Daily Report Thursday, 17 January 2019
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 17 January 2019 and the
information is correct at the time of publication (06:30 P.M., 17 January 2019). For the latest
information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,
please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS
ANSWERS 6
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6
Business: Brexit 6
Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy:
Disadvantaged 6
Energy Supply 7
Fracking: Regulation 7
Green Deal Scheme:
Misrepresentation 8
Notice Boards: Standards 8
Renewable Heat Incentive
Scheme: Biofuels 8
Renewable Heat Incentive
Scheme: Scotland 9
CABINET OFFICE 10
Armed Forces 10
British-Irish Council 10
Cabinet Office: Brexit 10
Cabinet Office: Written
Questions 11
Civil Contingencies
Secretariat: Finance 11
Civil Contingencies
Secretariat: Staff 12
Cybercrime 12
Government Departments:
Procurement 12
Public Sector: Procurement 13
Royal Family: Official Gifts 13
Travellers: Census 13
Urban Areas 14
DEFENCE 14
Armed Forces: Mefloquine 14
Gibraltar: Spain 15
Government Departments:
Secondment 16
Israel: Arms Trade 16
Ministry of Defence:
Disclosure of Information 16
Navy: Training 18
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND
SPORT 18
Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport:
Disadvantaged 18
National Lottery: Grants 18
EDUCATION 19
Apprentices 19
Free School Meals 19
Midwives: Training 20
Notice Boards: Fires 20
Pre-school Education 21
Schools: Scotland 21
Special Educational Needs:
Autism 21
Students: Grants 22
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 22
[Subject Heading to be
Assigned] 22
Air Pollution 23
Animal Welfare 24
Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs:
Disadvantaged 24
Environmental Stewardship
Scheme 25
Plastics: Recycling 25
Reindeer: Exports 26
Reindeer: Imports 26
Sheep Meat: Northumbria 27
Waste: Exports 27
EXITING THE EUROPEAN
UNION 28
Anguilla: Saint Martin 28
Brexit 28
Brexit: West Midlands 29
Erasmus+ Programme 29
Social Services: EU Nationals 29
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 30
British Nationals Abroad:
Homicide 30
Egypt: Ethnic Groups 31
Foreign and Commonwealth
Office: Brexit 31
Guatemala: Politics And
Government 32
Libya: Conferences 32
Mediterranean Sea: Refugees 33
Members: Correspondence 33
Papua: Violence 34
Philippines: Human Rights 34
Royal Family: Official Gifts 34
Sudan: Arrests and Violence 35
Sudan: Ethnic Groups 35
Sudan: Syria 35
Syria: British Nationals Abroad 36
Syria: Turkey 36
Thailand: Politics and
Government 36
Turkey: Human Rights 37
USA: State Visits 37
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 37
Accidents: Older People 37
Department of Health and
Social Care: Brexit 39
Department of Health and
Social Care: Disadvantaged 39
Drugs 40
Drugs: Misuse 41
Fertility: Medical Treatments 42
Health Services: Learning
Disability 42
Maternity Services: Foreign
Nationals 43
Mental Health Services:
Children and Young People 44
Mental Illness: Community
Care 44
Mental Illness: Equality 45
Midwives 46
Midwives: Termination of
Employment 46
Midwives: Training 49
NHS 111 52
NHS: Food 53
NHS: ICT 53
NHS: Procurement 54
NHS: Standards 54
NHS: Training 55
NHS: Vacancies 56
Nurses 56
Plastic Surgery 57
Pregnancy: Mental Health
Services 58
Private Patients 58
Psychiatric Hospitals: Children
and Young People 59
HOME OFFICE 59
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime 59
Asylum 60
Asylum: Employment 60
Asylum: Housing 61
Asylum: Staffordshire 61
Detection Rates 62
Domestic Violence 62
Drugs: Crime 63
Entry Clearances: Northern
Ireland 63
High Rise Flats: Fires 63
Immigrants: Health Services 63
Immigration 64
Immigration: EU Nationals 64
Police: Forensic Science 66
Social Media: Regulation 66
Undocumented Migrants:
Boats 67
Visas: Married People 67
Windrush Generation:
Compensation 68
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 68
Buildings: Insulation 68
Grenfell Tower: Fires 68
High Rise Flats: Insulation 69
Social Services: Children 70
INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT 70
Department for International
Development: Brexit 70
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 70
Department for International
Trade: Brexit 70
Trade Agreements 71
JUSTICE 71
Family Courts: Legal
Representation 71
Ministry of Justice: Research 73
Offenders: Employment 74
Press Recognition Panel 75
Prison Service: Pay 75
Prisons: Fire Prevention 76
Young Offenders: Education 77
NORTHERN IRELAND 77
EU Grants and Loans:
Northern Ireland 77
SCOTLAND 78
Exports: Scotland 78
Scotland Office: Brexit 78
Scotland Office:
Disadvantaged 79
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE ON
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION 79
Electoral Commission: Powers 79
TRANSPORT 80
A34: Oxfordshire 80
Airports: Unmanned Air
Vehicles 80
Channel Ferries: Freight 81
Cherwell Valley Railway Line:
Electrification 81
Department for Transport:
Disadvantaged 81
Electric Vehicles: Hydrogen 82
Goring and Streatley Station:
Disability 82
Govia Thameslink Railway:
Tickets 82
Motor Vehicles: Noise 82
Motorcycles: Safety 83
Ports: Freight 83
Railways: Exhaust Emissions 83
Ramsgate Port 84
Ramsgate Port: Dredging 84
Road Traffic Control: West
Sussex 84
Roads: Repairs and
Maintenance 84
South Eastern Rail Franchise 85
TREASURY 86
Brexit 86
Brexit: Northern Ireland 86
Coinage 86
Licensed Premises: Music 87
Licensed Premises: Non-
domestic Rates 87
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties 88
Office of Tax Simplification:
Public Appointments 88
Public Expenditure 88
Ramsgate Port 89
Revenue and Customs:
Closures 89
Tax Avoidance 90
Transport: Northern Ireland 90
WALES 90
Wales Office: Brexit 90
WORK AND PENSIONS 91
Barnardos: Work Experience 91
Mental Health Services:
Employment 92
Motability: Brighton and Hove 92
Notice Boards: Fire
Regulations 93
Occupational Pensions
Scheme Review 94
Training: Prisons 94
Universal Credit 94
Universal Credit: Asylum 97
MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 98
HOME OFFICE 98
Undocumented Migrants:
Boats 98
HOUSE OF COMMONS
COMMISSION 98
Parliamentary Estate:
Alcoholic Drinks 98
WRITTEN STATEMENTS 100
DEFENCE 100
Call-Out Order in Support of
Government Contingency
Planning for a No Deal EU Exit 100
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND
RURAL AFFAIRS 100
December EU Environment
Council 100
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 103
Foreign Affairs Council – 21
January 2019 103
HOME OFFICE 104
Counter-Terrorism and Border
Security Bill 104
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
Business: Brexit
Jo Stevens: [208422]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate
it has made of the amount of money spent by businesses in the 4th Quarter of 2018 on
preparing for leaving the EU without a deal.
Richard Harrington:
The Government continues to prioritise work on achieving a good deal for the UK.
BEIS is in regular contact with sectors and business stakeholders to ensure we
understand their concerns.
We are working to ensure that UK businesses are as well informed and prepared for
leaving the EU as possible and to advise them on the steps they may need to take to
prepare for EU exit.
We have launched a public information campaign about how EU exit will affect
businesses and the practical steps they will need to take to be ready. The campaign
directs them to GOV.UK/euexit where they can easily find the latest advice and
information on any aspect of leaving the EU which affects them and outlines the
steps they need to take.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206841]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent
assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural
areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
Kelly Tolhurst:
In order to inform delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the Department
regularly reviews data and assessments relating to our cities, towns and rural areas,
to understand both the challenges they face and the competitive advantages they
hold. Our Ageing Society Grand Challenge includes £98 million of Industrial Strategy
Challenge Fund investment into a ‘healthy ageing programme’, which will drive the
development of new products and services to help people live in their homes longer,
tackle loneliness and increase independence and wellbeing.
BEIS is also supporting economic development and tackling regional disparities
across the UK through the Strength in Places Fund, which received an additional
£120 million of funding in Autumn Budget 2018. The programme supports businesses
across the UK to adopt new technologies and to drive innovation-led growth, driving
economic prosperity across all areas of the UK.
Energy Supply
Rebecca Long Bailey: [206806]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent
assessment his Department has made of the effect of Toshiba’s withdrawal from
development of a nuclear power plant in Cumbria on the future delivery of a sustainable,
secure and diverse energy sector.
Richard Harrington:
This Government was the first to give the go ahead to a nuclear power station in a
generation. The percentage of electricity generated by nuclear in 2010 was 16.4%, in
2017 it was 20.8% (DUKES, 2011 & 2018). We want to see a diverse range of
sources for Britain’s energy production. Toshiba’s decision to withdraw from the
Moorside project does not change this, and due to the long lead up time to the project
it will not affect security of supply. Moorside still remains a potential site for new
nuclear, and I am willing to meet with any viable proponents wishing to develop the
site.
Fracking: Regulation
Lee Rowley: [205379]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many
employees the new Shale Environmental Regulator Group plans to employ.
Claire Perry:
The Shale Environmental Regulator Group is a virtual entity bringing together the
regulators of the onshore oil and gas sector, including shale gas operations (the
Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and the Oil and Gas
Authority). Each of these regulators has the appropriate expertise and is properly
resourced to enforce the regulations for which they are responsible. The Shale
Environmental Regulator Group creates a single interface for Mineral Planning
Authorities and industry, to streamline information access to the regulations, and
three current employees of the Environment Agency have been deployed to support
this new entity.
Lee Rowley: [205382]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what is the
annual cost to the public purse will be of the Shale Environmental Regulator Group.
Claire Perry:
The Shale Environmental Regulator Group (SERG) complements the existing
regulatory regime and operates in a virtual capacity. This is afforded through existing
budgets to the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive and Oil and Gas
Authority, with the exception of some specific incremental costs for three roles within
the Environment Agency which cover activities for coordination and communications
which are to be agreed annually. The cost within this first year for these roles is
£75,000 and there have been no further additional roles or funding to any of the other
regulators.
Green Deal Scheme: Misrepresentation
Bill Grant: [207319]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take
steps to ban businesses found to have mis-sold green deal products from setting up (a)
similar and (b) linked businesses again.
Claire Perry:
Green Deal Providers, who are responsible under the scheme for selling Green Deal
Plans, must be authorised by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial
Strategy. The authorisation process involves assessment of a wide range of factors,
including the ability to comply with the Green Deal Framework Regulations and Code
of Practice, in which past history of the applicant and its principals can be taken into
account. Authorisation can be withdrawn if a firm is found to have breached the terms
of the scheme or other consumer protection legislation.
In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) can remove or restrict a firm’s
permission to engage in FCA-regulated activities, including consumer credit lending
or broking, or take other supervisory or enforcement action against regulated firms
and individuals.
The Government is reviewing the Green Deal scheme and the interests of the
consumer will be foremost in the review. We will consult on any significant changes to
the scheme.
Notice Boards: Standards
Dr David Drew: [208195]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if the Office
for Product Safety and Standards will investigate the manufacture, importation and
installation of notice boards in schools, colleges and universities that are not fire safe
compliant with European BS EN 13501 class B standard; and if he will publish the results
of that investigation.
Kelly Tolhurst:
There are no plans for an investigation into the safety of noticeboards, but should
evidence emerge of a product safety issue, the Office for Product Safety and
Standards would work with Local Authority Trading Standards to consider whether
further action was required.
Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Biofuels
Alan Brown: [208367]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the
average length of time is from submission of an application under the renewable heat
incentive scheme for the installation of a biomass boiler to a final decision being made on
that application.
Claire Perry:
The tables below show the average time taken for successful (i.e. accredited)
applications to receive a decision from first submission. However, for cases which are
rejected, we do not currently hold data on rejection dates so are unable to provide
this information.
NON-DOMESTIC RHI (ACCREDITED ONLY),
BASED ON DATA TO END-NOV 2018
AVERAGE (MEAN) TIME BETWEEN DATE OF FIRST
SUBMISSION AND DATE OF FIRST APPROVAL
Large Solid Biomass Boiler Approximately 9 months
Medium Solid Biomass Boiler Approximately 5 months
Small Solid Biomass Boiler Approximately 4 months
DOMESTIC RHI (ACCREDITED ONLY), BASED ON
DATA TO END-NOV 2018
AVERAGE (MEAN) TIME BETWEEN SUBMISSION
DATE AND ACCREDITATION DATE
Biomass Under 1 month
The table shows a longer time for non-domestic RHI applications to receive
accreditation because the installations, and some of the rules, are relatively more
complex than for domestic applications. More checks are therefore needed by Ofgem
to ensure value for money for taxpayers.
Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Scotland
Alan Brown: [208368]
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many
outstanding decision notices on applications under the renewable heat incentive scheme
for the installation of a biomass boiler there are in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and
Loudoun constituency.
Claire Perry:
We do not hold RHI data by Parliamentary constituency.
At the end of November 2018 (the latest available data), there were 220 non-
domestic biomass applications outstanding (i.e. not yet accredited or rejected from
the scheme) and 20 domestic applications outstanding in Scotland.
CABINET OFFICE
Armed Forces
Jon Trickett: [208204]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the military planners sent to
Departments to prepare for the UK leaving the EU without a deal are answerable to the
Ministers of those Departments.
Mr David Lidington:
Military planners have been seconded from the Ministry of Defence to other
government departments to assist those departments with planning and coordination
activity in preparation for the UK leaving the EU. While, these planners will remain
under the full command of their Ministry of Defence single service chiefs during their
secondment, the tasks that they will undertake while seconded will be directed by the
host department, and will be based on that department's needs as overseen by
Ministers.
British-Irish Council
Mr Gregory Campbell: [205837]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a date has been set for the next
meeting of the British-Irish Council.
Mr David Lidington:
A date has been agreed for the next Summit of the British-Irish Council which is due
to be hosted by the UK Government later this year.
Cabinet Office: Brexit
Esther McVey: [203881]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding from the public purse has
been allocated to his Department for financial year 2018-19 for planning for the UK
leaving the EU without a deal; and how much of that funding has been spent.
Chloe Smith:
HM Treasury has already allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to
departments and the devolved administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This
includes the £1.5 billion of additional funding HM Treasury announced at Autumn
Budget 2017 for 2018/19.
A full breakdown of how this was allocated to departments can be found in the Chief
Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March
( https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/ ).
This money will be paid out in Supplementary Estimates 18/19 later this financial
year.
Between April 2018 and December 2018, the Cabinet Office spent £32.5m on
activities associated with preparations to leave the European Union.
Tom Brake: [207544]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January to
Question 205794 on Cabinet Office: Brexit, when his Department plans to publish the
data transparency releases referred to in that answer.
Mr David Lidington:
All spending over £25000 is published in line with current guidnace on a monthly
basis on GOV.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-
data
Cabinet Office: Written Questions
Caroline Lucas: [200103]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 192923,
on 19 November 2018, asked by the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion.
Mr David Lidington:
I responded to Question 192923 on 16/01/19. The response can be found here:
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-19/192923/
Civil Contingencies Secretariat: Finance
Justin Madders: [207216]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the civil contingencies secretariat budget
was for (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19.
Mr David Lidington:
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat sits within the wider National Security Secretariat.
The budget for the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) for 2016-2017, 2017-2018
and 2018-2019 is set out in the table below;
YEAR TOTAL BUDGET
2016-2017 £11.9 million
2017-2018 £15,4 million
2018-2019 £16.9 million
The current delegated headcount for CCS is 94. This is the maximum number of staff
paid out of the CCS budget, it does not include staff working in or with the Secretariat
paid for by other departments or programmes.
Civil Contingencies Secretariat: Staff
Justin Madders: [207215]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people currently work in the civil
contingencies secretariat.
Mr David Lidington:
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat sits within the wider National Security Secretariat.
The budget for the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) for 2016-2017, 2017-2018
and 2018-2019 is set out in the table below;
YEAR TOTAL BUDGET
2016-2017 £11.9 million
2017-2018 £15,4 million
2018-2019 £16.9 million
The current delegated headcount for CCS is 94. This is the maximum number of staff
paid out of the CCS budget, it does not include staff working in or with the Secretariat
paid for by other departments or programmes.
Cybercrime
Jo Platt: [208424]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates he has held meetings with his
European counterparts on the UK's continued partnership with the EU on cyber-related
matters in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Mr David Lidington:
Ministers from multiple departments hold different responsibilities within the UK's
National Cyber Security Strategy. They engage with their European counterparts on a
wide range of cyber related issues.
Government Departments: Procurement
Jon Trickett: [208200]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which government strategic suppliers have
provided living wills.
Oliver Dowden:
Serco, Capita, Sopra Steria, Engie and Interserve have all volunteered to pilot the
use of “living wills”.
Public Sector: Procurement
Jon Trickett: [208203]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the previous holder of the role of Crown
Representative to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises left that role.
Oliver Dowden:
Emma Jones left her role as SME Crown Representative at the end of 2018. The
appointment of a new SME Crown Representative has been finalised and an
announcement of the appointment will be made soon.
Royal Family: Official Gifts
Norman Lamb: [208226]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on gifts for
members of the Royal Family to disburse in each year since 2009.
Chloe Smith:
The Cabinet Office does not allocate spending for dispersal by members of the Royal
Family.
Travellers: Census
Kate Green: [207229]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities
are classified as being specific communities in need of supported participation with the
2021 census; and what steps he plans to put in place to ensure census liaison staff reach
those communities.
Chloe Smith:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.
I have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments:
1. UKSA Response [PQ 207229 & PQ 207230 (1).pdf]
Kate Green: [207230]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Roma will be classified as a
specific community in need of supported participation in the 2021 census, and what steps
his Department is taking to ensure that census liaison staff reach those communities.
Chloe Smith:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority.
I have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments:
1. UKSA Response [PQ 207229 & PQ 207230 (1).pdf]
Urban Areas
Norman Lamb: [208227]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) towns or cities and (b) other bodies
have sought permission from his Department to use the word Royal in a proposed name
since 1 January 2014; and which of those requests for permission have been (i) approved
and (ii) refused.
Mr David Lidington:
Use of the protected title ‘Royal’ is conferred by the Queen acting on the advice of
Ministers. No grants to towns and cities have been made since 2014
Details of the applications are not disclosed to protect their confidentiality, however
the number of applications received by the Cabinet Office for all protected titles
including those containing the word ‘Royal’, was 906 in 2018. The Cabinet Office
objected to 107 of these, issued a non-objection to 703 and approved 14. The
remaining cases are still being considered or were closed without a resolution.
Norman Lamb: [208228]
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria his Department apply when
determining whether to grant permission to an external body seeking to use the word
Royal in a proposed name.
Mr David Lidington:
The Cabinet Office considers whether the applicant can demonstrate the following
when determining whether to advise Her Majesty the Queen to grant an application
for the protect title ‘Royal’: (i) a specific and strong connection with royalty (ii) a pre-
eminent and outstanding reputation and (iii) national standing. Other issues may
inform decision making on a case by case basis such as whether the application is
linked with a specific event or a milestone anniversary.
DEFENCE
Armed Forces: Mefloquine
Dr David Drew: [208186]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to reach a final conclusion on
the effect on veterans' health of the issuing of Larium to them while they were in the
Armed Forces.
Dr David Drew: [208187]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel and (b)
veterans his Department has referred to the Mefloquine Single Point of Contact in each
year since it’s inception.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
Mefloquine (commercially known as Lariam) is effective in the prevention and
treatment of malaria and is licensed for use by the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency, which regulates medication in the UK. The current
product information for mefloquine states that neuropsychiatric adverse reactions
may occur during treatment and includes warnings and precautions to minimise these
risks. It also states that such adverse reactions may persist for months, or longer,
even after discontinuation of the drug. It has not been established, however, that
such adverse reactions may be permanent.
Notwithstanding, in September 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) established the
mefloquine Single Point of Contact (SPOC) email and telephone line, for both current
and former Service personnel who have concerns about their experience of
mefloquine. Up to 15 January 2019, the mefloquine SPOC has received the following
number of enquiries.
YEAR
ENQUIRIES FROM
SERVING
PERSONNEL
ENQUIRIES FROM
VETERANS
ENQUIRIES FROM
OTHERS
TOTAL NUMBER OF
ENQUIRIES
2016 24 33 22 79
2017 3 10 5 18
2018 4 7 6 17
2019 0 1 0 1
Individuals can be referred to the SPOC in a number of different ways, including by
Service charities. The MOD does not maintain a record of all such referrals.
Gibraltar: Spain
Mr Kevan Jones: [208207]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on challenging
incursions into Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels.
Mark Lancaster:
We are confident of UK sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar, including British
Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The Royal Navy continues to challenge incursions by
State vessels, including Spanish State vessels, into British Gibraltar Territorial
Waters, and the FCO support this by making formal diplomatic protests to the
relevant authorities.
Mr Kevan Jones: [208208]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what actions UK (a) armed forces units and (b)
vessels are permitted to take in order to challenge incursions into Gibraltar Territorial
Waters by Spanish state vessels.
Mark Lancaster:
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on Rules of Engagement.
Government Departments: Secondment
Stephen Gethins: [208420]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether military planners have been seconded
to other Departments to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.
Mark Lancaster:
To date, a total of 23 military planners have been posted to other Whitehall
Departments to assist with contingency planning for leaving the EU. Military planners
offer unique skills and operational planning experience and will be involved in a
variety of tasks tailored to the needs of the requesting Department.
Israel: Arms Trade
Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [208345]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK-supplied military equipment has
been used by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since February 2018.
Stuart Andrew:
Military items sold to other countries by the UK require export licences. Export licence
applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the
Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all
prevailing circumstances at the time of the application. Signed end user undertakings
from the intended recipient, about the intended end use, form part of our
consideration but we do not rely solely on these when making our assessment.
Following events in 2018 on the Israel/Gaza border the Government reviewed all
extant military export licences for Israel. We have no information to indicate that UK-
supplied equipment has been used in a way that is inconsistent with the Consolidated
EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. The Government continues to
monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely.
Ministry of Defence: Disclosure of Information
Sir Mike Penning: [207554]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2006.
Sir Mike Penning: [207570]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2007.
Sir Mike Penning: [207571]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2008.
Sir Mike Penning: [207572]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2009.
Sir Mike Penning: [207573]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2010.
Sir Mike Penning: [207574]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2011.
Sir Mike Penning: [207575]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2012.
Sir Mike Penning: [207576]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2005.
Sir Mike Penning: [207595]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2013.
Sir Mike Penning: [207597]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2014.
Sir Mike Penning: [207598]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2015.
Sir Mike Penning: [207599]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2016.
Sir Mike Penning: [207600]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2017.
Sir Mike Penning: [207601]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements his
Department entered into in 2018.
Mr Tobias Ellwood:
The information, broken down by year, is not held centrally and could be provided
only at disproportionate cost.
Navy: Training
Mr Kevan Jones: [208212]
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether units in the Royal Navy or Royal
Marines receive regular training in the use and operation of paintball weapons.
Gavin Williamson:
The Naval Service does not conduct training in the use or operation of paintball
weapons.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206842]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent
assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural
areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
Mims Davies:
Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England,
indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between
urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they
often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with 6%). In
addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they belong to
their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas (61%).
The cross-government loneliness team, based in DCMS, is overseeing the
implementation of England’s first Loneliness Strategy, with policies for both rural and
urban areas. Government has also unlocked £20 million to tackle loneliness across
England including the £11.5m Building Connections Fund, from which evidence will
be gathered on what interventions work in different places, including rural areas.
Guidance has also been published with the Office for National Statistics to establish a
consistent way of measuring loneliness.
In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural
Communities Act in May 2018, the government reiterated its commitment to rural
proofing all policies. DCMS supports this through engagement with rural stakeholders
and utilising Defra guidance and statistical information.
National Lottery: Grants
Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [206859]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will
implement a review of the misuse of lottery grants for political and issue-based lobbying.
Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [206860]
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his
Department has made of whether the recently reported £494,000 Big Lottery Fund grant
to Stonewall (a) constitutes funding political lobbying and (b) broke the rules on political
funding.
Mims Davies:
Big Lottery Fund is an arms-length body that has its own independent decision
making processes. It does not fund projects to undertake political lobbying. The
£494,818 awarded to Stonewall is to develop trans leaders, to work with them to
establish best practice and to develop their skills to deliver training and information
for key public sector institutions. Big Lottery Fund is confident that the activity
supported by this grant does not constitute political lobbying and does not break any
rules on political funding.
EDUCATION
Apprentices
Catherine McKinnell: [207252]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the meetings (a) he, (b)
Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have held with
stakeholders from the apprenticeships sector in the last 12 months; and what the
principal topics for discussion were at those meetings.
Anne Milton:
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, ministers and department officials meet
with stakeholders from across the apprenticeships sector frequently to discuss the
apprenticeships agenda, including employers, business representative organisations
and providers. This includes a regular meeting between my right hon. Friend, the
Secretary of State and national business bodies.
Stakeholder meetings cover a variety of topics across the apprenticeships
programme. The department will continue to work closely with all key stakeholders to
help them take advantage of apprenticeships and the apprenticeship reform
programme to invest in the long-term skills needs of the country.
Free School Meals
Layla Moran: [208413]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students aged 16 to 19 are
eligible for (a) free school meals and (b) free meals in further education.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The department does not publish data on the total number of pupils eligible for free
meals in further education. Data is only published from those institutions who provide
census returns including state-funded secondary schools, special schools, pupil
referral units and local authority alternative provision.
The published data shows the total number of students aged 16 to 19 who were
eligible for and claiming free school meals in January 2018 is 32,215.
A more detailed breakdown is available in the national tables document of the
'Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2018' statistical release here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-
january-2018.
Midwives: Training
Gareth Snell: [207301]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was paid in (a) tuition fee loans
and (b) maintenance loans with respect to students undertaking undergraduate midwifery
courses (a) in total and (b) on average per student midwife in each academic year since
2016-17; and what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of such loans
that will be repaid by people who received them.
Chris Skidmore:
Information on the loans paid to students on higher education courses is published
annually by the Student Loans Company in the statistics publication Student Support
for Higher Education in England.
https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-
education.aspx.
A breakdown of these statistics by subject of study is not available.
Information on the proportion of student loans not expected to be repaid is published
annually by the department in the statistics publication Student Loan Forecasts,
England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/student-loan-forecasts-england-2017-to-
2018.
A breakdown of these statistics by subject of study is not available.
Notice Boards: Fires
Dr David Drew: [208197]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will conduct a comparative fire risk
assessment of school notice boards which meet European BS EN 13501 (a) class B and
(b) class E standard; and if he will publish the results of that assessment.
Nick Gibb:
For all Department for Education delivered school buildings, the Department sets out
the design and construction requirements in its specification documents including the
fire safety requirements for notice boards. As part of the annual review of that
specification, the department will be assessing the current approach to classification
of notice boards.
Pre-school Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: [208191]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to
increase the number of men working in early years education.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The department’s ‘Early Years Workforce Strategy’ (published March 2017) included
a commitment to set up a gender diversity task and finish group of sector
stakeholders to consider this issue in more depth. The group has shared its findings
with the department and we are currently considering how best to address the issue
of gender diversity in the early years workforce.
Schools: Scotland
Anne-Marie Trevelyan: [208355]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schools in Scotland receive funding
from his Department for English children who attend those schools.
Nick Gibb:
Schools in Scotland do not receive funding from the Department to educate English
pupils attending there. Similarly, where Scottish pupils attend English schools, the
Scottish Government does not pay for this.
Education is a devolved matter. The way funding is allocated to Scottish schools is a
matter for the Scottish Government. In England, schools receive funding for the
number of pupils attending the school, regardless of where the pupil resides.
Special Educational Needs: Autism
Vicky Foxcroft: [208356]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average waiting time was for a child
to be assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan after receiving a diagnosis of
autism spectrum disorder in (a) the London Borough of Lewisham, (b) London and (c)
England in each of the last five years.
Nadhim Zahawi:
The information requested is not held centrally.
Under the Children and Families Act (2014), parents and schools can apply for an
assessment for an education, health and care (EHC) plan without the need for a
diagnosis to have already been made.
Data is collected by the department on assessments for EHC plans that are
completed within their 20-week target. This is published in the ‘Statements of special
educational needs and EHC plans: England, 2018’ publication available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-
2018.
Students: Grants
Layla Moran: [208358]
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect
on the public purse of replacing university maintenance grants with larger maintenance
loans in every year since that change was introduced in 2016-17.
Chris Skidmore:
An assessment was made at Summer Budget 2015 of the costs of replacing
maintenance grants with loans for all full-time higher education students from the
2016/17 entry cohort. The then former Minister for Universities, Science, Research
and Innovation Jo Johnson, my hon. Friend for Orpington said in the House of
Commons Debate about Student Maintenance Grants on 19 January 2016 (c1308)
that:
“The switch from maintenance grants to loans will, in a steady state, save around
£2.5 billion per year from the fiscal deficit. […] We acknowledge that a proportion of
the loans will not be repaid. This is a conscious decision to invest in the skills base of
our country, and protect those who go on to lower-paying graduate jobs. We forecast
that the long-term annual economic savings will be around £800 million per year.”
An equality analysis was also published by the government in November 2015, which
included analysis of the impacts of the change from maintenance grants to loans:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/482110/bis-15-639-student-finance-equality-analysis.pdf.
There has been no further analysis of the impact of this policy, as current student
loan expenditure and repayment will be impacted by all the policy changes which
have been enacted since this date.
A review of post-18 education and funding is underway. This is being informed by
independent advice from an expert panel, chaired by Philip Augar. The panel have
undertaken an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement and evidence
gathering. They will report in 2019 before government concludes the overall review.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
[Subject Heading to be Assigned]
Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [908630]
What recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on the protection of
endangered species.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
Ministers regularly meet with the Foreign Secretary to discuss international species
conservation issues. Our close working delivered the highly successful Illegal Wildlife
Trade Conference in London in October last year, which brought together global
leaders to drive forward action to end this despicable trade. Our ban on ivory sales
through the Ivory Act is one of the toughest in the world and demonstrates our joint
leadership to galvanise action around the world.
Jo Swinson: [908633]
When his Department plans to respond to its consultation entitled Food labelling:
amending laws.
David Rutley:
Defra intends to provide a summary of responses and the Government response by 7
February as set out on the consultation web page.
Air Pollution
Andy Slaughter: [206817]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the
£3.5 million to improve air quality has been spent to date and on what measures; how
much money allocated to specific measures is yet to be spent and what those specific
measures are; and how much outstanding funding is yet to be allocated to specific
measures.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
Animal Welfare
Frank Field: [206743]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his
Department is taking steps to restrict the tethering of (a) horses and (b) other animals;
and if he will make a statement.
David Rutley:
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to fail to provide
for an animal’s welfare or to cause it any unnecessary suffering. In relation to
equines, the 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare
of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Their Hybrids (the Code). The Code provides
owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their
horses and includes a specific section on how to tether a horse.
Local authorities have powers under the 2006 Act to investigate allegations of cruelty
or poor welfare. In addition, welfare organisations such as the RSPCA and World
Horse Welfare (WHW) may also investigate such matters. If anyone is concerned
about the way a horse or other animal has been tethered, they should report the
matter either to the relevant local authority, or to the RSPCA or WHW who can
investigate. If a horse or other animal is found not to be tethered appropriately, this
could lead to a prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
I consider that the existing legislation and guidance in place in respect of tethering of
horses ensures their welfare needs are met appropriately.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206844]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
assessment his Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural
areas and (b) the effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only.
Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England,
indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between
urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they feel
they often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with
6%). In addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they
belong to their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas
(61%).
The cross-Government team on tackling loneliness is working with colleagues in the
Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and to share insights
and learn from one another.
Defra publishes the Statistical Digest of Rural England, a collection of statistics on a
range of social and economic themes including poverty and well-being. The Digest
allows for comparisons between rural and urban areas and is updated throughout the
year. The Digest is available on gov.uk at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-digest-of-rural-england
In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural
Communities Act in May 2018, the Government reiterated its commitment to rural
proofing all policies from the earliest stages so that they take account of the needs
and circumstances of rural areas. Defra supports this through the provision of
guidance and statistical information.
Environmental Stewardship Scheme
John Grogan: [206754]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the
higher level Environmental Stewardship Agreement which have lasted for 10 years were
amended as a result of a care visit.
George Eustice:
311 Higher Level Environmental Stewardship agreements that have lasted 10 years
were amended as a result of a care visit.
John Grogan: [206757]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many higher
level environmental stewardship agreements have completed 10 years and of these how
many have had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five or more aftercare visits.
George Eustice:
So far 1892 higher level stewardship agreements have lasted the full ten years of
their term. Of these agreements and since central records began: 832 received one
visit, 423 received two visits, 226 received three visits, 99 received four visits, 97
received five or more visits.
Plastics: Recycling
Rosie Cooper: [208239]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is
taking to increase plastic reprocessing in the UK.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
In the recently published Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government stated its
ambition to further improve domestic reprocessing, and committed to several policies
to help stimulate investment in UK reprocessing capacity and improve
competitiveness. These policies, subject to consultation, include: implementing
extended producer responsibility for various waste streams; introducing a deposit
return scheme for drinks containers; raising recycling targets for plastic and other
types of packaging; implementing a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30%
recycled content; and exploring options to ensure fair competition for all
reprocessors, including tighter monitoring and enforcement of waste exports.
Reindeer: Exports
Dr David Drew: [207152]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many
reindeer in how many consignments and to which countries were exported from the UK in
2018; and if he will make a statement.
David Rutley:
The number of reindeer and the number of consignments exported from the UK in
2018 is as follows:
COUNTRY OF DESTINATION NUMBER OF CONSIGNMENTS NUMBER OF REINDEERS
France 1 2
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) can access information using TRACES
(Trade Control and Expert System) for species of animals that require a health
certificate for movement to the EU.
APHA records Export Health Certificates (EHC) issued for animals to third countries
that do not use the TRACES system. There are no exports of reindeer to third
countries recorded in 2018.
Reindeer: Imports
Dr David Drew: [207150]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many
reindeer in how many consignments and from which countries were imported into the UK
in 2018; and if he will make a statement.
David Rutley:
The number of reindeer and the number of consignments imported into the UK in
2018 is as follows:
COUNTRY FROM CONSIGNMENTS ANIMALS
Finland 1 31
Germany 1 1
Netherlands 1 15
2018 Total 3 47
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are not able to provide any data
regarding the number of imports from third countries, as these are covered by a
commodity code in TRACES which will not allow us to break the species down as far
as reindeer for third country imports.
Sheep Meat: Northumbria
Anne-Marie Trevelyan: [208415]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his
Department has to support the Northumbrian lamb industry in the event that the UK
leaves the EU without a deal and tariffs on its products are imposed.
George Eustice:
It is in everyone’s interests to secure a good deal with the EU and that is exactly what
we are committed to. Whilst preparing for all outcomes, as any responsible
government would, we are also preparing for the possibility of no deal.
We are in close contact with the sheep sector across the UK working to understand
and anticipate the effects on the sector of the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal.
Significant work is already underway to ensure that UK exporters can maintain
access to EU markets after March 2019.
Waste: Exports
Rosie Cooper: [208240]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is
taking to reduce the amount of waste that the UK exports.
Dr Thérèse Coffey:
Waste must be properly managed whether processed at home or abroad. We work
closely with the waste industry, Environment Agency and local authorities to achieve
this. The Government outlines in the Resources and Waste Strategy its commitment
to prevent waste from occurring in the first place, and managing it better when it
does.
The UK is recycling more than ever and the Government is committed to recycling
more at home. Our approach in the Resources and Waste Strategy, from production
through consumption to end of life, is focused on increasing supply and demand for
secondary materials to be recycled in the UK. This will grow the UK recycling industry
and reduce the need to export recyclable waste. Waste is a commodity and these
secondary materials will always have a global market and exports from the UK will
form an ongoing part of our resource management where there is demand.
We also want to ensure, however, that any waste which we do send abroad is fit for
recycling, and that it is recycled to equivalent standards as required in the UK.
Increased monitoring and enforcement of exports should create a more level playing
field for domestic recyclers.
EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION
Anguilla: Saint Martin
John Grogan: [204407]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has
made of the merits of the proposal from the Government of Anguilla for a customs union
and common travel area with St Martin.
Mr Robin Walker:
The UK Government fully understands the importance of economic and personal
links between St Martin/Sint Maarten and Anguilla and the Government is working
closely with the Government of Anguilla on all aspects of Brexit. We are working with
the Government of Anguilla on all related issues including around the flow of goods,
services and people between St Martin/Sint Maarten and Anguilla.
The movement of both British citizens and British Overseas Territories citizens
between Anguilla and St Martin should continue under the existing bilateral
arrangements which provide visa-free access for short stays up to 90 days and do
not depend on the UK’s EU membership. We will continue to work with Anguilla and
our other Overseas Territories as we leave the EU to ensure we get a deal which
works for the whole UK family.
Brexit
Vernon Coaker: [206243]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in what ways he plans to
provide people with information on how to prepare for the UK leaving the EU; and if he
will make a statement.
Kwasi Kwarteng:
We have developed a cross-departmental public information campaign to inform
citizens and businesses about how leaving the EU might affect them, and advise on
the steps they may need to take to prepare for EU Exit.
Over the coming weeks, we will be using a range of channels to direct UK citizens,
businesses, EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU to a
dedicated area on GOV.UK.
From the website, these different audiences will be able to view the latest
authoritative information and guidance on any aspect of EU Exit relevant to them and
find out what steps they may need to take to be prepared for the UK’s departure on
29th March.
We have already started to promote the first phase of our public information
campaign on radio and through the Government’s own social media channels.
Brexit: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: [206233]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate his
Department has made of the cost to the public purse of no-deal contingency planning in
the West Midlands.
Chris Heaton-Harris:
Making a success of EU exit is a priority for the Government. Departments across
government have been working to prepare for different EU exit scenarios, including
for no-deal. At Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor set aside £1.5 billion for EU Exit
preparations in both 2018/19 and 2019/20; this was subsequently increased by
£0.5bn for 2019/20 in the 2018 Budget. There is no regional breakdown, but
information on how this funding was allocated for 2018/19 and 2019/20 has been
published by the Chief Secretary.
Erasmus+ Programme
Gordon Marsden: [206763]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he
has had with the (a) European Commission, (b) European Universities Association and
(c) Secretary of State for Education on the future involvement of the UK in the Erasmus+
Programme.
Kwasi Kwarteng:
The Government values international exchanges and collaboration in education and
training. Future cooperation on education was discussed in the context of
negotiations on the Political Declaration, where the UK and the EU agreed to
establish terms and conditions for potential UK participation in EU programmes.
The next generation of EU programmes are currently under negotiation in the EU.
The Government will make decisions on whether to participate in specific
programmes in light of these negotiations and wider UK priorities.
Under the terms of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to
participate in EU programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework
period, such as Erasmus+, will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for
the lifetime of those projects financed by the current Multiannual Financial
Framework.
The Secretary of State regularly discusses EU Exit issues, including future UK
participation in EU programmes, with Cabinet colleagues, and the Government is
engaging closely with the HE sector and taking action to provide greater certainty.
Social Services: EU Nationals
Dr David Drew: [207159]
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has
had with the (a) Secretary of state for Health and Social Care and (b) Secretary of State
for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the effect of the UK leaving the EU
on non-UK EU citizens whose social care packages are funded by local authorities.
Kwasi Kwarteng:
We are working across Government to develop and implement our preparations to
leave the EU. This includes discussions between my department and DHSC and
MHCLG on the rights of EU citizens residing in the UK.
The agreement reached and set out in the Withdrawal Agreement text will provide
non-UK EU citizens living in the UK with certainty about their rights going forward. It
will allow EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU to continue living their
lives broadly as they do now in the countries where they now live. It will enable
families who have built their lives together in the EU and UK to stay together. It also
gives people more certainty about residence, healthcare, pensions and other
benefits.
In a ‘no deal’ scenario, EU citizens and their family members lawfully residing in the
UK by 29 March 2019 will be able to continue to access in country benefits and
services on broadly the same terms as now. This means that they will retain their
entitlement to healthcare, education, benefits and social housing, including supported
housing and homelessness assistance, on the same basis as now.
The Government has provided further detail on the rights of EU citizens in the UK
following EU Exit in a published policy paper, which can be found at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/762222/Policy_paper_on_citizens__rights_in_the_event_of_a_no_deal_
Brexit.pdf
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
British Nationals Abroad: Homicide
Hannah Bardell: [208405]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his
Department has made of the number of British citizens who have died abroad as a result
of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter in each year since 2000.
Harriett Baldwin:
We estimate there are approximately 60-90 new cases of British nationals who have
died abroad as a result of murder or manslaughter reported to the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office every year. Our current case management system includes
data from 2008 only and does not differentiate between murder and manslaughter.
These figures can be found below:
2008 – 66
2009 – 68
2010 – 68
2011 – 78
2012 – 53
2013 – 78
2014 – 84
2015 – 88
2016 – 65
2017 – 74
2018 - 73
Egypt: Ethnic Groups
Rebecca Long Bailey: [206801]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the welfare of Nubian people
residing in Egypt.
Rebecca Long Bailey: [206803]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what further
discussions he plans to have with his Egyptian counterpart on human rights abuses in
relation to the Nubian minority in that country.
Alistair Burt:
We continue to monitor issues and cases involving Nubians and other minorities
within Egypt. Egypt is a human rights priority country for the UK and the UK wants to
see more political progress and better protection of human rights for all Egyptians.
We call on the Egyptian Government to ensure full implementation of the rights set
out in Egypt's constitution.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit
Jo Swinson: [208224]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his
Department is spending on a public information campaign to prepare people for the
potential effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Mark Field:
The Government has a duty to inform citizens and businesses about how leaving the
EU might affect them, and to advise on the steps they may need to take to prepare
for EU Exit.
We have developed a cross-departmental public information campaign to help
achieve this. Over the coming weeks, we will be using a range of channels to direct
UK citizens, businesses, EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the
EU to a dedicated area on GOV.UK at Gov.uk/EUexit
Information on the costs associated with this campaign will be released in due course
as part the normal data transparency releases by the Cabinet Office.
Stephen Gethins: [208421]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in
his Department are working on his Department’s plans for the UK to leave the EU.
Sir Alan Duncan:
Through Treasury EU Exit funding and a process of internal reprioritisation, the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office has created approximately 550 EU Exit roles in
the UK and overseas. We have used these roles to strengthen our diplomatic network
in the UK and across Europe so that we are better able to represent and promote
British interests and engage with our European partners in support of a successful
EU Exit. In addition, we have a number of other staff working on a range of EU Exit
planning issues as part of their wider responsibilities.
Guatemala: Politics And Government
Helen Goodman: [208220]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
assessment he has made of effect on Guatemala of that country's withdrawal from the
International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala.
Sir Alan Duncan:
The UK has been a vocal advocate of the anti-corruption efforts and the valuable
work carried out by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala
(CICIG) to support and strengthen Guatemalan national institutions. The UK is deeply
disappointed at the Guatemalan Government's continued attempts to prevent CICIG
from carrying out its mandate, and the attacks on the Constitutional Court which
threaten to undermine the rule of law in Guatemala in a year when general elections
will be held. In response, I [Sir Alan Duncan] released a statement on 14 January.
The UK also joined statements from the EU and the G13 local donor group
condemning Guatemala's decision to unilaterally terminate the agreement
establishing CICIG and urging the Guatemalan Government to uphold the rule of law.
The UK will continue to monitor developments, through our Embassy in Guatemala,
and call upon the Guatemalan Government to allow CICIG to complete its mandate
and ensure the security of its staff.
Libya: Conferences
Royston Smith: [206846]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information
his Department holds on the (a) timing, (b) UK representation and (c) UK objectives for
the UN-led national conference on Libya.
Alistair Burt:
We fully support the next steps in the UN Action Plan for Libya, as set out by the
Special Representative of the Secretary General, including plans to convene a wide
range of Libyan stakeholders at a National Conference in early 2019. We continue to
engage with UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on preparatory work for the
National Conference and support the objective of ensuring that a broad spectrum of
Libyan society is represented. It is not yet clear whether international participation will
be appropriate.
Mediterranean Sea: Refugees
Mr Jim Cunningham: [208194]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
assessment his Department has made of trends in the number of migrants attempting to
cross the Mediterranean from Libya.
Sir Alan Duncan:
2018 saw an 80 percent reduction, comapred to 2014 in the number of migrants
crossing the central Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy – from 119,000 in 2017
to 23,000 in 2018, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
figures. The number of fatalities on the central route has not reduced by the same
rate. According to UNHCR the proportion of dead and missing compared to the
number of arrivals doubled in 2018 to 5.6 percent from 2.4 percent in 2017. The
largest proportion of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa during
2018 continued to be from Libya, although the proportion crossing from Tunisia
increased during 2018. The European Commission reports the Italian Ministry of
Interior as stating that 56 percent of migrants heading for Italy departed from Libya.
Members: Correspondence
Alex Sobel: [208346]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to
the letter to him of 27 September 2018 from Marom UK on Marom Budapest and its
community centre Aurora, what response he has made to that letter.
Mark Field:
FCO officials met the Board of Deputies of British Jews on 9 January. The Board of
Deputies made representations on behalf of the Marom organisation about the
Aurora building in Budapest. A substantive response reflecting the outcome of the
meeting was sent on 15 January 2019, that underlined that the UK remains
committed to strengthening international co-operation across Europe to tackle
antisemitism and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
We welcome Hungary's stated commitment to address and eliminate antisemitism
and all forms of racism.
Papua: Violence
Anneliese Dodds: [208364]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations he has made to the Indonesian Government on the escalation of violence
in West Papua at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019.
Mark Field:
The UK Government is Monitoring the situation in Papua with close interest. Officials
at our Embassy in Jakarta, including the Ambassador, visit Papua regularly. Officials
press the Indonesian authorities to address legitimate human rights concerns,
including upholding the right of all citizens to peacefully protest, and ensure the
sustainable and equitable development of the province, through political dialogue. We
have made no specific representations about the violence in December. The UK
respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia.
Philippines: Human Rights
Helen Goodman: [208222]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Philippines on the safety of human
rights defenders in that country.
Mark Field:
The UK remains concerned about reports of human rights abuses in the Philippines,
including the treatment of human rights defenders, journalists and land rights
campaigners. We have consistently called on the Government of the Philippines to
ensure a safe environment for human rights defenders.
I raised these concerns with Philippines Ministers, including the then Secretary for
Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano, during my most recent visit to Manila in August
2018.
Senior FCO officials also raised human rights with the Philippines Under-Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, Enrique Manalo during the UK - Philippine High Level Talks that
took place in Manila on 19 November 2018.
At the UN Human Rights Council in September 2018, we urged the Philippines to
conduct thorough investigations into killings associated with the "war on drugs" and to
ensure the safety of land rights defenders.
Royal Family: Official Gifts
Norman Lamb: [208209]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his
Department spent on gifts for members of the Royal Family to disburse in each year
since 2009.
Sir Alan Duncan:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) pays for official gifts during Inward
State Visits and for gifts from Members of the Royal Family when they travel on
official overseas visits on behalf of the FCO.
We cannot give an exact amount of the costs of gifts, as our accounting system only
shows the aggregated costs (for example accommodation, food, local transport
together with gifts) for such visits.
Sudan: Arrests and Violence
Dr David Drew: [208189]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the (a) level of violence and (b) number of arrests currently occurring in
Sudan.
Harriett Baldwin:
Reports of the number of detainees, deaths and injuries vary and are difficult to
confirm. The UK remains deeply concerned by the level of violence used by the
Government of Sudan to disperse peaceful protests, and that political activists,
human rights defenders, journalists and others are being detained without charge or
trial. We continue to urge the Government of Sudan at the highest levels to respect
the Sudanese people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and
have called for all detainees to be treated in accordance with international standards
and afforded their full legal rights guaranteed in Sudanese law.
Sudan: Ethnic Groups
Rebecca Long Bailey: [206802]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterpart on the welfare of Nubian people
residing in Sudan.
Harriett Baldwin:
The British Government has no separate engagement with the Government of Sudan
related to the Nubian people. However, we engage frequently with the Government of
Sudan to improve the lives and human rights of all people in Sudan. The UK is one of
largest humanitarian donors to Sudan, committed to providing lifesaving aid to
millions of the most vulnerable.
Sudan: Syria
Dr David Drew: [208185]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the implications for British foreign policy of the decision of President
Bashir of Sudan decision to meet with President Bashar al-Assad.
Harriett Baldwin:
The UK's position on Syria is unchanged: we believe the Asad regime lost all
legitimacy due to its atrocities against the Syrian people. We have no plans to re-
establish ties with the regime or reopen our embassy in Damascus absent a
negotiated political settlement. We have expressed our disappointment to the
Government of Sudan at the visit of President Bashir to Damascus. I conveyed that
disappointment to Acting Sudanese Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri on 19 December.
Syria: British Nationals Abroad
Anneliese Dodds: [208352]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what
representations the UK Government is making and to whom on behalf of British citizens
who travelled to Syria for humanitarian, personal or religious reasons and have
subsequently been trapped within Daesh territory.
Alistair Burt:
Since 2012, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all travel to
Syria and made clear that, with the closure of our Embassy in Damascus, we are
unable to provide consular assistance to British nationals in Syria. We do not
generally comment on the detail of individual consular cases.
Syria: Turkey
Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [208344]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information
his Department holds on which UK-supplied military equipment has been used by Turkey
in Syria.
Sir Alan Duncan:
It is not realistic to track proactively the use of specific items after export.
Thailand: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: [208193]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
discussions he has held with representatives of the Government of Thailand on the
political situation in that country.
Mark Field:
We have regular discussions at Ministerial and senior official level with the Thai
authorities on political developments in Thailand. We expect elections to be held
before May 2019, and we look forward to the precise date being confirmed soon. We
welcomed the Thai government’s lifting of some political restrictions on 11 December.
But it is important that this leads to a free and open environment in which elections
can occur. The Prime Minister raised this with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha
during his visit to the UK in June, as did the Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark
Field MP, with the Thai Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the UK, General
Chatchalerm, on 13 December.
Turkey: Human Rights
Jo Stevens: [208291]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent
representations his Department has made to the Government of Turkey on its
international obligations to maintain human rights.
Sir Alan Duncan:
We regularly raise human rights issues with the Turkish Government at all levels,
including between the Prime Minister and President Erdoǧan. This includes both
discussion of individual cases of concern, and the wider importance of guaranteeing
fundamental rights for all citizens, notably freedom of expression and assembly. Our
Embassy in Ankara has discussed such concerns with Turkish officials this January
and we will continue to do so as necessary in the future.
USA: State Visits
Caroline Lucas: [206775]
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the
Answer of 5 December 2018 to Question 196147 on USA: State Visits and with reference
to his Department's data Costs relating to State and Guest of Government visits, when
information relating to the July 2018 visit to the UK of US President Donald Trump will be
published on the gov.uk website.
Sir Alan Duncan:
Information on the cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for President
Trump's Guest of Government visit will be published on the gov.uk website in the next
few weeks.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Accidents: Older People
Rachael Maskell: [206836]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the March
2015 NICE Quality Standard, Falls in older people, updated in January 2017, if he will
make an estimate of the number of people that have been assessed under (a) Statement
1, (b) Statement 2 and (c) Statement 3 of that Quality Standard since 2017.
Rachael Maskell: [206837]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the March
2015 NICE Quality Standard, Falls in older people, updated in January 2017, if he will
make an estimate of the number of GP practices that have implemented (a) Statement 1,
(b) Statement 2 and (c) Statement 3 of that Quality Standard since 2017.
Rachael Maskell: [206838]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the March
2015 NICE Quality Standard, Falls in older people, updated in January 2017, what
guidance his Department has provided to GP practices on implementing (a) Statement 1,
(b) Statement 2 and (c) Statement 3 of that Quality Standard since 2017.
Caroline Dinenage:
Between January 2017 to quarter 2017/18, under the National Institute for Health and
Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard, ‘Falls in older people’ the following
assessments have been made:
- 102,000 people aged 65 and over have been identified as at risk of having a fall
through routine assessments (quality standard 1); and
- 25,000 patients were referred to a falls clinic. All patients referred to a falls clinic
received a multifactorial falls risk assessment (quality standard 2). We do not have
detailed information on the outcomes of these referrals.
Quality Standard 3 refers to those at risk of needing an individualised multifactorial
intervention. As above, we do not have detailed data on the outcome of referrals to a
falls clinic but all of those referred could have received an individualised multifactorial
intervention.
NHS England understands most general practitioner (GP) practices are applying the
NICE Quality Standard. We do not hold information on the specific numbers of GP
practices which are applying this NICE Quality Standard.
A number of resources are in place to support GP practices in relation to falls risk
identification for older people. This includes guidance for general practices to support
implementation of the frailty requirements in the 2017/18 GP contract. The guidance
provides an explanation as to why routine frailty identification is included in the
General Medical Services Contract and what a general practice is required to do.
NICE guidance is referenced here along with supporting tools and resources.
Rachael Maskell: [206839]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many emergency hospital
admissions relating to falls in older people there have been in the last 12 months for
which figures are available.
Rachael Maskell: [206855]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the potential merits of using digital gait solutions to help prevent falls in older people.
Caroline Dinenage:
In 2017/18, there were 302,096 emergency admissions related to falls in older
people. As stated in the NHS Long Term Plan, we are committed to improving falls
and fracture prevention. As well as supporting general practitioners to identify and
treat those most at risk from falls, we are also providing various schemes, including
exercise classes and strength and balance training, which aim to reduce hospital
admissions.
NHS England has made no formal assessment of the potential merits of using digital
gait solutions.
Department of Health and Social Care: Brexit
Tom Brake: [207543]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10
January to Question 205797 on Department of Health and Social Care: Brexit, when his
Department plans to publish the data transparency releases referred to in that answer.
Stephen Hammond:
All spending over £25,000 is published in line with current guidance on a quarterly
basis.
Department of Health and Social Care: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206833]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his
Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the
effect of his Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
Caroline Dinenage:
Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Government Association jointly published
‘Health and Wellbeing in Rural Areas’ in March 2017, which describes the inequality
experienced by some rural communities; gives a steer for local authorities on issues
to consider in meeting the needs of rural communities and provides examples of case
studies of how local areas are addressing this. The report is available to view at the
following link:
https://www.local.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing-rural-areas
Last October, the Government published England’s first Loneliness Strategy which
lays the foundation for people to build better and more meaningful connections. The
practical measures to reduce loneliness set out in the strategy can also help to
address social exclusion across the country.
The Department welcomed the opportunity to draw on its own policies and
programmes and its arm’s length bodies, including on primary care, public health,
carers, mental health, social care and technology and digital support to inform the
Loneliness Strategy, and remains committed to working alongside businesses,
healthcare professionals, charities, community groups and local authorities to have a
real and lasting impact on loneliness.
Drugs
Wes Streeting: [208297]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department's plans
to ensure the supply of medicines in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal (a)
have been or (b) will be subjected to an independent evaluation.
Wes Streeting: [208298]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) a list of
medicines for which there is a supply risk in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a
deal and (b) a plan to mitigate those supply risks.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department’s plans to ensure the supply of medicines in the event of the United
Kingdom leaving the European Union without a deal have been subject to scrutiny by
a number of Parliamentary Committees, including the Public Accounts Committee,
the Health and Social Care Committee, the EU Exit Committee and the House of
Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee. The Department is also working closely with
suppliers, their supply chains, health services and devolved administrations to
maintain the continuity of medicines supply in a ‘no deal’ EU exit scenario.
We are unable to publish the list of medicines requested. To reassure participating
companies, we have committed to treating all information received confidentially,
securely and to using it only for the purposes of the Department’s contingency
programme. That means not introducing information about a specific company,
medicine or supply route into the public domain.
On 23 August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that
supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the UK that come from, or via,
the EU or European Economic Area (EEA), asking them to ensure a minimum of six
weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer
stocks, by 29 March 2019. We recognise, however, that certain medicines with short
shelf lives, including medical radioisotopes, cannot be reasonably stockpiled. Where
these medicines are imported from the EU or EEA, we have asked that suppliers
ensure in advance plans to air freight these medicines from the EU in the event of a
‘no deal’ exit.
Additionally, on 7 December 2018, the Department wrote to pharmaceutical
companies that supply licensed medicines to the UK from or via the EU/EEA and/or
manufacture medicines in the UK, informing them of the updated reasonable worst-
case scenario border disruption planning assumptions and asking them about their
current transportation routes and their ability to re-route their supply chains if they
currently rely on Dover and/or Folkestone.
We have received very good engagement from industry who share our aims of
ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and that suppliers
are able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short
term in the event of a ‘no deal’ exit.
Drugs: Misuse
Dr Dan Poulter: [208255]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had
with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on reducing
rates of drug dependency among homeless people; and if he will make a statement.
Dr Dan Poulter: [208256]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had
with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on reducing
rates of alcohol dependency among homeless people; and if he will make a statement.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug and / or alcohol
problem can access the help and support they need to overcome their problem and
to help them rebuild their lives and sustain their recovery.
We know that many rough sleepers have substance misuse needs, and that rough
sleepers can struggle to access the support they need to tackle substance
dependency. In London in 2017-18, 43% of rough sleepers were recorded as having
an alcohol-related need, and 40% as having a drug-related need.
We made a number of commitments in the Rough Sleeping Strategy to address this
issue, including a rapid audit of health service provision to rough sleepers, including
mental health and substance misuse treatment; and the provision of up to £2 million
in health funding to test models of community-based health and support services for
people who are rough sleepers.
Public Health England is taking action to improve access to drug and alcohol
treatment services for homeless people with drug and alcohol problems so that they
get the help that they need and will be issuing commissioning guidance to local
authorities in 2019.
The Government has also committed in the 2017 Drug Strategy to take action on
drug misuse among homeless people, including to work with treatment providers, the
homelessness sector and housing support services to identify and share best
practice to support local authorities in identifying routes into appropriate
accommodation for those recovering from a drug dependency.
A Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Ministerial Taskforce involving all
Government Departments with a responsibility for those sleeping rough was set up
on 7 March 2018 to develop the Rough Sleeping Strategy and oversee its
implementation. It’s membership involves Secretaries of State from five Government
Departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government as well as a number of other junior
ministers where the portfolio is more suited to rough sleeping.
Fertility: Medical Treatments
Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [206861]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on whether
decisions on the commissioning of fertility treatment should continue to be the
responsibility of clinical commissioning groups.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government has no plans to change arrangements for the commissioning of
National Health Service fertility services.
Health Services: Learning Disability
Alex Cunningham: [207228]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a)
monitor and (b) ensure that services funded by the NHS are compliant with national
learning disability improvement standards.
Caroline Dinenage:
The NHS Long Term Plan outlines the expectation that all National Health Service-
funded care providers in England should have implemented the learning disability
improvement standards by 2023/24.
Inclusion of the improvement standards in the NHS Standard contract 2019/20,
mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners of all healthcare services
except primary care, means that all providers must have regard to the improvement
standards and guidance.
To monitor and ensure compliance with the improvement standards, NHS
Improvement has commissioned the NHS Benchmarking Network to facilitate
national data collection across all NHS trusts, including NHS community trusts and
NHS ambulance trusts.
Marsha De Cordova: [207286]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
ensure services funded by the NHS uphold national learning disability improvement
standards; and whether he plans to bring forward measures to ensure compliance with
those standards.
Marsha De Cordova: [207287]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what oversight his Department
will give to services funded by the NHS in relation to the implementation of national
learning disability improvement standards.
Caroline Dinenage:
The NHS Long Term Plan outlines the expectation that all National Health Service
funded care providers in England should have implemented the learning disability
improvement standards by 2023/24.
Inclusion of the improvement standards in the NHS Standard contract 2019/20,
mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners of all healthcare services
except primary care, means that all providers must have regard to the improvement
standards and guidance.
To monitor and ensure compliance with the standards, NHS Improvement has
commissioned the NHS Benchmarking Network to facilitate national data collection
across all NHS trusts, including NHS community trusts and NHS ambulance trusts.
Maternity Services: Foreign Nationals
Kate Green: [R] [207239]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Ministerial
Statement of 12 December 2018 on NHS Overseas Charging Regulations Review 2017,
HCWS1174, what assessment was made of the needs of (a) pregnant women and (b)
new mothers in that review.
Kate Green: [R] [207240]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written
Statement of 12 December 2018 on NHS Overseas Charging Regulations Review 2017,
HCWS1174, what discussions he held with (a) healthcare professionals, (b) non-
governmental organisations and (c) others with an expertise in maternity care as part of
that review.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department engaged with 79 organisations as part of the process of reviewing
the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment)
Regulations 2017 and received 57 formal responses. The Department met with and
received responses from a number of organisations with expertise in maternity care,
including a royal college, maternity staff groups and maternity stakeholder groups. A
number of other organisations and individuals who contributed to the review also
commented on the impact of the amendment regulations on maternity service users.
Although maternity treatment must always be regarded as immediately necessary,
and therefore not subject to the upfront charging requirement, some evidence
suggested that overseas visitors may not always be aware of this. The Department
has therefore committed to develop user-friendly, culturally-appropriate guidance,
that will clarify that maternity treatment is never subject to the upfront charging
requirement and ensure this reaches those who may be impacted. The Department
has also updated national guidance (published 24 December 2018) to make clear
that termination of pregnancy services are to be regarded as urgent, and therefore
not subject to the upfront charging requirement, where the overseas visitor cannot
reasonably be expected to leave the UK before the date which an abortion may no
longer be a viable option.
As a result of the 2017 amendment regulations some secondary care services,
including community midwifery services, have become chargeable. However, these
services were already chargeable if delivered by hospital employed or directed staff
and the removal of the exemption was important in ensuring that charging rules apply
in a fair and consistent manner, regardless of where a service is provided. The
exemption from the charging regulations for conditions caused by sexual violence
remains in place to protect this vulnerable group.
Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
Gareth Thomas: [206718]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spend per head
of population on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services by each (a) Clinical
Commissioning Group and (b) Local Authority in each of the last five years.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Data is not available in the format requested.
Luciana Berger: [208293]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 51 of the
NHS Long Term Plan, when his Department plans to (a) start and (b) complete the roll-
out the new CAMHS model for 0-25-year olds.
Luciana Berger: [208294]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 51 of the
NHS Long Term Plan, how what estimate he has made of the cost of the roll-out of the
new CAMHS model for 0-25-year olds.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The roll-out of services for 0-25 year olds will form part of wider Long Term Plan
implementation. Full details will be made available in the spring as part of the
National Implementation Framework. Further details on implementation, based on
local health system five year plans, will be brought together in a detailed national
implementation plan in the autumn.
Funding for mental health will increase by at least £2.3 billion a year in real terms by
2023/24, which includes funding to extend current mental health service models to
create a comprehensive offer for 0-25 year olds that reaches across mental health
services for children, young people and adults.
Mental Illness: Community Care
Jonathan Ashworth: [206786]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his
Department has made of the adequacy of spending on community mental health teams
since 2010-11.
Jonathan Ashworth: [206787]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total spend was by
NHS Trusts on community mental health teams in 2017-18.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
This data is not collected in the format requested.
The data collected from all National Health Service trusts, known as reference costs,
does not record total spend on community mental health teams.
The Government has recognised that we need to go further in improving mental
health services. That is why the NHS Long Term Plan committed to implementing
new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care, which will
support adults and older adults with severe mental illnesses.
Mental Illness: Equality
Dan Jarvis: [R] [208266]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans
to review the 2010 Equality Act to ensure that there are sufficient protections for people
who have mental ill health.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government is aware of concerns that some people with mental health
conditions have experienced problems in accessing the Equality Act 2010’s
protections. The Government is therefore exploring legislative options to extend
protections from discrimination in the workplace for people with mental health
conditions, including through the Equality Act 2010.
Midwives
Gareth Snell: [207303]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost to the
NHS has been of employing a midwife on a full-time basis in each of the last five years.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department’s estimates of the average cost to the National Health Service
employing one midwife at a full-time equivalent (FTE) are set out in the following
table in each of the last five years. These costs include total earnings, national
insurance and pension contributions.
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PAY BILL PER FTE
(MIDWIFE)
2013-14 £46,053
2014-15 £45,955
2015-16 £46,096
2016-17 £47,224
2017-18 £47,381
Source: The Department’s Headline HCHS pay bill metrics, which are based primarily
on earnings statistics published by NHS Digital, supplemented by employer pension
and national insurance contributions estimates informed by unpublished and
unvalidated data from the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse.
Pay bill per FTE levels do not depend solely on pay policy and pay awards. They also
reflect patterns in those leaving and joining the workforce and the impact this has on
average experience and pay levels, and they reflect patterns in non-basic earnings
such as overtime which can fluctuate.
Midwives: Termination of Employment
Gareth Snell: [207305]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his
Department holds on the reasons that midwives have provided for leaving NHS
employment in each of the last five years for which information is available.
Stephen Hammond:
NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce
statistics for England. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical
commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care, local authorities or other
providers.
The following table shows the reasons recorded for midwives leaving the National
Health Service in England, as at 1 April in each year between 2013-2018 and the first
two quarters of 2018-19, headcount:
REASON FOR
LEAVING 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
2018-19
FIRST TWO
QUARTERS
Total 2,912 2,996 2,956 2,858 2,782 1,497
Of which
Dismissal 77 88 69 79 69 38
End of Fixed
Term
Contract
43 34 52 53 46 13
Flexi
Retirement
141 143 150 195 165 86
Mutually
Agreed
Resignation -
Local
Scheme with
Repayment
1 1 1 2 1 0
Mutually
Agreed
Resignation -
Local
Scheme
without
Repayment
0 2 0 0 0 0
Mutually
Agreed
Resignation -
National
Scheme with
Repayment
0 0 1 1 0 0
Others 370 346 127 28 26 13
Redundancy
- Compulsory
0 0 3 0 1 0
Redundancy 3 4 3 2 3 0
REASON FOR
LEAVING 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
2018-19
FIRST TWO
QUARTERS
- Voluntary
Retirement -
Ill Health
30 29 31 39 29 8
Retirement
Age
523 586 603 578 592 297
Voluntary
Early
Retirement -
no Actuarial
Reduction
45 41 63 56 43 22
Voluntary
Early
Retirement -
with Actuarial
Reduction
28 36 27 31 34 12
Voluntary
Resignation -
Adult
Dependants
13 8 12 11 13 4
Voluntary
Resignation -
Better
Reward
Package
25 39 19 16 42 12
Voluntary
Resignation -
Child
Dependants
58 49 45 46 33 36
Voluntary
Resignation -
Health
44 34 54 75 66 43
Voluntary
Resignation -
Incompatible
Working
14 13 16 12 15 13
REASON FOR
LEAVING 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
2018-19
FIRST TWO
QUARTERS
Relationships
Voluntary
Resignation -
Lack of
Opportunities
22 25 14 21 20 11
Voluntary
Resignation -
Other/Not
Known
524 500 557 505 442 237
Voluntary
Resignation -
Promotion
86 113 102 110 120 69
Voluntary
Resignation -
Relocation
563 560 598 605 628 355
Voluntary
Resignation -
To undertake
further
education or
training
83 71 71 44 46 42
Voluntary
Resignation -
Work Life
Balance
225 287 344 355 353 190
NHS Improvement is leading a direct support programme to work with trusts with the
highest attrition rates to identify improvements and improve retention to close the
supply gap.
Midwives: Training
Gareth Snell: [207300]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the cost of
training a student midwife is paid by (a) the student, (b) his Department and (c) other
sources.
Stephen Hammond:
In England, the initial cost of training a midwife is paid by the Government. Part of this
is in the form of student loan outlay, which the student accesses for tuition fees and
maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.
The following table shows indicative Government costs for each year of training a
midwife who lives outside of London and away from home. It shows the maximum
possible amount of each payment type available. Midwifery courses typically last
three years.
Additional funding to students may also be available through the Student Loans
Company and the Learning Support Fund. This is available to those with adult and
child dependants, and for those in exceptional hardship. They may also be eligible for
reimbursement of additional travel costs to attend clinical placements.
The amount shown in the table is paid by the Department directly to hospital trusts for
a student’s clinical placement.
The amount paid back by the student depends on how much they earn during their
career. If the loan is not fully repaid after 30 years it is written off. For example, once
a student enters the workforce they pay their loans back at a rate of 9% of their
earnings over the repayment threshold of £25,000. This equates to £15 a month for a
student earning £27,000 a year.
Systems in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibilities of the
devolved administrations in each of those countries.
2018/19 Indicative cost to the Government of training a midwife for each year of their
training
Payment type Cost Paid by
Costs of training
Tuition fee loan to the
university £9,250
Initially by Student Loans Company. Paid
back by the student over time depending on
earnings.
Clinical placement funding
to the placement provider
£1,383 + Market
Forces Factor Department of Health and Social Care
Additional costs for living support
Maintenance loan to the
student £8,700 Initially by Student Loans Company. Paid
back by the student over time depending on
earnings. Long courses loan to the
student £1,116
Notes:
- Based on a student who lives away from their parents.
- Based on a student who lives outside of London and is eligible for the maximum amount of
maintenance allowance available.
- Based on a student on a 42-week course, of which 20 weeks are on clinical placement.
- Placement funding includes Market Forces Factor (MFF). The MFF compensates for
difference in the cost of providing training in different parts of the country.
Sources:
Tuition fee loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-tuition-
fee-loan/whats-available/
Maintenance loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-
maintenance-loan/whats-available/
Long courses loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-
maintenance-loan/long-courses/
Clinical placement funding:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data
/file/629492/2017-18_ET_tariff_guidance_FINAL_July_v2.pdf
Notes:
- Based on a student who lives away from their parents.
- Based on a student who lives outside of London and is eligible for the maximum amount of
maintenance allowance available.
- Based on a student on a 42-week course, of which 20 weeks are on clinical placement.
- Placement funding includes Market Forces Factor (MFF). The MFF compensates for
difference in the cost of providing training in different parts of the country.
Sources:
Tuition fee loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-tuition-
fee-loan/whats-available/
Maintenance loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-
maintenance-loan/whats-available/
Long courses loan:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/full-time-undergraduate-education/full-time-
maintenance-loan/long-courses/
Clinical placement funding:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data
/file/629492/2017-18_ET_tariff_guidance_FINAL_July_v2.pdf
Gareth Snell: [207302]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many student midwives
were in receipt of a bursary in each academic year since 2016-17; what the average
bursary paid to a student midwife was in each of those years; and what the total cost of
those bursaries was to his Department in each of those years.
Stephen Hammond:
The following table shows the number of midwifery students in receipt of bursary
funding in the last two completed academic years and the average payment per
student.
ACADEMIC YEAR STUDENT COUNT 1
TOTAL VALUE OF
PAYMENTS (£) 2
AVERAGE PER STUDENT
(£)
2016/17 6,485 35,798,444 5,520
2017/18 4,146 23,815,211 5,744
Source: NHS Business Services Authority
Notes:
1 Any student who received any element of bursary funding whilst enrolled on a
midwifery course
2 Total payment(s) of any award element, i.e. Basic Award or supplementary
allowances
In August 2017 the education funding system changed with all new pre-registration
undergraduate nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students accessing
student loans for tuition fees and living costs rather than a National Health Service
bursary. In August 2018 postgraduate pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied
health profession students also began to access student loans.
NHS 111
Justin Madders: [207217]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many calls to 111 were
abandoned in each month in 2018.
Stephen Hammond:
The volume of NHS 111 calls which were abandoned after at least 30 seconds
connection time to the NHS 111 service from January to December 2018 is shown in
the following table.
MONTH
VOLUME OF CALLS ABANDONED AFTER AT LEAST
30 SECONDS
January 2018 75,488
February 2018 88,544
March 2018 113,244
April 2018 45,718
MONTH
VOLUME OF CALLS ABANDONED AFTER AT LEAST
30 SECONDS
May 2018 43,485
June 2018 46,702
July 2018 62,784
August 2018 41,646
September 2018 37,697
October 2018 44,697
November 2018 50,703
December 2018 57,375
Source: NHS England, NHS 111 minimum data set
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/nhs-111-minimum-data-
set/
NHS: Food
Ruth Cadbury: [208261]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to
ensure the continued supply of medical food in the event of the UK leaving the EU
without a deal.
Ruth Cadbury: [208262]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made
of the adequacy of medical food supplies in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a
deal.
Stephen Hammond:
The Government is working to ensure that the United Kingdom is able to cope with
any potential delays at borders that may arise in the short term in the event we leave
the European Union without a deal. Our planning will ensure that from the day the UK
leaves the EU, we will have the necessary resources and contingencies in place to
ensure uninterrupted supplies of medical foods.
NHS: ICT
Keith Vaz: [R] [206725]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
ensure access to new digital services provided by the NHS by people that do not speak
English as a first language.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
We are committed to ensuring that all those using the National Health Service have
fair and equitable access to high quality, effective healthcare services that are
responsive to all patients’ needs.
For people who use NHS.UK links are made available to a translation tool, for those
who require help with translation as the vast majority of its content is in English.
Health information in other languages is available at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/accessibility/health-information-in-other-languages/
When an appointment is booked through the NHS App, individuals can specify
whether a translator is required.
As part of its on-going user research, NHS Digital frequently tests its English-
language content and services with a wide range of users, including those who have
English as a second language.
NHS: Procurement
Caroline Lucas: [207225]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference paragraph 1 of
page 114 of the NHS Long-Term Plan, when he plans to (a) revoke the National Health
Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No 2) Regulations 2013 and (b)
exclude the NHS from the Public Contract Regulations.
Stephen Hammond:
The National Health Service has been subject to its current public procurement rules
since the EU Directive came into force in 2004. We will work with the NHS develop
an approach to procurement that reflects the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term
Plan.
NHS: Standards
Preet Kaur Gill: [207285]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
reduce waiting times for (a) NHS treatment in A&E, (b) routine operations, and (c) cancer
care.
Stephen Hammond:
The Long Term Plan, launched by the National Health Service on 7 January 2018,
will transform patient care and make sure every penny of taxpayers’ money is spent
wisely. This is supported by the Government’s investment of £20.5 billion a year in
real terms by 2023/24. The additional funding will allow the NHS to get back on the
path to delivering core performance standards. More than that, it will also drive the
reforms that deliver a better and more sustainable NHS with improved care for
patients.
In addition, NHS England’s ‘Operational and Planning Guidance for 2019/20’ sets out
deliverables against key performance areas and the Government has charged the
NHS to deliver these actions set– in full – as key steps towards fully recovering
performance against core access standards.
The Government has also supported the NHS with an additional £1.6 billion for
2018/19 to improve emergency and elective performance. In addition, more than
£420 million has been provided specifically for this winter.
NHS: Training
Alex Cunningham: [207226]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
include people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) autism in the development of
mandatory training for NHS staff.
Alex Cunningham: [207227]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether mandatory training on
learning disability and autism will include people with (a) learning disabilities and (b)
autism.
Caroline Dinenage:
We will shortly consult on proposals for mandatory learning disability and autism
training to ensure that staff working in health and social care understand the needs of
people with learning disabilities and autism and have the skills to provide them with
the most effective care and support. Officials have worked with people with lived
experience of learning disabilities and autism to develop the consultation proposals.
We want to hear a range of views, including those from people with a learning
disability or autism and their families, and in line with Cabinet Office principles on
consultation, we will tailor the consultation to meet the needs and preferences of
different groups, including the provision of consultation documents in alternative
formats.
The consultation will consider the role of people with a learning disability or autism in
the development and deployment of training as they can bring a unique and valuable
perspective as users of health and care services.
Marsha De Cordova: [207283]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to
involve people with learning disabilities and autism in the development of mandatory
training for NHS staff.
Marsha De Cordova: [207284]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether mandatory training for
NHS staff on learning disability and autism will involve people with learning disabilities
and autism.
Caroline Dinenage:
We will shortly consult on proposals for mandatory learning disability and autism
training to ensure that staff working in health and social care understand the needs of
people with learning disabilities and autism and have the skills to provide them with
the most effective care and support. Officials have worked with people with lived
experience of learning disabilities and autism to develop the consultation proposals.
We want to hear a range of views, including those from people with a learning
disability or autism and their families, and in line with Cabinet Office principles on
consultation, we will tailor the consultation to meet the needs and preferences of
different groups, including the provision of consultation documents in alternative
formats.
The consultation will consider the role of people with a learning disability or autism in
the development and deployment of training as they can bring a unique and valuable
perspective as users of health and care services.
NHS: Vacancies
Justin Madders: [207220]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of
the number of vacancies in the NHS by 2030 based upon workforce assumptions in the
NHS Long Term Plan.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department does not hold the data requested.
The Government will support the National Health Service to ensure that the right
staff, with the right skills and experience, are available to deliver the high-quality care
the public expects. This includes building on the work already underway to recruit,
train and retain more staff to address shortages. This will involve more training places
with increased flexibility, including for those high priority areas such as mental health
and primary care, as well as new or expanded roles with greater opportunities for
career progression for existing staff.
To ensure a detailed plan that everyone in the NHS can get behind, the Secretary of
State has commissioned Baroness Harding to lead a rapid and inclusive programme
of work to set out a detailed workforce implementation plan to be published in the
spring.
Nurses
Justin Madders: [207219]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of
the number of nurses employed in the NHS per head of population for each of the last ten
years for which records are available.
Stephen Hammond:
The Department does not hold the information in the format requested.
However, the following table shows the number of nurses and health visitors in
National Health Service trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England in the
last 10 years as at September each year, full time equivalent:
SEPTEMBER-2008 281,021
September-2009 278,470
September-2010 279,883
September-2011 277,047
September-2012 271,407
September-2013 274,627
September-2014 278,981
September-2015 281,474
September-2016 284,288
September-2017 283,853
September-2018 285,674
Source: NHS Hospital and Community Health Service workforce statistics, NHS
Digital
Plastic Surgery
Dr Matthew Offord: [206813]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment
of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for practitioners of cosmetic
interventions to receive proper training and an assessment before undertaking
procedures.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government is committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures
through better training for practitioners, and better information so that people can
make informed decisions about their care.
Cosmetic surgery, where the surgical procedure involves the use of instruments or
equipment which are inserted into the body, is a regulated activity and can only be
performed by surgeons who are registered with the General Medical Council.
Providers are required to register with the Care Quality Commission and meet the
fundamental standards of safety and quality.
The Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners was established in 2018 to accredit and
assess practitioners and education and training providers within the non-surgical
sector with the overarching aim of ensuring patient safety.
We urge anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure to take the time to find a reputable,
safe, and qualified practitioner who is subject to statutory regulation, or on a voluntary
register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Dr Matthew Offord: [206814]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment
of the potential merits of establishing an ombudsman to oversee the regulation of
cosmetic procedures.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
The Government is committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures
through better training for practitioners, and better information so that people can
make informed decisions about their care.
In January 2012, Sir Bruce Keogh was asked by the then Secretary of State for
Health and Social Care (Rt. hon. Jeremy Hunt MP) to carry out a review of the
regulation of cosmetic interventions following the Poly Implant Prothèse breast
implants scandal. Recommendation 34 covered potentially expanding the remit of the
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to cover the whole private healthcare
sector, including cosmetic procedures.
The Government’s Cosmetic Interventions Working Group subsequently evaluated
the feasibility of including private health services in the remit of the Ombudsman. This
process identified a number of issues that would need to be resolved before such a
change could be made.
Consumers opting for cosmetic procedures are protected by the Consumer Rights
Act 2015 and other forms of legal redress including the Independent Healthcare
Advisory Services and the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service.
Pregnancy: Mental Health Services
Luciana Berger: [208295]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11
January 2018 to Question 206308 on Pregnancy: Mental Health Services, what funding
his Departmental will make available for the expansion in perinatal services under the
NHS Long Term Plan.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
NHS England’s Long Term Plan confirms that mental health will receive a growing
share of the National Health Service budget, worth at least a further £2.3 billion a
year in real terms by 2023/24. Within this increased budget for mental health, there is
funding to expand perinatal services by 2023/24.
Fuller details of profiled figures will form part of the detailed national implementation
programme noted on page 10 of the Long Term Plan.
Private Patients
Justin Madders: [207218]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of
income from private patients at each NHS Trust for each of the last ten years for which
records are available.
Stephen Hammond:
The question is interpreted as requesting detail regarding the level of income
generated from the treatment of private patients by each National Health Service
trust. This is presented in the attached tables for the financial years 2010-11 to 2017-
18.
Prior to 2010-11 the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts did not report
‘income from private patients’ as a specific line item and thus comparable information
for prior years is unable to be provided.
Attachments:
1. PQ207218 attached document [PQ207218 - Data tables.docx]
Psychiatric Hospitals: Children and Young People
Dr Dan Poulter: [208252]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many child and adolescent
mental health in-patient beds there were in England in each year from 2009 to 2018
inclusive.
Dr Dan Poulter: [208253]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many child and adolescent
mental health in-patient beds there were in London in each year from 2009 to 2018
inclusive.
Dr Dan Poulter: [208254]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many child and adolescent
mental health in-patient beds there have been in Norfolk and Suffolk in each year from
2009 to 2018 inclusive.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
Information on the number of child and adolescent mental health inpatient beds is not
held in the format requested.
HOME OFFICE
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime
Mr Jim Cunningham: [208192]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department
has made of the total number of alcohol-related crimes committed in each year since
2010.
Victoria Atkins:
The main measure of alcohol-related crime is available in the Crime Survey for
England and Wales, and relates to alcohol-related violent incidents.
The latest figures show that the number of alcohol-related violent crime has fallen
from 901,000 incidents in 2009/10 to 464,000 incidents in 2016/17. The data for the
year ending March 2017 is available in Table 3.11 at the following link:
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/natureofcr
imetablesviolence
Asylum
Thangam Debbonaire: [208342]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it remains his
Department's policy to consider an asylum-seeker's claim for asylum less favourably if
that person did not claim asylum in the first safe country they reached; and if he will make
a statement.
Caroline Nokes:
The United Kingdom has a proud tradition of providing sanctuary to those in need of
protection. Where we are responsible for deciding asylum claims we will consider all
cases on their individual merits.
Our domestic legislation and Immigration Rules underline the importance of claiming
asylum in the first safe country, which is reflected in section 8 of the Asylum and
Immigration (Treatment of claimants etc.,) Act 2004. This clearly states that a failure
to take advantage of a reasonable opportunity to claim asylum in a safe country shall
be taken into account in assessing the individual’s credibility.
In light of the recent sharp increase in the number of migrants attempting perilous
Channel crossings to the UK in small boats, I have asked my officials to look at what
more we can do to deter asylum seekers from travelling to the UK – often
dangerously – from other safe countries in the first place.
Asylum: Employment
Keith Vaz: [200561]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have
been granted permission to work in the UK while their cases are being considered in
each of the last five years.
Caroline Nokes:
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been
outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own.
The data requested on the number of asylum seekers granted permission to work
while their cases are being considered in each of the last five years is only held on
paper case files or within the notes sections of the Home Office's databases.
Therefore, the number of asylum seekers granted permission to work is not held in a
reportable format.
Asylum: Housing
Stuart C. McDonald: [208242]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his is taking to
ensure a smooth transition in the transfer of asylum accommodation contracts; and if he
will make a statement.
Caroline Nokes:
The Home Office has designed the new contracts to replace the current COMPASS
services to ensure a smooth transition from the old contractual obligations to the new
contractual requirements. The timetable allows eight months for mobilisation and
transition activities, which is consistent with the timeline for transition to
operationalise the current contracts.
The Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) mobilisation transition
plans have also built on a number of lessons, including the creation of an
appropriately resourced function with suitable experience, expertise and
understanding of the new contracts.
We will be working with local authorities to ensure an effective transition
A Written Ministerial Statement was laid before the House on 8 January 2019 with
further details of this contract transition;
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-01-08/HCWS1237/
Asylum: Staffordshire
Jeremy Lefroy: [207253]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial support the
Government has allocated to Staffordshire County Council in support of caring for
unaccompanied (a) adult and (b) children asylum seekers in each of the last five years.
Caroline Nokes:
The government provides funding to local authorities as a contribution to-wards the
costs incurred in supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and
young care leavers who were UASC.
For unaccompanied children arriving from 1 July 2016, local authorities can claim
£114 per day for those children aged under 16 and £91 per day for those children
aged 16 or 17. The overall value of each claim is dependent on the number of agreed
days that children are supported by the local authority. More information on the
funding available to local authorities supporting UASC and former UASC care leavers
can be found in the funding instructions published at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unaccompanied-asylum-seeking-
children-uasc-grant-instructions
The Home Office directly provides adult asylum seekers and their dependants who
would otherwise be destitute with free furnished accommodation (rent and utility free)
and a weekly cash allowance to cover their other essential living needs.
Detection Rates
Mr Jim Cunningham: [208190]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has
made of trends in the level of unsolved crime in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and
(c) the UK.
Mr Nick Hurd:
The Government has not made an assessment of trends in the level of unsolved
crime in the UK or regionally.
It is the responsibility of Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to
make sure criminal cases are investigated properly. Together with the Crown
Prosecution Service they must make sure cases are charged where there is sufficient
evidence, and it is in the public interest to do so.
The Home Office collects outcomes data for police recorded crime. These data are
published quarterly. The latest figures, for the year ending June 2018 can be
accessed here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables
In the year ending June 2018, there were 4,978,455 crimes recorded by the police.
2,322,169 of these offences were closed with no suspect identified (46.6% of
recorded crime).
Domestic Violence
Darren Jones: [208306]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made
of the risks of smart home and internet-connected devices being used to enable domestic
violence.
Darren Jones: [208307]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is
taking to prevent the misuse of smart home and internet-connected devices to enable
domestic violence.
Victoria Atkins:
Last year we launched a public consultation on the Government response to
domestic abuse in which we asked about the risk of technology being used to
perpetrate abuse.
We will be publishing a response to the consultation and draft Domestic Abuse Bill
soon.
The Government will also shortly publish a white paper detailing how we will tackle
online harms, including domestic abuse.
We have also provided Refuge with £250,000 of funding through the Tampon Tax to
provide specialist nationwide support to staff and survivors who experience
technologically facilitated abuse.
Drugs: Crime
Priti Patel: [206316]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has
made of the number of criminal gangs operating across county lines.
Victoria Atkins:
The National Crime Agency undertakes an assessment of county lines which
provides a picture of the scale and scope of the threat.
The assessments do not include the number of gangs but they do include an
estimate of the number of active ‘deal lines’ operating in England and Wales. The
anonymous deal lines may be operated by individuals or groups. The previous
assessment was published in November 2017 and conservatively estimated that
there were at least 720 lines. The latest threat assessment will be published shortly.
Entry Clearances: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: [208205]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any changes have been
made to the operational roll-out of Operation Gull in Northern Ireland as an Immigration
Enforcement intelligence led operation in the past two months.
Caroline Nokes:
No changes have been made to Operation Gull in the past two months.
High Rise Flats: Fires
Sarah Jones: [208350]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of
the number of fires in (a) publicly and (b) privately owned high rise residential blocks in
each of the last 20 years.
Mr Nick Hurd:
The Home Office do not hold this information.
Immigrants: Health Services
Frank Field: [206744]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made
of the potential merits of waiving the Immigration Health Surcharge for non-EEA nursing
staff.
Caroline Nokes:
The Government fully recognises the contribution that international healthcare
professionals, including nurses, make to the UK and to our health service, but we are
not convinced it would be appropriate to waive the immigration health surcharge for
this group.
Other providers of public services, such as teachers, are required to pay the charge
and it is only right that those who come to the UK for more than six months who will
not have built up the same connection contribute to the running of the NHS. It is
important to remember that the charge offers access to health care services that are
more comprehensive and often at lower cost than many other countries. The income
generated by surcharge payments goes directly to NHS services, helping to protect
and sustain our world-class healthcare system for everyone who uses it.
Immigration
Afzal Khan: [208426]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the
Government's white paper on The UK’s future skills-based immigration system, published
in December 2018, whether he plans to introduce a second immigration Bill to implement
the proposals contained in that White Paper.
Caroline Nokes:
The Government published a White Paper on 19 December 2018 outlining the UK’s
future skills-based immigration system. The Government also introduced the
Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill on 20 December
2018 which will end free movement and provide the legal basis for the future
immigration system.
We will implement most of the future immigration arrangements in UK Immigration
Rules as is the case now. If primary legislation is required to implement any details of
the future system, we will bring forward that legislation when Parliamentary time
allows.
Immigration: EU Nationals
Keith Vaz: [R] [206236]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU citizens will be
eligible to apply for the increased post-study work period that is included in the
Immigration White Paper.
Caroline Nokes:
As set out in the Immigration White Paper, the future system will be a single global
immigration system, where students of all nationalities will apply under the new
student route.
Under the new route all students studying at a Masters’ level, or at Bachelors’ level
and an institution with degree awarding powers, will be eligible for the increased 6-
month post study leave period. Doctoral students will be eligible for a 12-month post
study leave period.
Theresa Villiers: [208223]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long it is taking on average
to process applications made by EU nationals to the pilot EU settled status scheme.
Caroline Nokes:
Applications under the pilot phases of EU Settlement Scheme have been processed
very quickly. Some applicants have needed to provide additional information and we
have worked with them to ensure they know what information they need to provide.
For these cases decisions could take longer as we will rely on the applicant providing
that information in order to progress their application.
Further details will be provided in the second private beta report which will be
published in due course.
Anneliese Dodds: [208354]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Answer of 10
December 2018 to Question 198924 on Immigration: EU Nationals, which private sector
organisations could be involved in the use of the data.
Caroline Nokes:
The Home Office is the data controller for all data processed within the EU
Settlement Scheme, this includes where organisations are contracted to act on behalf
of the Home Office as the Home Office.
The Home Office may share information with other organisations, but only where the
information needs to be shared and there is an appropriate legal basis for doing so.
Further detail on this is set out in the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System
privacy information notice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-
information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship.
Patrick Grady: [208416]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for
permanent residence documents by EU Citizens exercising treaty rights as self-sufficient
people or students have been refused on the grounds of the applicant not having
comprehensive sickness insurance.
Patrick Grady: [208417]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what grounds the
requirement for an EU Citizen to hold comprehensive sickness insurance while exercising
their treaty rights as a self-sufficient person or student may be waived in respect of
applications for permanent residence documents.
Caroline Nokes:
The Free Movement Directive, as implemented in the UK by the Immigra-tion (EEA)
Regulations 2016, requires students and self-sufficient persons to hold
comprehensive sickness insurance (CSI).
The Government may waive this requirement when considering applica-tions for
permanent residence documents from EEA national students who have been issued
with a registration certificate confirming their residence as a student in the UK before
20 June 2011. In such cases, it is accepted that time spent in the UK without holding
CSI is deemed lawful residence for the purposes of assessing whether the five-year
qualifying period for permanent residence has been met.
Guidance on comprehensive sickness insurance requirements and transitional
provisions for students can be found in the guidance on ‘qualified persons’ (from
page 30) on Gov.uk via the link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-economic-area-nationals-
qualified-persons.
The information available on grants and refusals of documents certifying permanent
residence is published at a total level in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, EEA
table ee_02_q, latest edition at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-
september-2018.
Information relating to the specific reason for refusal of those applications for
permanent residence is not published.
For the avoidance of doubt, comprehensive sickness insurance is not a requirement
for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, which has been established to grant
UK immigration status to EU citizens as we leave the EU.
Police: Forensic Science
Louise Haigh: [208314]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the
announcement entitled, National operation to retest manipulated forensic samples
continues, published by the National Police Chiefs' Council in December 2018, for which
company does the independent expert employed to analyse the retest results work.
Mr Nick Hurd:
The Home Office is not responsible for the independent expert, who is employed by
the National Police Chief’s Council to conduct the retesting work.
Social Media: Regulation
Mr Barry Sheerman: [207172]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what statutory options for the
regulation of social media companies his Department plans to include in the White Paper
on online harm.
Mr Barry Sheerman: [207173]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made
of the legislation required to help ensure that children are protected from online harms;
and if he will make a statement.
Mr Barry Sheerman: [207174]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an
assessment of the potential merits of creating a regulator to tackle online harms on social
media platforms; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Barry Sheerman: [207175]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) social networking
companies and (b) online platforms his Department has met with or received briefings
from in the process of writing the White Paper on online harms.
Victoria Atkins:
The Government is publishing a White Paper this year. It will set out a range of
legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and
set clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep UK citizens safe online.
Protecting children from abuse and exploitation online will be a central component of
the White Paper.
We are currently exploring options for a strengthened regulatory approach. As part of
that we are engaging a broad range of stakeholders. It is not the Government's
practice to provide details of Ministerial meetings which are held as part of the
process of policy development and delivery.
Undocumented Migrants: Boats
Afzal Khan: [207607]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10
January to Question 206043 on Undocumented Migrants: Boats, for what reason his
Department does not routinely publish that data; and if he will make it his policy to publish
that data routinely.
Caroline Nokes:
As set out in the Immigration White Paper, the future system will be a single global
immigration system, where students of all nationalities will apply under the new
student route.
Under the new route all students studying at a Masters’ level, or at Bachelors’ level
and an institution with degree awarding powers, will be eligible for the increased 6-
month post study leave period. Doctoral students will be eligible for a 12-month post
study leave period.
Visas: Married People
Jessica Morden: [207203]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion
of premium service spousal visa applications for settlement in the UK were processed by
UK Visas and Immigration within target times between (a) 1 January 2018 and 31 July
2018 and (b) 1 August 2018 and 1 January 2019.
Caroline Nokes:
Information on out of country applications for settlement visas and pro-cessing
performance against service standards is published in the Migration Transparency
data, table Visa01, latest edition at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-
data-november-2018 The latest data show the vast majority 97.0% of straightforward
cases were dealt with within customer service standards.
Windrush Generation: Compensation
Karin Smyth: [207288]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish details
of the Windrush compensation scheme following the Government's consultation on that
scheme.
Caroline Nokes:
The Government has committed to putting into place the Windrush compensation
scheme and is grateful to those who responded to the public consultation that closed
on 16 November.
We are considering the outcome of the consultation exercise and will respond as
soon as possible with further details, including who is eligible to apply for
compensation and how they can access the scheme.
HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Buildings: Insulation
Mr Steve Reed: [208264]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether
his Department has made an assessment of the future difficulties that may potentially
arise from the ban on combustible cladding when buildings are subject to change of use,
such as a non-residential building changing to a multi-occupancy dwelling.
Kit Malthouse:
My Department published an impact assessment alongside the Building
(Amendment) Regulations 2018 which set out the ban on combustible materials in
external walls. This includes an analysis of the impact of the regulations on changes
of use. The impact assessment is available on-line at
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1230/pdfs/uksiod_20181230_en.pdf.
Grenfell Tower: Fires
Sarah Jones: [208360]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how
many officials in his Department are assigned to work on fire safety and issues related to
the Grenfell Tower fire.
Kit Malthouse:
MHCLG has 198.31 full time equivalent (FTE) officials working directly on fire safety
and issues related to the Grenfell Tower fire. We also recognise that there are
associated FTE officials working on these issues that come as normal in running any
department, however we have not included these in our calculations.
High Rise Flats: Insulation
Mr Steve Reed: [208285]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with
reference to the Written Statement on 29 November 2018 on Grenfell update,
HCWS1126, how much money his Department has allocated to support local authorities
in undertaking emergency remedial work to remediate unsafe aluminium composite
material cladding.
Kit Malthouse:
The Government is providing funding so that local authorities and housing
associations can focus their efforts on making their buildings safe without impacting
negatively on other services, improvements to housing quality or new supply.
We have committed to funding fully the removal and replacement of dangerous
Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding on residential social housing buildings
over 18 metres owned by councils and housing associations, with costs estimated at
£400 million. We have so far allocated £248 million to replace cladding on 135
buildings.
Where, as part of the enforcement action, local authorities take emergency action
themselves to remediate high rise private sector residential building with unsafe ACM
cladding then the Housing Act 2004 allows local authorities to recover reasonably
incurred expenses, with interest.
The Government is committed to supporting local authorities to ensure that such
private-sector buildings are remediated, including financial support to take emergency
remedial action if that is necessary. Local authorities finding themselves in this
position should approach my Department to discuss what support may be needed.
Sarah Jones: [208361]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what
conclusions he has made on the extent of non-ACM flammable cladding in high rise
buildings following the Government’s recent research on that subject.
Sarah Jones: [208362]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when
the findings of the Government's commissioned research into non-ACM flammable
cladding will be published.
Kit Malthouse:
We expect building owners to be systematically reviewing the safety of their buildings
as a matter of course. In consultation with the Independent Expert Advisory Panel,
the Government has provided advice to building owners about common non-
Aluminium Cladding Material (ACM) external wall systems, including ones using
Metal Composite Materials, High Pressure Laminates (HPL) or External Wall
Insulation (EWI) with a render or brick-slip finish.
The Research commissioned into Non-ACM cladding has not yet completed. We
expect to receive a final report in the spring.
Social Services: Children
Andrew Gwynne: [208218]
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant
to Answer of 11 January 2019 to Question 206287 on Ministry of Housing, Communities
and Local Government: Oral Questions, for what reason the Government decided to
transfer responsibility for children's services to the Department for Education.
James Brokenshire:
The Secretary of State for Education has responsibility for children’s services. My
Department remains responsible for local government policy and funding. There has
been no recent machinery of government change transferring responsibility on any
aspects of children’s services policy from my Department to the Department for
Education.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Department for International Development: Brexit
Jo Swinson: [208259]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department
is spending on a public information campaign to prepare people for the potential effects of
the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Alistair Burt:
DFID has not spent any money and is taking a no-cost approach to ensuring our
stakeholders are briefed on the potential effects of the UK leaving the EU without a
deal.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Department for International Trade: Brexit
Tom Brake: [207542]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 10
January to Question 205795 on Department for International Trade: Brexit, when his
Department plans to publish the data transparency releases referred to in that answer.
George Hollingbery:
All spending over £25,000 is published in line with current guidance on a monthly
basis.
Trade Agreements
Mike Gapes: [204372]
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many specialist trade
negotiators have been appointed by his Department in each month since July 2016.
George Hollingbery:
Since the Department was created its Trade Policy Group (TPG) has grown to
Approximately 470 people at the end of October 2018, bringing together trade policy,
country specialists and experts on trade policy issues. A number of DIT staff in
offshore posts are also undertaking work on market access trade policy issues.
Typically, a trade negotiation will involve teams of differing sizes, with expertise
relevant to the specific chapters or sectors being negotiated as part of that agreement
which will differ for each but will be drawn primarily from DIT TPG. The exact make
up will depend on the complexity and scope of any agreement and would be staffed
by DIT policy officials with the involvement of expertise from other Departments.
These officials are not designated negotiators specifically.
In addition other DIT staff will also be involved in supporting the negotiators and for
instance, handling relations with Parliament and external stakeholders.
JUSTICE
Family Courts: Legal Representation
Richard Burgon: [205347]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many parents had no representation at a
family court case relating to a child in each year since 2010.
Lucy Frazer:
[Holding answer 14 January 2019]: The number of unrepresented parents in private
law Children Act cases is shown in the table below.
Since 2015, we have invested almost £6.5million in a support strategy for
unrepresented parties. This provides practical support and information as well as
routes to free or more affordable legal advice. Public funding remains available for
parents in public law Children Act proceedings where a local authority seeks an order
to place a child in care or under its supervision, and in private law Children Act cases
where there is evidence of domestic or child abuse.
Whilst we do publish numbers of private law cases with either an unrepresented
applicant or respondent as part of Family Court Statistics Quarterly, the data does not
show the relationship to the child.
TABLE 1: THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PRIVATE LAW CASES STARTED AND THE NUMBER
APPLICANTS AND RESPONDENTS WHO HAD NO REPRESENTATION IN THESE CASES FROM
2011 TO 2017.
Yea
r
Total
numbe
r of
cases
started 6
Cases
with
at
least
one
hearin
g 6
Unrepresented
Applicants
Unrepresente
d
Respondents
Pare
nt
Other 4
Unkno
wn 5
Total Pare
nt
Other 4
Unkno
wn 5
Total
201
1
49,06
7
45,90
7
10,22
4
2,560 294 13,07
8
19,12
9
1,25
1
5,51
7
25,8
97
201
2
52,06
2
49,15
7
11,58
3
2,524 340 14,44
7
21,11
7
1,24
3
6,34
4
28,7
04
201
3
54,62
4
51,84
6
17,00
7
3,413 576 20,99
6
28,20
5
1,45
6
9,70
4
39,3
65
201
4
42,11
4
39,77
6
16,75
3
3,181 829 20,76
3
21,82
4
908 9,16
4
31,8
96
201
5
43,34
7
41,43
5
18,54
4
2,969 937 22,45
0
23,68
5
1,03
2
8,16
1
32,8
78
201
6
48,24
6
46,25
6
21,83
9
3,094 1,07
3
26,00
6
26,66
9
1,16
0
8,52
4
36,3
53
201
7
50,65
2
48,62
5
23,88
1
3,303 925 28,10
9
30,30
6
1,17
4
6,83
1
38,3
11
Notes: 1) Self-representation is determined by the field 'legal representation' in
Familyman being left blank. Therefore, this is only a proxy measure and parties
without a recorded representative are not necessarily self-representing litigants in
person. Please note that the latest quarters' figures may reduce in future publications,
particularly in regard to parties obtaining legal representation as cases progress.
Therefore, the latest quarter figures should be considered as provisional
2) In this instance 'at least one hearing' refers to non-vacated scheduled hearings,
rather than actual hearings that have taken place.
3) 'Unrepresented' refers to parties where the REPRESENTATIVE_ID field has been
left blank. Therefore, they should be considered as parties without a recorded
representative, rather than 'litigants in person'.
4) 'Other' can refer to Grandparents, Step-Parents, Special Guardians or Children.
5) 'Unknown' relations to child can occur in cases where relation to child is not
requested (e.g. if the applicant or respondent is a local authority). This is the case for
3% of applicants and 23% of respondents given in the table.
6) 'Total number of cases started' and 'Cases with at least one hearing' are included
only for additional context and will include hearings with represented parties.
7) The central data system FamilyMan was fully rolled out by the end of 2010 and so
any data prior to this in FamilyMan is not complete and not shown in this table.
Ministry of Justice: Research
Richard Burgon: [208324]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2018 to
Question 189764 on Ministry of Justice: Research, if he will publish the central record of
his Department's externally commissioned social research.
Edward Argar:
The Ministry of Justice does not maintain a central record of all of its externally
commissioned social research. It only maintains a central record of the social
research that has been externally commissioned by the Analytical Services
Directorate. Some of the Ministry of Justice’s agencies and public bodies will also
independently externally commission social research but a central record of this work
is not maintained.
The Ministry of Justice has no plans to publish the central record of social research
that has been commissioned by the Analytical Services Directorate.
Copies of MoJ’s published Government Social Research reports can be accessed via
the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications
Details of the types of research undertaken by the different parts of MoJ can be
downloaded here
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/research-within-mojs-agencies-and-arms-length-bodies
This document sets out the high-level areas of research interest for MOJ with the aim
of supporting ongoing and new engagement with the external research community.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-areas-of-research-
interest
Offenders: Employment
Chris Elmore: [207278]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of trends
in the number of female offenders who have been unable to enter employment upon
leaving prison.
Edward Argar:
We know that of those released in the 2011/12 tax year, a higher proportion of female
offenders were claiming out-of-work benefits both before and after their
caution/conviction or prison sentence, than male offenders.
The proportion of women claiming out-of-work benefits in the month before receiving
a conviction/caution or prison sentence was 53%, which increases by two percentage
points to 55% one month after a conviction/caution or release from prison.
We are aware of a number of barriers that prevent women from entering employment
on release from prison and are working to address these issues.
Last May, we published the Education and Employment strategy which aims to set
each prisoner on a path to employment, with prison education and work geared
towards employment on release from the outset.
Our strategy includes a range of initiatives to support this ambition. For example, we
are empowering governors to commission education provision that leads to work, we
are encouraging employers to take on ex-prisoners via the New Futures Network
(NFN) and we have consulted governors and employers on proposals to increase the
opportunities available to prisoners to gain experience in real workplaces through
ROTL.
Chris Elmore: [207279]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female offenders who have received
more than one custodial sentence since 2010 were unemployed when they re-offended.
Edward Argar:
We do not hold the data as requested, but we do know that offenders who find
employment on release from prison are less likely to reoffend than those who do not.
Offenders who found P45 employment in the twelve months after release from prison
had one year re-offending rates that were 6-9 percentage points lower than similar
offenders who did not find employment.
In order to improve employment opportunities for ex-offenders, we published the
Education and Employment strategy last year to set each prisoner on a path to
employment from the outset, thus increasing access to employment for ex-offenders.
Press Recognition Panel
Ian C. Lucas: [208225]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reason the Press Recognition Panel
was added to his Ministerial responsibilities; and what assessment he has made of the
effect of that decision on the work of the Panel.
Edward Argar:
The Royal Charter establishing the Press Recognition Panel sets out the
responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor. Other than in his role as Lord Chancellor, the
Secretary of State for Justice does not have any ministerial responsibilities in respect
of the Panel.
HM Treasury determined that the Press Recognition Panel should fall under the
Ministry of Justice Departmental Boundary for Estimates and Accounts purposes, this
is purely an administrative action. There is no charge in terms of the Lord
Chancellor's responsibilities as set out in the Royal Charter, and the Panel remains
outside the Secretary of State's responsibilities.
Prison Service: Pay
Mary Glindon: [206776]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training is required for prison service staff
to be eligible for the required hours addition allowance.
Mary Glindon: [206777]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison governors claimed the
required hours addition allowance in each year since 2010.
Mary Glindon: [207209]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) rate of (b) average amount paid in
Required Hours Addition allowance was to prison governors in the last 12 months.
Mary Glindon: [207210]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of
prison governors claiming the Required Hours Addition allowance without completing the
required training.
Mary Glindon: [207211]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that all
Required Hours Addition claimants have completed the required training; and if he will
make a statement.
Rory Stewart:
The payment of RHA is not claimed by individuals, but is automatically paid as a
separate salaried allowance (pensionable) on taking up duty in a qualifying role (both
operational and non-operational). RHA is pensionable and is paid to recognise that a
role regularly requires the incumbent to work unsocial and unpredictable hours as
part of their normal duties. An individual retains payment of the addition while they
remain in a qualifying role, but will cease if at any time they move to a non-qualifying
role. The information is not readily available as for each year all staff movements will
need to be checked to ensure the continued entitlement each year and to check
whether the allowance has been reinstated. As such the exact information requested
can only be obtained at disproportionate cost for the number of prison governors in
receipt of RHA in each financial year since 2010 and what the rate and average
amount paid in Required Hours Addition allowance was to prison governors.
Due to the protections given towards pay after the introduction of the Fair and
Sustainable structures in April 2012, there are two different rates of RHA payable.
Those given protection to remain in the closed world pay and grading structures
receive a flat rate value of £5,696 per annum. Operational managers within the Fair
and Sustainable structures receive an amount calculated at 17% of the rate of base
pay they receive.
The pay ranges for the operational manager roles (Bands 7 to 11) under F&S are
open ranges, and individuals may be on a rate base pay at any point between the
minimum and maximum within the open range. As payroll is undertaken by a third
party provider, there would be an additional charge of around £1500 to prepare the
report and confirm the average. As such, an average amount paid as RHA to
operational managers is not available due to disproportionate costs.
Prisons: Fire Prevention
Mary Glindon: [205271]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the dates on which each prison
establishment last undertook full night-time fire contingencies exercises.
Mary Glindon: [205272]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what reports he has received from senior fire
officers on the adequacy of testing of night-time fire contingencies at prisons as a result
of their visits to those institutions.
Mary Glindon: [205273]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether prison governors have requested
additional staffing as a result of testing of night-time fire contingency processes at their
prison.
Rory Stewart:
The dates on which public sector prisons in England and Wales last undertook night-
time fire contingency exercises; whether a formal report from Fire and Rescue
Services was provided; and whether additional staff were requested as a result of
such exercises, is provided in the attached table. Arrangements are being made to
ensure that prisons listed as not yet completing for the period to undertake a fire
contingency exercise.
Prison Fire Safety leads engage regularly with Fire and Rescue Services to ensure
contingency plans are fit for purpose, and any issues or concerns are highlighted as
part of this ongoing engagement. Additionally, Fire and Rescue Service Senior Fire
Officers are required to highlight significant problems or concerns to the National Fire
Chiefs Council (NFCC) Operations Committee. The NFCC have confirmed that no
reports on the outcomes of night-time fire contingency testing have been received.
Privately Managed Prisons (PMPs) are also obliged to follow Prison Service
Instruction 11/2015, Fire Safety in Prison Establishments. This requires Directors of
PMP’s to regularly test the fire contingency plans for both day and night state;
contingency plans for fire must be tested at least annually.
Operators of PMPs hold data for their own contract sites. Each PMP has a full-time
on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The
Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of
performance indicators. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators or
any other concerns relating to the delivery of the contract are discussed at these
meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and
escalated within HMPPS. Where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with
the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial
deductions.
Young Offenders: Education
Richard Burgon: [208325]
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hours of education on average each
week young people received in each secure training centre in each of the last five years.
Edward Argar:
The information requested is provided in the attached table.
Good education in and out of the classroom and purposeful activity are the key to
unlocking a secure and stable future for young people and I am determined to drive
forward our comprehensive reforms so that young people are equipped with the skills
to live successful, crime-free lives on release.
Attachments:
1. PQ 208325 - Education across STCs [PQ 208325 - Education across STCs.xlsx]
NORTHERN IRELAND
EU Grants and Loans: Northern Ireland
Jo Stevens: [208292]
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate her Department has
made of the amount of funding Northern Ireland has received from (a) grants from the EU
and (b) loans from the European Investment Bank since 1998.
Karen Bradley:
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not made any estimates of the amount of
funding Northern Ireland has received from European Union grants, or loans from the
European Investment Bank since 1998.
The information requested is not held by the NIO and gathering the information could
not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However in regard to loans
received from the European Investment Bank (EIB), whilst a local figure for Northern
Ireland is not recorded, the EIB does report loans provided across the United
Kingdom. This information can be obtained directly from the EIB website.
SCOTLAND
Exports: Scotland
John Lamont: [206863]
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the value is of exports of goods and
services from Scotland which are currently governed by WTO rules.
David Mundell:
Official figures show that total international and rest of the UK exports in 2016
(excluding oil and gas) were estimated at £75.6 billion. Exports to the rest of the UK
accounted for 61 per cent of this total (or £45.8bn) and international exports
accounted for 39 per cent (or £29.8bn).
Both the European Union (EU) and the individual EU countries are members of the
WTO. The EU has bilateral trade and investment relationships with a great number of
countries, including Scotland’s top international export destination valued at £4.8bn,
the USA.
Scotland Office: Brexit
Sir Vince Cable: [207564]
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much money his Department has
allocated for preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal to date; how much of
that funding has been made by way of ministerial direction; and for what functions that
funding has been allocated.
David Mundell:
As part of preparations for a successful EU exit, the Office of the Secretary of State
for Scotland has been allocated additional EU exit funding.
Information for the financial year 2019-20, covering both my Department and the
Office of the Advocate General, was set out by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in
her written statement of 18 December 2018 (HCWS1205):
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1205/
Information for the financial year 2018-19, covering both my Department and the
Office of the Advocate General, was set out by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in
her written statement of 13 March 2018 (HCWS540):
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/
Information for the financial year 2017-18, covering both my Department and the
Office of the Advocate General, was set out in the Treasury’s Supplementary
Estimates 2017-18 which can be found here (p497):
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm
ent_data/file/679738/PU2137_Supplementary_estimates_web.pdf
The Department holds no estimate of what it has spent on no deal preparations,
which cannot readily be separated from other EU exit and devolution functions in
general. This funding has not been the result of a ministerial direction.
Scotland Office: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206864]
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment his Department has made
of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the effect of his
Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
David Mundell:
The main levers by which to address social exclusion in Scotland lie within the
devolved competence of the Scottish parliament. However, my office regularly
discuss these matters with other government departments, devolved bodies and
stakeholders.
Additionally, the cross-government team on tackling loneliness are working with
colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and
to share insights and learn from one another.
SPEAKER'S COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Electoral Commission: Powers
Neil Gray: [208265]
To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's
Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent discussions the Electoral
Commission has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the investigatory powers
of the Electoral Commission.
Bridget Phillipson:
The Commission has on-going dialogue with the Minister for the Constitution and has
raised the need for a significant increase to its current maximum fine of only £20,000
per offence. This would ensure that sanctions are proportionate and provide a
genuine deterrent to campaigners who may be tempted to break the UK’s political
finance laws.
It continues to recommend that its investigative and sanctioning powers should be
extended to include offences relating to candidate spending and donations at major
elections. This would help to ensure compliance with the rules at UK-wide and other
national elections, and to strengthen voters’ trust in the regulatory system.
TRANSPORT
A34: Oxfordshire
Layla Moran: [206852]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve safety on
the A34 in Oxfordshire.
Jesse Norman:
Highways England have undertaken an in-depth safety review of the A34 to identify
incident ‘hot spots’ and to establish their causes.
They have made their recommendations to the Department of Transport on a
package of safety improvements for the A34. The improvements remain on track for
the start of works in 2019/20. As with all such schemes, the package remains subject
to a positive value for money assessment at the end of the development process,
before the start of construction.
Airports: Unmanned Air Vehicles
Alan Brown: [208366]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2019
to Question 205973 on Airports: Unmanned Air Vehicles, what consultations the
Government undertook prior to implementing the 400 ft height and 1 km radius exclusion
zone on the use of drones adjacent to airports.
Jesse Norman:
From December 2016 – March 2017 the Department sought views on drones in our
consultation “Unlocking the UK's High Tech Economy: Consultation on the Safe Use
of drones in the UK”. Almost 700 responses were received, including from airports,
airlines, GA pilots and drone users. The Department’s response to that consultation
(July 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/benefits-of-drones-to-the-
uk-economy) sets out its intention to ban the use of drones within a certain distance
of airports and to ban flights above 400ft. Amendments to the Air Navigation Order
(ANO 2016) were then made in May 2018 introducing the 400ft limit and the interim
1km airport restriction.
Following the Department’s most recent public consultation, the Government will now
amend the ANO to extend the 1km restriction to protect the aerodrome traffic zones
of protected airports, and to add 5km long runway protection zones at the end of
each runway. This was set out on 7 January 2019 in the Government Response to
“Taking Flight: The Future of Drones in the UK”.
Channel Ferries: Freight
Andy McDonald: [206829]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much (a) Deloitte, (b) Slaughter and
May and (c) Mott MacDonald were paid to undertake due diligence assessment work as
part of the freight ferry preparations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
The contracts remain live, so it is not yet possible to determine the total of fees paid.
Cherwell Valley Railway Line: Electrification
Layla Moran: [206853]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September to
Question 167383 on Cherwell Valley Railway Line: Electrification, when he expects the
publication of the timetable for a decision to be made on the future electrification of the
railway line between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
Andrew Jones:
The scheme referred to is currently under consideration as part of Network Rail’s
Control Period 6 portfolio.
As the National Audit Office have said, it is right to continually assess the investment
decisions in our programme of railway upgrades, to deliver passenger benefits in the
best way possible and give both passengers and taxpayers maximum value.
Department for Transport: Disadvantaged
John Lamont: [206831]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Cabinet
colleagues on the level of social exclusion is in rural areas; and what assessment his
Department has made of the link between social exclusion and access to public transport
in rural areas.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
In December 2018 the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published
their annual digest of statistics on a range of social and economic subject areas. This
survey also shows that levels of belonging are, in fact, 10% higher in rural areas.
However, we acknowledge that for some, a lack of public transport can prevent
people from having the social connections that they want, particularly in rural areas.
The Department for Transport is one of five government departments to have
loneliness added to the ministerial portfolio, and sits on the cross-government group
which takes responsibility for driving action on social exclusion.
Electric Vehicles: Hydrogen
Mark Pawsey: [206789]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will include the Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Electric Vehicle sector on the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce.
Jesse Norman:
The Government recognises that hydrogen fuel cell technology has an important part
to play in the transition towards a decarbonised transport network.
Based on current market developments, fuel cells fall outside the scope of the
Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, which will focus on the electricity system and the
potential impact of plug-in electric vehicles on both the distribution and transmission
systems. However, the Government will keep this point under review as the market
develops over time.
Goring and Streatley Station: Disability
John Howell: [208272]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the application made
under the Access for All programme in relation to Goring and Streatley station.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
Goring and Streatley station has not been nominated for the current round of Access
for All funding as it already has step free access to and between all platforms.
Govia Thameslink Railway: Tickets
Caroline Lucas: [206779]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the implementation of part-time
season tickets on the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise will require in-franchise
changes to the contract agreed with GTR; what estimate he has made of the costs of
implementing part-time season tickets on that franchise; who will meet the cost of that
implementation; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Jones:
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have an obligation within their Franchise
Agreement to introduce carnet-based season tickets on their smart card ticket “The
Key”. Any set up and ongoing operational costs would be the responsibility of GTR,
and any revenue impact the responsibility of the Department as all GTR farebox
revenue passes to the Department under the GTR contract. Work is ongoing to
develop options for a carnet season ticket and understand the impact these tickets
would have on revenue.
Motor Vehicles: Noise
Mhairi Black: [206767]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to
reduce noise pollution emitted from car exhausts.
Mhairi Black: [206768]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to
prevent car owners from altering their cars to emit more noise.
Jesse Norman:
Technical standards for noise for new cars are set at an International level by both
the European Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Under these technical regulations the noise limits for new models of passenger car
were reduced by 2 decibels in 2016, and will be further reduced by 2 decibels in 2020
and again in 2024.
Once a car is in service, UK regulations require exhausts and silencers to be
maintained in good working order and not altered so as to increase noise.
The Department for Transport has commissioned research into enforcement
measures and technologies with the potential to combat excessive noise from road
vehicles.
Motorcycles: Safety
Royston Smith: [208365]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 189742 to
Question 189742 on Motorcycles: Safety, when he plans to publish the refreshed Road
Safety Statement.
Jesse Norman:
The Department intends to publish the refreshed Road Safety Statement later this
year.
Ports: Freight
Keith Vaz: [206724]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of
the average time taken for a freight carrier to pass through a UK port in (a) 2015, (b)
2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
None. This information is not held centrally.
Railways: Exhaust Emissions
Andy McDonald: [206823]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the report of the
Rail Decarbonisation Taskforce.
Andrew Jones:
The report will be published by the Rail Decarbonisation Taskforce, not by the
Department, in the coming weeks.
Ramsgate Port
Andy McDonald: [206827]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a)
new or (b) reconstituted border inspection facilities at the Port of Ramsgate.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
The Port of Ramsgate is working in liaison with UK Border Force on the provision of
appropriate border inspection facilities should they be required. Specific estimates will
be determined in due course.
Ramsgate Port: Dredging
Andy McDonald: [206826]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of
dredging for the Port of Ramsgate; and whether that cost is included in the funding of the
contract awarded to Seaborne Freight.
Ms Nusrat Ghani:
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to UIN 205175.
Road Traffic Control: West Sussex
Tim Loughton: [206710]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Highways England carried out a
formally authorised Walking, Cycling and Horseriding Assessment and Review of the
proposed alternatives to the Sussex Pad road crossing as part of the New Marks Farm
Development that was recently approved by the planning committee of Adur Council.
Jesse Norman:
In accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, a Walking, Cycling
and Horseriding Review will be carried out before the start of the detailed design of
the proposals.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Wes Streeting: [208299]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been provided to the
London Borough of Redbridge to tackle potholes in each year since 2010; and how that
funding compares with the average funding allocated in each year to local authorities in
(a) Greater London and (b) England.
Jesse Norman:
The responsibility for local highways maintenance in London, including repairing
potholes, is a devolved matter and therefore falls to Transport for London and the
London Boroughs. Since 2010, the Department for Transport has allocated London
Boroughs with additional funding to help repair potholes, as set out in the table below:
FINANCIAL YEAR £M FUNDING STREAM REDBRIDGE TOTAL FOR LONDON
2010/11 Severe Weather 0.124 3.387
2010/11 Winter 2011 0.270 10.284
2013/14 Winter 2014 (paid to
TfL)
10.000
2014/15 Pothole Fund 0.325 10.000
2017/18 Budget – additional
funding
0.064 2.234
2018/19 Budget – highways
maintenance additional
funding
0.550 20.000
Total 1.333 55.905
‘Total for London’ includes Redbridge figure.
Funding for local highway authorities in England, outside London, for highways
maintenance, which includes pothole repair, is available on the Department for
Transport website. The latest information can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-funding-information-pack
South Eastern Rail Franchise
Andy McDonald: [206824]
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he had issued to the operator
of the Southeastern rail franchise in relation to potential disruption as a result of a
requirement for additional paths for rail freight services to Dover and Folkstone in the
event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Chris Grayling:
We have not issued any guidance to Southeastern in relation to arrangements for
cross-border rail freight services in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
This is because potential contingency options we are currently exploring would not
disrupt passenger services and do not involve any changes to passenger services.
TREASURY
Brexit
Alan Brown: [208348]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution on the
motion on Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 on 10 January
2019, Official Report, Column 574, what technology proposals the Government has
received on establishing a frictionless border between the UK and the EU.
Mel Stride:
Government Departments are working together across a range of complex issues
regarding the UK’s border when we leave the EU; these include the use of
technology based solutions, where they support the administration of the customs
systems or traders to meet their obligations.
The Government will continue to consider potential applications of Distributed Ledger
Technology, Blockchain and other emerging technologies for both tax and the
customs and excise systems.
Brexit: Northern Ireland
Alan Brown: [208349]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution on the motion
on Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 on 10th January 2019,
Official Report, Column 574, whether he has received expert advice on the feasibility of
technology solutions to create a frictionless border in Northern Ireland whilst facilitating a
different customs arrangement between the UK and the EU than exists at present.
Mel Stride:
The Government has been resolute in its commitments to Northern Ireland. This
includes a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the UK and ensuring Northern
Ireland and Great Britain are in the same customs territory.
The Government will continue to consider the potential applications of technology,
including Distributed Ledger Technology, Blockchain, and other emerging
technologies, to streamline customs processes.
Coinage
Mary Creagh: [208268]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent on designing the
commemorative 50p coin to mark the UK leaving the EU.
Robert Jenrick:
The cost of designing coins is met by the Royal Mint out of its own revenues. This is
expected to be met by the revenues raised from the coin’s sale.
Mary Creagh: [208269]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Royal Mint have for the
commemorative 50p coin to mark the UK leaving the EU in the event that the date of the
UK leaving the EU is postponed.
Robert Jenrick:
The government’s policy is for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union on
29 March 2019. The commemorative 50p to mark the UK leaving the European Union
will become available following the UK’s departure.
Licensed Premises: Music
Tom Watson: [208216]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of
trends in the level of business rates on the financial viability of small music venues.
Tom Watson: [208217]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) he has and (b) officials of his
Department have met with (i) his and (ii) their counterparts in the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport to discuss extending business rates relief to small music
venues.
Mel Stride:
HM Treasury Ministers and officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in
other government departments on a range of issues, including business rates.
Since Budget 2016, we have announced cuts worth more than £13bn to businesses
over the next five years, including switching to CPI indexation, and making Small
Business Rate Relief more generous so that 655,000 of the smallest businesses pay
no rates at all. The government also introduced a £3.6bn transitional relief scheme to
support ratepayers facing bill increases as a result of the 2017 property revaluation.
Budget 2018 announced a new business rates retail discount, cutting bills by a third
for eligible businesses. As is set out in guidance, music venues may be eligible for
the discount where they are broadly similar in nature to those properties listed as
eligible. It is for local authorities to make that judgement.
Licensed Premises: Non-domestic Rates
Mr Edward Vaizey: [R] [207178]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has plans to assess the
eligibility of music venues for discounted business rates.
Mel Stride:
Budget 2018 announced a two-year business rates discount of one third for small
retailers. As set out in the published guidance, the government considers retail to
mean properties being used as shops, cafes, restaurants, and drinking
establishments. It will be for local authorities to implement the discount and decide
whether properties are similar in nature to those listed as eligible in the guidance.
Music venues will only be eligible where they are similar in nature to those properties
listed as eligible.
This discount is part of Our Plan for the High Street, a £1.5bn support package. All
ratepayers are benefitting from recent wide-ranging reductions to business rates; in
total, cuts announced since Budget 2016 are worth more than £13bn to businesses
over the next five years.
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Julia Lopez: [207290]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money has been raised for the public
purse from vehicle excise duties from the Greater London Authority area in each year for
which information is available; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits
of devolving the proceeds of vehicle excise duties raised in the Greater London Authority
area to London local authorities.
Robert Jenrick:
In 2017-18, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) raised a total of around £6.2 billion in
revenue.
VED is collected nationwide and since it is tied to where individuals choose to register
their vehicles, there is no official methodology to identify the VED collected in any
particular region. As such, VED does not lend itself to devolution as vehicle
registrations do not necessarily correlate with either emissions or vehicle use .
VED revenues will be hypothecated to the National Roads Fund (NRF) in England
from 2020-21. The NRF will provide certainty for roads investment, including in
London.
Office of Tax Simplification: Public Appointments
Jon Trickett: [208201]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many candidates in addition to Bill Dodwell
were interviewed for the role of Tax Director of the Office of Tax Simplification.
Mel Stride:
A number of strong applications were received for the position of Tax Director of the
Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) and four candidates were interviewed.
The appointment was made on merit.
Public Expenditure
Kirsty Blackman: [208271]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his Department’s policy to provide
additional fiscal support to providers of public services should their costs change as a
result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal and if (a) such inflationary effects have not
been compensated by the Treasury and (b) the funding commitments referred to in
response to Question 206791 have been deployed in full.
Elizabeth Truss:
HM Treasury is in regular discussion with departments and public-sector providers
about the pressures they face. As a responsible government, we are committed to
ensuring that all necessary preparations are made before the UK’s departure from
the EU in March, for all scenarios – including ‘no-deal’. Any specific queries relating
to the preparations of individual departments or public-sector providers should be
made to the department in question.
The funding commitments referred to in Question 206791 relate to two different
financial years - 2018-19 and 2019-20. Funding will be confirmed through the
estimates process in the relevant year.
Ramsgate Port
Andy McDonald: [206830]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the customs code for the Channel ports
will be extended to the Port of Ramsgate.
Mel Stride:
The Government has been clear that we do not want or expect a ‘no deal’ scenario,
however we will continue to do the responsible thing and prepare for all eventualities.
In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, customs controls will be
required on UK-EU trade. HMRC has been working closely with key RoRo locations
and the businesses that facilitate trade through these locations to understand how
best customs requirements can be implemented at Dover, Eurotunnel and other ports
in Kent. In recognition of the unique nature of cross-Channel trade, and in response
to stakeholder feedback, we are ensuring that a singular, joint location code covering
both Dover and Eurotunnel can be used for the customs IT systems. This allows the
haulier the flexibility of making last minute changes to routing, which is currently
important for hauliers transporting goods to and from the EU. We will continue to
work closely with the Department for Transport and other key stakeholders to plan for
this scenario, including taking into account industry views on whether such a joint
location code should be extended on any RoRo services that would operate out of
Ramsgate.
Revenue and Customs: Closures
Anneliese Dodds: [208357]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement that the
Peterlee HMRC office closure will be delayed, which other HMRC offices will have their
closures delayed; and if he will make a statement.
Mel Stride:
HMRC is confident that its overall strategy of moving to regional centres is correct.
There are no current plans to retain any other offices for longer.
HMRC does however recognise that its approach needs to be flexible to ensure it can
respond to changing priorities, which may involve closing some offices earlier than
originally planned or, as in the case of Peterlee, keeping other offices open later than
planned.
On 8 January 2019 HMRC published an updated version of the Locations
Programme Issue Briefing on Gov.UK, setting out progress since the previous
publication in 2015.
HMRC has also recently updated the Office Closure List which was previously
provided to the House of Commons Library in December 2017. It shows the closure
year for each office as announced in November 2015 and the updated closure date
as at 30 November 2018.
Tax Avoidance
Peter Dowd: [208290]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) large and (b)medium-sized
companies have used HMRC's profit diversion compliance facility in each of the last five
years.
Mel Stride:
No multinational businesses have used the Profit Diversion Compliance Facility yet
as it was only launched on 10 January 2019.
Transport: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: [208206]
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the most recent meeting was held under
the auspices of the Border Delivery Group with ports and airports in Northern Ireland.
Mel Stride:
The Northern Ireland Borders Steering Group, run by the Borders Delivery Group and
including ports and airports in Northern Ireland, met most recently on 7 December
2018.
WALES
Wales Office: Brexit
Chris Ruane: [208210]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions his Department had with the
Prime Minister's office on the content of the Prime Minister's Brexit speech in Stoke-on-
Trent on 14 January 2019.
Alun Cairns:
Ministers and civil servants in my Department have regular discussions with No 10
colleagues on a range of issues.
Jo Stevens: [208423]
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has had with the First
Minister of Wales since the Welsh Assembly voted to reject the Withdrawal Agreement on
4 December 2018.
Alun Cairns:
I have had a number of discussions with the First Minister since 4 December 2018 on
matters affecting Wales, most recently on 16 January 2019.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Barnardos: Work Experience
Esther McVey: [206811]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has
taken in support of its work experience collaboration with Barnardos.
Justin Tomlinson:
The Department has been working closely with Barnardo’s to develop and scope a
pilot of voluntary work experience opportunities for care leavers in some of
Barnardo’s high street shops. The objective of this pilot is to give young people
independence within their communities and to support them to gain confidence and
skills that will help them gain employment and create a better future for themselves.
The pilot is expected to run for 6 months, with individual placements lasting between
6-8 weeks. Barnardo’s have offered that those engaged in work experience will be
able to enrol on a Level 2 training course with the Barnardo’s Volunteer Academy at
any stage of their placement. They will also have the option to stay on as a volunteer
once the placement has ended.
Participants will have a DWP Care Leaver Single Point of Contact, which is a work
coach that leads on care leaver issues. Additional support will also be available in the
form of a team of staff, including the claimant’s individual work coach and the care
leaver’s Personal Adviser, based in the Local Authority care leaver team. The DWP’s
National Employer and Partnership Team lead has arranged to meet the staff who
will be involved in the pilot in each Jobcentre.
Care leavers will be given a work book to complete during their placement which will
encompass feedback and a record of achievements. After the pilot, care leavers will
review their progress with their work coach and update their CV. They will also work
to agree the next step for them as individuals, for example further training, an
apprenticeship or moving into work.
Mental Health Services: Employment
Frank Field: [206742]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure
that everyone has access to mental health first aid in the workplace.
Sarah Newton:
Employers are already required under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations
1981 to consider mental health alongside physical health when undertaking their first
aid needs assessment. On the 21st November 2018 the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) published guidance, developed with Mental Health First Aid-England, to clarify
this point and improve employer understanding.
Findings from recent reviews 1, 2 looking at the impact of mental health first aid
training in a workplace environment show that there are a number of knowledge gaps
which mean it is not possible to say whether it is effective in improving the
management of mental health in workplaces, or whether it is the only effective
mechanism for support. The findings also highlight several additional prevention and
management measures that employers should put in place to supplement the
essentially reactive approach of mental health first aid.
Government recognises that mental health first aid training has a role to play in a
comprehensive approach to managing mental health in workplaces and anecdotally
some individuals report positive benefits. In November 2017, the joint DWP/DHSC
Work and Health Unit published “ Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and
Disability” command paper which describes the range of actions that Government is
taking forward, including building support for those experiencing mental ill-health to
remain in or enter the workplace. This includes implementing recommendations from
the independent Lord Stevenson and Paul Farmer ‘Thriving at Work’ review
published in October 2017 that considered how employers can better support the
mental health of their employees. Its central recommendation identified the need for
employers to adopt a comprehensive set of mental health standards. This
comprehensive approach will help employers to encourage an open, transparent and
supportive organisational culture and tailor their actions to address varying factors
such as their employee needs, type of work and size of company. The Government is
working closely with employers of all sizes to help them implement the standards and
easily access the right support and guidance.
1: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr1135.pdf
2: https://www.iosh.co.uk/MHFAworkplace
Motability: Brighton and Hove
Caroline Lucas: [206804]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in the Brighton
and Hove area have had their Motability car taken back while they are waiting for a
personal independence payment appeal to be heard by the Tribunals Service; and if she
will make a statement.
Sarah Newton:
This information is not readily available at constituency level and could only be
provided at disproportionate cost.
The Government worked closely with Motability to develop an extensive £175 million
Transitional Support package when PIP was first introduced. This aimed to provide
support to people who have not been awarded the enhanced mobility component and
as a result lost their Motability Scheme vehicle upon reassessment from DLA to PIP.
This is paid for by the Motability charity and at no cost to the taxpayer.
Claimants who joined the Motability Scheme before 1 January 2014 can keep their
vehicle for up to 3 months after finding out their claim is unsuccessful and are offered
a one-off payment of between £2,000 and £1,000. If a claim is pending appeal, then
the claimant is offered a 26- week lease extension and a smaller one-off payment. In
addition, claimants have the option to buy their old Scheme vehicle, and can obtain
help to adapt any new, non-Scheme vehicle.
Notice Boards: Fire Regulations
Dr David Drew: [208196]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Health and Safety Executive
will undertake an investigation to determine whether notice boards in workplaces
including schools, colleges, universities and care homes meet fire safety standards; and if
she will make a statement.
Sarah Newton:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety in
England and Wales. In Scotland this is Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005,
supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulation 2006. In the majority of premises,
including schools, colleges, universities and care homes, local fire and rescue
authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation.
General fire safety in the workplace, and fire safety standards, are not the
responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and therefore HSE cannot
undertake an investigation into whether notice boards meet fire safety standards. The
Home Office is responsible for fire and rescue policy.
Occupational Pensions Scheme Review
Dan Jarvis: [R] [208267]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has plans
to respond to the report entitled, Review of Survivor Benefits in Occupational Pension
Schemes, published in June 2014.
Guy Opperman:
The landscape of survivor benefits has changed significantly since the publication of
the Review, not least because of the Walker judgement. Government will respond to
the Review of Survivor Benefits in Occupational Pension Schemes when the
assessment of the full implications of the judgement is complete.
Training: Prisons
Chris Elmore: [207276]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work coaches currently
work in UK prisons on a full-time basis.
Alok Sharma:
Currently, there are 130 work coaches based in prisons in England, Scotland and
Wales. Of these, 49 work in prisons on a full time basis and the others work on a part
time basis. In total this is the equivalent of 107 full time members of staff.
Universal Credit
Keith Vaz: [R] [206722]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether non-UK citizens will be
part of the test group that receive the new benefit as part of the roll-out of universal credit.
Alok Sharma:
We are still in the planning stages for managed migration and we have yet to agree
the characteristics of those claimants who we will include in the initial pilot for
managed migration. We are currently working closely with stakeholders and
claimants to design our migration processes. Our focus remains on delivering a
process that works well for everyone.
Hywel Williams: [207167]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for
universal credit have been made in the Welsh language.
Hywel Williams: [207168]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of
the effect of delaying the managed migration aspect of universal credit on the ability to
make a universal credit application in Welsh.
Alok Sharma:
Universal Credit claims in the Welsh language is available to anyone making a new
claim in Wales now that roll-out is complete.
The Department’s Welsh Language Scheme also offers legacy claimants the ability to
be communicated with, orally or written, via the medium of Welsh; they do not have to
wait to be moved over to Universal Credit via managed migration to take advantage
of Welsh language services.
Our internal data suggests that 290 Universal Credit claimants (or 1.6% of new
claims made in Wales since 5 December 2018) have declared a Welsh language
preference.
We have agreed to pilot the initial approach to migration slowly and gradually, but (as
set out in Written Statement HCWS1243 on 11 January 2019) this does not affect the
timeline for the overall delivery of Universal Credit.
Laura Pidcock: [208310]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans
to provide transitional protection to people that will naturally migrate to universal credit as
a result of a change in circumstances.
Alok Sharma:
Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural
migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that
triggers a new claim to a benefit that Universal Credit replaces. Their entitlement is
then calculated on the rules of their new benefit and their new circumstances.
Transitional protection is designed to ensure those claimants who are moved onto
Universal Credit without a change in circumstances receive the same level of
entitlement to Universal Credit as they were entitled to on legacy benefits.
As Universal Credit is simpler, the most recent estimates show that around 700,000
households will get entitlements they were not claiming under the legacy system,
worth on average £285 per month.
We have also introduced a number of measures to assist claimants during their
transition to Universal Credit. Claimants who naturally migrate to Universal Credit can
access a Universal Credit advance, which is worth up to 100 per cent of their
indicative award and is available from the date of their claim. This advance is
currently repayable over 12 months, but as announced in the 2018 Budget, from
October 2021 the maximum repayment period will be extended to 16 months.
Claimants may also be entitled to a two week Universal Credit Transitional Housing
Payment. From July 2020 the Government is introducing a new two-week run on for
income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and income-
based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Laura Pidcock: [208315]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department will
use to select the 10,000 people for managed migration test phase.
Laura Pidcock: [208316]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to
ensure that the 10,000 people selected for the universal credit managed migration test
phase will not be worse off as a result of participation in that test phase.
Alok Sharma:
On 11 January 2019, Written Statement HCWS1243 confirmed our plans for a pilot
phase for the managed migration of 10,000 claimants from legacy benefits onto
Universal Credit.
The Department will proceed with care and attention to ensure that every single
claimant moved accesses Universal Credit smoothly and receives the support they
need during the transition. The draft regulations, which are currently before
Parliament, contain provision to provide transitional protection to those who are
moved through managed migration onto Universal Credit without a change in
circumstances. This will ensure that these claimants receive the same level of
entitlement to Universal Credit as they were entitled to on legacy benefits.
The aim of the pilot is to ensure that claimants on all legacy benefits, with a range of
differing characteristics are successfully migrated to Universal Credit. The
Department is currently working closely with a wide and diverse range of
stakeholders to design the managed migration process and we are considering our
approach to the pilot, including which groups or individuals we might begin to migrate
first.
Laura Pidcock: [208425]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her oral answer of
7 January 2019 to Question 908384, Official Report, column 3, if she will published the
updated guidance on real-time support for universal credit.
Alok Sharma:
We have worked with HMRC and employers to ensure that they are aware of the
actions they need to take to reflect an employee’s earnings. Guidance was issued to
employers by HMRC in December on Real Time Information reporting obligations for
payments made early over the festive period.
The Department’s Universal Credit guidance for staff on earnings and the actions to
take is regularly reviewed. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of
Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular
intervals.
Universal Credit: Asylum
Keith Vaz: [R] [206723]
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department
has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the ability of asylum seekers to
claim benefits in the UK.
Alok Sharma:
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question the response to PQ203324
answered on 28 December 2018.
MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS
HOME OFFICE
Undocumented Migrants: Boats
Afzal Khan: [207607]
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10
January to Question 206043 on Undocumented Migrants: Boats, for what reason his
Department does not routinely publish that data; and if he will make it his policy to publish
that data routinely.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 16 January 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Caroline Nokes:
As set out in the Immigration White Paper, the future system will be a single global
immigration system, where students of all nationalities will apply under the new
student route.Under the new route all students studying at a Masters’ level, or at
Bachelors’ level and an institution with degree awarding powers, will be eligible for
the increased 6-month post study leave period. Doctoral students will be eligible for a
12-month post study leave period.
Border Force does not routinely publish data that does not meet the Home
Office standard for publication or that could impact its operational
effectiveness. There are no current plans to routinely publish this data in the
future.Border Force transparency data can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/border-force-statistics
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Parliamentary Estate: Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Charles Walker: [205847]
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of
Commons Commission, for what reasons the Commission has restricted the sale of
alcohol in parliamentary cafeterias selling food; and how that policy is intended to
promote responsible alcohol consumption.
An error has been identified in the written answer given on 11 January 2019. The
correct answer should have been:
Tom Brake:
The House of Commons Commission has agreed a number of actions to promote
responsible alcohol consumption on the Parliamentary Estate.On 19 March 2018,
the House of Commons Commission endorsed the recommendations of the
Administration Committee to help to promote responsible drinking in
Commons catering venues. The Commission also agreed to return to this
matter on a six-monthly basis. The Commission did so on 29 October 2018,
also giving due weight to the reference to access to alcohol within the Dame
Laura Cox report on bullying and harassment. On 17 December 2018 the
Commission agreed a number of actions to promote responsible alcohol
consumption on the Parliamentary Estate. These included increasing the range of
non-alcoholic drinks and lower strength beers available, training and supporting staff
to refuse to serve customers when necessary, expanding and encouraging alcohol-
free areas including all six House of Commons cafeterias (Bellamy's, Courtyard Café,
Debate, Jubilee Café, Members' Tea Room, Terrace Cafeteria), discouraging
Members and staff from drinking in offices after bars are shut, and not running
promotional advertisements.
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
DEFENCE
Call-Out Order in Support of Government Contingency Planning for a No Deal EU
Exit
Minister of State ,Ministry of Defence (Mark Lancaster): [HCWS1254]
A new order has been made under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to
enable Reservists to be called into permanent service in support of the HMG contingency
planning for a no deal EU exit scenario.
Defence is committed to assisting the Cabinet Office coordinated work programme to
ensure that there are effective and proportionate contingency plans in place to mitigate
the potential immediate impacts leaving the EU, under a ‘No Deal’ scenario, might have
on the welfare, health and security of UK citizens and economic stability of the UK.
Reserve Forces will be on standby to deliver a range of Defence outputs such as:
reinforcement of Regular sub-units, liaison officer roles and the provision of specialist
skills. A particularly important role may be the planned reinforcement of Regional Points
of Command, to enable their 24/7 operation and resilience. We would also expect
Reserves to be drawn upon to support the implementation of contingency plans
developed by Other Government Departments.
The order shall take effect from the beginning of 10 February 2019 and shall cease to
have effect at the end of 9 February 2020.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
December EU Environment Council
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment (Dr Thérèse Coffey):
[HCWS1251]
I attended EU Environment Council on 20 December in Brussels. Mairi Gougeon MSP,
the Scottish Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment also attended.
I wish to update the House on the matters discussed.
CO2 Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty vehicles Regulation – General Approach:
Council reached an agreed position (“General Approach”) on the regulation on CO 2
emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The European Commission had proposed an
indicative 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, with a 15% reduction by 2025.
A full roundtable heard Ministers set out their respective positions. The UK intervened
calling for greater ambition for 2030 and stressing the need to agree a strong overall
package of measures. The Presidency presented a revised proposal; the key element
being a binding 2030 target, which was sufficient to achieve a General Approach. One
Member State abstained.
Regulation on LIFE – partial General Approach:
The Presidency introduced their compromise text for a partial General Approach of the
LIFE programme (the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature
conservation and climate action projects throughout the EU), to run from 2021-2027. In
this revised text, the Presidency reintroduced the role of the LIFE committee and placed
greater emphasis on geographical balance. Member States welcomed the adoption of the
partial general approach. Whilst all could support the agreement, a number of Member
States intervened to restate their preference for higher co-financing rates.
“A Clean Planet for All”: a long-term strategy for EU greenhouse gas emissions
reductions – exchange of views:
The Commission introduced their long-term strategy on climate, which was published on
28th November 2018, which recommends that the EU aims for net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions by 2050, following which the Council held its first exchange of views. The
Council agreed that the strategy should be discussed in multiple council formations in the
coming months. Interventions focused on the aim for net zero-emissions, the importance
of just transition, the recognition of specific national and regional circumstances, the
contribution of technology to decarbonisation, and the role of national long-term
strategies.
The UK intervened to highlight that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) Special Report on 1.5 degrees underscored the urgency of tackling climate
change, and welcomed the strategy as a serious response that also underlines the
benefits of taking action, and stresses the need to ensure that no one is left behind in the
transition. The UK highlighted the action being taken across the UK to tackle climate
change, and the role of Clean Growth in the domestic Industrial Strategy. The UK
welcomed the focus in the strategy on Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS),
given its vital importance in reducing the costs of decarbonisation and the need for
collaboration to scale up CCUS, and also highlighted the need to consider nature-based
solutions.
AOB items
The following items were also discussed under Any Other Business.
1. Report on recent international meetings: United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change 24th session of the Conference of the Parties:
The Presidency, Commission, and Poland, which held the presidency of the Twenty
Fourth Session of the Conference to the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), presented on COP24, which took place in
Katowice, Poland, on 2-14 December 2018. The agreement of the rulebook underpinning
the Paris Agreement was welcomed as a significant achievement.
2. Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate
change:
Council noted the information from the Presidency.
3. The ‘Graz Declaration’ - Starting a new era: Clean, safe and affordable mobility
for Europe:
Council noted the Presidency presentation on the Graz Declaration, which was agreed at
October Informal Environment Council (29-30 October).
4. Measures at EU level to create the conditions for discontinuing the use of the
environmentally problematic substances contained in plant protection products:
Council noted the information from the Belgian delegation on plant protection products.
1. Intermediary Sessions of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on
Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo
Convention) and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):
Lithuania, supported by Luxembourg, presented information concerning the draft
recommendations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Espoo Convention Implementation Committee regarding the Ostrovets new nuclear
project in Belarus. These recommendations will be tabled for possible endorsement by
the Intermediary Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention in February
2019.
6. Current legislative proposals: The Presidency and the Commission provided an
update on current environmental legislative proposals: Regulation on Taxonomy ;
Directive on single-use plastics ; the Regulation on persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) (recast); the Regulation on environmental reporting ; the Directive on
Drinking Water (recast); and the Regulation on CO2 from Cars and Vans :
Several Member States welcomed the proposals, in particular the progress on the Single-
Use Plastics Directive. On the recast of the Drinking Water Directive the Commission
urged all Member States to show flexibility and work together to make swift progress. The
UK intervened to welcome the progress on single-use plastics, and outlined the work
being done across the UK to tackle plastic waste. On drinking water, the UK noted the
recent progress towards a compromise on materials in contact with drinking water, but
indicated that there were still outstanding concerns, and on persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), the UK intervened to support the Council position on Decabromodiphenyl ether
(a flame retardant) and the existing approach for updating the annexes.
1. Report on recent international meeting - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
and update from the UK on the London Illegal Wildlife Conference:
The Commission and Presidency reported back on the recent international meeting on
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 17-29
November. The UK intervened to welcome progress so far and to highlight the
commitment that needs to be shown from governments, civil society and business in
order to develop an ambitious post 2020 biodiversity framework.
Following this, the UK gave a short update on the outcomes of the London Illegal Wildlife
Trade (IWT) Conference held on11-12 October 2018, outlining the importance of Member
States continuing to work together to tackle this important issue, and the need to treat
IWT as a serious organised crime.
1. Thefuture of European Environment Policy – Towards an 8th EU Environment
Action Programme:
Council noted the information from the Presidency on plans to develop an eighth EU
Environment Action Programme.
9. Environmental and climate ambition of the future CAP:
Council noted the information from the German delegation, supported by the Luxembourg
delegation.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Foreign Affairs Council – 21 January 2019
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alan Duncan):
[HCWS1252]
My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs will attend the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 21 January. It will be chaired by
the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy (HRVP), Federica Mogherini and will take place in Brussels.
Current Affairs
The HRVP is expected to cover Venezuela, the Democratic Republic of Congo and may
also raise Syria.
Disinformation
Ministers will discuss implementation of the EU Joint Action Plan on Countering
Disinformation that was approved at the December European Council. We will be pushing
for adequate funding to allow for full implementation and a robust process of review to
ensure that the Plan achieves its objectives. We will also seek to highlight our leadership
on this issue and willingness to collaborate with EU partners after March 2019. Russian
State disinformation was a pre-cursor to conflict in Georgia in 2008, the invasion and
illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has been used across EU countries since. We
have successfully countered a disinformation campaign targeted against UK interests
across Europe following the Salisbury attack.
EU-LAS
Ministers will discuss the EU-League of Arab States (LAS) Summit that will take place in
February in Egypt. The Summit is the first of its kind and offers an opportunity to deepen
the EU’s relationship with members of the League of Arab States. The UK will support the
EU’s ambition for the Summit to cover a range of priority topics including migration,
Yemen and Syria. We are expecting that the FAC will discuss the decision by some
members of the LAS to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria. The UK will be clear
we have no plans to do so.
EU-ASEAN
The FAC will discuss regional issues and the future of the EU- ASEAN relationship ahead
of the EU-ASEAN Ministerial on the same day.
Council Conclusions
The Council is expected to adopt Conclusions on Nicaragua, ASEAN and possibly
Yemen. With the French and Germans, we are also seeking approval of Conclusions on
Iran that should reaffirm the EU’s continued commitment to the JCPoA whilst also
highlighting our concerns about Iran’s regional and ballistic missile activity.
HOME OFFICE
Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill
The Minister of State for Security (Mr Ben Wallace): [HCWS1253]
I am today placing in the Library of the House the Home Office’s analysis on the
application of Standing Order 83O of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons
relating to public business in respect of the Lords amendments to the Counter-Terrorism
and Border Security Bill.