Daily Report Friday, 14 February 2020 CONTENTS...2020/02/14 · Daily Report Friday, 14 February 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 14 February 2020

Daily Report Friday, 14 February 2020

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 14 February 2020 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (03:41 P.M., 14 February 2020). For the latest

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

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

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 3

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 3

Buildings: Insulation 3

Climate Change 3

Committee On Climate

Change 4

Motor Vehicles: Sales 5

Opencast Mining 5

Renewable Heat Incentive

Scheme 6

UK Trade with EU: Climate

Change 6

Wind Power: Seas and

Oceans 6

EDUCATION 7

Erasmus+ Programme 7

Free School Meals 8

Students: Personal Records 8

Teaching Excellence

Framework Independent

Review 9

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 9

Air Pollution 9

Food: Waste 10

Recycling: OECD Countries 10

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 11

Health Services: Sutton 11

Hospitals: Sutton 11

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 12

Buildings: Fire Prevention 12

Care Homes and Sheltered

Housing: Insulation 13

Conditions of Employment 13

Council Tax Benefits 14

Council Tax Reduction

Schemes 14

Ground Rent 15

Hate Crime: Chinese 15

Hunterston B Power Station 16

Leasehold: Reform 17

Local Council Tax Support

Schemes Independent Review 17

Local Government: Carbon

Emissions 17

JUSTICE 18

Counter-terrorism 18

Offenders: Health 18

Offensive Weapons:

Sentencing 19

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Reoffenders: Sentencing 21

Road Traffic Offences: Fines 21

PRIME MINISTER 22

Climate Change 22

UK Relations With EU:

Sustainable Development 22

TRANSPORT 23

Buses: Hydrogen 23

Cycling: Urban Areas 23

Electric Vehicles: Charging

Points 24

Highways England: Pay 25

M1: Accidents 25

Motor Vehicles: Urban Areas 25

Motorways: Repairs and

Maintenance 26

TREASURY 26

Cash Dispensing: Rural Areas 26

Treasury: Offshore Funds 27

WORK AND PENSIONS 28

Business: Disability 28

Disability Living Allowance:

Older People 28

Loneliness 29

Poverty 29

Universal Credit 30

Universal Credit: Fraud 31

Violence and Harassment

Convention 31

Notes:

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

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

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Buildings: Insulation

Scott Benton: [13069]

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

her Department is taking to support people who have been supplied with substandard

cavity wall insulation; and what plans the Government has for improved regulation of the

insulation sector.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Department has published consumer guidance for householders who suspect

they have received faulty cavity wall insulation. This is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cavity-wall-insulation-cwi-consumer-

guide-to-issues-arising-from-installations.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme requires a 25-year guarantee to be

provided to householders for all cavity wall insulation. The guarantee provides

instructions if there are problems related to the insulation product or its installation.

Where cavity wall insulation is installed under ECO, the installation must also be

compliant with the most recent provisions of the Publicly Available Specification

(PAS); this sets out the specifications for the installation of energy efficiency

measures in existing dwellings, including cavity wall insulation. The standard sets out

requirements which aim to ensure that the installation is suitable for the property and

installed to high standards.

TrustMark is delivering the new Government endorsed quality framework for energy

efficiency measures which was launched in October 2018. The framework ensures

an improved and comprehensive consumer protection process, including guarantees

and a redress scheme.

From 1 January 2019 all relevant measures (including cavity wall insulation) installed

under the ECO scheme must be delivered by a Trustmark approved installer and

compliant with the Trustmark framework requirements.

Climate Change

Dr Alan Whitehead: [12811]

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

process is for the UK establishing its intended nationally determined contributions.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

Following our departure from the EU, the UK will be bringing forward its own,

increased NDC well ahead of COP26. The UK NDC will be built on the foundations of

well-established UK analysis and policy development for domestic climate change

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-02-05/13069


mitigation, used to set the UK’s fifth carbon budget (2028-32) under the Climate

Change Act.


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

plans to align the UK's intended nationally determined contributions with Government

policy on achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

In June 2019, the UK government set a legally binding target to achieve net zero

greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050. We are the first

major economy in the world to legislate for a net zero target, which will end the UK’s

contribution to climate change. 2020 will be a vital Year of Climate Action across the

UK, and we will be setting out ambitious plans in the run-up to COP26 to deliver on

our world-leading net zero ambition.

Following our departure from the EU, the UK will be bringing forward its own,

increased NDC well ahead of COP26. The UK NDC will be built on the foundations of

well-established UK analysis and policy development for domestic climate change

mitigation, used to set the UK’s fifth carbon budget (2028-32) and described in the

Clean Growth Strategy. In its Net Zero advice, the Committee on Climate Change

was clear that the Clean Growth Strategy continues to offer the right framework for

the ambitious action needed to deliver net zero.

Committee On Climate Change


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

responsibilities the Committee on Climate Change will have in establishing the UK's

intended nationally determined contributions.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) was established by the Climate Change

Act 2008, as the independent statutory body that provides expert advice to the

Government and the Devolved Administrations on climate change mitigation and

adaptation. This includes advice on the level of each carbon budget, the respective

contributions that different sectors could make and the extent to which carbon

budgets could be met through the use of flexibilities. The target year for the UK’s

upcoming Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) falls within the UK’s fifth carbon

budget period (2028-32). We will be bringing forward a UK NDC well ahead of

COP26, which will be built on the foundations of the well-established UK analysis and

policy development that informed the setting of the fifth carbon budget. The CCC

published its advice to Government on the level of the fifth carbon budget in

November 2015 and the budget was set in June 2016, in line with the requirements of

the Climate Change Act.



Motor Vehicles: Sales


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

she has made of the (a) additional grid capacity and (b) electricity generating

requirements that will be needed to achieve the ban of internal combustion engine sales

by 2035.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

We are consulting on bringing forward the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel

vehicles; including hybrids under this definition for the first time, to 2035, or earlier if

feasible. We will be engaging with stakeholders, including those in the energy sector,

to understand what support will be required to enable this transition, and minimise the

impact on businesses, workers and consumers across the UK, building on the

significant demand and supply side measures in place.

Our analysis suggests limited additional impact on electricity generation capacity up

to 2030. The electricity market is already set up to promote investment in generation

capacity to meet demand; for example, the Contracts for Difference scheme

facilitates significant investment in low-carbon generation. This complements

numerous measures to ensure a smarter, more flexible energy system, increasing the

efficiency of the electricity system to prepare for electric vehicles. Ofgem, the

independent energy regulator, is developing its next set of energy network price

controls to incentivise network companies to be ready for the future needs of the

energy system, including the required capacity required to support EVs.

‘Smart’ charging of electric vehicles (at off-peak times) can reduce demand from

Electric Vehicle charging at peak times. Government has taken powers in the

Automated and Electric Vehicles Act to mandate that all charge points sold or

installed in the UK must be smart enabled and has recently consulted on secondary

regulations. Government has also invested £30 million to support vehicle-to-grid

technology, where the storage capability of electric vehicle batteries provides

electricity back to the grid.

Opencast Mining

Jonathan Edwards: [12872]

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

she has made of the number of (a) unrestored and (b) restored former open cast sites

across the UK.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Department does not hold records relating to the status of surface mine sites as

overall planning approval and specific agreement to a restoration plan, detailing how

the land will be landscaped once the site has been mined, is a matter for individual

Local Planning Authorities (LPA). The LPA is also responsible for the monitoring of

any restoration work and ensuring the planning applicant has the financial backing to

complete the work.



Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme


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

she has to maintain the Renewable Heat Incentive after March 2021.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has budget confirmed until March 2021. We are

considering a full range of options for successor arrangements to the RHI, in line with

the Government’s commitment to achieving net zero.

UK Trade with EU: Climate Change

Caroline Lucas: [12923]

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

to the written statement of 3 February 2020, HCWS86 on UK-EU relations, and the EU

draft negotiating directives published on 3 February 2020, whether she plans to make

tackling climate change a priority for a future trade agreement between the EU and the

UK.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

We want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between

sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. We will have a relationship with our

European friends inspired by our shared history and values.

The UK is committed to delivering our world-leading commitment to achieve net zero

greenhouse gas emissions and end the UK’s contribution to global warming by 2050.

As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister set out in his speech in Greenwich on the 3

February: “Britain was the first major economy in the world – let alone the EU – to

place upon our own shoulders a legal obligation to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

As we prepare to host the crucial 2020 UN climate negotiations, COP26, in Glasgow

in November, we will push for ambitious action from all countries to deliver the 2015

Paris Agreement, and showcase the UK’s climate leadership.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Charlotte Nichols: [13544]


to the offshore wind Sector Deal, published on 7 March 2019, what information her

Department collects on progress towards the offshore wind industry’s target of 60 per

cent UK content by 2030.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Offshore Wind Sector has an industry agreed methodology to measuring the

lifetime UK content of offshore windfarm. So far, the Offshore Wind Programme

Board has published reports into UK content twice, in 2015 & 2017.




At the last Offshore Wind Industrial Council in November 2019, BEIS requested

OWIC to provide an update on the UK content figures.

The latest report on the amount of UK lifetime content in offshore wind farms, which

shows that the average UK content to be 48%, can be found here:

https://www.renewableuk.com/news/362764/Offshore-Wind-Industry-Investment-in-

the-UK.htm

Charlotte Nichols: [13545]


to page 4 of the RenewableUK publication entitled, A Guide to Measuring the UK Content

of Offshore Wind Farms, published in March 2015, on how many occasions her

Department has requested that offshore wind developers open up their calculations of UK

content for independent review and audit.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

The Department has not requested any offshore wind developer to open up their

calculations of UK content. The Offshore Wind Programme Board reviews the data

submitted to ensure the content methodology has been calculated correctly.

EDUCATION

Erasmus+ Programme

Layla Moran: [14739]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether undergraduate students wanting to

study abroad in the (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22 academic year will be able to do so

through the Erasmus+ scheme.

Layla Moran: [14740]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance he has provided to UK

universities on preparing student and staff exchanges for the (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22

academic year.

Nick Gibb:

Under the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU, the UK will continue to

participate fully in the current (2014-20) Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps

(ESC) programmes. This means that the projects successfully bid for during the

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

project, including those where funding runs beyond 2020 and the end of the transition

period. We expect Higher Education mobilities being bid for in 2020 will include some

mobilities for academic year 2020-21 and academic year 2021-22, depending on the

specific details of individual projects.

The shape and content of EU Programmes post-2020, including Erasmus+, are

currently being negotiated within the EU institutions and have not yet been finalised.

These EU programmes must be adopted by the EU before any potential formal

https://www.renewableuk.com/news/362764/Offshore-Wind-Industry-Investment-in-the-UK.htm






negotiations on association could begin. The UK is ready to consider participation in

certain EU programmes, once the EU has agreed the baseline in its 2021-27

Multiannual Financial Framework, and taking into account the overall value to the UK

of doing so.

The Department for Education is the national authority for the Erasmus+ programme

in the UK. The Department oversees the work of the UK National Agency, which is

responsible for the management and delivery of the programme across the UK. The

UK National Agency have been issuing guidance to UK universities with the support

of the Department for Education.

The UK government is preparing for every eventuality and is considering a wide

range of options with regard to the future of international exchange and collaboration

in education and training, including potential domestic alternatives.

Free School Meals

Damian Hinds: [529]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the distribution of GCSE Attainment 8

results was for (a) children eligible for free school meals, (b) children not eligible for free

school meals and (c) all children in (i) London and (ii) England in the last 12 months for

which data are available.

Nick Gibb:

The distribution of GCSE Attainment 8 results split by free school meal status for

London and for England for the year 2018-19 are provided in the accompanying

table.

Attachments:

1. 529_table [529_table_FSM_status_attainment.pdf]

Students: Personal Records

Emma Hardy: [13045]

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

the number of (a) further and (b) higher education students who have been affected by

the breech of confidential data from the learner records service.

Nick Gibb:

Whilst the Information Commissioner’s investigation is still on-going, we believe that

no actual student data has been shared other than to confirm or deny whether there

is a student record for individuals held within the Learner Records Service.

Emma Hardy: [13047]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his oral contribution of 20

January 2020, Official Report, column 17, what the timescale is for the investigation into

the breach of data from the learner records service.




Nick Gibb:

The department aims to conclude its internal investigation soon. The department

continues to support the Information Commissioner’s Office in its investigation.

Teaching Excellence Framework Independent Review

Emma Hardy: [13016]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the timeframe is for the publication

Dame Shirley Pearce's report on the independent review of the teaching excellence

framework.

Nick Gibb:

The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 requires that the report of the

independent review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework

should be laid before Parliament.

The reviewer, Dame Shirley Pearce, has submitted her report to ministers. The

Government is considering the report’s evidence and recommendations. We intend to

lay the report in due course, and publish it alongside the government’s response.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution

Alex Sobel: [13584]

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

Department has plans to introduce legislative proposals to reduce the level of PM2.5

particles in the air.

Rebecca Pow:

The Clean Air Strategy (CAS), published in January 2019, set out the comprehensive

action required across all parts of Government to improve air quality, and reduce

public exposure to particulate matter pollution.

In line with the CAS, Defra consulted on the cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels

and wood between August–October 2018. The proposals in this consultation

included:

• Restrictions on the sale of wet wood for domestic burning

• Phasing out the sale of traditional house coal

• Applying sulphur standards and smoke emission limits to all manufactured solid

fuels

We expect to publish the response to this consultation in the near future.

The Environment Bill, which was re-introduced to Parliament on 30 January, also

establishes a legally binding duty to set a target for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ),

demonstrating our commitment to take further action on the air pollutant that has the

most significant impact on human health. The Bill contains measures to reduce



emissions from domestic solid fuel burning by creating a simpler mechanism for local

authorities seeking to reduce smoke emissions within their areas.

Food: Waste

Dr Matthew Offord: [13501]

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

taking to eradicate domestic food waste.

Rebecca Pow:

Waste is a devolved matter. Data recently published by the Waste and Resources

Action Programme (WRAP), the Government’s delivery body on food waste, shows

household food waste reduced in the UK by over 1.4 million tonnes between 2007

and 2018. That’s a fall of almost 18%. However, there is more to do.

The Resources and Waste Strategy (RWS), published in December 2018, outlined

our continued support for WRAP’s citizen food waste strategy to reduce food waste in

our homes, for example through the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign. In addition, a

Citizen Food Waste Behaviour Change Grant was launched on 30 January 2020 to

identify new behaviour change interventions that can be tailored to food waste

prevention. Ben Elliot, our Food Surplus and Waste Champion also recently

announced the first ever ‘Food Waste Action Week’ from Monday 11 May and called

on households and businesses across the country to join forces to reduce food

waste.

We also want households to be able to separate their food waste from residual

waste, which will prevent it going to landfill. Following support for separate weekly

food waste collections at public consultation, the Environment Bill proposes

legislation that will require all collectors of waste to collect a core set of materials from

households, businesses and other organisations such as schools from 2023.

Recycling: OECD Countries


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

she has made of whether OECD countries have internal validation systems that ensure

that imported plastic waste is treated for recycling purposes to a level equivalent to that of

the UK.

Rebecca Pow:

The Secretary of State has not assessed validation systems operated by other

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for

imports of waste. Movements of waste between countries of the OECD have been

supervised and controlled under an intra-OECD Control System since 1992. The

OECD Council Decision C(2001)107 FINAL provides a legal framework for the

control of movements of wastes within the OECD area to ensure the environmentally

sound and economically efficient recovery of wastes.



Countries apply to the OECD Council to become a member of the OECD. A technical

review is then carried out to evaluate the country’s policies and practices and its

ability to implement OECD standards, including the Council Decision that controls

intra-OECD movements of waste. This review process will normally result in a

number of measures a country must implement to demonstrate alignment with OECD

requirements.

The UK cannot ultimately dictate how its waste is managed once that waste leaves

the UK. There is a system of international rules on shipments which must be

followed. UK businesses involved in the export of wastes are required to take all

necessary steps to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally

sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling. Any operators found

to be illegally exporting waste can face severe sanctions - from financial penalties to

imprisonment for a period of up to two years.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Health Services: Sutton

Elliot Colburn: [628]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to improve quality of care for patients in the (a) Epsom and St Helier University

Hospitals and (b) Royal Marsden NHS Trusts.

Edward Argar:

Both Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden

NHS Foundation Trust are committed to improving patient care.

The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports on Epsom and St Helier

University Hospitals NHS Trust show for the first time the trust being rated as Good

overall. CQC findings indicated improvements and progress in most areas of care.

The CQC continued to rate the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust as outstanding

overall.

Hospitals: Sutton


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an

assessment of the potential merits of a new hospital to serve the Epsom and St Helier

University Hospital and Royal Marsden NHS trusts.


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

Department has made of the effect of travel times to acute hospital services on outcomes

for elderly patients.





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

his Department has made of patient travel times to each of the location options for the

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Royal Marsden NHS Trusts proposed

specialist emergency care hospital.


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

has made of the average age of patients in the (a) Epsom and St Helier University

Hospitals and (b) Royal Marsden NHS Trusts.

Edward Argar:

A consultation is currently underway. The consultation document sets out potential

improvements in clinical outcomes for patients under three different options. This

includes a new specialist emergency care hospital.

The potential impact of the proposals on accessibility and travel times has been

analysed as part of the consultation process and further detail can be found at the

following link:

https://improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk/?s=baseline+travel+analysis

The attached table shows the finished consultant episodes (FCE) and average age in

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and The Royal Marsden NHS

Foundation Trust for the last three years.

Attachments:

1. pq627, 629, 630, 631 table [pq627 29 30 31 table.docx]

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Buildings: Fire Prevention

Steve Reed: [13522]

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

to the Answer of 5 February 2020 to Question 5442 on Buildings: Fire Prevention,

whether his Department has published all large-scale test reports and data that it has

commissioned the Building Research Establishment to undertake.

Christopher Pincher:

We have published all reports from BRE on the results and data from the large scale

BS 8414 tests undertaken by the Department.

Steve Reed: [13524]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

publish the names of the members of the Independent Expert Advisory Panel.








Information on the Independent Advisory Panel including core membership can be

found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-safety-independent-

expert-advisory-panel .

Care Homes and Sheltered Housing: Insulation

Steve Reed: [13525]

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

to the Answer of 20 January 2020, to Question 3225 on Care Homes: Insulation, when

his Department plans to issue a formal consultation on banning combustible materials on

care homes and sheltered housing below 11 metres in height.


The Department is seeking views on the ban of the use of combustible materials in

and on external walls of buildings, including building types covered and the height

threshold. The consultation closes 13 April 2020 and is available at :

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-ban-on-the-use-of-

combustible-materials-in-and-on-the-external-walls-of-buildings

Conditions of Employment


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

steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to (a) protect and (b) improve

the rights of workers in the global information and communications technology sector

through their (i) policies on and (ii) processes for procuring that technology.

Luke Hall:

Local authorities must act within their statutory powers, but they act independently of

central government and are accountable to their electorate.

Councils are responsible for funding their local services, and they make contracting

and procurement decisions according to what is best for those services in line with

legal requirements (such as the Public Contract Regulations 2015) and their own

local policy considerations.

We work closely with the sector to make sure councils are properly supported to

improve and reform, drive efficiency and enhance effectiveness and resilience

In September 2019 Cabinet Office published new guidance to help government

departments identify and avoid the risk of modern slavery in their supply chains

during procurement processes. The detailed guidance advocates a proportionate,

risk-based approach, setting out specific measures to be adopted at each stage of

the commercial life-cycle, from pre-procurement to contract management. It also sets

out how existing contracts can be risk assessed and suggests measures to manage

the risks identified.


https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fconsultations%2Freview-of-the-ban-on-the-use-of-combustible-materials-in-and-on-the-external-walls-of-buildings&data=02%7C01%7CCharles-Elie.Romeyer%40communities.gov.uk%7C03c8f42550454b797cce08d7af129c5a%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637170366775298913&sdata=fpkZWCUAH9lvrLP2M1MC9CPhn2S0iH%2FhCDeLvfokwrA%3D&reserved=0




Whilst this is not mandatory for local government, many councils will use these as

guidance to support or augment their procurement and commissioning policy

development and practice or will develop their own tailored approach to consider

potential risks such as inequality or poor working conditions in their supply chains.

Furthermore, for local authorities who use the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to

purchase IT , CCS has partnered with Electronics Watch, a multi-stakeholder

initiative, to improve conditions for workers at factory level in government ICT

hardware supply chains. Electronics Watch’s work has led to workers in government

supply chains being reimbursed for recruitment fees they paid.

Council Tax Benefits

Jon Cruddas: [12853]


assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings in the Institute

of Fiscal Studies research, published in January 2019, on the effect of the abolition of

council tax benefit.

Luke Hall:

The Government has noted the findings of the Institute of Fiscal Studies’ research

and closely monitors council tax collection rates, which were 97.0 per cent in 2018-

19, as well as overall council tax levels and increases.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with

reference to the Government response to recommendation 9 of Eric Ollerenshaw’s 2016

Independent review of local Council Tax support schemes, whether his Department has

issued guidance to local authorities on the collection of data on the effect of their

schemes on claimants.

Luke Hall:

The Government collects data from local authorities on the amount of council tax

income forgone as a result of providing local council tax support to working age and

pensioner claimants. We do not consider that requiring local authorities to provide

more detailed information would be proportionate. Local authorities are best placed to

decide what level of council tax support is appropriate in particular circumstances.


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, with

reference to the Government's response to recommendation 10 of Eric Ollerenshaw’s

2016 Independent Review of Local Council Tax Support Schemes, if he will commission

independent in-depth research into the effect of the introduction of local council tax

support on low-income households affected by other reductions to social security

benefits.




Luke Hall:

The Government does not propose to pursue such research at this time, particularly

as similar work has been carried out by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and others.

However, we will continue to consider whether additional work might be helpful in

further developing the Government’s understanding of local council tax support.

Ground Rent

Alex Chalk: [13513]


plans his department has to publish a response to the Law Commission report on

leasehold enfranchisement with reference to ground rent.


The Government is looking to standardise the enfranchisement process and asked

the Law Commission to review current arrangements to make them easier, faster,

fairer and cheaper. The Law Commission has now published its first report to

Government, on the valuation aspects of enfranchisement. The report, which follows

a consultation by the Law Commission, sets out a number of options relating to

valuation, including purchasing a freehold and extending the lease of a house or flat.

We expect the Law Commission will report on the remaining aspects of

enfranchisement later in the spring.  The Government will carefully consider

the proposals outlined in the Law Commission’s report and set out its preferred way

forward in due course.

Hate Crime: Chinese

Alex Sobel: [13587]


steps his Department is taking to tackle hate crime directed at the British-Chinese

community.

Luke Hall:

The Government takes hate crime and discrimination of any kind very seriously. We

are a tolerant and welcoming multicultural society. There is no excuse for targeting

British Chinese communities or anyone of any other background in this country. We

have one of the strongest legal frameworks in the world to report, record and

prosecute hate crime. I would encourage anyone who experiences hate crime to

report it to the police.

Government’s Hate Crime Action Plan published in October 2018 sets out a

comprehensive programme of work across Government and the police. We fund hate

crime reporting platforms, including True Vision, and we continue to engage and

support communities of all backgrounds and origins.



Hunterston B Power Station

Mike Hill: [R] [12935]

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

business rates contribution of Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station has been to its

relevant local authority as (a) a raw figure and (b) as a proportion of local authority

income in each of the last five years for which figures are available.



business rates contribution of Torness Nuclear Power Station has been to its relevant

local authority as (a) a raw figure and (b) as a proportion of local authority income in each

of the last five years for which figures are available.



business rates contribution of Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station has been to its relevant





business rates contribution of Heysham 1 Nuclear Power Station has been to its relevant





business rates contribution of Heysham 2 Nuclear Power Station has been to its relevant

local authority as (a) a raw figure and (b) as a percentage of local authority income in

each of the last five years for which figures are available.



business rates contribution of Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station has been to its





business rates contribution of Dungeness B Nuclear Power Station has been to its












business rates contribution of Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station has been to its relevant



Luke Hall:

The Department does not hold information on the business rates collected by local

authorities from individual ratepayers or in respect of particular properties.

Leasehold: Reform

Steve McCabe: [13416]


timeframe is for bringing forward legislation on leasehold reform.


The Government is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end

unfair practices in the leasehold market. This includes working with the Law

Commission to make buying a freehold or extending a lease easier, quicker and more

cost effective – and to reinvigorate Commonhold and Right to Manage. We are

moving forward with legislation, particularly on measures to ban the sale of new

leasehold houses, restrict ground rents to zero for future leases, give freehold

homeowners equivalent rights to challenge unfair charges, and close loopholes to

prevent unfair evictions and will introduce a bill when parliamentary time allows.

Local Council Tax Support Schemes Independent Review



external organisations his Department has engaged with in implementing its response to

Eric Ollerenshaw's Independent Review of Local Council Tax Support Schemes.

Luke Hall:

The Government engages with a wide range of organisations to understand the

impact of council tax - including local council tax support schemes - on taxpayers.

Local Government: Carbon Emissions

Alex Sobel: [13580]


steps his Department is taking to help local authorities to achieve net-zero carbon

emissions.

Luke Hall:

98 per cent of local authorities are taking action to reduce emissions from their areas,

or from their own estate. Councils are vital agents for change, able to bring together

local people and local opportunities, through effective use of planning, housing and





waste management powers. My Department is engaging with councils and the Local

Government Association, as well as other departments in Westminster, to ensure this

vital role is supported appropriately by central government policy.

This year’s proposed local government finance settlement for 2020-21 will provide

access to the largest year-on-year increase in spending power in a decade, an

increase of £2.9 billion or 4.4 per cent in real terms. Local authorities are able to

spend non-ringfenced funding as they see fit to meet local priorities, including

reducing their carbon footprint, and are accountable to their local electorate for their

spending.

JUSTICE

Counter-terrorism

Alex Sobel: [13574]

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

that proposals to amend counter-terrorism legislation will maintain the civil liberties of UK

citizens.

Alex Sobel: [13575]

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

that proposals to amend counter-terrorism legislation complies with international human

rights law.

Chris Philp:

The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill acts only upon those who

have criminal convictions imposed by lawful authority of the UK criminal courts. The

Bill does not change the sentences of individuals convicted of relevant terrorism

offence - both European and domestic case law confirm that release provisions relate

to the administration of a sentence and do not form part of the penalty.

On introduction of the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill in the

House of Commons, Minister Buckland made a statement under section 19(1)(a) of

the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA 1998”) that in his view the provisions of the Bill are

compatible with Convention rights.

Offenders: Health

Neil Coyle: [13054]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on publishing a

health and justice plan; what the timetable is for publishing that plan; and which (a)

Government departments, (b) arms-length bodies and (c) external stakeholders are

involved in publishing that plan.

Lucy Frazer:

The health and justice partners include: Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Her Majesty’s

Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Department of Health and Social Care




(DHSC), NHSE/I, and Public Health England (PHE). In English prisons, this

relationship has been formally set out in the National Partnership Agreement for

Prison Healthcare in England, which has been in place since April 2018. Its

associated workplan sets out a detailed programme of work, agreed by health and

justice partners, to deliver safe, decent, effective healthcare for offenders.

Changes in Ministers in both Departments over the past six months, followed by the

General Election, means we have been reconsidering how we best deliver our

objectives in this area.

In order to improve health outcomes and tackle the root causes of offending it is

essential we take a whole system approach to healthcare provision for people in the

criminal justice system. The Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and

Social Care are continuing to work together and with partners to articulate a coherent

picture of how healthcare is delivered throughout the criminal justice pathway, from

the point of arrest through to release.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Philip Davies: [13460]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous offences of

possession of a blade or point was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for

that offence in the last year for which information is available.



assault was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that offence in the last

year for which information is available.



possession of an offensive weapon was for people given an immediate custodial

sentence for that offence in the last year for which information is available.



sexual assault was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that offence in

the last year for which information is available.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous offences

relating to the Public Order Act 1986 was for people given an immediate custodial

sentence for that offence in the last year for which information is available.








theft was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that offence in the last

year for which information is available.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of total previous

offences of robbery was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that

offence in the last year for which information is available.



offences of burglary was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that



To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous drug-

related offences was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for those offences

in the last year for which information is available.



criminal damage was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that offence in

the last year for which information is available.



offences of fraud was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that offence

in the last year for which information is available.



driving whilst disqualified was for people given an immediate custodial sentence for that


Chris Philp:

Data on the highest number of previous cautions and convictions for a specified

offence for offenders convicted of that specified offence and sentenced to immediate

custody in the year ending March 2019 can be viewed in the attached table.

Attachments:

1. Table [PQs 13460 to 13471 Response Table (Assault amend).xlsx]








Reoffenders: Sentencing


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous offences

was for (a) men and (b) women given an immediate custodial sentence in each of the last

two years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number was of previous

offences committed by (a) men and (b) women who were given a custodial sentence of (i)

up to six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 months to 2 years, (iv) 2 to 4 years, (v) 4-8

years, (vi) 8-20 years, (vii) over 20 years and (viii) life imprisonment in the last year for

which information is available.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the largest number of offences committed

by a (a) man and (b) woman was prior to being sent to prison for the first time in each of

the last three years.

Chris Philp:

The information requested is provided in the tables attached with this answer. These

tables include data on:

• The highest number of previous offences for (a) men and (b) women given an

immediate custodial sentence in each of the last two years

• The average number of previous offences committed by (a) men and (b) women

who were given a custodial sentence of (i) up to six months, (ii) six to 12 months,

(iii) 12 months to 2 years, (iv) 2 to 4 years, (v) 4-8 years, (vi) 8-20 years, (vii) over

20 years and (viii) life imprisonment in the last year for which information is

available

• The largest number of offences committed by a (a) man and (b) woman prior to

being sent to prison for the first time in each of the last three years

Attachments:

1. Table [PQs_13459_13473_13951_Tables_SignedOff.xlsx]

Road Traffic Offences: Fines

Yasmin Qureshi: [12919]

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

merits of introducing speeding fines linked to the income of the offender.

Chris Philp:

Courts are required by statute to take into account the financial circumstances of the

offender, insofar as these can be assessed, when setting a fine for any offence

including speeding offences. Guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing

Council require the court to assess the seriousness of a speeding offence based





upon the speed of the vehicle in relation to the speed limit of the road. Once the

seriousness is established a fine amount is set which relates to the income of the

offender.

The relevant sentencing guideline is set out below:

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/speeding-

revised-2017/

Where an individual fails to provide information about their financial circumstances,

the court may assess the fine amount as it sees fit and, the sentencing guideline

provides for the court to fall back on an average earnings figure.

Full details on fines can be found here:

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/explanatory-material/magistrates-

court/item/fines-and-financial-orders/approach-to-the-assessment-of-fines-2/1-

approach-to-the-assessment-of-fines-introduction/

In simple cases the police have the power to offer a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN),

which consists of a fixed non-means-tested fine, and penalty points. The Department

for Transport is responsible for fixing the penalty levels for speeding related FPNs.

FPNs do not take means into account as they are designed to operate as a simple

on-the-spot process. Individuals may refuse a FPN, in which case the matter may be

taken before a court.

PRIME MINISTER

Climate Change


To ask the Prime Minister, when he plans to hold the first meeting of the Cabinet sub-

committee on climate change.

Boris Johnson:

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member the Member for

Oxford East on 7 January 2020, UIN 224.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-

statements/written-question/Commons/2019-12-19/224/

UK Relations With EU: Sustainable Development


To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the Written Statement of 3 February 2020,

HCWS86 on UK/ EU relations, for what reasons that statement did not refer to the

implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Boris Johnson:

The written ministerial statement sets out the Government’s proposed approach to

the negotiations with the EU about our future relationship. Leaving the EU does not


https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-12-19/224/




change our world-leading ambitions on the environment. We have a long history of

environmental protection which predates membership of the EU, and we will

safeguard and improve on this record.

The UK Government is committed to supporting implementation of the Sustainable

Development Goals. A comprehensive account of progress towards the Sustainable

Development Goals setting out how government, business, civil society and others

are contributing to them both at home and around the world is available on gov.uk. It

also sets out areas of further work and next steps.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-voluntary-national-review-of-the-

sustainable-development-goals

TRANSPORT

Buses: Hydrogen

Alex Sobel: [13578]

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

promote the use of hydrogen buses to private bus companies.

Grant Shapps:

Since 2010 the Government has invested around £150 million towards new cleaner

buses.

The Government has supported the use of a range of low carbon bus technologies,

including hydrogen, through funds including the Low Emission and Ultra Low

Emission Bus Schemes. These schemes have provided funding for the purchase of

62 hydrogen buses.

We have also announced a review of bus funding and an upcoming National Bus

Strategy, which will consider how to support the uptake of low carbon bus

technologies.

Cycling: Urban Areas

Alex Sobel: [13572]


encourage local authorities to promote cycling in towns and cities in England.

Grant Shapps:

The first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy - Report to Parliament published

on the 7th February 2020 provides full details of the steps the Department is taking to

promote cycling and walking. This includes details of the £2.4 billion which is being

invested in cycling and walking over the five years to 2020/21 through the statutory

Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. Funding has been provided for provision of

safe and direct cycling and walking networks, cycle training and a range of behaviour

change and modeshift activities.

http://gov.uk/

http://gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-voluntary-national-review-of-the-sustainable-development-goals





Electric Vehicles: Charging Points


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

adequate availability of fast charging points to meet demand for electric vehicles between

2020-30.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to introduce

standards for availabililty of fast charging points for electric vehicles by (a) distance

between points and (b) availability for public charging without subscription.

Grant Shapps:

Our vision is to have one of the best infrastructure networks in the world for electric

vehicles, and we want chargepoints to be accessible, affordable and secure. The

number of rapid chargepoints is increasing quickly, with 2,400 devices currently

publicly available, but we recognise there is more to do. Along with the private sector

the Government will invest £1 billion in charging infrastructure – making sure that

everyone is within 30 miles of a rapid charging station for electric vehicles.

Our grant schemes and the £400m Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will see

thousands more electric vehicle charge-points installed across the UK. In particular,

the first £70 million of the Charging Infrastructure Investment fund is expected to

deliver an additional 3,000 rapid chargepoints by 2024.

In July last year, work commenced to determine a vision for a core rapid charger

network on England’s strategic road network. This will report in Spring 2020.

Highways England has already committed £15m to ensure there are chargepoints

(rapid where possible) every 20 miles on 95% of the Strategic Road Network by the

end of 2020.

Andrew Selous: [13436]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated from

the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme guidance to Central Bedfordshire Council.

Grant Shapps:

The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is a demand-led funding

scheme which assists local authorities with the cost of installing chargepoints in

residential streets. The funding available is for 75% of the capital costs of procuring

and installing the chargepoint and an associated dedicated parking bay, and is

administered by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). In October 2019, I

wrote to all local authorities encouraging them to send their strategies for

infrastructure deployment and to take advantage of ORCS funding. Last month we

announced that Government funding will be doubled to £10 million for the installation

of chargepoints on residential streets next year. This could support as many as 3,600

chargepoints for those that do not have off-street parking.




To date, no applications have been made for funding through ORCS from Central

Bedfordshire Council. Luton Borough Council, which is in Bedfordshire, has applied

for funding under the scheme and has been awarded £23,336 to support the

installation of nine chargepoints.

Highways England: Pay

John Spellar: [12867]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff at Highways England

received a salary of more than £100,000 in the last financial year.

Grant Shapps:

Highways England employed 61 staff on a base salary of £100,000 or more in 2019-

20. I have committed in the House to addressing this issue.

M1: Accidents

Sarah Champion: [13515]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many incidents involving (a) serious

injury and (b) death occurred between Junctions 32 and 35A of the M1 in (i) each year

since March 2017 and (ii) each of the three years before March 2017.

Grant Shapps:

Any death on our roads is one too many. We want our roads to be as safe as

possible. That is why I’ve asked the Department to carry out an evidence stocktake to

gather the facts about the safety of smart motorways and make recommendations.

The Department will present the findings of the stocktake shortly.

While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we

will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on

our roads. The Roads Minister will write to you as soon as the stocktake is completed

to answer your specific question.

Motor Vehicles: Urban Areas

Alex Sobel: [13573]


discourage the use of cars in major urban areas.

Grant Shapps:

Local Highway Authorities are responsible for the maintenance and management of

the local road network within their areas and this includes measures to help reduce

road congestion. It is the for the Leaders and Mayors of local and Combined

Authorities to decide how best to manage the relative mix of traffic in their cities.

The Government is tackling congestion across England through investment in roads,

public transport and active travel. The £2.5bn Transforming Cities Fund is

empowering 18 city regions to deliver improvements to commuter connectivity which

will provide faster, more reliable transport links such as new light rail, bus or cycling




infrastructure. The Government has also recently announced a further £5bn of

investment in buses and cycling across England.

Through the National Roads Fund, the Government is providing £28.8bn which will

fund vital improvements on the Strategic Road Network and on the Major Roads

Network.

The Government is committed to decarbonisation of transport and is consulting on

bringing forward the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2035, or

earlier if a faster transition appears feasible.

The Government is also supporting areas that have identified Clean Air Zones as a

means of reducing Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) to legal levels by charging older, dirtier

vehicles for entering an area.

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

John Spellar: [12865]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Departments policy is on the

maximum desirable length of roadworks on motorways.

Grant Shapps:

When designing its road works, Highways England uses the guidance provided in the

Department for Transport published Traffic Signs Manual: Chapter 8. This

recommends that road works are limited to a maximum of 6km (around 3 and ¾

miles), although the adoption of longer lengths of road works is permissible providing

they do not create unacceptable impacts. Where longer lengths of road works are

adopted, site specific risk assessments are required to identify the safe maximum

length. Limiting all road works to a maximum length would increase both costs and

duration of some works due to the activities undertaken.

TREASURY

Cash Dispensing: Rural Areas

John Nicolson: [14733]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure

free access to cash for people in rural communities.

John Glen:

The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely

important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.

The Government has launched the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group – bringing

together the Payment Systems Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority, and Bank of

England – to ensure comprehensive oversight of the overall cash infrastructure.

Industry has a key role to play. LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s largest ATM

network, has committed to protect remote free-to-use ATMs one kilometre or further



from the next nearest free-to-use ATM or Post Office counter. LINK has also provided

funding to allow local communities to request new free-to-use ATMs. The Payment

Systems Regulator has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its

commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of ATMs.

Treasury: Offshore Funds

Tulip Siddiq: [14764]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department’s (a) anti-fraud and (b)

anti-money laundering procedures monitor (i) payments by his Department to offshore

accounts and (ii) the use of offshore accounts by his Department's (A) suppliers and (B)

senior staff.

John Glen:

The Department has extensive anti-fraud and anti-money laundering procedures in

making payments including verifying the identity of suppliers and staff, and the

validity of payment details.

All suppliers and public office holders are expected to comply with the law as it

applies to offshore banking activity.

Ministers and Civil Servants also uphold the standards of conduct as set out in the

Ministerial and Civil Service Code respectively, as well as the seven principles of

public life.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) members of his departmental Board

and (b) senior executives in his Department are required to disclose offshore bank

accounts and holdings.

John Glen:

The departmental Board and Senior Executives are not required to disclose offshore

bank accounts and holdings.

All public office holders are expected to comply with the law as it applies to offshore

banking activity.

Ministers and Civil Servants must also uphold the standards of conduct as set out in

the Ministerial and Civil Service Code respectively, as well as the 7 principles of

public life.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money his Department paid into

offshore bank accounts in the financial year 2018-19.

John Glen:

In 2018-19 the Department made £2m of foreign payments to suppliers, all of which

were made to the countries where the suppliers have operations.




In 2018-19 the Department made £13k of foreign salary payments, all of which were

made to the countries where the employees were resident in at the time.

All suppliers and public office holders are expected to comply with the law as it

applies to offshore banking activity.

Ministers and Civil Servants also uphold the standards of conduct as set out in the

Ministerial and Civil Service Code respectively, as well as the seven principles of

public life.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Business: Disability

Alex Sobel: [13588]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is

taking to encourage private businesses to be more accessible to people with disabilities.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Government has made a commitment to publish a new National Strategy for

Disabled People in 2020, focusing on removing barriers to ensure disabled people

can lead a life of opportunity and fully participate in British society.

Business has a vital role to play in making its products and services more accessible.

In support of that objective, I have appointed 18 Sector Champions to use their

influential status and leadership to drive change across in individual business sectors.

The sectors currently covered are Advertising, Banking, Broadcast Media, Gaming,

Hotels, Leisure (Physical Activity), Live Music, Retail, Tourism, Transport - Airports,

Buses and Trains, Arts and Culture, Insurance, Technology, Countryside and

Heritage, Web Accessibility, Brand and Design, and Products and Spaces. In

addition, the Retail Forum was established to improve accessibility and inclusion of

its premises and services for disabled people.

The Government is also working to support people with disabilities who are in work or

wish to work. Over 16,000 employers have signed up to the Disability Confident

scheme, which provides employers with the knowledge, skills and confidence they

need to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace. The

Access to Work scheme offers a discretionary grant of up to £59,200 per year for in-

work support above the level of reasonable adjustments for people whose disability

or health condition affects the way they do their job.

Disability Living Allowance: Older People

Neil Coyle: [684]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving

disability living allowance are over state retirement age.



Justin Tomlinson:

National Statistics on Disability Living Allowance recipients by client type is published

and is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml

Guidance for users is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Loneliness

Vicky Foxcroft: [13550]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 4

November 2019 to Question 5467 on Loneliness, whether her Department has published

the refreshed government guidance on the Family Test.

Mims Davies:

We have been working very closely with our cross-government Family Test Network,

including officials from DCMS on the refreshed guidance on applying the Family Test.

We intend to make the improved guidance available by March 2020.

Poverty

Alex Sobel: [14729]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the implications for his policies of the findings of the February 2020 Joseph Rowntree

Foundation report entitled UK Poverty 2019-2020 that 56 per cent of people living in

poverty were also in a working household in 2018; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince:

There is clear evidence about the importance of work in tackling poverty now and in

the future. For example, a child growing up in a home where all adults are working is

around 5 times less likely to be in poverty than a child in a household where nobody

works. The majority of people in in-work poverty either work solely part-time, are the

single earner in a couple, or are full-time self-employed.

Delivering a sustainable long-term solution to poverty means building a strong

economy and ensuring that the benefit system works with the tax system and the

labour market to support employment and higher pay. There are over 1 million fewer

workless households compared with 2010, with around 730,000 fewer children in

workless households, and over 3.8 million more people have entered work, averaging

around 1,000 people a day. Around three-quarters of the growth in employment since

2010 has been in full-time work. Our unemployment rate is now less than half the

Euro area average. Around three-quarters of the growth in employment since 2010

has been in full-time work, substantially reducing the risk of poverty.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that Universal Credit is likely to help an extra

300,000 members of working families out of poverty.







Universal Credit is designed to help people move into work faster, stay in work longer

and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. It provides more financial

help with childcare costs (eligible claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their

childcare costs, compared to 70% on the legacy system), a dedicated Work Coach,

and removes the 16-hour ‘cliff edge ’ for those who are working. We are confident

that, as UC reaches more working families, we will see more people working full-time

and ultimately achieving independence from the State.

We will continue to reform the welfare system so that it promotes work as the most

effective route out of poverty and is fairer towards those who receive it and the

taxpayers who pay for it. We also want to identify opportunities to create a highly

productive workforce, improving progression prospects for the lowest paid people so

everyone has the right skills to meet the UK’s future demand. That is why we are

delivering a significant programme of research and testing to build the evidence of

how to overcome the obstacles that people face so that they can improve their

earnings and career prospects.

Universal Credit

Alan Brown: [12944]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the High Court

judgment of 11 January 2019, [2019] EWHC 23 (Admin), on universal credit and periodic

assessments of income, what submissions on remedies her Department has made to the

court.

Will Quince:

The judgment affects a small number of people on Universal Credit (UC), with

specific characteristics. The Department is currently appealing this judgment, and as

such will await the outcome of that process before taking any further action.

Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and

also allows UC to be adjusted each month. This means that if a claimant's income

falls, they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their UC.

The amount of UC paid to claimants reflects the actual circumstances of a household

during each monthly assessment period, as closely as possible .

Chris Stephens: [R] [13531]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5

February 2020 to Question 10760, on Universal Credit, how many case managers were

working on the roll-out of universal credit in December (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d)

2017, (e) 2018 and (f) 2019; and what her estimate is of the average number of cases

managed by a case manager in each of those months.

Will Quince:

Between November 2014 and September 2017, Universal Credit Full Service was

going through its Pilot phase, during which resourcing levels were regularly reviewed

in line with the growing needs of the Pilot.



Upon conclusion of the Universal Credit Pilot in September 2017, UC Full Service

began rolling out throughout the remainder of the country in a phased approach,

which concluded in December 2018. The latest published Caseload position for UC

stands at 2,084,952 cases (August 2019 figure), at which point there were 4,508

Case Managers deployed within Universal Credit Service Centres supporting UC

claimants, with each Case Manager on average handling 463 cases.

Universal Credit: Fraud

Sir Mark Hendrick: [13420]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many fraudulent cases of

universal credit advance were (a) recorded and (b) processed at Jobcentres in (i)

Preston, (ii) Blackburn, (iii) Blackpool and (iv) Bolton; what the value was of those

fraudulent claims; and how much each claimant had to repay as a result of a fraudulent

claim made on their behalf by a third party in the last two years.

Will Quince:

I estimate that providing the information you request would incur disproportionate

costs.

However, let me assure you that the Department takes this issue very seriously. We

have set up a dedicated team to investigate this type of fraud and are proactively

addressing it by using messaging on social media to remind people of the importance

of safeguarding their identity, as well as shutting down social media sites that

promote this fraud.

We have also made changes to the Universal Credit advance application process.

Universal Credit claimants who wish to apply for a new claim advance are now

required to attend a face to face interview. This change will help protect claimants

from identity fraud and becoming victims of third party scams.

If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from an advance in

any way, they will not be asked to repay it. In these cases, we will seek recovery from

the perpetrator of the scam. The Department considers all cases on their own merits

and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.

Violence and Harassment Convention

Martyn Day: [12984]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to

ratify International Labour Organization convention 190 on ending violence in the

workplace; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies:

Violence and harassment at work are unacceptable and the government is committed

to ensuring men and women are protected in the workplace. The Government

strongly supported and welcomed the adoption of ILO Convention 190 on Ending

Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. My Department is currently taking

the steps necessary to ensure full cross-Government consideration of ratification,



including consulting the Devolved Administrations. Once this process has been

completed, we will inform Parliament of the Governments intentions with regards to

ratification.

Documents

Daily Report Friday, 14 February 2020 CONTENTS...2020/02/14 · Daily Report Friday, 14 February 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 14 February 2020