCF is available in 2018-19 and will be allocated through the current

arrangements for schools condition funding.

Single and small academy trusts and sixth-form colleges have had the opportunity to

bid for HPCF through the Condition Improvement Fund in 2018-19. The bidding

round ran between 19 October and 14 December 2017. Local authorities, large multi-

academy trusts and other bodies receiving School Condition Allocations (SCA) will

receive a direct allocation from the HPCF. This direct allocation is in addition to their

normal SCA and will be calculated, announced and paid alongside it.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the planned allocation of expenditure

for each type of school in receipt of the School Condition Allocation (SCA) is for the

period 2018-19.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

The government has committed to invest over £23 billion in the school estate

between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

The budget for School Condition Allocations (SCA) and the Condition Improvement

Fund is set at £1.2 billion per year until 2018-19, with an additional £0.2 billion in

Devolved Formula Capital.

SCAs are published each year on the gov.uk website, which includes details of the

responsible body receiving an allocation. We have not yet finalised allocations for

2018-19 and plan to publish these in Spring 2018. Allocations for 2017-18 may

however be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to monitor

the proportion of Condition Improvement Funds (CIF) which are spent on physical activity

and healthy living initiatives; and when her Department plans to publish the CIF final list

of approved projects for 2018-19.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will publish the number

and details of applications made for the Condition Improvement Fund period 2018-19.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

All successful Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) applicants, including those who

receive funding for healthy pupil initiatives through the CIF 2018 to 2019 round, are

required to submit project monitoring returns at quarterly intervals throughout the

course of the project. In some cases, this will be at monthly intervals informing the

Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) of project spend and delivery. Failure to

do so results in further instalments being withheld.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations



All successful projects are also required to submit a completion return providing

evidence of the completion of the works and the total project spend. Any changes to

the project, including significant delays, changes to the scope of work or the level of

funding are required to be approved by the ESFA via a scope change request.

We will publish the number of successful applications, the names of the successful

schools and sixth-form colleges and a brief description of the successful project on

GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund in April 2018.

Special Educational Needs


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many parents of children with SEND

she has met with since her appointment as Secretary of State.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many SEND teachers she has met with

since her appointment as Secretary of State.

Mr Robert Goodwill:

My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State engages with a wide range of people,

including parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)

and teachers.

Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of the

pupils in their class, so every teacher is a teacher of pupils with SEND.

The remit of the Minister for Children and Families, whose remit includes SEND

policy, has regular engagement with parents of pupils with SEND and with teachers.

Such contact has, for example, included a SEND roundtable with parents and

teachers on 12 September and a meeting with the National Network of Parent Carer

Forums on 19 July.

Regular engagement is crucial in informing our thinking about how best to strengthen

the systems for supporting children with SEND to achieve their full potential.

Teachers

Imran Hussain: [119027]

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

of the effect of scrutiny of schools by (a) her Department and (b) Ofsted on the (i)

workload and (ii) job satisfaction of teachers.

Nick Gibb:

The Department is working with Ofsted to tackle the drivers of unnecessary workload

at national level. We recognise the importance of assessing the impact that its policy

changes have on teachers' workload and job satisfaction. The Department for

Education Protocol sets out commitments to provide schools with a year’s lead time

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund




for any changes to accountability, the curriculum and qualifications, and to take into

account the workload impact on schools of such changes.

The Department’s ‘workload action plan’, published in February 2017 alongside the

results of the 2016 Teacher Workload Survey, sets out the steps we will take to

continue to tackle workload at all levels of the education system. Ofsted has carried

out a range of activity to support workload reduction: its recently published strategy

includes a commitment to seek to reduce regulatory burdens, streamline inspection

process and tackle the workload side effects of inspection. These commitments align

with the Government’s commitment to reduce the burdens of inspection. Further

information is available at:


/Teacher_Workload_Action_Plan.pdf.

Teachers: Job Satisfaction


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

improve teachers’ job satisfaction.

Nick Gibb:

We are taking action in a number of areas that teachers inform us are the key to

reducing workplace stress, including eliminating unnecessary workload. We are

working extensively with unions, teachers and Ofsted to challenge practices that

create unnecessary workload, and we will continue to look for ways to support the

profession on this important issue.

Following the Stevenson/Farmer Review, which highlighted the importance of public

sector employers supporting employee wellbeing, we are currently considering the

evidence and what more we can usefully do to support teachers’ wellbeing. We are

promoting a whole school approach to mental health, including pupils and staff. In the

Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper we set out

plans to incentivise schools to put in place designated senior mental health leads,

trained to set up and oversee whole school approaches.

Teachers: Part-time Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provisions her Department has made to

accommodate more part-time job opportunities within the teaching sector?

Nick Gibb:

My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State hosted a summit on flexible working on 30

October 2017 where she announced a government drive to encourage more flexible

working in schools and unveiled new plans to promote flexible working across the

teaching profession.

The summit explored possible short and long term proposals to make flexible working

easier for schools to implement. The summit led to over 60 pledges to take action to

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594680/Teacher_Workload_Action_Plan.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594680/Teacher_Workload_Action_Plan.pdf



increase the opportunities for flexible working in schools. These pledges were

published on the flexible working pages on published on 1 December 2017 and can

be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-flexible-working-

in-schools/increasing-flexible-working-opportunities-in-schools.

The Government is committed to carrying out research looking at changing

recruitment practices in schools. In addition, we are committed to running a one-year

pilot of a revised model of the ‘Leadership Coaching Pledge’ for women teachers

including extra support for part-time workers and people returning to teaching after a

break. Further information is available at: https://www.tscouncil.org.uk/women-

leading-in-education-coaching-pledge/.

Vocational Guidance: Disability

Mike Amesbury: [119014]

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

ensure that young disabled people are able to access good quality careers advice.

Anne Milton:

The government’s careers strategy, published on 4 December 2017, sets out a long

term plan to build a world class careers system that will help young people and adults

choose the career that is right for them.

The careers strategy includes proposals to improve the quality and coverage of

careers advice in schools and give more aspirational careers advice for children,

young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities who are

often held back by a lack of support to make important decisions.

To improve careers advice for people with special educational needs and disabilities,

the government is funding the Education and Training Foundation to provide

professional development for careers advisers working with these young people

specifically. We will also make sure that Enterprise Advisers, senior volunteers from

business who support schools with their careers programme, receive training and

information so they are confident helping people with special educational needs and

disabilities.

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) and the Gatsby Foundation will work

together to set out good practice in supporting young people with special educational

needs and disabilities. The CEC will undertake targeted work with employers to

stimulate more employer engagement that will support young people with special

educational needs and disabilities, and will continue to make the case for employers

to provide work experience and supported internships for young people with special

educational needs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-flexible-working-in-schools/increasing-flexible-working-opportunities-in-schools

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-flexible-working-in-schools/increasing-flexible-working-opportunities-in-schools

https://www.tscouncil.org.uk/women-leading-in-education-coaching-pledge/

https://www.tscouncil.org.uk/women-leading-in-education-coaching-pledge/


ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Floods

Mr Laurence Robertson: [118216]

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

received any representations from farmers on the use of their land without permission to

store flood water.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

The Secretary of State has not received any representations from farmers regarding

using their land without permission to store flood water.

Agriculture: Subsidies


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

current funding system for farm payments will remain in place during the transition period

after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice:

The Government has pledged to continue to commit the same cash total in funds for

farm support until the end of this Parliament, expected in 2022. This provides a

greater level of security and certainty for farmers and landowners than anywhere else

in the EU, where funding is guaranteed only until 2020.

Any changes made to agricultural funding would reflect the Government’s aim of

securing a better future for UK agriculture and for the environment.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Jo Stevens: [119291]

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

(b) what proportion of people sentenced under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 received the

maximum tariff for animal cruelty as set out in sentencing guidelines in the 2016 calendar

year.

George Eustice:

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and sentenced

at all courts by maximum sentence length for offences under the Animal Welfare Act

2006, in England and Wales, from 2012 to 2016, can be viewed in the table.




DEFENDANTS PROCEEDED AGAINST AT MAGISTRATES COURTS, SENTENCED BY MAXIMUM

SENTENCE LENGTH AT ALL COURTS FOR SELECTED OFFENCES UNDER THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

2006 (1) , ENGLAND AND WALES, 2012 TO 2016 (2)(3)(4)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Proceeded against 1,429 1,295 1,042 800 768

Sentenced 1,132 1,021 815 624 585

of which

Fine 182 170 146 97 116

Immediate custody 108 84 82 58 63

of which

Maximum sentence 6 months 3 5 1 3 3

(1) Includes offences under SS 4, 5, 6(1), 6(2), 7, 8.

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

principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found

guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is

imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence

selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

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

complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from

large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a

consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their

inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

(4) The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be

the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for

sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year.

Birds: Conservation

Mr Mark Hendrick: [119856]

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

Department has taken to halt the decline of the Aquatic Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Wood

Warbler and Savi's Warbler over the last five years.


Wood warbler


Under Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme there is currently a research

project in New Forest and Devon which aims to address the drivers behind the wood

warbler’s population declines.

Aquatic warbler

The aquatic warbler’s most regularly used locations, largely in southern England, are

protected and managed within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and the

two most important are classified as Special Protection Areas.

Savi’s warbler

Savi’s warbler is a very rare breeding species but most breeding locations are within

protected SSSIs. They are given special protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife

and Countryside Act.

Marsh warbler

Marsh warblers are very rare breeding birds; breeding locations are sporadic and

transient and much apparently suitable habitat remains unoccupied. Some of the

sites historically used by marsh warblers are protected SSSIs.

Defra supports the International Convention on Migratory Species and its Migratory

Landbirds Action Plan, which promotes positive conservation actions outside the UK

nesting areas of the aquatic warbler, marsh warbler, wood warbler and Savi's

warbler, which are all trans-Saharan migrants, wintering in Africa.

Carbon Monoxide


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

he has made of whether there are areas of the country where levels of carbon monoxide

are higher than the recommended safe levels.


An assessment was carried out in 2013, and showed that all monitored locations in

the UK were well below the carbon monoxide (CO) limit value set for the protection of

human health (10mg/m3). In addition, levels were below the lower assessment

threshold (set at 5mg/m3 or 50% of the limit value). This established no ongoing

requirement under the Air Quality Directive to continue monitoring for CO in ambient

air in the UK. A core network of seven monitoring sites has been maintained to

continue to observe ongoing trends.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit


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

Department (a) has carried out or (b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the






Department (a) has drafted or (b) is drafting a market access commission on the






George Eustice:


implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all

areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and

industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our department works

closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are

informed of our understanding of these issues.


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



George Eustice:


implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all

areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and

industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. Our department works

closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are

informed of our understanding of these issues.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Buildings

Deidre Brock: [118340]

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

location is and (b) running costs are for each building used by his Department.

George Eustice:

Please see the attached spreadsheet, which details the information requested.

This has been interpreted to be Core Defra occupations only, excluding its Executive

Agencies & the Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB’s). Where buildings are part

occupied, only the Core Defra proportion of total gross site costs are included.

We have reduced the number of buildings occupied by Core Defra from 29 to 26

since 2010. Running costs have fallen by a quarter, from £35,525,000 to £26,793,000

over the same period.





Attachments:

1. Defra Building costs [Copy of Core Defra Building Running Costs.xlsx]

Fisheries

Holly Lynch: [119878]

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

to bring forward proposals to support smaller scale fleets in the UK by allocating fishing

rights according to social and ecological criteria; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice:

We have taken measures in recent years to improve the economic viability of the

inshore fleet by awarding uplift quota to support the landing obligation, permanently

realigning quota from Producer Organisations to the inshore fleet. We have also

addressed latent capacity through a capping exercise to provide greater certainty to

those actively fishing in the inshore fleet. We will continue to review our allocation

policy to promote sustainable fishing.

Fisheries: Quotas

Alan Brown: [119697]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he last met

the hon. Member for Aberdeen South to discuss fishing quotas.

Alan Brown: [119699]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he last met

the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan to discuss fishing quotas.

George Eustice:

The Secretary of State regularly meets honourable members from across the house

to discuss a range of issues.

Fisheries: West Sussex

Sir Nicholas Soames: [118705]

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

Environment Agency is taking to replenish fish stocks off the coast of West Sussex.

George Eustice:

The Environment Agency’s remit includes the management of fisheries for specific

migratory stocks such as salmon and sea trout, and shellfish in the 6 mile zone. For

wider marine fish stocks that are present along the coast of West Sussex, the UK

Government remains committed to ensuring we have sustainable fisheries and a

healthy marine environment. This includes restoring and maintaining harvested fish

species at above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield. The

recent management of sea bass and skates and rays is representative of two key

stocks, with their geographic distribution including the east Channel, that reflect the

ongoing shared management progress towards meeting this commitment.





Sea bass are a key species for both anglers and the inshore fleet operating in the

east Channel, and have been in decline in EU waters north of 48° North, so have

been subject to EU management measures in recent years to recover the stock. At

the recent December Council negotiations for 2018 further restrictions on commercial

and recreational bass fishing were agreed. The UK aim was to ensure a fishing

mortality rate is applied that will help achieve an increase in the spawning stock for

the following year, which will support longer term recovery.

The main commercial skate and ray species in the Greater North Sea region, which

includes the east Channel, are recovering, and this supported our securing a 20%

increase to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in both of these areas for 2018.

Food: Waste


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

to discuss with major supermarket chains a proposal to make surplus food available to

the food-hungry and to food banks instead of its being treated as food waste; and if he

will make a statement.


Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) the Government is

working with food businesses and other stakeholders in a voluntary approach to

reduce food waste, and to help redistribution of edible food when surplus food cannot

be avoided.

All of the major supermarkets tell us they are carrying out initiatives aimed at

increasing store level redistribution, or looking at how to maximise distribution from

distribution centres or make it easier for their suppliers to redistribute surplus food.

Business signatories to the Courtauld 2025 Commitment, including manufacturers

and retailers, are aiming to double the amount of food surplus they send for

redistribution between 2015 and 2020.

Health Hazards: Pesticides

Angus Brendan MacNeil: [119884]

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

Department is taking to assess the costs of ill health caused by exposure to pesticides in

the UK.

George Eustice:

Pesticides are only authorised for use if a scientific risk assessment shows that they

are not expected to have a harmful effect on human health. Individual risk

assessments are reviewed at regular intervals, and the risk assessment process is

kept up to date at EU and national level to ensure that it reflects new knowledge and

the latest research. There are established monitoring schemes, such as that operated

by the National Poisons Information Service, which are designed to pick up possible



health effects. The results from these schemes indicate that the authorisation system

is working as intended.

Horses: Animal Welfare

Mr Mark Hendrick: [119835]

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

the Answer of 3 April 2017 to Question HL6413, on horses: animal welfare, what the

timetable is for the update to that code of practice.

George Eustice:

We are aiming to lay the Horse code before the end of this year.

Inland Waterways: Lancashire

Mark Menzies: [118373]

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

Environment Agency plans to spend on navigable waterways in Lancashire in each of the

next three years.

Mark Menzies: [118375]

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

Environment Agency has spent on navigable waterways in Lancashire in each of the last

five years.


The Environment Agency does not have navigation responsibility for any of the rivers

or canals in Lancashire and has no plans to invest in those waterways.

Pesticides

Angus Brendan MacNeil: [119882]

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

devolved assemblies will play in the UK’s new pesticide regulatory regime after the UK

leaves the EU.

George Eustice:

Currently, the EU regulatory regime for plant protection products (pesticides) creates

a consistent approach across the UK, but allows for the UK Government and

devolved administrations to make some different choices on implementation. We

have agreed with the devolved administrations to hold discussions on whether a

consistent approach might be needed in future.

To allow space for those detailed discussions to continue, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill

will replicate the current frameworks provided by EU rules in UK legislation, including

the pesticides regime.





Plastics: Seas and Oceans

Mr Alistair Carmichael: [119841]

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

his Department are responsible for dealing with reducing the levels of plastic in the

oceans.


Given the various sources of plastic that ends up in the marine environment and the

transboundary nature of the problem, Defra has a number of teams looking at how

we can reduce levels of plastic in the oceans.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: [119842]

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

the Government has made of potential human health hazards posed by rising levels of

plastic in the oceans.


The impact of plastic pollution on human health was assessed in a recent report by

the Government Science Office titled “Future of the Seas: Plastic Pollution”. This

found that the current evidence on the effect of microplastic pollution on human

health does not indicate that consumption of fish and shellfish is harmful to human

health. It also acknowledged that more work is needed to fully understand the impact

of microplastics and macroplastics on the marine environment and potential links to

human health.

Ritual Slaughter: Animal Welfare

Afzal Khan: [119581]

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

on recognising animals as sentient beings encroaches on the rights of religious minorities

to slaughter animals in accordance with Muslim and Jewish faith traditions.

George Eustice:

The Government’s policies on animal welfare have always been driven by the fact the

animals are sentient beings. The draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition

of Sentience) Bill published on 12 December 2017 for consultation gives absolute

clarity to that commitment. The draft bill does not affect the right of Jewish and

Muslim communities to eat meat from animals slaughtered in accordance with

religious rites. There are strict rules that govern the slaughter of animals in England

and additional rules which apply to animals slaughtered in accordance with religious

rites.

Rivers: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: [118647]

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

progress he has made on improving the cleanliness of the West Midlands's rivers.






The Environment Agency (EA) is leading on innovative ways to address diffuse

pollution using satellite, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and mapping data. The

EA also works with partners and stakeholders to improve the water environment in

England. An example is the Waterside Care Initiative, which supports local groups to

take practical action to address urban diffuse pollution and poor in-channel habitat.

The EA uses evidence to prioritise and target work in areas most at risk from

pollution, including both point and diffuse sources. The EA completes its regulatory

duties focusing on compliance and enforcement of main polluters. The EA also

provides advice and guidance through pollution prevention campaigns.

The EA also works with water companies to ensure environmental improvements are

delivered via their 5 year investment plans agreed with Ofwat. Severn Trent Water is

currently developing designs to improve 92 of its sewage treatment works in the West

Midlands.

In Coventry South constituency we are currently working with Warwickshire Wildlife

Trust who are developing the River Sherbourne Living Landscape Project. Potential

project work includes the removal of a culverted section of the river, other river

restoration opportunities and Natural Flood Management projects.

In the West Midlands Area, in 2016–17, the EA has delivered work designed to

enhance 205kms of rivers and streams. This equates to £1,544,000 worth of benefits

to the catchments concerned.

Rivers: West Sussex


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

progress he has made on improving the cleanliness of West Sussex rivers.


The Environment Agency (EA) works with partners and stakeholders to improve the

water environment.

The EA uses evidence to prioritise and target work in areas most at risk from

pollution, including both point and diffuse sources. The EA completes its regulatory

duties focusing on compliance and enforcement of main polluters. The EA also

provides advice and guidance through pollution prevention campaigns.

The EA works with and influences Water Companies (Southern Water, South East

Water and Portsmouth Water) to make environmental improvements through their

business planning processes. This results in further investigations and improvements

to Sewage Treatment Works and other works within river catchments.

The EA works with two Catchment Partnerships in West Sussex to align priorities and

develop joint initiatives to tackle water quality issues across the catchment areas.

Partnership projects in West Sussex have delivered 16km of rivers enhanced since

January 2016. The EA is working with a wide range of partners throughout West


Sussex on projects to be delivered over the next 3 years which will directly or

indirectly relate to water quality improvement in rivers. An example of solutions being

explored are natural flood management opportunities and working with the

landowners to intercept, store and filter run-off containing diffuse pollution.

Water Supply: Technology


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

Answer of 11 December 2017 to Question 117510, what discussions his Department has

had with Ofwat to ensure that water and sewerage companies adopt the latest technology

in leakage detection and that such technology provides value for money.


In its Price Review 2019 methodology (https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-

companies/price-review/2019-price-review-final-methodology/), Ofwat is challenging

companies to commit to achieving at least a 15% reduction in leakage, and to provide

a clear explanation where they cannot achieve such a reduction. Companies will

need to be both efficient and innovative in addressing leaks in their network. The

specific technologies chosen by the companies to detect and manage leaks is a

matter for them.

EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Borders: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: [115952]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent

representations he has made and discussions he has held with the EU on the future of

the UK-Ireland land border.

Mr Robin Walker:

The UK has made extensive representations on this issue throughout all negotiating

rounds with the European Commission. There is much agreement between the UK

and the EU on the proposals for how to address the unique circumstances of

Northern Ireland and Ireland in light of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The joint report between the UK and the EU makes clear our steadfast commitment

to the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement, including the principle of consent; the

continuation of the Common Travel Area and associated rights; and the vital objective

of avoiding any physical infrastructure on the land border between Northern Ireland

and Ireland. We are committed to finding a practical solution that recognises the

unique economic, social and political context of the land border between Northern

Ireland and Ireland. We are clear that we will not agree anything that threatens the

constitutional or economic integrity of the UK.



Department for Exiting the European Union: Brexit

Jo Platt: [118837]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department

has conducted market access assessments in respect of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:


implications of UK withdrawal from the EU.

The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a

wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with

the EU.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

John McNally: [118642]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the UK will remain

in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

We are considering the UK’s future participation in the EU ETS as part of delivering a

wider negotiated settlement that is in the best interests of the UK. There are a wide

range of options and we are assessing these carefully.

The government's clean growth strategy published in October set out our clear

commitment to continue growing our national income while cutting greenhouse gas

emissions.

The UK remains committed to domestic and international efforts to tackle climate

change and the UK's commitment to the Paris Climate Change Agreement is as

strong as ever.

Shipping: Coastal Areas

Brendan O'Hara: [118203]

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

Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) coastal communities

and (b) local economies with a significant marine sector.

Mr Robin Walker:

As part of our work preparing to make a success of our departure from the European

Union we are carrying out a full suite of analysis as you would expect a responsible

Government to do. This means looking at 58 sectors as well as cross-cutting

regulatory, economic and social issues to help inform our negotiating position..

We are examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range

of stakeholders. This sectoral analysis sits alongside regional and small business

engagement across the UK.




The Government’s Maritime and Ports sectoral report sets out a description of the

sector, the current EU regulatory regime, existing frameworks for how trade is

facilitated between countries in this sector and sector views. This report has been

made available for members of both Houses to read in a secure reading room.

We are committed to the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that

works for the entirety of the UK economy. We have been engaging with businesses

and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and parts of the UK in order to

inform our negotiations with the EU.

Trade Agreements

Mr Philip Hollobone: [119528]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to

ensure that the terms of the UK's new partnership with the EU after March 2019 enable

the UK to reach new free trade agreements with non-EU countries; and if he will make a

statement.

Mr Robin Walker:

Leaving the EU offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world:

to negotiate our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for

free trade.

As part of our preparations for exiting the EU the Government is consulting a wide

range of stakeholders on future trade agreements. The Government is currently

analysing responses to its Trade White Paper, and will return to Parliament with

proposals in the coming months.

The UK intends to pursue new trade negotiations with others during an

implementation period, though we would not bring into effect any new arrangements

with third countries that were not consistent with the terms of our agreement on an

implementation period with the EU.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Algeria: Protestantism

Mr Gregory Campbell: [119188]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, if he will make

representations to his counterpart in the Government of Algeria on the forced closure of a

Protestant Church in North West Algeria on 9 November 2017.

Alistair Burt:

The British Government is committed to supporting the freedom of people of all

religions to practise their beliefs in peace and safety. We are aware of the closure of

a church near Oran city on 9 November 2017. The church does not believe it has

broken the law. Our Embassy in Algiers will be asking the Algerian authorities about

this case.



Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Families


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

Answer of 30 November 2017 to Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking

to strengthen families.

Mark Field:

Her Majesty's Government recognises the important role played by families within

society. Accordingly, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has supported initiatives

at the UN which positively seek to recognise this, such as resolutions at the UN

General Assembly that celebrated and subsequently followed-up on the twentieth

anniversary of the international year of the family. The government is committed to

ensuring that individual freedom, rights and diversity are protected and promoted,

including with respect to families, as per the relevant articles of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights.

Gaza: Fisheries

Richard Burden: [118941]

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

discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the limits imposed on fishing off

the coast of the Gaza Strip.

Alistair Burt:

While we have not raised this issue recently with the Israeli authorities, we have

previously welcomed temporary extensions of fishing zones off Gaza, and continue to

encourage the Israeli authorities to implement further measures to improve the

situation in Gaza. The UK would like to see a permanent increase in the size of the

fishing zone off the coast of Gaza, in line with the limit of 20 nautical miles stipulated

in the Oslo accords.

Iraq: Marriage

Richard Burden: [119391]

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

representations he has made to the Government of Iraq on (a) instances of child

marriage in that country and (b) proposals on Iraq’s civil and family law governing child

marriage.

Alistair Burt:

We are concerned about child marriage and proposed changes to civil and family law

governing child marriage in Iraq. In November 2017 we urged the Government of Iraq

at senior levels to reconsider proposed amendments to legal provisions governing

marriage, which could have seen the age of marriage reduced to nine, and we issued

a public statement. The proposed amendments to the law were removed from the

Parliamentary agenda. We will continue to monitor the situation.




The UK is at the forefront of international efforts across the world to end Child and

Early Forced Marriage. Through DFID's global £39 million "Accelerating Action to End

Child Marriage" programme we are strengthening legal frameworks, and supporting

the necessary associated shift in behaviours to end the practice.

Papua: Human Rights

Catherine West: [118856]

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

Answer of 2 February 2017, to Questions 61719, what human rights observations and

findings Ambassador Moazzam Malik identified during his most recent visit to West

Papua; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field:

HMA Moazzam Malik visited Papua province in Indonesia from 14 until 18 November

2017 as part of his regular programme of travel around Indonesia. During the visit, he

met local government officials, civil society groups, businesses and local

communities. Economic development, sustainable forest management and human

rights were all discussed. President Joko Widodo's development agenda for Papua is

ambitious and we will continue to support sustainable development across the region.

During the visit the Ambassador raised concerns about freedom of expression, media

access, and the resolution of past human rights cases. We encourage full

investigations into all allegations of abuses.

Yemen: Baha'i Faith

Stephen Doughty: [118903]

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

has made of the number of people of the Baha’i faith currently being detained by the

Yemeni Government; and what information his Department holds on the charges under

which members of the Baha’i community are being detained.

Alistair Burt:

We are concerned about the treatment of the Baha'i community in Yemen, however,

due to the volatile and fluid situation in Yemen the UK does not have access to

sufficient information to allow us to make accurate assessments of the number of

Baha'is detained by either the Government of Yemen or the de facto Houthi

authorities, nor the charges under which they are detained.

HEALTH

Abortion


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount of

funding from the public purse allocated to the provision of abortion and abortion-related

services in the UK in 2016.




Jackie Doyle-Price:

Abortion services in England are commissioned locally by clinical commissioning

groups. Information on funding allocated locally for abortion services is not collected

centrally.

Abortion: Disability


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received

from disabled people about terminations on the grounds of disability.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department does not hold information on whether or not correspondents have a

disability.

Breastfeeding


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to implement

evidence-based initiatives that support breastfeeding across all maternity, health visiting,

neonatal and children’s centre services.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding through the Healthy Child

Programme, as the health benefits are clear for mothers and their babies. We would

still like to see more mothers breastfeeding and doing so for longer and are working

with our partners including Public Health England (PHE), NHS England and UNICEF

to achieve this goal.

The promotion of breast feeding is one of the six high-impact areas for health visiting,

with health visitors supporting parents around infant feeding. PHE is working with

local services to create breastfeeding friendly communities, with midwives and health

visitors promoting best practice, and through the Start4Life campaigns to provide

parents with trusted NHS advice. This includes the Start4Life ‘Breastfeeding Friend’

(an interactive Facebook Messenger ‘ChatBot’), and the Start4Life website. The latter

contains a range of leaflets and resources available which professionals can order for

free and provides a dedicated breastfeeding helpline.

PHE and UNICEF UK have developed a toolkit to support commissioning of

evidence-based interventions to improve breastfeeding rates across England,

including provision of effective professional support to mothers and their families

through implementation of the Baby Friendly Initiative in every maternity unit. PHE is

encouraging Local Maternity Systems across the country to include plans to increase

the number of babies breastfed at six months within their transformation plans.



British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Mary Glindon: [118930]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the report of the Care Quality

Commission into the Merseyside British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), what steps

he is taking to ensure that BPAS clinics operate good health and safety practices; and if

he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Since publication of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection report into the

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Merseyside clinic, BPAS Merseyside, the

CQC and Halton Clinical Commissioning Group have developed a local action plan to

address the concerns identified. The CQC is monitoring implementation of the action

plan through ongoing engagement with BPAS Merseyside.

All independent sector clinics wishing to perform termination of pregnancy, including

clinics run by BPAS, must be approved by the Secretary of State for Health and

registered with the CQC to undertake that regulated activity. Once registered, the

CQC monitors a provider’s compliance with the relevant requirements of the Health

and Social Care Act 2008 and regulations made under that Act.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Abortion Act 1967 (and associated

regulations), the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (and associated regulations)

and/or the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures for independent

sector abortion providers may lead to withdrawal of Secretary of State’s approval.

The Reviewed Standard Operating Procedures can be viewed at:


/final_updated_RSOPs_21_May_2014.pdf

The CQC may also take independent enforcement action under the Health and Social

Care Act 2008 which includes the power to suspend or cancel registration and pursue

prosecution.

Care Homes

Jonathan Ashworth: [119387]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of care homes have direct

access to clinical advice including appropriate on-site assessment in (a) March 2017 and

(b) October 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Information on local enhanced contracts is held at clinical commissioning group level

and is not centrally available.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/313443/final_updated_RSOPs_21_May_2014.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/313443/final_updated_RSOPs_21_May_2014.pdf


Clinical Trials


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS patients participated in a clinical

trial in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Over the five financial years from 2012/13 to 2016/17 the Department’s National

Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) has supported

the recruitment of 3,321,878 participants in England to clinical studies as follows:

2012/13 - 637,974

2013/14 - 604,216

2014/15 - 618,453

2015/16 - 605,596

2016/17 - 666,639

The NIHR CRN estimates that approximately 80% of these participants are patients,

with the remaining 20% being healthy volunteers, carers, healthcare professionals,

and others.

These figures are for recruitment to clinical trials plus other high quality research

studies.

European Medicines Agency


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK

Drug Licensing continues to be linked to the European Medicines Agency after the UK

leaves the EU to ensure that decisions by the two organisations are made to the same

timetable.

Ronnie Cowan: [119314]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had on

ensuring that decisions on the timetable for UK drug licensing remain linked to the

timetable for decisions to be made the European Medicines Agency after the UK leaves

the EU.

Steve Brine:

We recognise the important role that the European Medicines Agency plays in the

protection of human and animal health.

In the negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and

Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation

in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the EU.

The UK is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our

European partners. Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU




continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines and be

assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and

sharing of data. As my Rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has stated, we want deep,

broad and dynamic co-operation and in this context, the UK would like to find a way

to continue to collaborate with the EU, in the interests of public health and safety.

Foetal Death


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the

number of fetuses which were (a) incinerated, (b) cremated and (c) buried after induced

abortions at (i) NHS hospitals and (ii) independent abortion providers in 2016.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many foetuses were incinerated after

abortions at (a) NHS hospitals and (b) private abortion clinics in 2016.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

This information is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Justin Madders: [118955]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy to allow GP practices to

exclude patients from their register on the basis of pregnancy, age, substance

dependence or complexity?

Steve Brine:

Under the terms of their contracts, general practitioner (GP) practices must have

reasonable grounds to remove a patient from their practice list which do not relate to

the patient’s race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance,

disability or medical condition.

If a patient feels that the decision to remove them from their list relates to any of

these conditions, they may raise a complaint with NHS England. It is the role of NHS

England to ensure GP practices meet the terms of their contract.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2017 to

Question 112050 on General Practitioners: Attendance, whether it is permissible under

the General Medical Services contract for a GP Practice to exclude certain patients from

registering with that Practice.

Steve Brine:

Under the terms of their contracts, general practices may refuse an application to be

included in the practices’ list of registered patients.

They must have reasonable grounds for doing so, for example, where the patient

lives outside the practice boundary. However, the grounds for refusing to accept a





patient on the list must not relate to the patient’s race, gender, social class, age,

religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards are in place to prevent GP

practices targeting younger and healthier patients.

Steve Brine:

According to the General Medical Services contract, general practitioner practices

cannot refuse to accept a patient on to their list on the grounds of age, appearance,

disability or medical condition, gender or gender reassignment, marriage or civil

partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or

social class.

The service provided by GP at Hand is available for all patients to sign up to if they

live within the practice area. Patients may also register as ‘out of area’ patients i.e.

where they live outside of practice area but work within London travel zones 1 to 3. In

such cases, practices should consider whether it is clinically appropriate to accept a

patient onto their list – taking into account the individual needs of the patient.


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

extent to which GP practices target younger and healthier patients; and if he will make a

statement.

Steve Brine:

According to the General Medical Services contract, general practitioner practices

cannot refuse to accept a patient on to their list on the grounds of age, appearance,

disability or medical condition, gender or gender reassignment, marriage or civil

partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or

social class.

The service provided by GP at Hand is available for all patients to sign up to if they

live within the practice area. Patients may also register as ‘out of area’ patients i.e.

where they live outside of practice area. In such cases, practices should consider

whether it is clinically appropriate to accept a patient onto their list – taking into

account the individual needs of the patient.

General Practitioners: Advertising


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy to allow GP practices to

undertake advertising campaigns.

Steve Brine:

Providing information to patients is an important part of general practice as this

enables patients to understand the services available.




Currently, there is no national guidance around the advertising of general practitioner

(GP) services. However, the joint Royal College of General Practitioners and General

Practitioners Committee guidance states that information about GP medical services

must be factual and verifiable. The guidance also states GP practices must not make

unjustifiable claims about the quality or outcomes of their services in any information

they provide to patients. They must not put pressure on people to use a service, for

instance, by arousing ill-founded fears for their future health. The guidance further

states that the information provided by a practice should avoid making comparisons

with others.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to limit the proportion

of NHS funding that GP practices are permitted to spend on advertising campaigns.

Steve Brine:

General practitioners are independent contractors and we do not routinely specify

how they manage their practice budgets to deliver the services that NHS England

commissions from them.

General Practitioners: Attendance



Question 112050 on General Practitioners: Attendance, whether his officials have

requested that Dr Jeffries and Partners advise patients with certain conditions to seek

advice before registering with the GP at hand service.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, Pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2017 to

Question 112050 on General Practitioners: Attendance, which NHS body advised that the

GP at hand service may not be suitable for certain categories of patients.

Steve Brine:

In accordance with the general practitioner choice guidance published by NHS

England, all practices choosing to register patients who live outside of their practice

boundary area should ensure that it is clinically appropriate and practical for a patient

to be registered with them.

More information can be found in the document “Guidance on the new out of area

patient registration arrangements”. This document can be accessed through the link

below:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Guide-out-area-reg-

1214.pdf




https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Guide-out-area-reg-1214.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Guide-out-area-reg-1214.pdf

General Practitioners: Digital Technology


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with Clinical

Commissioning Groups on commissioning digital GP services.

Steve Brine:

The Department and the National Health Service want to ensure that all patients have

access to high quality primary care when they need it. Technological advances mean

there are now more innovative ways patients can access health services and we are

exploring how we can make the most of those.

NHS England has committed £45 million to clinical commissioning groups to enable

general practices to provide online consultation as part of their service offer. They will

be able to procure systems to support these services from a nationally developed

shortlist.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London



Question 112168, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, which non-compliance

clauses have been triggered by the later than originally planned start date in the e-service

contract for the London Sexual Health Transformation Programme .



Question 112168, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, if he will confirm when he

expects the evaluation framework for the online e-service as part of the London Sexual

Health Transformation Programme to be completed, and if he will place a copy in the

Library.



Question 112168, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, what interim measures

for physical or online service delivery have been put in place as a result of the delayed

commencement of the online e-service contract; which London boroughs have

implemented interim measures and what the costs of interim measures are for each

borough.



Question 112168, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, if it remains his

Department's policy for the the online e-service of the London Sexual Health

Transformation Programme to commence in January 2018; and whether a later

commencement date would be considered a breach of contract.






Steve Brine:

Responsibility for commissioning open access sexual health services is devolved to

local authorities through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Public Health England

does not engage in the detailed procurement process of individual services.

Delivery of the London Sexual Health Transformation Programme e-service is the

responsibility of local authorities and it is for local authority commissioners to

determine the start date for the service and when an evaluation framework will be

made available. It is anticipated that the e-service will commence in January 2018.

Where interim service arrangements are required locally ahead of commencement of

the e-service they will be agreed and implemented by the relevant local authority. Any

cost linked to these interim measures will vary depending on local arrangements.



Question 112169, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, whether the value of the

contract for the e-healthcare service procured as part of the London Sexual Health

Transformation Programme has been altered as a result of the delay to the

implementation of that service.

Steve Brine:


local authorities through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Information on the

detail of local authority procurement processes is not held centrally.



Question 111309, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, if he will place in the

Library the specialist advice given to the London Sexual Health Transformation

Programme by Public Health England on (a) best practice, (b) behavioural change

approaches and (c) the evaluation and development of service standards.



Question 111309, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, how much funding from

the Public Health England budget has been allocated to support the London Sexual

Health Transformation Programme.



Question 111309, on Genito-urinary Medicine: Greater London, whether the delay to the

commencement of the online e-service as part of the London Sexual Health

Transformation Programme was a result (a) the service provider (b) commissioners.

Steve Brine:

Co-commissioning and collaboration by commissioners offers an efficient way for

delivery of sexual health services. To support commissioning bodies to ensure the





delivery of high quality sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services, in line

with their responsibilities set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Public

Health England (PHE) produced the Making It Work guidance in 2015. It is available

at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-sexual-health-

reproductive-health-and-hiv-services

Specialist advice to the London Sexual Health Transformation Programme has been

provided by PHE as part of the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to the

programme on an ongoing basis. This included advice on the clinical specification as

part of the

multidisciplinary clinical advisory group which produced a template specification for

physical clinical services. Unwritten advice has been given on the evaluation which

we would expect to produce written products in due course.

PHE has not allocated funding to support the London Sexual Health Transformation

Programme.


local authorities through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. PHE does not engage

in the detailed procurement process of individual services but we understand

arrangements for physical or online service delivery are being put in place locally.

GP at Hand


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 November 2017 to

Question 112050, whether patients with dementia are entitled to register with the GP at

hand service.

Steve Brine:

People with dementia may sign up to the GP at Hand service. However, the practice

may advise those patients choosing to sign up to the service who live out of area, to

register with a practice closer to where they live, if clinically appropriate.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average age is of patients registered

with the GP at hand service?

Steve Brine:

We are unable to provide this information as it is not held centrally.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from the

(a) Royal College of General Practitioners and (b) the British Medical Council on the GP

at hand service targeting younger and healthier patients.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-sexual-health-reproductive-health-and-hiv-services

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-sexual-health-reproductive-health-and-hiv-services




Steve Brine:

NHS England has been in open discussions with both the Royal College of General

Practitioners and the British Medical Association (BMA) about any issues raised with

regard to the GP at Hand service, and has provided written responses to questions

raised by the BMA.

Health Insurance: Japan


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what examination his Department has made of

the system of long-term care insurance in Japan; and what conclusions have been

reached as a result of that examination.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what models of long-term care used in other

countries his Department has examined; and what conclusions he has drawn from that

examination.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The ageing population presents one of our nation’s most profound challenges, raising

critical questions as to how as a society we enable all adults to live well into later life

and how we deliver sustainable public services that support them to do so.

An ageing society means that we need to reach a longer-term sustainable settlement

for social care. This is why the Government is committing to publishing a Green

Paper by summer 2018 setting out its proposals for reform. An Inter-Ministerial

Group, chaired by the First Secretary of State, is overseeing this work.

This Government wants to take the time to consult and build consensus a long-term,

sustainable settlement for the future, which includes looking at the quality of care

being delivered, the funding of the system and how it will be paid for in the round.

This will include looking to experiences in other countries to inform our proposals.

Whilst international comparisons of different funding systems are being actively

explored in preparation for the Green Paper, there are significant circumstantial

differences which make it difficult to directly compare the British and Japanese

systems.

Hepatitis


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to publish a

strategy to eliminate hepatitis C.

Steve Brine:

The Government is committed to meeting the World Health Organization target of

eliminating hepatitis C by 2030 but there are no plans at this time to publish a

strategy to eliminate hepatitis C. A variety of initiatives are underway in England to

improve awareness and case finding, re-engagement and linkage to care, especially




in drug services, primary care, prisons and accident and emergency centres. In

addition, NHS England is funding access to new hepatitis C treatments in accordance

with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England's press release

of 28 July 2016 entitled World Hepatitis Day: a chance to reflect on achievements to date

and redouble efforts, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on

developing more innovative, longer-term proposals for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Steve Brine:

Following a procurement process that concluded in September 2017, NHS England

has secured further improvements in pricing of hepatitis C treatments, including

through an innovative ‘pay per cure’ approach. NHS England’s detailed work to

design an innovative, longer-term approach to hepatitis C treatment procurement has

continued and it is anticipated that this will be shared with suppliers early in 2018.

NHS England spent in excess of £200 million on direct acting antivirals for hepatitis C

in 2016-17 and is funding access to new hepatitis C treatments in accordance with

guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, apportioned to

local Operational Delivery Networks based on estimated local health needs.

NHS England is planning a sustainable roll out of treatment which will complete the

treatment of 71,000 individuals between 2015/16 and 2020/21.

Commercial and contractual activity undertaken by NHS England is already securing

reduced prices to allow expanded treatment rates within available resources.

Various initiatives are underway in England to improve awareness and case finding,

re-engagement and linkage to care, especially in drug services, primary care, prisons

and accident and emergency centres recognising the challenges inherent in a

pathway where there are multiple commissioners and providers and budgetary

constraints.

Hepatitis: Health Education


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

awareness of hepatitis C among black and minority ethnic groups.

Steve Brine:

Public Health England has developed and shared materials with a range of

stakeholders, including the voluntary sector, to help raise awareness of hepatitis C

infection and highlight the need for those at risk to seek testing and treatment. The

resources and materials available comprise of posters, a quiz, social media videos

and social banners in a variety of different languages; all of these resources are

available online to download or order by healthcare professionals as well as the

public themselves.



A £2 million National Institute for Health Research programme grant evaluating

different approaches to identifying black and ethnic people with chronic viral hepatitis

is currently being completed by Professor Foster and his team at Queen Mary

University of London. Data from this trial will be used to inform our decisions about

the best way to improve engagement with these communities who are at above

average risk from these infections.

Incinerators: Health Hazards


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date the study on incinerators by the

Small Area Health Statistics Unit will be published.

Steve Brine:

It is expected that papers from the project will be submitted by the Small Area Health

Statistics Unit to peer reviewed journals in early 2018, and it is likely that the papers

will be published a few months after submission.

Infant Foods


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has to develop a

national infant feeding strategy board.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish a national infant

feeding strategy and implementation plan.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

There are currently no plans to develop a national infant feeding strategy board or to

publish a national infant feeding strategy and implementation plan.

Influenza


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contingency arrangements are in place to

ensure that the NHS is prepared for an influenza epidemic.

Mr Philip Dunne:

We know the National Health Service is facing increased pressure this winter and

that is why we planned earlier this year than ever before. The NHS has robust plans

in place to cope with winter supported by £435 million and £1 billion of funding for the

social care system this year to be spent on meeting adult social care needs,

supporting the social care market and reducing pressure on the NHS this year.

Influenza vaccination remains the best protection against flu, and are being offered to

everyone over the age of 65 years, those who are at particular risk to flu, and

pregnant women, at the earliest opportunity. Influenza vaccination should also be

offered to all frontline healthcare workers. NHS England has made funding available





to support the vaccination of care workers in the independent and voluntary social

care sector.

This year all children between 2-8 years of age are being offered the nasal spray

vaccine to help protect them and their families against influenza.

Every trust has developed plans for this coming winter. These have been quality

assured by the named NHS England and NHS Improvement Regional Directors

responsible in that area. The operational pressures escalation levels framework is

used by local NHS organisations throughout the year to help monitor operational

pressures across local systems. In addition NHS England uses a range of data

sources throughout winter to help monitor performance and ensure appropriate

responses to specific pressures.

Liver Diseases: Health Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the

proportion of patients with decompensated cirrhosis seen by a specialist (i) within 24

hours and (ii) up to 72 hours after being admitted to hospital, (b) levels of adherence by

hospitals to the Decompensated Cirrhosis Care Bundle, (c) the extent of access to 24-

hour emergency endoscopy for patients with decompensated cirrhosis, (d) the proportion

of patients with decompensated cirrhosis undergoing a nutritional assessment within 48

hours of hospital admission and (e) the quality of end-of-life care for patients with

advanced liver disease.

Steve Brine:

This information is not routinely collected. However, NHS England is committed to

improving the care of patients with decompensated liver disease and has a priority

work programme examining new approaches to managing such patients, including

establishing specialised centres to improve patient care. As part of this on-going

work, a national dashboard for liver disease is being established that will allow close

monitoring of hospital performance in this area.

Whilst there is no specific assessment available for the quality of end of life care for

patients with advanced liver disease, international comparisons rate the United

Kingdom as the best country in the world for end of life care.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department collects data to assess

the access of patients with liver disease to multidisciplinary alcohol care teams.

Steve Brine:

There is no specific data available detailing the access of patients with liver disease

to multidisciplinary alcohol care teams. In 2014 and 2016, Public Health England

undertook national surveys of district general hospitals to further understand the

number, capacity, and practices of alcohol care teams.

The results of the 2014 survey were published at:



https://www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/News/-Alcohol-care-in-Englands-hospitals-

An-opportunity-not-to-be-wasted-has-been-published-/

The results of the 2016 survey are due to be published in spring 2018.

Marie Stopes International: Maidstone

Mary Glindon: [118929]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Care Quality Commission

report into the Marie Stopes International Maidstone, Centre published in October 2017, if

he plans to withdraw that Centre's licence to perform abortions: and if he will make a

statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Marie Stopes International’s (MSI) Maidstone centre continues to be approved to

perform abortions by the Secretary of State for Health and is also registered by the

Care Quality Commission (CQC) to perform the regulated activity of termination of

pregnancy. The CQC’s October 2017 report relates to an inspection undertaken in

2016. Since then, MSI’s Maidstone Centre has been re-inspected and another report

will be published in due course.

MSI is continuing to take a range of actions to address the issues identified in the

CQC’s report and the CQC has made clear that it will not hesitate to take further

action, if necessary, in order to guarantee MSI meets the appropriate standards of

care.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Care Quality Commission

report on the Marie Stopes International clinic in Maidstone, whether he plans to exercise

his right to withdraw the licence to perform abortions from that abortion provider.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Marie Stopes International’s (MSI) Maidstone centre continues to be approved to

perform abortions by the Secretary of State for Health and is also registered by the

Care Quality Commission (CQC) to perform the regulated activity of termination of

pregnancy. The CQC’s October 2017 report relates to an inspection undertaken in

2016. Since then, MSI’s Maidstone centre has been re-inspected and another report

will be published in due course.

MSI is continuing to take a range of actions to address the issues identified in the

CQC’s report and the CQC has made clear that it will not hesitate to take further

action, if necessary, in order to guarantee MSI meets the appropriate standards of

care.

https://www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/News/-Alcohol-care-in-Englands-hospitals-An-opportunity-not-to-be-wasted-has-been-published-/

https://www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/News/-Alcohol-care-in-Englands-hospitals-An-opportunity-not-to-be-wasted-has-been-published-/



Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: [119764]

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

that current levels of service quality are maintained for patients seeking mental health

treatment between 2017 and 2020.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

In October 2017, NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

launched a national mental health patient safety initiative. It will be supported by a

national mental health quality improvement programme, led by NHS Improvement

and informed by the CQC intelligence as part of a joint strategic objective to ensure a

shared view of quality. All mental health providers will be involved in this initiative,

which has an emphasis on shared learning and the embedding of sustainable quality

improvement approaches as integral to the way mental health services are delivered

across the sector.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 all providers of regulated activities,

including National Health Service and independent mental health providers, have to

register with the CQC and follow a set of fundamental standards of safety and quality

below which care should never fall. If the CQC is not satisfied with the quality of

services provided it can take action against the provider, from issuing warning notices

to, ultimately, cancelling a provider’s registration.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luciana Berger: [119768]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to support the mental health

needs of children and young people in the next 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Children and young people’s mental health is a top priority for this Government which

is why we are making an additional £1.4 billion available from 2015/16 to 2019/20 to

transform children and young people’s mental health services. This additional money

provides funding for clinical commissioning groups and various national programmes,

including improving crisis support, expanding the workforce and tackling stigma. The

additional money will also be used to improve access to services, with the indicative

trajectory for 2018/19 (as set out in NHS England’s implementation plan for their

“Five Year Forward View for Mental Health” being for an additional 49,000 additional

children to access mental health treatment, rising to 70,000 by 2020/21. Bed

numbers in the existing Mother and Baby units will increase so that overall capacity

increased by 49% in 2018/19.

Our recent joint Department of Health and Department for Education Green Paper,

Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision, will be

supported by over £300 million and aims to improve provision of services in schools,

bolster links between schools and the National Health Service, and pilot a four week



waiting time. The consultation period will end in March 2018 and we will subsequently

analyse responses to inform implementation of the proposals.

Mental Health: Females

Carolyn Harris: [118978]

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

Mental Health Trusts consider the needs of women who have suffered mental health

needs as a result of abuse.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The focus of the Government’s mental health service transformation is supporting

equitable access to high quality care for all people. Local areas are required to

consider their local population’s needs, including access to services based on clinical

need, when they commission and provide services and support.

The Department funded NatCen to review the evidence to optimise outcomes for

victims of violence and abuse and to suggest effective responses to address the long

term impact of violence and abuse. This project reported in 2015, since then a

number of tools and briefing guides have been developed by NatCen for use by

mental health professionals, trust managers and commissioners.

In 2017 the Government set up the Women’s Mental Health Taskforce, with the

objective of developing proposals and delivering action collaboratively to improve

women’s mental health. One of the areas the Taskforce will be looking at is women’s

mental health in regard to violence and abuse.

The Women’s Taskforce is chaired by myself and Katherine Sacks-Jones, Director of

Agenda.

Neuromuscular Disorders: Mental Health Services


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

of the provision of psychological support for adults with (a) muscular dystrophy and (b)

neuromuscular conditions.

Steve Brine:

No specific assessment has been made. Guidance from the National Institute for

Health and Care Excellence has been published for a number of neuromuscular

disorders, and where appropriate, the guidance makes recommendations about

access to psychological and counselling support for patients. In addition, NHS

England has also set out that specialised care for patients with neuromuscular

disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, should provide access to psychologists

and/or counsellors.

NHS England is also working with the Neurological Alliance in support of the new

national Neurology Advisory Group, which is considering ways to reduce variation

and drive improvement in neurological care. This includes looking at issues such as



psychological support, which were recently raised in the report Parity of esteem for

people affected by neurological conditions: meeting the emotional, cognitive & mental

health needs of neurology patients, published by the Neurological Alliance on 5 July

2017.

Finally, as set out in Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health,

published in July 2016, the expansion of psychological therapies services will require

building skills and capacity in the workforce. This includes: top-up training in new

competencies for long-term conditions (relevant to people with neuromuscular

disorders and other long term health problems) and medically unexplained symptoms

for current staff; targeted training in working with older people; and training new staff

to increase overall capacity – such as the 3,000 additional mental health therapists

located in primary care.

Obesity: Health Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department collects data to assess

the performance of GPs in managing obesity in primary care.

Steve Brine:

There is an indicator in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) related to

general practices holding a register of obese patients. The contractor establishes and

maintains a register of patients aged 18 years and over who have presented with a

Body Mass Index of over 30 in the preceding 12 months. These indicators do not

relate to performance of general practices in dealing with obesity.

The QOF is a voluntary annual reward and incentive programme for all general

practice surgeries in England, detailing practice achievement results. Prevalence

data on 21 conditions is recorded and can be broken down sub-nationally to regional

and general practice level. Information is voluntarily provided by 95.4% of general

practices in England.

QOF is part of the General Medical Services contracting arrangements. There may

be similar schemes developed locally for Personal Medical Services (PMS) and

Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) practices. However, as PMS and

APMS are locally negotiated contracts, these are a matter for agreement between

NHS England and the contractor concerned.

Rare Diseases

Thangam Debbonaire: [118774]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure

that researchers in the UK can continue to access pan-EU patient cohorts for rare

disease and other special populations after the UK has withdrawn from the EU; and if he

will make a statement.



Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future

Partnership Paper, emphasises the importance of continued collaboration with

European partners to ensure that the United Kingdom remains one of the best places

in the world for science and innovation. European Reference Networks for rare

diseases were cited in the paper as an example of a partnership that the UK believes

should continue.

A key principle for the Government is that patients should not be put at a

disadvantage as a result of European Union-exit.

Rare Diseases: Medical Treatments


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

pharmaceutical companies on the provision of treatments for rare diseases.

Steve Brine:

Departmental Ministers and officials regularly hold meetings and discussions with

pharmaceutical companies to discuss a range of issues, including the availability of

treatments for rare diseases.

Slaughterhouses: Inspections

Kerry McCarthy: [118904]


Question 115457, whether a slaughterhouse is allowed to continue operating after

receiving an unsatisfactory audit result, before the performance of the slaughterhouse

has been seen to have or have not improved, whilst follow-up audits and unannounced

inspections are occurring.

Steve Brine:

A slaughterhouse may be allowed to continue operating after receiving an audit

outcome of ‘Improvement Necessary’ or ‘Urgent Improvement Necessary’. However,

if the Food Standards Agency believes there is an imminent risk to public health or

there are serious breaches in animal welfare standards it can suspend the business

from operating immediately until such time as the issues identified have been

resolved or the approval is withdrawn.

Kerry McCarthy: [118905]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) slaughterhouses and (b) other

meat establishments audited by the Food Standards Agency have (i) received one

unsatisfactory audit result, (ii) received more than one successive unsatisfactory audit

result, (iii) had their approval withdrawn as a result of an unsatisfactory audit result and

(iv) been audited in the last seven years.

Steve Brine:

The information requested is as follows:




Slaughterhouses:

- 65 slaughterhouses have received one unsatisfactory audit result;

- 70 slaughterhouses have received more than one successive; unsatisfactory audit

result;

- One slaughterhouse has had their approval withdrawn following an unsatisfactory

audit; and

- The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has audited 467 slaughterhouses.

Other Meat Establishments:

- 67 other meat establishments have received one unsatisfactory audit result;

- 35 other meat establishments have received more than one successive

unsatisfactory audit result;

- Four other meat establishments have had their approval withdrawn following an

unsatisfactory audit; and

- The FSA has audited 1,220 other meat establishments.

Social Services: Finance

Emma Reynolds: [119796]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Social Care Funding Reform Impact

Assessment of 3 February 2015 is the most recent impact assessment on social care

funding reform.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The most recent impact assessment on social care funding reform is the Social Care

Funding Reform Impact Assessment of 3 February 2015.

Social Services: Oxfordshire

Layla Moran: [119326]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve working

conditions in the social care sector in Oxfordshire.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

Social care employers are responsible for the working conditions in their

organisations. Employers are best placed to identify and make improvements,

through staff engagement activity, and partnership working with staff and their

representatives, to ensure working conditions help attract and retain staff with the

skills and values to deliver health and social care services to local people.

The Department works in partnership with Skills for Care, the adult social care sector

skills council, to improve the working conditions of people employed in the social care

sector. This is achieved through encouraging value based recruitment, providing

multiple entry points and attractive career pathways, and sharing best practice on



optimal working conditions. The introduction of the National Living Wage will make

the profession more attractive and is expected to benefit 900,000 social care staff.

Strokes: Medical Treatments


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government plans to take to (a)

promote innovation within the NHS and (b) support existing initiatives for innovation (i)

stroke treatment and mechanical thrombectomy techniques and (ii) other areas?


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

whether the number of interventional neuroradiologists trained to perform mechanical

thrombectomy is sufficient to meet national need.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support he plans to offer to regions unlikely

to benefit from new mechanical thrombectomy innovations as a result of lacking trained

interventional neuroradiologists?

Steve Brine:

Thrombectomy cannot be provided without the staff equipped to deliver it. NHS

England’s priority is therefore to develop well-staffed and effective units capable of

delivering safe care. NHS England is supporting networking between thrombectomy

centres to cover extended daytime hours while service development is under

discussion in each of the regions. Full 24/7 implementation of this relatively new

technique across the country will take time. NHS England will explore the possibility

of providing care to patients in remote areas using helicopter transfer.

NHS England is initially proposing to set up 24 thrombectomy centres providing care

24 hours a day, seven days a week which would require a minimum of five

interventional clinicians for each centre (120 clinicians). Ultimately NHS England

expects to need at least 30 centres to provide equitable geographical coverage, so

would therefore need 150 interventionists.

To strengthen the available workforce, models of training are being discussed by

Health Education England (HEE) and the General Medical Council (GMC). HEE is

supportive of these models of training, which will consider interventional radiologists

who are already registered as interventional radiologists and have an interest in

neuro-intervention. This would form a two year training programme. The second

element of this work is a credential model in collaboration with the GMC. The GMC

are supportive of this work. Discussions have started to achieve a credentialing

model for other appropriate consultant staff.




Urinary Tract Infections

Catherine West: [119052]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department’s policy is on the

commissioning of new clinical research on (a) testing regimes for urinary tract infections

and (b) treatment methods for urinary tract infections?

Steve Brine:

The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding

applications for research into any aspect of human health, including urinary tract

infections; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or

conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition,

with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and

health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all areas, the

amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.

There have been five NIHR-funded projects regarding urinary tract infection (UTI)

testing published recently from five different universities.

In England, it is the responsibility of National Health Service commissioners to make

decisions on individual treatments for UTIs on the basis of the available evidence,

taking into account guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care

Excellence (NICE) where available. NICE guidance is always evidence based,

adhering to the latest clinical thinking and research to determine the best treatment

for patients.

The Department, through the NIHR, is funding the PRINCESS and ALTAR studies

into the treatment of UTIs, and will receive any publications resulting from the work.

Both projects are ongoing and the Department looks forward to seeing the results

when they are completed.

HOME OFFICE

101 Calls: Fees and Charges

Ben Lake: [119829]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make the non-

emergency police phone number 101 a free-to-use service.

Mr Nick Hurd:

There is no obligation on telecom service providers to supply the 101 service free of

charge as is the case with 999 under the 2003 Communications Act.

Calls to 101 cost 15p from mobile devices and landlines, regardless of duration. They

are free from payphones.



Abortion: Clinics


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce

legislative proposals to protect abortion clinics from on-going demonstrations outside their

premises; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Secretary announced on 26 November that she has ordered a review into

harassment and intimidation near abortion clinics following concerns about the

aggressive tactics of some campaigners.

The Review will gather evidence from police forces, healthcare providers, local

authorities, from representative groups of the clients and also those engaging in

protests and demonstrations, before considering what further action the government

can take to protect those using or working in abortion clinics.

Abortion: Freedom of Expression


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is

taking to ensure the protection of the right of freedom of expression for people who are

opposed to the practice of abortion.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Secretary announced on 26 November that she has ordered a review into

harassment and intimidation near abortion clinics following concerns about the

aggressive tactics of some campaigners.

The Review will gather evidence from police forces, healthcare providers, local

authorities, from representative groups of the clients and also those engaging in

protests and demonstrations.

Disability: Bullying

Chris Elmore: [116316]

To ask the Home Secretary, what assessment she has made of the level of bullying

reported against disabled people.

Victoria Atkins:

The Government is very clear that bullying is unwanted and offensive behaviour and

should not be tolerated in any sector of our society. There is no doubt that bullying

can be detrimental to the health and well-being of any person who experiences it.

Although the very nature of bullying means that it is often a very subjective term,

which makes it hard to legislate for, the harassment provisions of the Equality Act

2010 make it clear that any ‘unwanted or prohibited conduct’ related to a protected

characteristic (including disability), which violates an individual’s dignity or creates an

intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them, is




unlawful. Bullying behaviours may also, in some circumstances, be proscribed by the

victimisation provisions of the Act.

The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) record the number of calls they

receive about harassment and victimisation of disabled people and have reported

that, between 1 October 2016, when the current EASS contract started, and 31

October 2017 there were 590 contacts from disabled people about harassment or

victimisation, out of a total of 11,817 disability-related calls.

In 2016/17 5,558 disability hate crimes were recorded by the police. Not all incidents

of bullying will be classed as hate crimes or even reported to the police; however,

there may be some instances that escalate to become disability hate crimes.

Fire and Rescue Services: Pay

Chris Williamson: [119393]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral

contribution of the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service of 20 November 2017,

Official Report, column 712, what the evidential basis is for the £616 million of reserves

cited.

Chris Williamson: [119396]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral

contribution of the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service of 20 November 2017,

Official Report, column 713, what the evidential basis is for the £2.3 billion of public

money in the fire service cited.

Mr Nick Hurd:

DCLG publish financial information from all local authorities. The information on Fire

and Rescue Authority reserves as at March 2017 can be found at the following link;

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-

financing-england-2016-to-2017-individual-local-authority-data-outturn.

Fire and Rescue is funded via revenue support grant (RSG), retained business rates

and council tax (precept). Fire and Rescue also receive national resilience grants

directly from the Home Office which in 2017/18 are worth £28m. DCLG settlement

documents showing allocations for RSG and business rates can be found here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-finance-report-2017-

to-2018. DCLG also publishes core spending power for all local authorities (core

spending power includes revenue support grant, retained business rates and council

tax). This can be found at the following link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-final-local-

government-finance-settlement-2017-to-2018



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-finance-report-2017-to-2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-finance-report-2017-to-2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2017-to-2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2017-to-2018

Fire and Rescue Services: Statistics


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to provide a

set formula for how Fire and Rescue Authorities collect data on fire and non-fire incidents.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Since 2009 all GB Fire and Rescue Services have collected fire and non-fire incident

data using the web based Incident Recording System which provides a standard

template and is supported by detailed guidance about how to complete the form.

Firearms: Licensing


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8

September 2017 to Question 6341, when she expects to make a decision on fees for

firearm and shotgun licences administered by the police.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Fees for firearm and shotgun licences issued by the police remain under review.

These were last increased in 2015 to enable police forces to achieve full cost

recovery when a new online licensing system becomes operational. Work is

continuing on this, including whether improvements can be made to the existing IT

system. We are not proposing to make changes to the fees until further progress has

been made on this.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has

made of the effectiveness of current firearms legislation in controlling the risk to the public

from the legal ownership of firearms.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The firearms licensing system is kept under review to safeguard against abuse and to

maintain public safety. We have taken forward a range of measures to strengthen the

controls including:

- two new offences to tighten controls on deactivated firearms and imitation firearms

in the Policing and Crime Act 2017;

- a consultation on defining antique firearms in statute, to provide legal clarity and

prevent them falling into criminal hands. Responses to the consultation are currently

being considered;

- a consultation on proposals to prohibit two types of firearm of particular concern:

large calibre rifles and certain rapid firing rifles. Responses to the consultation are

currently being considered; and,

- we have commenced a review of the regulation of air weapons.




The Government will continue to keep firearms legislation under review to ensure it

remains effective in preventing misuse, while ensuring lawful owners can continue to

use their firearms safely.

Fraud

Louise Haigh: [119333]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the new economic crime

strategic board will be instituted.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written

Statement of 11 December 2017, on economic crime and anti-corruption, HCWS329,

what funding has been allocated to the new national economic crime centre.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff will be employed

to work at the national economic crime centre.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the written

ministerial statement of 11 December on Economic crime and anti-corruption, HCWS329,

how many people will be employed in the team dedicated to use the power in the

Criminal Finances Act 2017 to forfeit criminal money held in suspended bank accounts.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written

Ministerial Statement of the 11 December 2017, HCWS329, on Economic crime and anti-

corruption, how much additional funding she plans to allocate to the (a) Serious Fraud

Office and (b) National Crime Agency.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The new National Economic Crime Centre has £6m in funding allocated to it in the

18/19 financial year. The Home Office is working with partners across government,

law enforcement, regulators and the private sector on the design of the National

Economic Crime Centre. It is too early in the design and build process to confirm final

staffing numbers.

Home Office and law enforcement agencies are working together to determine the

size of the team that will lead the work to use the power in the Criminal Finances Act

2017 to forfeit criminal money held in suspended bank accounts. We have not yet

determined the exact size of that team.

Decisions on the overall funding of the SFO, NCA and other law enforcement

agencies is agreed through the Spending Review process.

The inaugural meeting of the Economic Crime Strategic Board will take place in the

first quarter of 2018.






Home Office: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-UK EU nationals

started employment in her Department since 23 June 2016.

Brandon Lewis:

All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to

work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as

part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to

retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.

Members: Correspondence

Bill Esterson: [119378]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to answer the

recent correspondence from Paul Robinson a constituent of the hon. Member for Sefton

Central related to the Hillsborough disaster.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Office has no record of receiving recent correspondence from Paul

Robinson.

Police: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has

had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changes to police pay in 2018-19.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The Home Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Police Remuneration Review Body on

7 December asking them to conduct their annual review of police pay for the 2018-19

pay round. Discussions with the Chancellor on the pay round for 2018-19 will be held

in due course.

Stop and Search: Ports and Airports

Afzal Khan: [119582]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will direct Her

Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to review (a) the use by the police of powers in

Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2007 to stop and search people at ports and airports and

(b) whether those powers are used disproportionately on ethnic minority groups.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS)

runs an annual public consultation on its inspection programme through which we

ensure the inspectorate is sighted on Ministerial priorities





The programme is approved by the Home Secretary before it is published.

The exercise of police powers such as Schedule 7 is already annually reviewed by

the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (IRTL), who reports on the

operation of the Terrorism Act 2000 and powers including Schedule 7.

All police forces refer complaints alleging discriminatory use of Schedule 7 powers to

the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for investigation. IPCC

investigations are part of the evidence considered by the IRTL.

In his annual review of 2013 IRTL David Anderson QC reported that he had “no

reason to believe that Schedule 7 powers are exercised in a racially discriminatory

way”, a view he repeated in subsequent reports. The first report of the current IRTL

Max Hill QC is yet to issue.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department for International Development: Families


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of

30 November 2017 to Question HL3576, what steps her Department is taking to

strengthen families.

Rory Stewart:

Strengthening families is a cross-government objective. Through our education,

nutrition, health, economic development and social protection programing, DFID aims

to tackle the main factors that pull families apart.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to which legislation her

Department has applied the Family Test, published in August 2014.

Rory Stewart:

The Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 2017 and the International

Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 are the two pieces

of development legislation passed since the Family Test was introduced. The impact

of both pieces of legislation at the specific level of the family is small and indirect, and

therefore the Family Test was not applied in either case.

Department for International Development: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department

is taking to implement the guidance set out by the Government Commercial Function in

its paper Exiting Major IT Contracts: Guidance for Departments, published in November

2017, in respect of (a) using market engagement, (b) setting up disaggregation work, (c)

risk assessment, (d) developing a programme plan through the transition, (e) identifying




the skills and capabilities that will be needed in the future and (f) any other work related to

that guidance.

Rory Stewart:

DFID does not have any major IT contracts, as defined by the guidance.

DFID follows best practice guidance and principles where they are applicable to

DFID, in line with high government standards set by the Cabinet Office to ensure

effective and consistent commercial delivery and drive continuous improvement.

Kashmir: Overseas Aid

Julie Cooper: [119419]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her

Department has allocated to the Kashmir Region in the last five years.

Alistair Burt:

Pakistan administered Kashmir benefits from national programmes in Pakistan to

promote economic growth and improve education and health services. DFID does not

routinely measure total expenditure directed to sub-national geographies outside our

focal states or provinces.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What proportion of

Government aid for the Kashmir region is directed through the Government of Pakistan.

Alistair Burt:


promote economic growth and improve education and health services. For example,

1.86% of the Government of Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)

beneficiaries are in Pakistan administered Kashmir (approximately 100,000 out of 5.2

million beneficiaries). DFID’s support to BISP focuses on system strengthening and

cash transfers.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of

Government aid for the Kashmir region is directed through the Government of India.

Alistair Burt:

DFID does not provide any aid to India-administered Kashmir through the

Government of India.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government

takes to ensure that aid for Kashmir reached that region.

Alistair Burt:


promote economic growth and improve education and health services. Although





DFID does not routinely measure expenditure directed to sub-national geographies

we are able to track aid in Kashmir through periodic visits.

Our national programmes are monitored quarterly and annually to ensure funds are

spent appropriately.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects the

Government funds related to Kashmir.

Alistair Burt:


promote economic growth and improve education and health services. DFID may

also respond to government requests for humanitarian assistance in India and

Pakistan administered Kashmir, including through DFID funded UN agencies.

Syria: Humanitarian Aid

Ben Lake: [119686]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make

representations to UN bodies and the Syrian Government on humanitarian access to and

urgent medical evacuations from Eastern Ghouta and other besieged areas in Syria.

Alistair Burt:

DFID’s humanitarian partners are on the ground in Eastern Ghouta (as well as other

hard-to-reach and besieged areas) providing life-saving food, protection, and

healthcare including routine immunisation services against infectious diseases such

as polio and measles. However, humanitarian access remains severely constrained.

The UK continues to demand full and sustained humanitarian access to Eastern

Ghouta at the UN and at every opportunity, and we have called on all parties to take

all feasible measures to protect civilians, and allow emergency medical evacuations.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Department for International Trade: Data Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many data incidents his

Department (a) recorded and (b) reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in (i)

2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

Greg Hands:

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was formed in 2016. From its creation

to 31st March 2017, DIT recorded one data incident. It did not contain sufficient

personal data to warrant a report to the Information Commissioner’s Office.




JUSTICE

Community Rehabilitation Companies

Richard Burgon: [119023]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2017 to

Question 111447 on Probation, if he will publish the exit plans for each Community

Rehabilitation Company.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has put in place

contingency plans in the event that a Community Rehabilitation Company is unable to

perform its duties under a contract.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

As per my answer to 111447, Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts

require Exit Plans to be in place and maintained throughout the life of the contracts.

The content of the plans are specified in Schedule 24 of the contracts which can be

found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-rehabilitation-

company-contracts.

Contingency plans are in place in line with good contract management and standard

industry practice. Both exit and contingency plans are commercially sensitive

documents and therefore cannot be shared.

Courts: Video Conferencing


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions the video link

connection for court appearances has broken down during a hearing in each month for

the last year.

Dominic Raab:

Information on the number of occasions the video-link connection for court

appearances has broken down is not collected centrally.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Temporary Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many agency staff have been employed by

HM Courts and Tribunal Service in each year since 2010.

Dominic Raab:

The numbers of agency staff employed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service from

2010 is

2011 – 270

2012 – 461

2013 - 829





2014 – 819

2015 – 992

2016 – 1193

2017 – 2005

Agency staff numbers in HMCTS have increased since 2012 partly because of the

reform programme and our workforce strategy to maintain appropriate levels of

workforce flexibility. We expect the number of agency staff to significantly reduce as

we implement the reform programme, redeploy staff, and recruit to vacancies arising

from the new structure.

Magistrates: Ethnic Groups


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of people on Advisory

Committees on Justices of the Peace were of BAME origin in each year for which records

are available.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The information requested can be found in the tables below.

2017 2016 2015

White -

BRITISH,

IRISH or

White Other

218 89% 301 91% 321 92%

BAME 28 11% 30 9% 29 8%

Not Known 94 26 25

TOTAL 340 357 375

(declaration: 72%) (declaration: 93%) (declaration: 93%)

2012 2011 2010

White -

BRITISH,

IRISH or

White Other

427 94% 557 94% 669 94%

BAME 29 6% 34 6% 42 6%

Not Known 45 53 57


2012 2011 2010

TOTAL 501 644 768


2009 2008 2007

White -

BRITISH,

IRISH or

White Other

628 94% 512 95% 398 94%

BAME 39 6% 29 5% 24 6%

Not Known 57 63 57

TOTAL 724 604 479


2006 2005

White - BRITISH,

IRISH or White

Other

351 95% 283 94%

BAME 20 5% 18 6%

Not Known 33 19

TOTAL 404 320

(declaration: 92%) (declaration: 94%)

Magistrates: Females


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of members of Advisory

Committees on Justices of the Peace were women in each year for which records are

available.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The information requested can be found in the tables below.


2017 2016 2015

Female 182 54% Female 189 53% Female 190 51%

Male 158 46% Male 168 47% Male 185 49%

Total 340 Total 357 Total 375

2014 2013 2012


Male 203 49% Male 241 51% Male 262 53%


2011 2010 2009


Male 344 53% Male 419 55% Male 408 56%


2008 2007 2006


Male 341 56% Male 287 60% Male 248 39%


2005

Female 114 36%

Male 206 64%

Total 320

Ministry of Justice: Contracts


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contracts worth more than £5 million

his Department signed in each year since 2010; with which counterparts such contracts


have been signed; for what purpose those contracts were signed; what the (a) annual

and (b) total cost of each such contract is; and what the length of each such contact is.

Dominic Raab:

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has awarded 246 contracts with a total value of £5

million or more since the 01 January 2010. The attached annex provides details of

each contract.

Attachments:

1. 119062 annex [PQ 119062 Annex 1.xlsx]

Ministry of Justice: Data Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many data incidents his Department (a)

recorded and (b) reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in (i) 2015-16 and (ii)

2016-17.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times his Department's Senior


Dr Phillip Lee:

Departments are obligated to publish breaches of personal data in their Annual

Reports and Accounts. Copies of the Ministry of Justice’s Annual Report and

Accounts, including 2015-16 and 2016-17 and can be found here:


/moj-annual-report-2016-17.pdf (pages 34-35)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-

accounts-2015-to-2016 (page 32)

The Ministry of Justice takes any data loss seriously. The Department handles

millions of records of personal data and each loss is assessed, including instances of

small localised losses, which make up the vast majority of the incidents which occur.

The department continues to take steps to address the number of data incidents

occurring including staff training and awareness campaigns and a review of the

governance structures in place to protect data and information.

In compliance with the requirements of the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework

the Department has had four departmental Senior Information Risk Owners in post

since 2012 and there have been no vacancies during that period.

Ministry of Justice: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many non-UK EU nationals started

employment in his Department since 23 June 2016.



https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630239/moj-annual-report-2016-17.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630239/moj-annual-report-2016-17.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016


Dr Phillip Lee:

We are unable to calculate how many non-UK EU nationals started employment

since 2016 as we do not hold data on employee’s nationality. We have no legal or

business requirement to do so.

Prison Accommodation


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many category B prisoners are being held

in category C prisons.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many category B prisoners are being held

in category D prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

All prisoners are individually assessed as to their risk of escape or abscond, their risk

of harm to the public should they escape or abscond and their risk to the good order

of the establishment. This ensures categorisation of prisoners to a prison providing

an appropriate level of security. Only those prisoners categorised as C would be held

in a category C prison and only those considered suitable would be held in category

D open conditions.

No category B prisoners are held in category D prisons. Prisoners must be risk

assessed as suitable for Category D/open conditions before allocation to an open

establishment.

Category B prisoners are not routinely held in Category C prisons. If after

reassessment a Category C prisoner is required to transfer to a Category B prison

they are usually held in a segregation unit pending transfer to a suitable Category B

establishment. On 13 December 2017, there were 20 such prisoners.

The correct categorisation and allocation, balancing security issues and the needs of

the prisoner, helps prisoners to use their sentences constructively, to tackle their

offending behaviour and to prepare for their eventual release. All prisoners must be

placed in the category consistent with the needs of security and control and the need

to protect the public. Prisoners of a higher security category would not, as a matter of

course, be held in an establishment of a lower category. The only exceptions to this

will be where prisoners are re-categorised, and then await a move to a different

establishment.

Prisoners On Remand


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

the outcomes of remand hearings conducted (a) in court and (b) via video link.





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

the outcomes of sentencing outcomes conducted (a) in court and (b) via video link.

Dominic Raab:

The MoJ has not conducted an assessment of outcomes of sentencing hearings

depending on whether video was used. Sentencing outcomes are a matter for the

judiciary.

MoJ does not collect data centrally that distinguishes between video or in court

hearings. To collect this data would require significant manual intervention and would

incur disproportionate cost.

Prisoners on Remand: Females

Kate Green: [119150]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of women

remanded into custody did not subsequently receive a custodial sentence in each of the

last five years.

Kate Green: [119151]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government is taking steps to

reduce the number of women remanded into custody who do not then receive a custodial

sentence.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The number and proportion of women remanded into custody at the magistrates’ and

Crown Court who did not subsequently receive an immediate custodial sentence in

each of the last 5 years are shown in the tables below. Separate figures are provided

for the magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court. These figures cannot be combined

as individuals that are committed for trial or sentence from the magistrates’ courts to

the Crown Court in the same year would be counted twice.




Women remanded in custody at the magistrates' and Crown Court who did not

go on to receive an immediate custodial sentence, 2012 to 2016 1 2 3

MAGISTRATES’

COURT

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Total number

of women

remanded in

custody and

dealt with by

magistrates'

courts 4 5

2392 2439 2394 2045 1915

Total number

of women

remanded into

custody and

dealt with by

the

magistrates’

courts who do

not go on to

receive an

immediate

custodial

sentence

1522 1560 1486 1300 1149

Proportion of

women

remanded into

custody and

dealt with by

the

magistrates’

courts who do

not go on to

receive an

immediate

custodial

sentence

64% 64% 62% 64% 60%

CROWN COURT

6

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Total number

of women

remanded in

custody and

dealt with by

the Crown

Court 5

2220 2015 2295 2207 1996

Total number

of women

remanded in

custody and

dealt with by

the Crown

Courts who do

not go on to

receive an

immediate

custodial

sentence

836 787 930 943 820

Proportion of

women

remanded in

custody and

dealt with by

the Crown

Court who do

not go on to

receive an

immediate

custodial

sentence

38% 39% 41% 43% 41%

Notes

1) The figures for remands relate to defendants remanded in each year in each

completed court case rather than to the number of remand decisions.

2) Each individual is reported against their principal remand status at that court, that

is, the remand status involving the greatest degree of court control – i.e. custody if

any period of the trial or sentencing was spent on custodial remand, else bail if any

period was spent on bail and no period was spent in custody, else not remanded.

3) Individuals cannot be robustly tracked between courts and cases, they will be

counted separately in both Crown Court and magistrates’ courts totals if their case

spans both, and would be counted more than once if remanded as part of multiple

completed court cases.

4) These figures exclude individuals remanded in custody at the magistrates' court

that were committed to trial or sentence at the Crown Court as is not possible to

determine the sentencing outcome.

5) Individuals who failed to appear at court have been excluded.

6) The Crown Court table only includes those remanded in custody at the Crown

Court, regardless of an individual's remand status at the magistrates' Court.

Individuals remanded in custody at the Magistrates' court may not be not be

remanded in custody at the Crown Court following a committal.

At all stages of the Criminal Justice System, consideration is being given to a number

of practical ways to ensure that we are managing all offenders and defendants,

including female offenders/defendants, in the most effective and efficient way in order

to support their rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. This includes improving the

effectiveness of the use of remand and bail, focusing in particular on those

defendants currently remanded in custody, convicted, but who do not go on to

receive a custodial sentence.

We are committed to doing all we can to address the issues around female offending

so we can better protect the public and deliver more effective rehabilitation. We are

developing a strategy for female offenders, to improve outcomes for women in the

community and in custody. This will also consider how we can improve early

intervention and diversion to avoid vulnerable women entering the criminal justice

system.

Prisoners: Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hours of purposeful engagement in

activity is required of a prisoner and what the average number of sessions of purposeful

activity undertaken by a prisoner has been in each prison in the last 12 months.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

We want prison to be places of hard work and discipline and we are empowering

governors to equip prisoners with the skills that they know they need. We do not

stipulate a minimum number of hours of purposeful activity that each prisoner should

undertake. The type of activity available is guided by the function and the facilities of

each prison. This can include workshops; wing based work (such as cleaning and


servery work); offending behaviour programmes and education. There is no single

measure of the number of sessions required and attendance could only be obtained

at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Females

Carolyn Harris: [118912]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women in prison have been refused

a place in a mother and baby unit in each of the last five years.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The table below details the number of applications that were made for a place on a

prison mother and baby unit in the last five financial years, together with the number

of applications approved and refused.

Table: Mother & Baby Units (MBU) Management Information, by year 2010/11 to

2016/17 1

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Number of

applications

received for

admission to

MBU

215 210 197 144 119

Number of

applications

approved by a

board 2

114 80 74 69 61

Number of

applications

refused by a

board 2

33 28 32 41 16

(1) Figures are management information drawn from administrative data systems.

They are provisional figures and subject to change following final quality assurance.

Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail

collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

(2) Not all applications to MBUs will be approved or refused, many will not proceed

for other reasons. Applications may not be assessed in the month in which they are

received.



To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what category of offences were women who

died in prison serving sentences for, in each year for the last 10 years; and how many of

those women were on remand.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The category of offences that women who died in prison were serving sentences for

in each year from 2007 to 2016 are shown below in Table 1.

The number of women who died in prison that were on remand at the time of death,

in each year from 2007 and 2016 is shown below in Table 2.

Table 1: Number of deaths 1 of female prisoners by offence type, 2007 to 2016,

England and Wales

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Total 8 5 7 8 5 4 6 12 8 22

Violence

against the

person

3 3 5 1 1 1 2 7 5 6

Sexual

offences

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Robbery 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3

Theft

Offences

3 1 1 3 1 0 2 0 1 6

Criminal

damage and

arson

0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2

Drug offences 2 1 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 0

Possession of

weapons

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Public order

offences

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

Miscellaneous

crimes

against

society

0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2

Fraud

offences

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0


2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Summary

Non-Motoring

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Summary

motoring

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Table 2: Number of deaths 1 of female prisoners who were on remand at the

time of death, 2007 to 2016, England and Wales

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Remand 4 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 3

(1) Deaths in prison custody figures include all deaths of prisoners arising from

incidents during prison custody. They include deaths of prisoners while released on

temporary license (ROTL) for medical reasons but exclude other types of ROTL

where the state has less direct responsibility. In recent years, approximately one half

of natural cause deaths in prison custody actually occur in hospitals or hospices.

Data Sources and Quality

These figures are derived from the HMPPS Deaths in Prison Custody database. As

classification of deaths may change following inquest or as new information emerges

numbers may change from time to time.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women in prison gave birth in each

prison establishment in each of the last five years.

Dr Phillip Lee:

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at

disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Muslims

Vernon Coaker: [119347]

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

women of Muslim faith in prison on 1 October 2017.

Dr Phillip Lee:

According to published figures, as of 30 September 2017 there were 254 Muslim

women in prison.

This is the closest published data to the requested date. We publish end of month

prison population figures broken down by religion and sex quarterly, and the statistics



can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-

figures-2017.

Prisoners: Parents


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children had at least one parent who

was imprisoned in each year for the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The Government is committed to supporting prisoners to establish or maintain

relationships with their families where appropriate. Lord Farmer published his report

in August on improving family relationships for those in prison. Work has already

commenced on taking forward some of the important recommendations from this

review.

The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on the number of children who have a

parent in prison. An MoJ longitudinal study of adult prisoners estimated that there

were around 200,000 children who had a parent in prison at some point during 2009.

In 2015, MoJ published analysis which estimated that in 2012 between 13-19% of

women serving an immediate custodial sentence had at least one dependent child in

their care. On average, this group of women had 1.8 children each.


/female-offenders-child-dependents-statistics.pdf

Prisoners: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: [118800]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many females who were resident in Wales

are serving jail sentences.

Dr Phillip Lee:

On 30 September 2017, 227 women with a Welsh origin address are serving a

custodial sentence.

It is important to stress that it is not possible to infer from an address in Wales that an

individual considers themselves Welsh. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)

cannot identify English and Welsh prisoners as information is not collated in this way.

Around 97% of prisoners have an origin location - i.e. addresses that are recorded in

our central IT system. If no address is given, an offender’s committal court address is

used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident.

The numerical information provided has been drawn from administrative IT systems,

which as with any large scale recording system are subject to possible error with data

entry and processing.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-figures-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-figures-2017


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465916/female-offenders-child-dependents-statistics.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465916/female-offenders-child-dependents-statistics.pdf


Prisons: Transport


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions a private transport

provider (a) cancelled and (b) postponed scheduled transport between prisons in each of

the least five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

The number of cancellations of scheduled transport for prisoners between prisons for

the last 5 calendar years is provided in the table below.

NUMBER OF

PRISONERS MOVED

BETWEEN PRISONS

NUMBER OF

CANCELLATIONS TOTAL

PERCENTAGE

CANCELLED

2013 71,504 17,510 89,014 19.7%

2014 70,625 22,705 93,330 24.3%

2015 68,890 22,106 90,996 24.3%

2016 69,556 24,590 94,146 26.1%

2017 to date 60,682 19,622 80,304 24.4%

Movement between prisons is robustly managed and cancellations occur for a broad

range of operational reasons that include prisoner refusal, operational difficulties

within discharging or receiving prison taking prioritisation, prisoner requiring medical

treatment, and traffic delays en route.

Data for postponed transport is not recorded centrally.

Probation: Staff


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) full time and (b) full time

equivalent offender managers have been employed in each prison in each of the last five

years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average caseload for an offender

manager was in each prison in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah:

At present, Offender Managers are employed by either the National Probation

Service or Community Rehabilitation Companies and are not based in prisons.

HMPPS will be implementing the Offender Management in Custody model during

2018 that will see Offender Managers from the NPS located in prison establishments.




The design of the model and the number of Offender Managers that will be located in

each prison is still being finalised.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Cat Smith: [117776]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is on voting rights

for prisoners with short sentences.

Dr Phillip Lee:

[Holding answer 15 December 2017]: Our policy on prisoner voting is well

established – this Government will not allow convicted offenders behind bars to vote.

At the same time, we are addressing an anomaly which allows those offenders on

Home Detention Curfew to vote but not offenders who are released on temporary

licence.

Under the changes, up to a hundred offenders on short sentences, released on

temporary licence into the community within twelve months of sentencing will be

eligible to vote if an election is called during that period.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Apprentices: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: [902974]

What steps he is taking to encourage the promotion of apprenticeships in Northern

Ireland.

Chloe Smith:

We are committed to reaching our pledge of 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.

Through our Industrial Strategy we are committed to helping young people across the

country develop the skills they need for the future.

Promoting apprenticeships in Northern Ireland is, though, a devolved matter for a

restored Executive to drive forward.

Brexit: Northern Ireland

Tom Pursglove: [902975]

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European

Union on ensuring that Northern Irish interests are represented in the UK's negotiations

with the EU.

James Brokenshire:

As Secretary of State I will continue to ensure that the interests of NI are heard and

remain at the heart of the negotiations and wider discussions across Whitehall as we

prepare to leave the EU.




Northern Ireland Government

Emma Little Pengelly: [902976]

What plans he has to ensure that democratic accountability is maintained in Northern

Ireland in the absence of an Assembly and Executive.

James Brokenshire:

The UK Government continues to encourage and work with the parties towards the

restoration of devolution. If an Executive is not restored soon, the Government will

consider what further steps may be needed to fulfil our ongoing responsibility to

ensure political stability and good governance in Northern Ireland.

Stephen Morgan: [902977]

What assessment he has made of the conditions under which the UK Government would

impose direct rule on Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire:

The Government is committed to the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland but

the current impasse cannot continue indefinitely. If an Executive is not restored early

in the New Year the Government will need to consider next steps.

SCOTLAND

Food Banks: Scotland

David Linden: [118873]

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to visit a food bank in

January 2018.

David Mundell:

I currently have no plans to visit a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for

Scotland in January 2018.

Scotland Office: Advertising


To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2017

to Question 6287, what external advisers or companies his Department has used for

advertising in each of the last four years.

David Mundell:

The Scotland Office has worked with the following external advisers/companies for

advertising in each of the last four years. These companies were procured through

standard Crown Commercial procedure.





2014 NIL

2015 Nil

2016 Nil

2017 The Leith Agency, Carat Ltd.

Scotland Office: Data Protection


To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times his Department's Senior


David Mundell:

Since 2012, the role has been vacant, on one occasion, for longer than a week. This

was due to a gap between Senior Civil Servant appointments, when the Senior

Information Risk Officer role was vacant. During this period, Senior Information Risk

Officer responsibilities were undertaken by the Department’s Data Protection Officer.

Scotland Office: Families


To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017

to Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen families.

David Mundell:

This week the UK Government announced that Tax-Free Childcare is now available

to around 120,000 families in Scotland whose youngest child is under six.

Parents, including the self-employed, can apply online for Tax-Free Childcare – part

of the government’s Childcare Choices offer – for children who were aged under six

on 24 November 2017. It will cut childcare costs for working families by up to £2,000

per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.

This is a good example of how the UK Government is delivering for people in

Scotland. By helping Scottish households keep more of what they earn and

supporting them with the cost of living we are building a stronger economy and fairer

society that improves lives and creates opportunity.

Scotland Office: Written Questions


To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of his







David Mundell:

None. This is out of a total of 161 parliamentary questions that have been answered

(as at 13 December).

TRANSPORT

A1: North of England


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate his Department has

made of the cost of dualling schemes of the A1 north of Newcastle within England; and

when he expects those projects to be completed.

Jesse Norman:

As set out in the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) of December 2014, construction of

the A1 dualling schemes between Morpeth and Ellingham is expected to start works

in 2019/20. It is anticipated that all improvements will be completed by 2023. This is

subject to completion of statutory planning processes and continuing to demonstrate

value for money.

The latest cost estimate range for the A1 in Northumberland programme is between

£242 m and £344 m with the most likely estimate being £290 m. With regard

specifically to the dualling upgrade between Morpeth and Ellingham, Highways

England is currently carrying out surveys of the area to inform the preliminary design

of the scheme. This survey work will then be used to inform the cost estimate for the

dualling element of the improvements.

Department for Transport: Brexit


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has established a

market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Mr John Hayes:





the EU.

Our department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to

ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department (a) has carried out

or (b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the implications of the withdrawal of

the UK from the EU.




Mr John Hayes:





the EU.

Our department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to

ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.

Department for Transport: Families


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November

2017 to Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen families.

Mr John Hayes:

All families rely on the transport network, whether it’s to access education, get to

work or the shops, or to visit friends and relations. That is why the Government has

allocated more than £61bn in transport capital investment over the five years to

2020/21; record investment to make the network more reliable and better connected.

In April this year, we published the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, a

£1.2bn plan to make cycling and walking the natural choice for the shorter, local

journeys that are fundamental to family life. By creating safer streets, where cyclists

and pedestrians feel like they have a place, families will be more encouraged to

realise the health, social, environmental and economic benefits of these modes.

Additionally, the strategy sets out a vision for better streets; with community-based

activities and play streets.

We also remain committed to regulating rail fares to help keep down the cost of living

and, in the Budget, announced a trial of a new 26-30 year old railcard to extend

concessions to a wider group. Additionally, as part of the rail franchise re-letting

process, the Department requires bidders to include proposals that give customers

who travel to work or commute part-time a better value for money option than buying

multiple return journeys.

The Government is committed to delivering a transport system which works for all.

The Accessibility Action Plan will be published in 2018 and will set out the

Government’s ambitions to help make transport accessible for all, enabling everyone

to connect with their families.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Databases

Alex Chalk: [118784]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last reviewed the fee for third

parties seeking to access DVLA driver records to ensure it strikes the right balance



between easy access to data and value for money for Government; and if he will make a

statement.

Jesse Norman:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State for

Transport, regularly reviews the fees levied to access driver records. The last review

took place in 2017.

Manchester-Sheffield Railway Line

Jared O'Mara: [118991]

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

eliminate the single line bottleneck through Dore & Totley station on the Hope Valley

railway route between Sheffield and Manchester.

Paul Maynard:

As part of the Great North Rail Project, the Hope Valley and Dore capacity schemes

will increase track capacity to allow a more frequent service, accommodating three

fast trains an hour between Sheffield and Manchester. This scheme is currently

subject to a Transport and Works Act Order application, to which the Department is

currently considering.

Railways: Fares


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

potential merits of introducing regional railcards.

Paul Maynard:

A number of regional railcards already exist. These typically arise from local

agreements with train operators. As such any proposal for, or development of, new

offers or railcards would fall to individual train operators following an assessment of

and in response to local demand.

National Railcards are governed by the railcard scheme council and any changes to

existing railcards, or new railcards, would therefore be for the industry to propose not

Government.

Roads: Kirklees


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the Pothole Action Fund

will be allocated to Kirklees Council.

Jesse Norman:

The Government is providing local highway authorities in England, outside London,

£296 million between 2016 and 2021 from the Pothole Action Fund. This includes an

extra £46 million that was announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.




In 2016/17 the Department allocated Kirklees Council £0.325 million from the Pothole

Action Fund. As Kirklees Council forms part of the West Yorkshire Combined

Authority the Department will allocate £3.871 million to the Combined Authority in the

financial year 2017/18. This funding is in addition to the just under £6 billion the

Government is providing local highway authorities in England, outside London,

between 2015 to 2021.

Ryanair

Rosie Cooper: [118860]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received representations on

the late or non-payment of compensation packages by the airline Ryanair; and if he will

make a statement.

Mr John Hayes:

The Department for Transport has not received any official representations regarding

late or non-payment of compensation by Ryanair. According to the Regulation

261/2004 as clarified by case law, passengers have 6 years to bring the

compensation claims to the airline. We will expect all airlines to process the claims

and pay out compensation where it is due in a timely manner.

During the recent mass cancellation of flights by Ryanair, the Civil Aviation Authority

(CAA) as the enforcement body to the Regulation took enforcement action against

Ryanair due to the airline not giving out complete information to affected passengers

of their rights. The Government fully supports this action which resulted in Ryanair

changing its messaging.

Rosie Cooper: [118861]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department provides guidance to

airlines on the timeline for issuing compensation packages to customers.

Mr John Hayes:

The Civil Aviation Authority, as the enforcement body for the Regulation 261/2004

establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the

event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, ensures that

airlines are compliant with the Regulation and has issued guidance material to the

airlines. Case law on the Regulation has clarified that passengers have 6 years after

the disruption to submit a claim for compensation.

We will expect all airlines to process the claims and pay out compensation where it is

due in a timely manner.

Southeastern

Clive Efford: [119073]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2017

to Question 118257 and with reference to page 34, paragraph 17 of paper South East

Rail Franchise Stakeholder Briefing Document: Shaping the Future, if he will publish the




supporting evidence that delays caused to Southeast Rail Services are as a result of

trains changing lines at crossovers north of Lewisham station; and if he will make a

statement.

Paul Maynard:

Delays to train services on the South Eastern Franchise are grouped into two

categories:

Knock-on delays from one train to another; and

All other delays.

On the South Eastern Franchise suburban network 77% of all delays at peak times

between the 1 st of April 2015 and the 31 st of March 2016 were caused by knock-on

delays from one train to another. Of these delays, 9.3% are recorded as having

occurred at Lewisham station, or at the crossovers in the immediate vicinity. Only

North Kent Junction, between New Cross and London Bridge, recorded higher delays

on the peak suburban services outside the London termini.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Government Equalities Office: Families


To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November

2017 to Question HL3576, what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to

strengthen families.

Anne Milton:

The Government Equalities Office wants to increase gender equality, including within

families. That is why the government has introduced Shared Parental Leave, in order

to provide parents with more choice and flexibility in how they divide care between

them in the first year of their child’s life. Working parents can share up to 37 weeks of

pay and 50 weeks of leave.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment: Disability

Marsha De Cordova: [119269]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Improving Lives:

The Future of Work, Health and Disability, published in November 2017, Cm 9526 , if he

will take steps to commission specialist external providers to make available high-quality,

impairment-specific employment support to help disabled people into the workforce.

Sarah Newton:

We have just published Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability.

This outlines the action taken over the past year, provides a comprehensive strategy



and sets out plans over the next ten years, focusing in particular on the next steps

planned over the next two to three years. This has been put together in partnership

with stakeholders from across the work, health and disability spectrums and follows a

thorough 15-week consultation via the Green Paper, which received around 6,000

responses. We have started building an extensive evidence base and are running a

series of trials to build this further.

Improving Lives includes plans for a broad programme of employment support for

disabled people, with a mix of internal and external provision and pan-disability and

specialist support. A range of specialist providers are involved, for example in the

mental health area where we plan to: double the scale of Individual Placement and

Support (IPS) for people with mental health conditions; trial IPS in new settings and

for new population groups; and significantly increase the capacity of the Access to

Work Mental Health Support Service. A proof of concept of local supported

employment will work with experts in helping people with learning disabilities and

autism into work. Specialist Employment Support includes providers with specialist

expertise in sensory impairments. We have also progressed with roll-out of the

Personal Support Package, a range of new measures and interventions designed to

offer support which can be tailored to people’s individual needs.

Implementation of the Work and Health Programme started at the end of November

2017. This will provide innovative support through local organisations for around

200,000 disabled people over the course of the programme, with the type of support

personalised to the needs of each participant. Examples of the type of support

available includes participants having a personal key worker with regular 1:1 face to

face contact, mentoring and peer support, integrated access to specialist support

networks at a local level including health and wellbeing professionals and support

from dedicated employer experts with knowledge of the local labour market and job

opportunities.

Housing: Energy

Neil Coyle: [119026]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department

has had with energy companies on reducing the cost of living for disabled people.

Sarah Newton:

Early this year energy companies were contacted by the Department of Work and

Pensions to find out whether they offered social tariffs for disabled people. It was

found that no special tariffs were offered, however it was identified that people could

save money by switching provider. Work coaches are able to direct claimants to

switching services via the “Need Help Managing Your Money?” Leaflet.

In addition, my colleague the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial

Strategy (BEIS), published a draft Bill to cap the amount that energy suppliers can

charge customers who are on standard variable and default tariffs. This is currently

undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by the BEIS Select Committee. In addition, on 7


December Ofgem announced that it was extending the current safeguard tariff in

place for customers on pre-payment meters, to customers in receipt of the Warm

Home Discount who are on standard variable or default fixed term tariffs. This will

come into effect on 2 February.

BEIS is also providing £1.3m funding this winter, for Third Sector organisations to

support vulnerable disengaged energy consumers, including disabled households, to

switch and save through the Big Energy Saving Network.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Dupuytren's Contracture

Helen Goodman: [119611]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made

on plans to include Dupuytren's disease in the list of Industrial Injuries Disablement

Benefit diseases.

Sarah Newton:

After considering the recommendation made by the Industrial Injuries Advisory

Council, we have decided not to add Dupuytren’s contracture to the list of prescribed

diseases.

Personal Independence Payment

Ian Austin: [119805]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's

publication ADM Memo 30/17, if he will publish the criteria used in the LEAP exercise to

review awards of personal independent payment claimants who may be affected by the

updated PIP Assessment Guidance detailed in the Written Statement of 2 November

2017, HCWS218.

Sarah Newton:

The Personal Independence Payments (PIP) Assessment Guidance has been

updated to reflect changes in how the Department considers whether an activity can

be performed ‘safely’ and whether supervision is required.

The criteria that will be followed in the Legal Entitlements and Administrative

Practices exercise to review awards of PIP is set out in in this guidance.

Ian Austin: [119806]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written

Statement of 2 November 2017, HCWS218, whether previous personal independence

payment applicants who may benefit from the update to PIP Assessment Guidance but

whose applications were unsuccessful before 9 March 2017 should (a) reapply for PIP,

(b) await contact from his Department regarding their claims or (c) request a review of

their initial claim in light of the updated guidance.

Sarah Newton:

Anyone in payment, or who has had a decision since 9 March, will be covered by the

Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practices (LEAP) exercise.




The judgment only affects entitlement from the 9 March.

In line with legislation, anyone who was disallowed before 9 March would need to re-

apply.

Personal Independence Payment: Autoimmune Diseases


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has

had with Capita on improving that company's management of personal independent

payment assessments for people with an auto-immune disease.



had with Capita on improving that company's management of personal independent

payment assessments for people with an a haematological disease.



had with Atos on improving that company's management of personal independent

payment assessments for people with an infectious disease.



had with Atos on improving that company's management of personal independent

payment assessments for people with an auto-immune disease.

Sarah Newton:

Department officials meet regularly with PIP Assessment Providers to discuss all

aspects of their delivery of PIP assessments, including ensuring it works effectively

for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.

PIP is a functional assessment, and addresses the impact of an individual’s medical

conditions on their daily life, rather than the medical conditions themselves. There is

no requirement for the Health Professional to diagnose a condition or to recommend

treatment options.

The assessments are undertaken by qualified Health Professionals who are experts

in disability analysis with knowledge of the likely functional effects of a wide range of

health conditions. They have access to a range of resources as well as experienced

clinicians to support them in assessing claimants.

Social Security Benefits

Marsha De Cordova: [119268]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to protect

the income of (a) universal credit claimants and (b) claimants in the Employment and

Support Allowance Support Group when they engage in work-related activity.






Sarah Newton:

Employment and Support Allowance claimants in the Support Group and Universal

Credit claimants in receipt of the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element

are not required to take part in work-related activity. They are however free to engage

in work-related activity on a voluntary basis. If these claimants choose to engage in

work-related activity the payment of their benefit will not be affected.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Anna Turley: [119755]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure

that benefit claimants who cannot attend appointments due to adverse weather

conditions will not be sanctioned.

Damian Hinds:

Nobody is sanctioned where they can demonstrate they had good reason for failing to

attend an appointment. Each case is considered individually, taking into account

individual and prevailing circumstances. Where adverse weather conditions make it

unreasonable for someone to attend, no sanction would be applied.

Universal Credit


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of

the cost of operating a paper-based system for private sector landlords to request direct

payment for their tenants' housing elements of universal credit?

Damian Hinds:

The Department is keeping the process for managed payment to landlords under

review as we test and learn from the roll out of Universal Credit. We are also working

with landlords to improve the current process for landlords requesting managed

payments and how the Department deals with these requests.

In May 2016, 34% of Universal Credit claimants with support for housing costs and in

social housing had a managed payment to landlord alternative payment arrangement,

compared to only 5% for those in private rented accommodation.


/universal-credit-data-on-alternative-payment-arrangements.pdf


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8

November 2017 to Question 110869, if he will make it his policy to regularly publish data

on universal credit advances by parliamentary constituency.

Damian Hinds:

The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate

cost.



https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543907/universal-credit-data-on-alternative-payment-arrangements.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543907/universal-credit-data-on-alternative-payment-arrangements.pdf



To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was

for claimants of universal credit from (a) the opening of a universal credit account and (b)

an interview at a job centre to the first payment of universal credit.

Damian Hinds:

The information is not available in the format requested. However, we do have data

for the declaration date to payment date.

Data published on 2 October 2017 shows that, 81% of new Universal Credit

households received their first payment in full and on time. Across the whole of

Universal Credit 92% of all households received full payment on time. The published

data can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-

payment-timeliness-january-to-june-2017

The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their

date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). This mirrors the world of

work and allows for time in which to gather information about a claimant’s earnings.

Our internal data shows that for those cases where full payment has not been made,

around a sixth, have not signed their Claimant Commitment or passed identity checks

. The others have outstanding verification issues, for example, housing, self-

employed earnings and child-care costs.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has received any

representations on technical and administration problems regarding the transfer of

claimants from employment and support allowance to universal credit.

Damian Hinds:

Our Ministerial Correspondence Team has not received any letters relating to

claimants facing technical or administrative problems when transferring from

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit.

However, Universal Credit Programme colleagues have received representations

from various customer support groups seeking clarification of the ESA to UC journey

for their service users. These concerns have been raised informally at engagement

events as well as through more formal routes into the Programme.

As a result, the Department has worked to produce a set of communications, to help

local partnership managers better explain the ESA to UC journey to our stakeholders.

In addition we are improving the learning for work coaches and case managers to

better understand the process and how to support claimants effectively.


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-payment-timeliness-january-to-june-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-payment-timeliness-january-to-june-2017


Universal Credit: Angus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his

Department has made of the number of residents who are in receipt of universal credit in

Angus constituency .

Damian Hinds:

The available information on households in receipt of Universal Credit, by

parliamentary constituency, is published and can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/.

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Universal Credit: Glasgow


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the universal

credit full service roll-out to Shettleston Jobcentre has been moved back to December

2018.

Damian Hinds:

We have always been clear that we will roll out Universal Credit in a way that allows

us to continue to make improvements.

To accommodate the Universal Credit measures announced in the Budget, we have

modified the rollout schedule to ensure we continue to implement this important

welfare reform safely and gradually

Work Capability Assessment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent (a)

doctors, (b) nurses and (c) psychologists and psychiatrists are employed by each of the

sub-contractors that his Department uses to conduct work capability assessments.

Sarah Newton:

Work Capability Assessments are delivered by the Centre for Health and Disability

Assessments who employ the following full-time equivalent healthcare professionals

from the professions identified, based on a November 2017 data:

A) 239 full-time equivalent doctors directly employed by Centre for Health and

Disability Assessments and in addition 18 full-time equivalent self-employed

sessional doctors. It should be noted that some doctors may undertake other

assessments within the Health Assessment Advisory Service contract.

B) 804 full-time equivalent nurses.


https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html



C) No psychologists or psychiatrists are currently employed by Centre for Health and

Disability Assessments to conduct work capability assessments.

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Update on Post Office

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and

Corporate Responsibility (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

(Margot James): [HCWS379]

The Government is announcing today that it is committing up to £370 million in new

investment to the post office network for the three years from the start of April 2018 to the

end of March 2021.

The post office network plays a vital role in communities, with post offices having the

most positive impact on the local area of any type of shop, as found by The Association

of Convenience Stores’ Local Shop Report 2017. At a time when our high streets are

changing, the Government and Post Office are working to keep post offices on our high

streets, supporting continued access to banking services through the Post Office’s

Banking Framework whereby 99% of individuals and 95% of small businesses can

access basic banking arrangements.

This new investment in the Post Office will further strengthen it for the future. Alongside

today’s announcement the Government and Post Office have published three documents

which evidence the progress that has been made in strengthening the Post Office:

Post Office’s annual report and accounts show that the financial performance of the

Post Office continues to improve, with the company making a profit for the first time

in 16 years;

The annual Network Report demonstrates that the number of post offices around

the country continues to be at its most stable for decades, and in fact shows an

increase in the number of branches for the second year running. The report shows

that 93% of the population live within 1 mile of a Post Office, and almost 99% of the

rural population live within 3 miles;

Government’s response to the public consultation confirms our manifesto

commitment to securing the network, maintaining the current Access Criteria to

ensure that there remains a widespread and comprehensive distribution of

branches around the country.

Furthermore, the Government’s £2bn investment in the Post Office since 2010 has led to

over seven and a half thousand branches being transformed and modernised, bringing

almost a million extra opening hours per month for customers, with 4,400 branches open

on a Sunday.

The next three years will see new technology being rolled out into branches, and Post

Office will be innovating its existing products and launching new ones too. The Post

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-12-20/HCWS379/

Office’s digital presence will be strengthened and its online presence will be better

integrated with its branches.

The steps the Government and the Post Office’s staff and leadership have taken in recent

years have strengthened the business and helped to make the network more

commercially sustainable, reducing its reliance on taxpayer support and the long term

need for Government funding. This new funding gives the Post Office the security to plan

a vibrant long-term future for the network.

TREASURY

Combatting fuel duty fraud - evaluation of the first two years of new fuel marker

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Andrew Jones): [HCWS381]

The Government is committed to tackling fuel fraud. HMRC’s oils fraud strategy has seen

the UK tax gap for fuels reduce from £1.5bn in 2002 to less than £100m in 2015-16. In

Northern Ireland, where this issue has been a particular problem, the illicit market share

has been reduced from 26% to 8% over the same period. However, the government

recognises there is no room for complacency.

One form of fuel fraud is fuel laundering – the removal of chemical dyes and covert

markers from rebated fuel to give the appearance of legitimate road fuel. To tackle this

problem, the UK, together with the Republic of Ireland introduced a new fuel marker from

1 April 2015.

Since its introduction, HMRC have been monitoring the performance of the new marker

and published evaluation reports after 6 months and 12 months. In the 12 month report,

the government committed to publish a further report covering the first two years of the

marker. I will deposit a copy of HMRC’s evaluation, based on the first 24 months’ worth of

data, in the Library of the House.

The review suggests that in the two years since its introduction, the new marker had a

positive effect in preventing fuel fraud through laundering. HMRC will continue to monitor

the performance of the fuel marker and will take any further action as required.

Financial Services Update

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Hammond): [HCWS382]

The Bank of England today announced plans to ensure continuity in financial services in

the unlikely event of no deal with the European Union. The December European Council

decided that sufficient progress had been made in the first stage of the EU exit

negotiation and the government is therefore confident that it will agree an implementation

period and a deep and special partnership. However, there is also a responsibility for the

government, the Bank and the FCA to plan for all outcomes including the unlikely

scenario of no deal being reached. Therefore, the government welcomes today’s

announcements by the Bank of England and the FCA. In the event of agreement not

being reached, they would ensure that the UK’s position as the world’s leading financial



centre is maintained and UK customers are protected. This is because the presence of

EU financial service firms in the UK:

Supports UK exports – if a European bank with a presence in London sells to

another country UK exports are boosted;

Creates jobs, both directly in branches but also associated professions such as

finance, legal and accounting;

Raises revenue from tax to fund our vital public services;

Benefits consumers, such as the six million customers that currently have

insurance policies with EU firms.

There are 160 branches of international banks in the UK; 77 are from the EEA. Their

assets total £4 trillion, substantially more than UK GDP. Keeping that presence in the UK

is in Britain’s national interest and today’s announcement illustrates that the government

stands ready to do what is necessary to protect it.

As requested by the Bank and the FCA, the government will, if necessary, bring forward

legislation:

which will enable EEA firms and funds operating in the UK to obtain a “temporary

permission” to continue their activities in the UK for a limited period after

withdrawal; and

alongside the temporary permissions regime, the government will legislate, if

necessary, to ensure that contractual obligations, such as insurance contracts,

which are not covered by the regime, can continue to be met.

We will also bring forward secondary legislation to ensure that UK authorities are able to

carry out functions currently undertaken by EU authorities. We propose to give the Bank

of England functions and powers in relation to non-UK central counterparties (CCPs) and

non-UK central securities depositories (CSDs). If necessary, we will also provide for a

temporary regime to enable the Bank to permit these firms to continue to operate in the

UK for a limited period after exit. The Bank will set out its approach to CCPs located

abroad today. We will also provide the FCA with functions and powers in relation to UK

and non-UK Credit Rating Agencies and Trade Repositories and any powers necessary

to manage the transition post-exit. HM Treasury will work with the Bank and FCA as they

determine how they will use these powers, consistent with their statutory objectives.

Whatever the outcome of the negotiations, the government is strongly supportive of

continued engagement and cooperation between UK and EU regulators to protect

financial stability. It is vitally important that we work with our European partners to put the

technical arrangements in place to avoid financial market disruption.

DEFENCE

Defence Industrial Policy Refresh

Secretary of state for Defence (Gavin Williamson): [HCWS374]

Today I am publishing the Defence Industrial Policy. This meets a commitment in the

2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. A copy has

been placed in the Library of the House and on the Gov.uk website. Building on the

National Security through Technology White Paper of 2012, the Policy focuses on our

overall engagement with defence industry, and how this is best structured to serve our

national security objectives.

Industry, working alongside our Armed Forces and defence civilians delivers a crucial

part of the United Kingdom’s national security objectives: to protect our people, project

influence overseas and promote national prosperity. Industry delivers vital capabilities to

our Armed Forces, and is an important part of the UK economy.

As a customer of the defence industry, the Government has a responsibility to obtain the

right capability for our Armed Forces and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer in

the goods and services that we buy. Alongside this, we also want to create an

environment that encourages a thriving and globally competitive UK defence sector as an

important part of our wider industrial base.

Since 2015, we have worked with business of all sizes to understand how we can support

growth and competitiveness in the sector, as well as our wider national security

objectives. The refreshed Defence Industrial Policy sets out the results of this work.

It identifies what has been achieved so far, as well as the areas where further work is

needed. In defining how Government and industry can work together to generate value

and strengthen our security, it is part of a continuing process of engagement.

There are three strands to our policy approach:

Improving the way defence delivers wider economic and international value, and

national security objectives.

Helping UK industry in its plans to be internationally competitive, innovative and

secure.

Making it easier to do business with defence, particularly for innovators, small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-traditional defence suppliers.

We are committed to delivering value for money for defence and a fair return to industry

by implementing the single source contracting regulations in new and modified non-

competitive contracts, as set out in the Defence Reform Act (2014).

We will strengthen industrial collaboration with our key allies and partners, including in

the context of NATO, the US National Technology and Industrial Base and the European

Technology and Industrial Base, with which UK industry and research will remain closely

linked.


The National Shipbuilding Strategy, published in September 2017, sets out our approach

for driving prosperity through export-led growth, competition and a focus on national and

regional productivity and skills. It is an important pathfinder to improve the way we

measure, assess and apply prosperity benefits in other areas of defence procurement.

To deliver this refreshed approach we will need to continue our close partnership with

industry in the UK, while maintaining our commitment to open competition.

Future Nuclear Deterrent: 2017 Update to Parliament

Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson): [HCWS377]

On 18 May 2011, the then Secretary of State for Defence, (Dr Liam Fox) made an oral

statement to the House (Official Report, column 351) announcing the approval of the

Initial Gate investment stage for the procurement of the successor to the VANGUARD

Class ballistic missile submarines. He also placed in the Library of the House a report

"The United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: The Submarine Initial Gate

Parliamentary Report".

As confirmed in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, this Government is

committed to publishing an annual report on the programme. I am today publishing the

sixth report, “The United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: The Dreadnought

Programme, 2017 Update to Parliament“. A copy has been placed in the Library of the

House.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Delivery of Universal Broadband

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Matt

Hancock): [HCWS375]

The Government has today confirmed that universal high speed broadband will be

delivered by a regulatory Universal Service Obligation (USO), giving everyone in the UK

access to speeds of at least 10Mbps by the end of 2020.

Following the creation of new enabling powers in the Digital Economy Act 2017, we

launched our consultation on the design of the regulatory USO on 30th July 2017. The

USO will give households and small businesses a legal right to request a broadband

connection from a designated provider who will be obliged to provide a connection,

regardless of location, up to a reasonable cost threshold. Having carefully considered the

responses, we will set out the design for a legal right to high speed broadband in

secondary legislation early next year, alongside our detailed consultation response.

In the summer, we also received a proposal from BT Group plc to deliver universal

broadband through a voluntary agreement. We welcomed the proposal and have

considered this in detail alongside a regulatory approach. However, we have decided not

to pursue BT’s proposal. We believe that only a regulatory USO offers sufficient certainty



and the legal enforceability that is required to guarantee delivery of our manifesto

commitment to ensure decent broadband access for the whole of the UK by 2020.

Working with Ofcom, we will now move ahead to take the necessary steps to implement

the regulatory USO as swiftly as possible. Once we have laid the secondary legislation

setting the specification for the USO, Ofcom will then carry out the necessary steps to put

the USO in place to bring about faster broadband across the UK.

EDUCATION

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Update

The Minister of State for Children and Families (Mr Robert Goodwill):

[HCWS376]

In March 2017, government committed to introduce a two-year national trial to expand the

powers of the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) to make non-binding recommendations on the

health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans alongside the

educational aspects.

I am pleased to announce the Special Educational Needs and Disability (First-tier

Tribunal Recommendation Power) Regulations 2017 for the national trial on the single

route of redress have been laid in Parliament today and will come into force on 3 April

2018. The national trial will run for two years and we will consider next steps following an

evaluation, including whether evidence supports its continuation.

Separately, government has considered its position on powers, provided via the Children

and Families Act 2014 to pilot, and subsequently introduce, a right for children under 16

to appeal themselves to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). After careful consideration, we

have decided not to pilot this measure at the current time.

Children are at the centre of the SEND system with person-centred planning and co-

production a key part of the Children and Families Act 2014. Local authorities in England

are already under a duty to present the child’s views to the Tribunal. The Children and

Families Act 2014 has already introduced the right for young people (aged 16 or over) to

appeal. Although giving children under 16 the right to appeal would strengthen their

voice, there is limited evidence of demand from families or children in England for this

right, and in Wales, where the right was established in 2015, there has not been a single

appeal from a child.

Government will keep the issue under consideration, including monitoring the position in

the devolved administrations and how the current system is working for young people

aged 16 and over.



PRIME MINISTER

Intelligence Oversight

Prime Minister (Mrs Theresa May): [HCWS378]

I have today laid before both Houses a copy of the final annual reports from the

Intelligence Services Commissioner, the Interception of Communications Commissioner

and the Chief Surveillance Commissioner. These reports are the last reports to be

completed under the previous system of judicial intelligence oversight. On 1 September

2017 the Investigatory Powers Commissioner assumed responsibility for oversight of the

use of investigatory powers by public authorities.

These three annual reports demonstrate that the security and intelligence agencies, law

enforcement agencies and other relevant public authorities show high levels of

operational competence combined with respect for the law. The introduction of the

Investigatory Powers Commissioner, as created by the Investigatory Powers Act 2016,

will only further strengthen the system of oversight and the world-leading level of

transparency that these reports represent. I would like to place on record my thanks to

the Commissioners and their staff for their work.

I would also like to thank the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, which

has published its 2016/17 Annual Report today. This is a thorough Annual Report

covering threats to national security, the Committee’s assessment of the UK’s approach

to counter-terrorism and cyber security and in-depth scrutiny of the resources and

expenditure of the Agencies and Government Departments. The level of detail contained

in the report, obtained through the Committee’s regular access to written material and

evidence sessions with the Heads of Agencies and Secretaries of State is testament to

the quality of UK Parliamentary intelligence oversight. The report includes twenty-six

conclusions and recommendations, many of which the Government supports and is

already implementing, such as continuing efforts to tackle the extremist narrative, working

with the technology industry to promote secure operating systems in smart devices,

attracting technical specialists into Agency roles and ensuring that the strongest possible

European security cooperation continues post-Brexit. The Government is committed to

improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Agencies and will consider the

Committee’s recommendations about administration and expenditure as part of those

wider Government efforts.

Finally, I would also like to respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on

targeted airstrikes which was published on 26 April 2017 before the General Election. On

7 September 2015, the then Prime Minister informed the House that on 21 August 2015,

an RAF remotely piloted aircraft targeted and killed Reyaad Khan, a UK national, in the

Raqqah area in Syria in an act of UK self-defence. Two other individuals, both Daesh

associates, were also killed. On 29 October 2015, the Intelligence and Security

Committee announced that it would be investigating the intelligence basis for the

airstrikes and the threat that Reyaad Khan posed.


The Intelligence and Security Committee concluded that there was “no doubt that Reyaad

Khan posed a very serious threat to the UK”. The Committee reviewed classified

intelligence reports that showed how Reyaad Khan and his associates had encouraged

multiple operatives around the world to orchestrate attacks, including at high profile public

commemorations in the UK in 2015. They had offered instructions for the manufacture of

improvised explosive devices and locations of possible targets. The intent to murder

British citizens was clear and the Intelligence and Security Committee concluded “it is to

the Agencies’ credit that their investigation of Khan’s activities revealed these plots which

they were then able to disrupt, thereby avoiding what could have been a very significant

loss of life.”

A precision airstrike against a British citizen is one of the most difficult decisions a

Government can take. It is the last resort in a host of counter-terrorism measures to

prevent and disrupt plots against the UK at every stage in their planning. These include

powers to stop suspects travelling, to pursue terrorists through the courts and to assist

coalition partners in counter-terrorism activity overseas.

However, if there is a direct threat to UK citizens like that posed by Reyaad Khan, I, like

my predecessor, will always be prepared to take action. In August 2015, there was no

alternative to a precision airstrike in Syria. There was no government that the UK could

work with, and no military on the ground to detain Daesh operatives. There was also

nothing to suggest that Reyaad Khan would desist from his desire to murder innocent

people in the UK. The Government had no way of ensuring that all of his planned attacks

would not become a murderous reality without taking direct action.

As the then Prime Minister informed the House in September 2015, a rigorous decision-

making process underpinned the airstrike. A direct and imminent threat was identified by

the intelligence agencies and the National Security Council agreed that military action

should be taken. The Attorney General was consulted and was clear that there would be

a clear legal basis for action in international law. For the reasons outlined above, an

airstrike was the only feasible means of effectively disrupting the attack planning and so it

was necessary and proportionate for the individual self-defence of the UK. On that basis,

the Defence Secretary authorised the operation, which was conducted according to

specific military rules of engagement that complied with international law and the

principles of proportionality and necessity.

The UK continues to thwart terrorist attacks. Countering the threat has always been a

crucial part of the work of this Government. We have introduced measures to disrupt the

travel of foreign fighters, passed the Investigatory Powers Act which ensures the police

and security and intelligence agencies have the powers and tools they need to keep the

public safe, and increased counter-terrorism budgets. We continue to work with

technology companies to remove terrorist material online and to share UK intelligence

with international partners to track down terrorists. But sadly this year has shown that the

threat from terrorism cannot always be contained. Too many innocent families’ lives have

been ruined across the UK from international terrorist attacks. The Government will

continue to do what is necessary to keep citizens safe.

UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and

Co-operation in Europe

Prime Minister (Mrs Theresa May): [HCWS380]

The United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for

Security and Co-operation in Europe is constituted as follows:

Mark Pritchard MP - Leader

FULL REPRESENTATIVES

LORD BOWNESS

LORD DUBS

PETER GRANT MP

MARK HENDRICK MP

BARONESS HILTON OF EGGARDON

DIANA JOHNSON MP

DAVID JONES MP

LAURENCE ROBERTSON MP

GAVIN SHUKER MP

ROYSTON SMITH MP

CRAIG TRACEY MP

JOHN WHITTINGDALE MP

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

HEIDI ALEXANDER MP

IAN AUSTIN MP

LORD ARBUTHNOT OF EDROM

MARTIN DOCHERTY-HUGHES MP

MARCUS FYSH MP

STEPHEN HAMMOND MP

JAMES HEAPPEY MP

JULIAN KNIGHT MP

JACK LOPRESTI MP

ROBERT NEILL MP

BRIDGET PHILLIPSON MP

LORD WOOD OF ANFIELD

JOHN WOODCOCK MP


Documents

Daily Report Wednesday, 20 December 2017 CONTENTSqnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadaily... · 12/20/2017 · During the period 1 January 2015 to 13 December 2017, 1,429 employees