daily report thursday, 24 january 2019 contents

Daily Report Thursday, 24 January 2019

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 24 January 2019 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (06:35 P.M., 24 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

ATTORNEY GENERAL 6

Bhanu Choudhrie and Sudhir

Choudhrie 6

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6

Electronic Tagging: Testing 6

Energy: Debts 6

Fireworks: Regulation 7

Hitachi: Wylfa Power Station 7

Jaguar Land Rover: Trade

Unions 7

Maternity and Paternity Leave:

Childbirth 8

Natural Gas: Imports 8

Natural Gas: Russia 9

Post Offices: Closures 9

Retail Sector Council 9

CABINET OFFICE 10

Cabinet Office: Billing 10

Cabinet Office: Brexit 10

Cybercrime 11

Interserve 11

Investigatory Powers

Commissioner: Annual

Reports 12

Prosperity Fund 12

Public Sector: Computer

Software 13

DEFENCE 13

Armed Forces Compensation

Scheme: Injuries 13

Armed Forces: Conditions of

Employment 14

European Fighter Aircraft:

Operating Costs 14

General Electric: Rugby 15

Military Aid 15

Ministry of Defence: Legal

Costs 16

Ministry of Defence: Pay 16

Royal Naval Reserve 17

Security: Impact Assessments 18

South America: Military Aid 18

Veterans: North West 19

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 19

Culture: St Helens 19

Swimming Pools: North West 20

Tech City UK: Ethnic Groups

and Females 20

Tech City UK: Females 20

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

EDUCATION 21

Alternative Education: Young

People 21

Department of Education: Civil

Servants 21

Department of Education: Pay 21

Extended Services: Finance 22

Faith Schools: Admissions 22

Free School Meals: Newcastle

Upon Tyne 23

Further Education: STEM

Subjects 23

Primary Education: Standards 23

Secondary Education:

Standards 24

Special Educational Needs:

West Sussex 25

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 25

Fly-tipping 25

Forests and Trees:

Conservation 26

Gun Sports: Licensing 26

Rural Areas: Small Businesses 27

Waste Management 27

EXITING THE EUROPEAN

UNION 28

Brexit 28

Common Agricultural Policy 28

Customs Unions 29

UK Relations With EU 29

FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 30

Foreign and Commonwealth

Office: Pay 30

Greece: Macedonia 30

Mukhtar Ablyazov 30

Paul Whelan 31

UN Convention against

Torture 31

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid 32

Yemen: Peace Negotiations 32

Zimbabwe: Politics and

Government 33

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 33

Abortion 33

Arthritis 34

British Pregnancy Advisory

Service: Merseyside 34

Cancer 34

Department of Health and

Social Care: Pay 35

Drugs: Shortages 35

Eating Disorders 35

Health Services: Older People 36

Inflammatory Bowel Disease 37

Integrated Care Systems 37

Medical Equipment:

Regulation 38

Mental Health Services 38

Mental Health Services: Acute

Beds 39

Mental Health Services:

Children 40

Mental Health Services:

Waiting Lists 40

Mental Health: Employment 40

NHS 42

NHS: Staff 42

NHS: Standards 43

Pain 44

Patients' Rights 44

Social Services 45

Social Services: Older People 45

HOME OFFICE 46

Asylum 46

Asylum: Children 46

Asylum: Stoke on Trent 47

Criminal Investigation: Medical

Records 47

Deportation: Human

Trafficking 48

Extradition 48

Home Office: Pay 48

Home Office: Reviews 49

Immigrants: Detainees 49

Immigrants: Health Services 50

Immigration: EU Nationals 50

Intelligence Services:

International Cooperation 51

Mukhtar Ablyazov 52

Police: Leave 52

Radicalism: Internet 52

Sexually Transmitted

Infections: Crime 53

Unexplained Wealth Orders:

Greater London 53

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 54

Buildings: Insulation 54

Council Housing: Pets 54

Families: Disadvantaged 55

Females: Antisemitism 55

Females: Judaism 55

Fire Prevention 56

High Rise Flats: Insulation 56

Housing Associations: Pets 58

Housing: Areas of Outstanding

Natural Beauty 58

Housing: Solar Power 59

Leasehold 59

Local Government Finance 59

Planning Permission 60

Vagrancy Act 1824 61

INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT 61

Developing Countries:

Abortion 61

Education: Females 62

Kenya: Abortion 62

Pakistan: Ethnic Groups 63

Zimbabwe: Bilateral Aid 63

INTERNATIONAL TRADE 64

Armoured Fighting Vehicles:

Export Controls 64

Trade Remedies: Trade

Unions 64

JUSTICE 64

Berwyn Prison: Ambulance

Services 64

Berwyn Prison: Restraint

Techniques 65

Courts: Small Claims 66

Ministry of Justice:

Recruitment 67

Prisons: Crimes of Violence 67

Sexual Offences: Sentencing 68

SCOTLAND 69

Exports: Scotland 69

Scotland Office: Legal Costs 69

Scotland Office: Pay 69

TRANSPORT 70

Channel Ferries: Freight 70

Department for Transport:

Staff 70

Driving: Diabetes 71

London North Eastern

Railway: Rail Gourmet Holding 72

Midlands Connect 72

Motorways: Noise 73

Rail Gourmet Holding:

Industrial Relations 73

Railways: Wales 73

Roads: Areas of Outstanding

Natural Beauty 74

Roads: St Helens 75

South Wales Railway Line 75

TREASURY 75

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties 75

Football Pools: Excise Duties 76

National Productivity

Investment Fund 76

Revenue and Customs:

Peterlee 76

Taxation: Self-assessment 77

Treasury: Pay 78

WALES 78

Ports: Wales 78

Wales Office: Pay 79

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 79

Access to Elected Office for

Disabled People Fund 79

Religion: Community Relations 79

WORK AND PENSIONS 80

[Subject Heading to be

Assigned] 80

Employment and Support

Allowance 80

Employment and Support

Allowance: Chronic Illnesses 81

Offshore Industry: Safety 81

Offshore Safety Directive

Regulator 82

Social Security Benefits:

Fibromyalgia 83

Social Security Benefits:

Medical Examinations 84

Universal Credit: EU Nationals 85

Universal Credit: Self-

employed 85

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 87


RURAL AFFAIRS 87

Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs: Public

Bodies 87

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 88

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 88

Business Update 88

DEFENCE 88

War Pensions Scheme

Uprating 2019 88


RURAL AFFAIRS 92

January Agriculture and

Fisheries Council 92

HOME OFFICE 93

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of

Constabulary and Fire &

Rescue Services Inspection

Report: ‘A joint inspection of

search applications and

production only processes’ 93

Police Grant Report England

and Wales 2019/20 93

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 97

Housing redress 97

PRIME MINISTER 99

Statement under Section

13(11)(a) of the European

Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 99

TRANSPORT 99

Future Maritime Strategy 99

Notes:

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

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

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Bhanu Choudhrie and Sudhir Choudhrie

Kelvin Hopkins: [210433]

To ask the Attorney General, what representations the Serious Fraud Office has received

on (a) Sudhir Choudhrie, (b) Bhanu Choudrie and (c) other related parties.

Robert Buckland:

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is aware of the allegations made publicly about

Sudhir and Bhanu Choudhrie. The SFO can neither confirm nor deny if Sudhir or

Bhanu Choudhrie are currently subject to investigation by the SFO, or what, if any,

representations the SFO has received about them.

In order to protect the investigative process it is not always possible, or even

desirable for investigative bodies to confirm whether or not an individual or

organisation is subject to an investigation, or provide any details of matters under

investigation.

The SFO proactively publishes information about its cases on its website whenever it

is appropriate.

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Electronic Tagging: Testing

Marion Fellows: [210034]

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

forward legislative proposals on the testing of microchips intended for implantation in

humans.

Kelly Tolhurst:

[Holding answer 23 January 2019]: Products made available on the UK market are

required to be safe. The Department has no plans to bring forward legislative

proposals on the testing of microchips intended for implantation in humans.

Energy: Debts

Mr Jim Cunningham: [210011]

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

an estimate of the total debts owed by domestic energy suppliers that have ceased

trading in each year since 2010.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-21/210433



Claire Perry:

The debts from a company that ceases to trade are matter for the company, their

creditors and, in the case of insolvency, the appointed administrators. The

Department is not in a position, therefore, to be able to estimate these debts.

Ofgem, the sector regulator, deals with any unpaid industry obligations, working with

administrators as necessary. Ofgem also operates the Supplier of Last Resort

process that has been put in place by the Government. This ensures that customers

do not experience any disruption to their supply when a company ceases trading, and

limits the impact on the wider market.

Fireworks: Regulation

Gill Furniss: [210719]

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

the Office for Product Safety and Standards is taking to review fireworks regulations.

Kelly Tolhurst:

I have asked the Office for Product Safety and Standards to ensure we have the right

evidence on firework safety and to commission new evidence where that is

necessary. This will ensure we have a thorough understanding of the issues

surrounding the safe sale and use of fireworks.

Hitachi: Wylfa Power Station

Jo Stevens: [210643]

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

the Government was made aware that Hitachi was considering withdrawing from the

Wylfa Newydd project.

Richard Harrington:

The Government received notification of the Hitachi board decision on 17 January.

Jaguar Land Rover: Trade Unions

Emma Reynolds: [210665]

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

(a) discussions and (b) meetings (i) he, (ii) Ministers of his Department and (iii) officials of

his Department have had with trade unions representing employees of Jaguar Land

Rover.

Richard Harrington:

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

and I met with Unite the Union alongside MPs on 10 January to discuss Jaguar Land

Rover. The Secretary of State also met with trade unions on 14 January as part of a

discussion regarding Jaguar Land Rover and its importance to the local and national

economy, alongside the company, local MPs and other representatives from the

Midlands and the North West. I also met with Unite the Union and JLR CEO at the




last Auto Council on 15 November. At each of these meetings, Departmental officials

were also present.

The recent job losses announced by Jaguar Land Rover are concerning for the

affected employees and we will do all we can to support them. We are working

closely with the company to ensure that their plans to streamline the business can

safeguard a bright future for them in the UK, including through the Jaguar Land Rover

Development Partnership.

We are determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive

locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing.

Maternity and Paternity Leave: Childbirth

Rachel Reeves: [210560]

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

the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that parents whose

babies are born prematurely are allowed an extra week of statutory maternity or paternity

leave for every week their child spends in hospital before they are allowed to go home.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for

parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple

births. The purpose of this work is to obtain a high-level understanding of the barriers

to participating in the labour market that these parents can face. It would not be

appropriate to announce future policy without first establishing an appropriate

evidence base.

BEIS officials are working with organisations who represent the interests of these

parents (The Smallest Things, Bliss, and TAMBA) to better understand the issues

that parents can face and have also held focus groups with a small number of

parents themselves.This will inform our policy consideration.

Natural Gas: Imports

Rebecca Long Bailey: [210577]

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

countries the UK imports gas; and what proportion of the UK gas supply each of those

countries exports to the UK.

Claire Perry:

This is publicly available information which can be found online here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/natural-gas-chapter-4-digest-of-united-

kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes.



Natural Gas: Russia

Rebecca Long Bailey: [210576]

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

to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question HL1673, what proportion of the UK's

gas supply comes from Russia.

Claire Perry:

The UK has high levels of gas security from a diverse supply mix including storage

facilities; pipelines from Norway, Netherlands and Belgium; and Liquified Natural Gas

terminals. This is in addition to domestic production which accounted for 47 per cent

of gas supply in 2017 (the most recent year for which full data is available). Russian

gas accounted for less than 1 per cent of total UK gas supply in 2017.

Full data for 2018 will be published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) in

July 2019.

Post Offices: Closures

Conor McGinn: [210593]

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

Department’s policy is on the provision of postal services where a post office has closed

due to unforeseen circumstances.

Kelly Tolhurst:

The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and

for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to

safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall

number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over

11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since

2010.

While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the

company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent

business. The provision of services and branch closures are operational matters for

Post Office Limited. Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office

Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed

in the Libraries of the House.

Retail Sector Council

David Hanson: [209772]

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

Retail Sector Council meets; and whether the dates of these meetings are in the public

domain.




Kelly Tolhurst:

The Retail Sector Council meets approximately three times a year. They first met in

March, then June and November of 2018. Their next meeting is scheduled for

February.

The UK retail sector is one of the largest employers in the country, with a workforce

of over three million and accounting for around 5.1% of economic output with sales of

nearly £360 billion in 2017.

The latest ONS retail briefing shows that for the whole of 2018, retail sales in terms of

quantity bought increased by 2.7% and Total Retail sales in 2018 increased to

£368bn in 2018, an increase of 3%, but we and the Council recognise that the sector

faces some key challenges.

The Council is prioritising its work to address the key challenges facing the sector

and will initially focus on; costs to business, skills and lifelong learning, employment

protection, consumer protection, the circular economy and the Industrial Strategy.

The priority areas were selected by the industry and each workstream will be led by a

senior industry figure.

CABINET OFFICE

Cabinet Office: Billing

Jon Trickett: [210031]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has received any

complaints on not paying invoices within the 30 day period required by statutory

guidance.

Oliver Dowden:

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

Cabinet Office: Brexit

Layla Moran: [201273]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the

public purse of ministerial visits by his Department to discuss the withdrawal agreement

from 3 to 10 December; and if he will place the itineraries of those visits in the Library

before the Christmas recess.

Mr David Lidington:

The Ministerial Code is clear that Ministers must always make efficient and cost-

effective travel arrangements.

Details of Ministers’ travel overseas are published quarterly and are made available

on GOV.UK. The details include the purpose of the trip and the total cost for the

Minister.



While destinations and costs for travel internal to the UK are not part of the quarterly

transparency returns, details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and

the purpose of the meeting are published quarterly and are made available on

GOV.UK. This naturally includes all meetings with external organisations that take

place while a Minister is travelling within the UK.

Cybercrime

Jo Platt: [210691]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2018 to

Question 208424 on Cybercrime, whether he has held any meetings with his European

counterparts on the UK's continued partnership with the EU on cyber-related matters in

the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr David Lidington:

Ministers across government 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 including the UK's partnership with EU.

Interserve


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many summary risk assessments the

Crown Representative to Interserve has produced in the last 12 months.

Oliver Dowden:

It is the responsibility of contracting authorities to carry out appropriate due diligence

checks on potential suppliers when they are contracting out, to ensure that those

suppliers are able to deliver the public services for which they are contracted. The

Strategic Supplier Risk Management Policy is not of itself relevant to the conduct of

procurement activities. If contracting authorities approach Cabinet Office to request

advice on their procurements, however, Cabinet Office provides whatever assistance

they are able to.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether information provided in the summary

risk assessments produced by Crown Representatives are made available to public

sector bodies considering procuring with strategic suppliers.

Oliver Dowden:

It is the responsibility of contracting authorities to carry out appropriate due diligence

checks on potential suppliers when they are contracting out, to ensure that those

suppliers are able to deliver the public services for which they are contracted. The

Strategic Supplier Risk Management Policy is not of itself relevant to the conduct of

procurement activities. If contracting authorities approach Cabinet Office to request

advice on their procurements, however, Cabinet Office provides whatever assistance

they are able to.





To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what meetings Ministers in his Department

have had with representatives of Interserve in 2018.

Oliver Dowden:

Engagement with Strategic Suppliers is led by the Markets and Suppliers team in the

Government Commercial Function.

The Strategic Partnering Programme in the Cabinet Office Markets and Suppliers

team meets regularly with all strategic suppliers, and may increase or decrease

frequency depending on the issues at the time.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2018

to Question 201666, how many meetings the Cabinet Office Markets and Suppliers team

have had with representatives of Interserve plc in 2018.

Oliver Dowden:

Engagement with Strategic Suppliers is led by the Markets and Suppliers team in the

Government Commercial Function.

The Strategic Partnering Programme in the Cabinet Office Markets and Suppliers

team meets regularly with all strategic suppliers, and may increase or decrease

frequency depending on the issues at the time.

Investigatory Powers Commissioner: Annual Reports

Mr Alistair Carmichael: [210548]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the 2017 Annual Report of the

Investigatory Powers Commissioner has been submitted to the Prime Minister.

Mr David Lidington:

The Prime Minister has seen the 2017 Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers

Commissioner, and has agreed that it will be published in due course.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: [210549]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime Minister plans to publish the

2017 Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner.

Mr David Lidington:

The Prime Minister has seen the 2017 Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers

Commissioner, and has agreed that it will be published in due course.

Prosperity Fund

Paul Girvan: [209403]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons money is supplied to (a) the

USA, (b) Japan and (c) other highly developed nations through the Prosperity Fund.






Mr David Lidington:

The Prosperity Fund has a non-aid component to help communicate and generate

opportunities for UK businesses in both developed and emerging markets. Activities

supported include business roadshows and inward investment visits. Examples of

this are a showcase event in Brazil that helped UK energy companies secure

contracts worth over £50million, and promotional activities in the USA that contributed

to a £56million export win.

Public Sector: Computer Software

Jo Platt: [210692]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many public sector computers are

operating the Windows 7 operating system; and what preparations he has made for the

forthcoming conclusion of Windows support for that system.

Oliver Dowden:

The Government Digital Service (GDS) provides government departments with

guidance on selecting technology through the Technology Code of Practice. Further

details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-

code-of-practice/technology-code-of-practice Individual technology choices and

volumes purchased rest with individual departments. As such, GDS does not hold

information on how many government computers currently operate with Windows 7 or

more widely in the public sector.

Departments are making their own preparation plans for the conclusion of Windows 7

support in 2020.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: Injuries

Gavin Robinson: [210654]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what time limits apply to a claim of

compensation arising from an injury on duty.

Gavin Robinson: [210655]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what time limits apply to a claim of

compensation arising from an injury sustained while training.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

Claims for compensation, irrespective of whether they arise from training or from an

injury on duty may be brought by way of a common law claim, an Armed Forces

Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claim or a War Pension Scheme (WPS) claim. For a

common law claim, a claimant must issue court proceedings within three years of the

date of the accident or the date of knowledge of the injury. The AFCS provides

compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the UK Armed Forces

on or after 6 April 2005. The time limit in most cases is seven years. The WPS




provides no fault compensation to former personnel and their dependants for injuries

and death as a result of service before 6 April 2005. Awards are not paid in service

and there are no time limits for claiming. Awards can be reviewed at any time and

there is a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.

Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment

Liz Saville Roberts: [209860]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which activities undertaken by under-18s in

the armed forces constitutes hazardous work as defined under Article 3 (d) of ILO

Convention 182 and its accompanying Recommendation 190.


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

assessment of whether military training activities constitute hazardous work as defined in

Article 3(d) of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and its

accompanying Recommendation 1902.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The Ministry of Defence's Management of Health and Safety Regulations requires

special attention to identifying and controlling health and safety risks to young

persons in the workplace. Many of these are covered by existing risk assessment and

control measures, but the employing branch will identify any additional control

measures/changes required in accordance with the normal risk assessment process.

All Armed Forces personnel are trained for a wide range of operational tasks and

environments, including combat. Established procedures are in place to ensure that

Service personnel under the age of 18 are not deployed on operations. Our policies

on under 18s in Service are robust and comply with national and international law.

Commanding Officers take their responsibilities towards their personnel extremely

seriously. Commanding Officers pay close attention to the needs of under 18s as

they pass from recruitment through Phase 1 and Phase 2 training, to operational

units.

European Fighter Aircraft: Operating Costs

Mrs Madeleine Moon: [209311]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost per flight per hour of a

Typhoon; what is included in calculating this cost; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 21 July 2017 to Question 5476.

Attachments:

1. 5476 - MOD Military Aircraft [Hansard Extract 21 July 2017, UIN 5476.docx]




General Electric: Rugby

Nia Griffith: [210540]

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

representatives of General Electric about the future of its factory in Rugby.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met with representatives of

General Electric.

Stuart Andrew:

Ministry of Defence Ministers are maintaining an ongoing dialogue with General

Electric about the future of the company's factory in Rugby and have met with

representatives of the company, most recently on 4 December 2018.


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

security implications of General Electric transferring its operations from Rugby to France.

Stuart Andrew:

The Ministry of Defence carefully considers the implications of any changes in UK

industrial capability, including those relating to national security.

Military Aid

John Spellar: [209289]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what scenario planning his Department is

undertaking on Military Aid to Civil Authorities.

Mark Lancaster:

Civil authorities and emergency services provide the first response to crises,

emergencies and/or major incidents within the UK. They can however request Military

Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) when they require additional or niche capabilities

as described in 'Joint Doctrine Publication 02, UK Operations: the Defence

Contribution to Resilience and Security'.

Defence participates actively in the Cabinet Office coordinated National Risk

Assessment (NRA) process. The NRA, which is refreshed every two years, is a

compendium of the most significant risks, or scenarios, that could manifest in the UK

over the next five years. As part of the development and assessment of these

scenarios the extent to which Defence may be required to provide MACA is

considered. An unclassified version of the scenarios detailed in the NRA, can be

found in the National Risk Register at the following link:

https://naru.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/UK-National-Risk-Register-2017.pdf





Ministry of Defence: Legal Costs

Richard Burgon: [209814]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the highest hourly rate paid for legal

advice was by (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms length bodies in

2018.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The highest hourly rate paid for legal advice by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was

£580.

The highest hourly rate paid for legal advice by the MOD’s arms length bodies is:

NAME OF ARMS LENGTH BODY HIGHEST RATE

Defence Electronics and Components Agency £295

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory £148

National Army Museum £550

National Museum of the Royal Navy £580

Oil and Pipelines £250

Royal Air Force Museum £280

Royal Hospital Chelsea £530

Single Source Regulations Office £450

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office £675

Ministry of Defence: Pay

Gareth Snell: [209889]

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

rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and (c) catering staff in his

Department in (i) Greater London and (ii) outside Greater London.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

I am interpreting your request as referring to civilian staff. Cleaning and catering

services within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are provided through a number of

facilities management contracts. Information on the rates of remuneration for

cleaners and caterers is held by facilities management contractors and not by the

Department.

MOD guards have the same terms and conditions and pay scales as the wider MOD

Civil Service. The MOD Guard Service comprises approximately 1,800 E2 grades

and 200 E1 grades. The rate of remuneration is shown per annum in the table below:



GRADE

CURRENT NATIONAL PAY

SCALES: LONDON PAY SCALES:

E1 £19,911 to £21,155 £21,309 to £22,637

E2 £17,476 to £17,992 £18,700 to £19,251

In addition to pay scales, dependent on location, guards may also receive additional

locational allowances.

Remuneration rates for guards that are provided through commercial contracts are

not held by the Department.

Royal Naval Reserve

Sir Nicholas Soames: [210440]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the establishment is of the Royal Navy

Reserve; and how many reservists there are at each rank in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Mark Lancaster:

The Strength of the Maritime Reserve by Paid Rank, as at 1 October 2018 is shown

in the table below.

PAID RANK TRAINED UNTRAINED

Total 2,796 951

Officers 1,005 193

OF6 (Commodore RN/Brigadier RM) 2

OF5 (Captain RN/Colonel RM) 12

OF4 (Commander RN/Lieutenant

Colonel RM)

127

OF3 (Lieutenant Commander RN/Major

RM)

457

OF2 (Lieutenant RN/Captain RM) 338

OF1/OF(D) (Sub-Lieutenant RN/

Lieutenant RM /2 nd Lieutenant

RM/Midshipman RN)

69 193*

Other Ranks 1,791 758

OR9 (Warrant Officer Class 1) 97

OR8 (Warrant Officer Class 2) 29


PAID RANK TRAINED UNTRAINED

OR7 (Chief Petty Officer RN/Colour

Sergeant RM)

298

OR6 (Petty Officer RN/Sergeant RM) 260

OR4 (Leading Rate RN/Corporal RM) 309

OR3 (Lance Corporal RM ) 69

OR2 (Able Rating RN/Marine RM) 729 758

Source: Defence Statistics (Navy)*Includes a small number of untrained officers at other

ranks.

Security: Impact Assessments


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

impact assessment on the security implications of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Mark Lancaster:

We have made an unequivocal commitment to European security, and NATO

remains at the heart of the UK's defence policy. The Ministry of Defence continues to

assess developing risks and works closely across Government to ensure that

Defence is ready for a range of EU exit scenarios, and to ensure that essential

defence tasks are unaffected. This planning is focused on ensuring that our supply

chains are resilient and minimising disruption to our bases and people in Europe.

South America: Military Aid

Chris Williamson: [210526]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to which South American countries the UK

provides military training.

Mark Lancaster:

The UK has deep and enduring interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. We

have a long historical association with the continent which endures in the form of

strong bilateral relationships, various treaties and alliances. During 2018 the UK

provided military training to the following South American countries: Argentina; Brazil;

Chile; Colombia; Guyana; Uruguay; Paraguay and Peru.



Veterans: North West


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

allocated to support armed forces veterans living in (a) the Local Authority of St Helens

and (b) the North West in each financial year since 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood:

The information for Local Authorities is not held in the format requested. However,

details of all grants made by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, by region, since 2015

are available on the Covenant Fund website at the following links:

http://www.covenantfund.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Local-grants-2015-

16.pdf


17.pdf


18.pdf

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Culture: St Helens


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

Department has allocated to arts and culture projects in St Helens Council in each of the

last five years.

Michael Ellis:

As outlined in the table, since April 2013, Arts Council England has invested over £1

million in arts and culture projects in St Helens North including, National Lottery

Grants for the Arts, Project Grants and through Music Education Hubs.

ST HELENS

NORTH 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018

Grants For The

Arts/Project

Grants

£ 27,170 £ 14,682 £ 40,324 £10,000 £29,800

Music

Education

Hubs

£ 196,771 £ 198,850 £ 258,548 £255,889 £252,312

Total £ 223,941 £ 213,532 £ 298,872 £265,889 £282,112



Swimming Pools: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: [210529]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many public

swimming pools were closed in the North West in each of the last 10 years.

Mims Davies:

Information on the number of publicly owned indoor and outdoor swimming pools that

have closed and opened in each of the last 10 years is available via Sport England’s

Active Places Power database which can be accessed here:

https://www.activeplacespower.com/

Between 2017 and 2021 Sport England is investing £12.16 million in Swim England

to get more people swimming, and £30 million through its Strategic Facilities Fund to

construct 24 new state of the art leisure facilities which include swimming pools. We

have also set up an implementation group to explore the recommendations from the

school swimming report published last year, including how we can work with local

authorities and private operators to make better use of facilities.

Tech City UK: Ethnic Groups and Females

Chi Onwurah: [210648]

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

Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 193467 on Tech City UK: Ethnic Groups and

Females, how many BAME members are on the Executive team of Tech City; and what

proportion of the technical roles within the organisation are held by women.

Margot James:

Tech Nation (formerly Tech City UK) is a private sector organisation that receives

grant funding from DCMS. There are currently 5 members of the executive team.

40% are women, 60% male and there are no BAME members. There are 3 technical

roles at Tech Nation. Of these, 66% are female, 33% male, 33% BAME.

Tech City UK: Females


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

business founders receiving funds from Tech City were female in each of the last five

years.

Margot James:

Tech Nation (formerly Tech City UK) is a private sector organisation that receives

grant funding from DCMS. While Tech Nation does not directly fund tech start-ups,

they do run programmes such as Founders Network, Rising Stars, Upscale, and

Future Fifty, that help start-ups access funding. Across these programmes, 35% of

the founders are women and 65% men.




EDUCATION

Alternative Education: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: [210642]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many young people have been

educated in temporary alternative provision in (a) London and (b) England in the last five

years.

Nick Gibb:

The information requested is not held centrally.

Department of Education: Civil Servants

Angela Rayner: [210554]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of

civil servants in his Department who would be seconded to work in other Departments in

the event that the UK leaves the EU without a negotiated deal.

Anne Milton:

It is the top priority of the government to leave the EU with a deal, but it is also the

responsibility of the government to prepare for all scenarios, including the prospect of

a no deal.

As the Civil Service is focused on delivering the government’s most pressing

priorities, we must make use of the resources and expertise that we have available to

make sure that the UK is prepared for all Brexit scenarios on exit day. This includes

departments sharing staff and working together on joint projects. The number of staff

being seconded from the department is yet to be determined.

Department of Education: Pay


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

the rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and (c) catering staff in his


Anne Milton:

The department does not employ cleaners, security guards and catering staff.

Cleaning, security duties and catering services in buildings managed by the

department are outsourced under facilities management contracts. Suppliers are

responsible for setting rates of pay for their staff and rates vary dependent on the age

and location of staff and market rates. All suppliers are required to pay, as a

minimum, either the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage. The rates

set by the government for the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage

will rise in April 2019.




Extended Services: Finance


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

allocated to the Extended Schools Programme in each year since 2006.

Nick Gibb:

The specific funding allocations for extended schools in each financial year from

2006-2007 and 2010-2011 are laid out in the table below:

FUNDING FOR EXTENDED SCHOOLS

Financial year Allocation (£ millions)

2006-2007 66.879

2007-2008 64.574

2008-2009 80.569

2009-2010 172.334

2010-2011 356.417

In 2011-2012, £356.417 million was transferred into the Dedicated Schools Grant as

part of the Government’s aim to minimise the number of separate grants in the school

funding system.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Vernon Coaker: [210470]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to promote inclusivity in

religiously selective schools; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton:

Like all schools, those with a designated religious character are required by law, and

for academies, through their funding agreement, to promote inclusivity through

supporting integration and community cohesion whatever their character and ethos.

They are also required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and to promote

fundamental British values, including mutual respect and tolerance of those of other

faiths and beliefs.

We know that the vast majority of schools with a religious character are open and

inclusive. We believe that the broad religious literacy, which most promote, is helpful

in giving students what they need to navigate our multicultural society.

In its response to the “Schools that work for everyone” consultation, the department

announced the retention of the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools. We

also announced strengthened expectations on integration to ensure that the potential



impact on the intake of neighbouring schools is assessed, before a new school is

approved.

Free School Meals: Newcastle Upon Tyne


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

children eligible for free school meals reached a Good Level of Development at age five

in Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The requested data is shown in the attached table.

Attachments:

1. 210675_children_with_good_development_level

[Percentage_of_children_achieving_good_level_of_development_in_early_years_foundatio

n_stage_profile_teacher_assessments.docx]

Further Education: STEM Subjects


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of

the number of students studying STEM-related courses in further education colleges in

each year since 2010.

Anne Milton:

The answer provided is the number of learning aims (i.e. courses, programmes,

qualifications and units) students have taken in STEM-related further education (FE)

sector subject areas.

Many FE students, especially 16 to 18 year olds, take a single substantive

qualification, but the total number of aims will count people more than once if for

example; they progress to another course during a year or are undertaking a range of

qualifications in different subjects, a proportion of which could be STEM-related.

The attached table provide the number of aims delivered on STEM-related courses in

education and training provision in England for each academic year since 2010/11,

and covers all FE providers. In addition, there is a table on apprenticeship starts by

academic year. Both tables include all age students.

Attachments:

1. 210476_Number_of_Aims_on_FE_STEM_Related_Courses

[210476_Number_of_Aims_on_FE_STEM_Related_Courses.xlsx]

Primary Education: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has

made of the levels of attainment inequality in primary education across different local

education authority areas of the UK.




Nick Gibb:

The Department for Education produces statistics for England only.

The Department publishes attainment, in headline measures for state-funded

schools, at the end of Key Stage 2 by local authority and region. An extract from the

latest figures for 2017/18 are attached. The source of these figures can be found in

table L1 of the 'Key stage 2 local authority tables' here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/key-stage-2-and-multi-academy-trust-

performance-2018-revised.

Further local authority data, including for previous years, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-key-stage-2.1

Due to change in methodology and headline measures, figures are only comparable

between 2009/10 – 2014/15 and 2015/16 – 2016/17. Changes made within the

2017/18 writing teachers assessment frameworks mean that judgements in 2018 are

not directly comparable to those made using the previous interim frameworks in 2016

and 2017.

[1]For each year, select the ‘revised’ publication and then open the ‘Local authority

and regional tables’. For 2015/16 – 2016/17 the headline measures are the

percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard and can be found in tables L1,

L2 and L3. For 2009/10 – 2014/15 the headline measures are the percentage

achieving level 4 or above and can be found in tables 12-16 (2013/14 – 2014/15);

tables 12-15 (2012/13); tables 13-15 (2011/12); table 11 (2010/11); table 18 (2009/10

– in the ‘national and local authority tables’).

Attachments:

1. 210472_table_17_18_ks2 [210472_table.xlsx]

Secondary Education: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has

made of levels of attainment inequality in secondary education across different local

education authority areas of the UK.

Nick Gibb:

The Department publishes attainment, in headline measures for state-funded

schools, at the end of key stage 4 by local authority and region. The latest figures for

2017/18 are available in the attached table. Further local authority data, including for

previous years, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4.

Attachments:

1. 210473_table_ks4_LA [210473_table.xlsx]

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/key-stage-2-and-multi-academy-trust-performance-2018-revised



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-key-stage-2

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-key-stage-2


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4

Special Educational Needs: West Sussex


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of

children who have special educational needs and disability in West Sussex; and how

many of those children are supported with formal education, health and care plans.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The National Statistics release ‘Special educational needs in England: January 2018’

includes numbers of children with special educational needs (SEN) and education,

health and care (EHC) plans.

The release is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-

educational-needs-in-england-january-2018. Table 15 of the local authority tables

includes information on the number of pupils in West Sussex with SEN and EHC

plans.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the waiting time is for an education,

health and care plan application to be processed in West Sussex.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The information requested is not held by the department.

Data is collected by the department on assessments for education, health and care

plans that are completed within their 20-week target. This is published in table 8 of

the ‘Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England, 2018’ publication, which is

available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-

of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2018.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fly-tipping

Dr Matthew Offord: [210618]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fly-

tipping incidents there have been in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey:

This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only. The below table

shows the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded in England in the last five years.

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

857,655 905,604 941,896 1,011,199 997,553

The national fly-tipping statistics are published annually by Defra and are available

here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2018




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2018




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england

Forests and Trees: Conservation

Dr David Drew: [210441]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

his Department's Consultation on Protecting and Enhancing England’s Trees and

Woodlands, if he will ensure that appropriate measures include local authority tree

officers in the duty to consult.

David Rutley:

The Government has committed in the 25 Year Environment Plan to introduce a duty

on local authorities to consult with local communities when a street tree is to be

felled.

Defra’s public consultation on ‘Protecting and Enhancing England’s Trees and

Woodlands’ was launched on 30th December. It covers three measures we hope to

include in the Environment Bill: a duty on LAs to consult on felling street trees (‘the

duty to consult’), a duty on LAs to report on their tree felling and planting, and

changes to the Forestry Act to give Forestry Commission more powers to tackle

illegal tree felling. We are also consulting on best practice guidance for Tree and

Woodland Strategies. The consultation is open until the 28 February 2019.

A stakeholder workshop was held in Birmingham on 8 January 2019, which included

representatives from local authorities as well as the Metropolitan Tree Officers

Association, the National Tree Officers Association, the London Tree Officers

Association and the Arboricultural Association. Defra welcomes further engagement

from tree officers and local authorities in developing the duty to consult.

Gun Sports: Licensing

Toby Perkins: [209771]

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

he has made of the (a) necessity and (b) feasibility of Natural England granting licenses

to shoot endangered native birds and wildlife.


While the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for all wild birds and

our most threatened animal species, there are provisions within the legislation to

issue licences to permit prohibited activities for specific purposes, for example:

preserving air safety or public health; preventing serious damage to livestock; and

conserving wild birds.

In determining any licence application Natural England takes account of the

requirements of the legislation and the five policy tests set out by Defra. A successful

applicant must clearly demonstrate, with supporting evidence, that:

• actual damage or a problem is occurring;

• the species is actually causing the damage or problem;



• other reasonable and practical non-lethal alternatives have been considered and

tried (such as scaring, trapping or proofing);

• the action is proportionate; and

• the conservation status of the species will not be negatively affected.

Rural Areas: Small Businesses


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

Department is taking to support small rural businesses to become more (a) productive

and (b) competitive.


The Government is committed to driving sustainable growth in the rural economy, of

which small and medium enterprises are a vital part.

The Government is supporting small rural businesses to become more productive

and competitive through the £3.5 billion Rural Development Programme for England.

This seven year programme is providing over £500 million to help grow rural

businesses, including for farm and food sectors, through a range of socio-economic

schemes that includes the Growth Programme and LEADER. This includes £75

million allocated to improving rural broadband.

We are also working closely with DCMS to improve digital infrastructure in rural

areas, helping rural businesses and communities. Improved digital connectivity can

help remove the barriers to remote working, provide better access to customers and

suppliers and improve business efficiency.

Waste Management

Steve Double: [209795]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to

publish his consultations on the proposals in the resources and waste strategy.


The consultation ‘Single use carrier bags: extending and increasing the charge’ has

been published and will close on 22 February.

Consultations on reforming the packaging producer responsibility system, the

introduction of a deposit return scheme and improving household and business

recycling will be published shortly.



EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brexit

Ruth George: [210681]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list in full the UK's

(a) financial and (b) legal obligations to the EU in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Withdrawal Agreement establishes the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU,

settling the UK’s financial and legal rights and obligations on withdrawal and

providing an orderly transition to the future relationship. The Government has set out

a reasonable central estimate of the financial settlement in the Withdrawal Agreement

of £35bn to £39bn, which the 20 April 2018 National Audit Office report ‘Exiting the

EU: The financial settlement’ concluded was reasonable.

Mr Paul Sweeney: [210721]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he

has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on contingency planning for the UK leaving

the EU without a deal.

Chris Heaton-Harris:

The Government continues to plan for all eventualities. The Chancellor of the

Exchequer and the Secretary of State remain in regular contact and, along with the

rest of Cabinet, agreed to progress with the next phase of our no deal plans. The

Chancellor remains committed, allocating £1.5billion for EU Exit preparations in all

scenarios in 2018/19 and 2019/20; this was subsequently increased by £0.5bn for

2019/20 in the 2018 Budget, meaning the government will have invested over £4

billion in preparing for EU exit since 2016.

Common Agricultural Policy

Rebecca Pow: [908766]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he

has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on

agricultural policy after the UK leaves the EU.

Kwasi Kwarteng:

We continue to have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across

Government on all aspects of exiting the EU, including agricultural policy.

The Agriculture Bill is part of the Government’s programme of critical legislation to

deliver a smooth Exit from the European Union and seize the opportunities of a green

Brexit. It will allow us to break from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and free

farmers to continue producing world-class produce.




Customs Unions


To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent assessment he

has made of the potential merits of the UK negotiating a permanent UK-EU customs

union.

Mr Robin Walker:

We will not enter a Customs Union because it would not respect the result of the

referendum and would not allow for an independent trade policy. The partnership we

are seeking with the EU will include an ambitious customs arrangement between the

UK and EU, and the trading relationship on goods will be as ambitious as possible.

There will be no tariffs, fees, charges, or quotas.

Both the EU and UK have been clear that our future partnership will respect the

development of an independent UK trade policy beyond the economic partnership

with the EU.

This would not be possible in the customs union.

UK Relations With EU

Bill Grant: [908757]

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps the Government

has taken to consult the devolved administrations on the UK's future relationship with the

EU.

Mr Robin Walker:

UK Ministers meet regularly with Ministers from the Scottish and Welsh governments,

through JMC (EU Negotiations), JMC (Europe), the Ministerial Forum (EU

Negotiations), as well as bilateral and trilateral meetings. In the absence of an

Executive, we also engage at an official level with the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Yesterday the Prime Minister met with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales as

part of ongoing discussions to find a consensus around the terms of the UK’s exit

from the EU. Both Ministers have been invited by the Prime Minister to attend all

relevant meetings of a new Cabinet sub-committee that will bring together work on

preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU, spanning both deal and no deal

outcomes.

This builds on the increasing engagement in recent months between the UK

government and the devolved administrations and our commitment to give them an

enhanced role in the next phase of the Brexit process, respecting their vital interests

in these negotiations.

UK Ministers will attend the next meeting of the Ministerial Forum (EU Negotiations)

in Scotland next week.



FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information

his Department holds on the rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and

(c) catering staff in his Department in (i) Greater London and (ii) outside Greater London.

Alistair Burt:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office can confirm that the minimum rate of

remuneration for Cleaners, Guards and Catering staff in London is the London Living

Wage (£10.20 ph). Outside London the minimum rate of remuneration for Cleaners

and Catering staff is the National Living Wage (£7.83 ph). For Security Guards

outside London the rate of remuneration is £9.30 ph, exceeding the UK Living Wage.

Greece: Macedonia


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent

discussions he has held with his counterparts in the Governments of Greece and the

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the Prespa Agreement, and if he will make a

statement.

Sir Alan Duncan:

I welcome the vote earlier this month by the parliament in Skopje to complete

constitutional change in line with the Prespa Agreement, and the intention of the

Greek Government to ratify shortly. The British Government fully supports the

Agreement, which will bring greater stability and prosperity to the region. I have been

in regular contact with representatives of both governments to set out our position,

including with Prime Minister Zaev and Foreign Minister Dimitrov during my visit to

Skopje last September and by phone.

Mukhtar Ablyazov



representations he has made to his Khazakstani counterpart on the former banker

Mukhtar Ablyazov who is accused of murder.

Sir Alan Duncan:

The Foreign Secretary has not discussed the case of Mr Ablyazov with the Foreign

Minister of Kazakhstan. Illicit finance is a global problem and we are committed to

working with international partners, particularly through the EU, G7 and G20 to

ensure we protect our prosperity and security. As the Prime Minister said in the

House of Commons on 14 March 2018, “We will continue to bring all the capabilities

of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is

no place for these people - or their money - in our country”.




Paul Whelan

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [209864]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance his

Department has provided to Paul Whelan and his family following his detention in Russia.

Sir Alan Duncan:

Foreign & Commonwealth Office officials sought access to Mr Whelan on 3 January

after being informed by the Russian Authorities and the US Embassy in Moscow that

he was a British national. We are in regular contact with the Russian Government to

push for consular access, most recently on 21 January. We are working closely with

the US, Canadian and Irish Embassies in Moscow, who also have a consular

responsibility for Mr Whelan, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to Mr Whelan’s

health and wellbeing. We are in touch with Mr Whelan’s family.

UN Convention against Torture


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make

representations to the UN on the Government's commitment to combat torture in advance

of the UN's forthcoming review of Vietnam's implementation of the UN Convention

against Torture.

Mark Field:

The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture. As a consequence we work

closely with international partners, including the United Nations, to eradicate this

abhorrent practice. The Committee Against Torture published its concluding

observations on Vietnam in December 2018. Whilst we note that progress has been

made in some areas we remain concerned regarding the use of torture, particularly in

places of detention.

We raised the issue of torture during Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review on 22

January 2019, including on how the Government of Vietnam will address the findings

of the Committee Against Torture report. Further, in our national statement we

recommended that Vietnam draw up and publish a national plan of action,

implementing the recommendations contained in the December report.

We will continue to make our concerns known to the Vietnamese Government at the

most senior level. I raised our concerns over the findings of the Committee Against

Torture and stressed the importance of upholding the highest standards of human

rights, with the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs during my recent visit to Hanoi

earlier this month.



Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Stephen Twigg: [209736]


assessment he has made of the progress on reopening the Sanaa-Hodeidah road in

Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt:

Since it came into effect in Hodeidah on 18 December, the fragile ceasefire has

continued to hold and there has been a general de-escalation by both sides around

the city. We are aware of reports of frontline incidents and skirmishing but these

remain low. We urge all parties to support and facilitate the UN’s efforts and to

implement the redeployment of forces in Hodeidah as agreed during the Stockholm

talks. We welcome the arrival of General Patrick Cammaert, Head of the UN

Redeployment Coordination Committee, and welcome the UK-drafted UN Security

Council Resolution 2452 establishing a six month UN mission to monitor the

Hodeidah ceasefire.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment

he has made of the merits of participation by women’s organisations in the UN-led peace

consultations on Yemen.

Alistair Burt:

We continue to advocate actively for the inclusion of women in the Yemeni peace

process and encourage political actors to take women’s views into account. Through

the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) we support projects with UN Women

which aim to increase Yemeni women’s capacity to influence political/conflict actors

and the peace process, including through the Yemeni Women Pact. CSSF projects

also support the inclusion of women in Track II political dialogue, and in local

peacebuilding initiatives. During last month’s peace talks in Stockholm, UN Special

Envoy Martin Griffiths invited eight women, representing different political parties, civil

society, activists and development workers in Yemen, to assist him during

negotiations. Our Embassy also used our social media accounts in the run up to

Stockholm to encourage the parties to include women in their delegations.

Keith Vaz: [R] [209751]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has

to meet UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths before the next round of peace talks on

Yemen.




Alistair Burt:

The Foreign Secretary and UN Special Envoy talk regularly. The UK has played a

leading role in diplomatic efforts, working closely with the UN Special Envoy. The

timing and location of the next round of talks has not yet been confirmed, but we urge

the parties to co-operate with the Special Envoy in this and act in good faith to

implement the agreements made in Stockholm. The UK remains closely engaged and

stands ready to provide further support.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what

representations has he made to the Government of Zimbabwe in relation to the political

situation in that country; and what guidance he has issued to officials from his

Department in that country on official contact with the Zimbabwean President.

Harriett Baldwin:

On 17 January, I summoned the Zimbabwean Ambassador to the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office to highlight our concern at the ongoing situation in Zimbabwe.

We call on the Zimbabwean Government to stop disproportionate use of force by the

security forces, investigate any cases of alleged human rights abuses and reinstate

full internet access.

I have issued no guidance to Foreign and Commonwealth Officials on official contact

with President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: [210515]

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

has commissioned into the long-term effect of abortion on (a) women’s health and (b)

younger women's health including risk of future miscarriage, premature birth and suicide

in the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Department has not commissioned any such studies. However, the National

Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing a new guideline on

termination of pregnancy. This process involves consideration of the latest available

evidence around complications during and after termination. The guideline is

expected to be published in September 2019.



Arthritis

Jim Shannon: [210610]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people by (a) age

group and (b) gender have been diagnosed with hand arthritis in each of the last five

years.

Steve Brine:

The data is not held in the format requested.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service: Merseyside


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

taken to address concerns raised in the CQC Report on BPAS Merseyside published in

January 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The concerns raised in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2017 inspection report

of British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Merseyside are being addressed

locally. The CQC has been reassured that BPAS has addressed a range of concerns

identified in the report, including implementation of agreed standards with

commissioners and providers who are monitoring service delivery. The CQC is due to

re-inspect BPAS Merseyside later in 2019.

Cancer


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the level of funding needed to ensure the cancer workforce can deliver the

commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan; and whether that information will be included

in the Workforce Implementation Plan.

Steve Brine:

Following publication of the first ever Cancer Workforce Plan in December 2017,

Health Education England (HEE) had intended to publish a second phase, longer-

term strategy that looked at the cancer workforce needs beyond 2021. The

announcement of the development of the NHS Long Term Plan superseded this work

and HEE will now work with NHS England and NHS Improvement to understand the

longer-term workforce implications for further development of cancer services. This

will include exploring sustainable growth beyond 2021 in key professions through

continued investment in training places, with a greater focus on attracting and

retaining students and improving the numbers of qualified professionals who go on to

work in the National Health Service.




Department of Health and Social Care: Pay


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

Department holds on the rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and (c)

catering staff in his Department in (i) Greater London and (ii) outside Greater London.

Caroline Dinenage:

The Department does not directly employ cleaners, security staff or catering staff.

Specific rates of pay are a matter for each individual contractor, as the employer, but

assurances are provided to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the

National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage.

The rates of pay for staff varies according to role, region and experience and have

the following ranges:

- Catering staff from £7.83 to £11.12

- Cleaning staff from £8.75 to £9.95

- Security staff from £9.22 to £9.98

Drugs: Shortages

Mr Ivan Lewis: [210457]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to (a)

monitor and (b) mitigate the risks to patient safety that could result from a Serious

Shortage Protocol and planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will

make a statement.

Steve Brine:

Serious shortage protocols can help patients get timely access to medicines. In order

to monitor and mitigate the risks to patient safety that could result from a serious

shortage protocol, any protocol would only be introduced if clinicians with expertise in

the relevant area think it is appropriate. Pharmacists still have to use their

professional discretion as to whether supplying against the protocol rather than the

prescription is appropriate, or whether the patient needs to be referred back to their

prescriber.

The operation of the serious shortage protocol legislation will be reviewed one year

after the first protocol has been issued.

Eating Disorders

Tulip Siddiq: [209853]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph

3.92 of the NHS Long Term Plan, whether four-week waiting time targets for community

mental health teams will include services for adults with eating disorders.






3.92 in the NHS Long Term Plan, when four-week waiting time targets for community

mental health teams will begin.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to “test four-week waiting times for adult and

older adult community mental health teams, with selected local areas”.

This will form part of wider testing of new and integrated models of primary and

community mental health care, as set out in the Long Term Plan.

Testing will inform the development and establishment of future standards, and will

consider the most clinically appropriate clock start and clock stop points, interventions

and responsible professionals. This will take into account access, quality of care,

patient experience and outcomes.

The National Health Service will then set clear standards for patients requiring access

to community mental health treatment and roll them out across the NHS over the next

decade.

Health Services: Older People

Keith Vaz: [R] [209752]

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

taking as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to ensure that there is an adequate number of

staff to provide treatment for elderly people.

Stephen Hammond:

The NHS Long Term Plan, published 7 January 2019, sets out a vital strategic

framework to ensure that over the next 10 years the National Health Service will have

the staff it needs so that nurses and doctors have the time they need to care for all

patients, including elderly people.

Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned

Baroness Dido Harding, working closely with Sir David Behan, to lead a number of

programmes to engage with key NHS interests to develop a detailed workforce

implementation plan. These programmes will consider detailed proposals to grow the

workforce, including consideration of additional staff and skills required, build a

supportive working culture in the NHS and ensure first rate leadership for NHS staff.

This will include work to ensure doctors are trained with the generalist skills needed

to meet the needs of an ageing population, alongside the development of specialist

knowledge and skills and expanding multi-professional credentialing to enable

clinicians to develop new capabilities in issues such as an ageing population.

The workforce required to provide treatment for elderly people comprises a range of

healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses.

We are already increasing nurse training places by 25% - that is 5,000 additional

nurse training places available every year from September 2018. In 2018 up to 5,000



Nursing Associates commenced training through the apprentice route and the

Department has a commitment to train up to a further 7,500 in 2019.

We have also made a commitment to have 5,000 additional doctors in general

practice and we have started to roll out an extra 1,500 medical school places for

domestic students, with the first 630 places taken up in September 2018.

Furthermore, the NHS has seen the emergence and increased use of new

professional roles within multi-disciplinary teams, such as physician associates (PAs),

as part of a continuing drive to provide safe, accessible and high-quality care for

patients. There will be 1,000 more PAs available in primary care by 2020 as part of a

wider commitment to make available 10,000 health care professionals in primary care

within this timeframe.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been

diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine:

The data is not held in the format requested.

Integrated Care Systems

Jonathan Ashworth: [209387]


1.55 of the NHS Long Term Plan, what the timeframe is for the (a) development and (b)

implementation of the new integration index; which organisations he plans to consult the

development of that index; and what criteria his Department plans to use to determine the

metrics to be included in that index.



1.55 on page 31 of the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, when the

development of the integration index will begin; which organisations will be consulted on

the development of that index; what criteria will be used to determine metrics for inclusion

in the index; when the index will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage:

The integration ‘index’, which will be developed jointly with patient groups and the

voluntary sector, will form part of a new accountability and performance framework

for integrated care systems to provide a simpler, consistent set of performance

measures.

Further information will be set out in the Implementation Framework for the Long

Term Plan, due to be published in the spring.




Medical Equipment: Regulation

Ann Clwyd: [209327]

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

to improve the regulation of medical devices following recent public concern about patient

safety.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Government is committed to the safe and effective regulation of medical devices

in the United Kingdom; we continue to strengthen safety while ensuring patients and

the public have fast access to new, innovative devices.

While the Government considers the existing regulatory framework to be

fundamentally sound, it has been instrumental in securing tougher regulations for

medical devices across the European Union. The new EU Medical Devices

Regulation (MDR), which fully applies from May 2020, maintain the strengths of the

existing regulatory system, of which rapid access to market for new devices is a key

aspect, whilst addressing the acknowledged weaknesses in the system. These

include improving the standard and consistency of Notified Bodies, enhancing

vigilance and post-market safety surveillance systems and improving the consistency

of implementation of medical device legislation across the EU.

In the interim, steps have been taken to place more stringent requirements upon

manufacturers. In 2016, a new guidance document was published on clinical

evaluation. This sets out clearly the need to strengthen the clinical evidence on which

a device is CE-marked. The information is available at the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/17522/attachments/1/translations/

The MDR has further built on these expectations by introducing a higher threshold for

clinical evidence before devices are allowed to be used in patients.

This will result in a significant strengthening of the regulatory framework and

addresses a number of the concerns raised by the public around patient safety.

Mental Health Services

Geraint Davies: [209277]

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

bringing forward legislative proposals on mental health care.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

We welcome the publication of final report of the independent review of the Mental

Health Act 1983, which was commissioned by the Prime Minister.

The Government will consider the report and its recommendations in detail and

respond in due course. We remain committed to reforming mental health law and

have committed to develop and bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time

allows.





We have already accepted two of the recommendations of the review; the

establishment of new statutory advance choice documents, so that people’s wishes

and preferences carry far more legal weight, and the creation of a new role of

‘nominated person’ to be chosen by the patient to replace the current nearest relative

provisions. This will support the review’s overall purpose of increasing patient rights

and improving the way the Act works for people.

Geraint Davies: [209278]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many adults in receipt of

mental health services have (a) speech, language and communication needs and (b)

dysphagia.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

At the end of October 2018, there were 4,224 people aged 18 and over recorded as

having a speech related disability in contact with National Health Service funded

secondary mental health services.

Information on the number of adults in contact with mental health services who have

dysphagia is not collected centrally.

Mental Health Services: Acute Beds

Dr Dan Poulter: [210510]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12

July 2018 to Question 162042 on Mental Health Services: Acute Beds, how many acute

consultant-led child and adolescent mental health services beds there have been in the

NHS in each year since 2009.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The information is not available in the format requested.

Information from the NHS England collection KH03, is available quarterly from

2010/11 and annually for the years 2007/2008 and 2008/09 at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-

occupancy/bed-data-overnight/

This collection includes the number of available and occupied child and adolescent

psychiatric beds open overnight and under the care of consultants.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12

July 2018 to Question 162042 on Mental Health Services: Acute Beds, how many acute

consultant-led alcohol detoxification beds there have been in the NHS in England since

2009.

Steve Brine:

This information is not held centrally.



https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/bed-data-overnight/




Mental Health Services: Children

Bill Wiggin: [209304]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding has been

allocated to training for professionals working with child mental health in North

Herefordshire constituency in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The information is not available in the format requested.

Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists

Luciana Berger: [209354]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 69 of the

NHS Long Term Plan, whether the four-week waiting time target for adults and older

adults community mental health teams will be between referral and assessment or

referral and treatment.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the four-week

waiting time target for adult and older adult community mental health teams on page 69

of the NHS Long Term Plan, what grade of healthcare professional will have

responsibility for the (a) assessment and (b) treatment of those people seeking such

care.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to “test four-week waiting times for adult and

older adult community mental health teams, with selected local areas”.

This will form part of wider testing of new and integrated models of primary and

community mental health care, as set out in the Long Term Plan.

Testing will inform the development and establishment of future standards, and will

consider the most clinically appropriate clock start and clock stop points, interventions

and responsible professionals. This will take into account access, quality of care,

patient experience and outcomes.

NHS England will then set clear standards for patients requiring access to community

mental health treatment and roll them out across the National Health Service over the

next decade.

Mental Health: Employment

Janet Daby: [209413]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

prioritise mental health and wellbeing in the work place.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Government responded to Thriving at Work: Stevenson/Farmer Review of

mental health and employers in the command paper ‘Improving Lives: The Future of





Work, Health and Disability’ which was published on 30 November 2017. The joint

Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care Work

and Health Unit is now overseeing progress across 40 recommendations that range

from short term deliverables to longer term reform.

Its central recommendation identified the need for employers to adopt a

comprehensive set of mental health standards. The Government is committed to

working with the authors of the review and key stakeholders across the public, private

and voluntary sectors to ensure that employers of all sizes act to implement the core

and enhanced standards and help them, and their employees, realise the benefits of

healthy, inclusive workplaces.

Following the Prime Minister’s acceptance of the recommendations that apply to the

Civil Service and NHS England as major employers, both organisations have made

progress in implementing these. The National Health Service is implementing the

mental health standards through the new single NHS Workforce Health and

Wellbeing Framework, which was published on 16 May 2018 and shared with NHS

organisations.

The Civil Service has benchmarked all main Government departments and their

agencies/non-Departmental Public Bodies against the core and enhanced mental

health standards to identify best practice and areas requiring further action.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the

Backbench Business Committee debate on Mental Health First Aid on 17 January 2019,

Official Report columns 1366-1395, by what date the Government plans to have

implemented the Thriving at Work mental health recommendations in (a) the NHS and (b)

the Civil Service.

Jackie Doyle-Price:

The Prime Minister accepted the recommendations of ‘Thriving at Work: The

Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers’ that apply to the Civil

Service and NHS England as major employers. Both organisations have made

progress across the recommendations, and are continuing work to embed change.

The Civil Service is committed to being a leading employer on mental health support,

and providing this support is a critical part of meeting the Civil Service's ambition to

be the United Kingdom’s most inclusive employer by 2020, as set out in the Civil

Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. All main Government departments have

benchmarked themselves against the core and enhanced standards to identify best

practice and areas requiring further action. Every Civil Service Permanent Secretary

now has a performance objective directly related to implementing the mental health

standards and brand new Civil Service Wellbeing Confident Leaders training is being

rolled out to senior leaders.

On 22 November 2018, the Government published the Voluntary Reporting

Framework to support organisations to record and voluntarily report information on


disability and mental health in the workplace. The Civil Service welcomed this and will

use the data gathered from its Health and Wellbeing Dashboard to report against the

framework.

The National Health Service is implementing the mental health standards through the

single NHS Workforce Health and Wellbeing Framework, which was published on 16

May and shared with NHS organisations. This includes support for improving the

health and wellbeing culture of the NHS with a specific focus on line management

and leadership, alongside clear accountability for health and wellbeing at board level.

Both NHS Improvement and the Civil Service are members of the Thriving at Work

Leadership Council which met on 17 January 2019. The council consists of a range

of business representatives and leading trade associations to champion the core and

enhanced standards and explore innovative solutions to further drive their

implementation and take up.

NHS

Catherine McKinnell: [210640]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the NHS Long

Term Plan did not include commitments on waiting time targets for (a) treatment in

Accident & Emergency, (b) routine operations and (c) cancer treatment.

Stephen Hammond:

The clinically-led review of standards was announced by the Prime Minister in June

2018. The review is considering the appropriateness of operational standards for

physical and mental health relating to planned, unplanned urgent or emergency care,

including cancer.

The Long Term Plan provides a platform upon which innovative models of patient

care can and are being developed. In that context, the National Health Service’s

National Medical Director has been working with the Academy of Medical Royal

Colleges, Healthwatch England and many others to consider what matters most to

patients, on the clinical issues with the current target regime, and what NHS staff

believe will help them provide the best quality care for patients.

The review will report its interim findings in the spring of 2019, after which any

recommended changes will be carefully field tested across the NHS.

NHS: Staff

Dr Lisa Cameron: [210650]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when Health Education

England's Mental Wellbeing Review of NHS staff and learners will be published; and how

the recommendations of that review will be incorporated into the NHS Long Term Plan.



Stephen Hammond:

Health Education England has completed its review on the mental wellbeing of

National Health Service staff and learners. The recommendations are currently being

considered by Ministers and it is expected to be published in due course.

The recommendations should enhance the work already underway across the NHS

on improving the mental health of NHS staff. This includes NHS England’s Health

and Wellbeing Framework, NHS Improvement’s NHS Staff Health and Wellbeing

Collaborative and NHS Employers advice, guidance and good practice, all of which

embed ‘Thriving at Work – a review of mental health and employers’[1] which was

commissioned by the Government.

The Review’s recommendations are likely to be reflected in the Long Term Plan via

the Workforce Implementation Strategy which is being developed by NHS

Improvement and supports the delivery of the Long Term Plan.

Note:

1https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thriving-at-work-a-review-of-mental-

health-and-employers

NHS: Standards


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long

Term Plan, if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership of the NHS

Clinical Standards Review; and if he will make a statement.



Term Plan, what discussions his Department plans to hold with (a) healthcare

professionals; (b) NHS providers; (c) charities; (d) patients and (e) the public in relation to

the NHS Clinical Standards Review.



Term Plan, whether there will be a consultation on the recommendations of the NHS

Clinical Standards Review before its publication in Spring 2019.



Term Plan, whether an impact assessment will be (a) conducted and (b) published as

part of the clinical standards review.

Stephen Hammond:

The clinically-led review of standards was announced by the Prime Minister in June

2018. The review is considering the appropriateness of operational standards for

physical and mental health relating to planned, unplanned urgent or emergency care,

as well as cancer.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thriving-at-work-a-review-of-mental-health-and-employers







The Long Term Plan provides a platform upon which innovative models of patient

care can and are being developed. In that context, the National Health Service’s

National Medical Director has been working with the Academy of Medical Royal

Colleges, Healthwatch England and many others to consider what matters most to

patients, on the clinical issues with the current target regime, and what NHS staff

believe will help them provide the best quality care for patients.

The review will report its interim findings in the spring of 2019, after which any

recommended changes will be carefully field tested across the NHS, before they are

implemented. An impact assessment will be published, and changes to the NHS

Constitution will be consulted on as is legally required.

Pain


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of

the number of people with chronic pain in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine:

No estimate has been made. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

states the prevalence of chronic pain has been difficult to define. A recent systematic

review has reported prevalence rates of between 8.7% to 64.4%, with a pooled mean

of 31%. An earlier review suggested that chronic pain affects between one-third and

one-half of the population.

Patients' Rights

Keith Vaz: [R] [209785]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of

the number of patients that used the NHS personalised care model in (a) 2016, (b) 2017

and (c) 2018.

Caroline Dinenage:

The comprehensive model for personalised care is made up of six key components:

- Patient Choice;

- Patient Activation;

- Social Prescribing;

- Shared decision making;

- Personalised care and support planning; and

- Personal health budgets.

This is a new model which was developed through the Integrated Personal

Commissioning and Empowering People and Communities programmes. The

components were tested in 2017/18 across 21 demonstrator sites, who reported

180,000 personalised care interventions for 2017/18. Sites are now rolling out the

model and in Q2 2018/19 reported 280,000 personalised care interventions.



The intention, as set in the NHS Long Term Plan, is to roll out beyond demonstrator

sites to reach 2.5 million people by 2023/24.

There is a national data collection for personal health budgets. The number of people

with a personal health budget was:

- 15,811 in 2016/17;

- 28,040 in 2017/18; and

- 32,341 in 2018/19 (latest figure from Q2).

Social Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her

Department has made of the number of adults receiving local authority-run social care

services in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK.

Caroline Dinenage:

The following table shows the number of people receiving care services in 2017/18.

2017/18 DURING YEAR COVENTRY WEST MIDLANDS ENGLAND

Long Term Care Users 4,345 86,855 857,770

Completed Short Term

Care Episodes

1,810 19,865 246,035

Source: NHS Digital publication ‘Adult Social Care Activity and Finance: England

2017-18’

Social Services: Older People

Keith Vaz: [R] [209784]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase

the social care packages for elderly people.

Caroline Dinenage:

All councils have statutory duties to meet the social care needs of elderly, disabled

and vulnerable people in their area, and it is for councils to decide how to meet those

needs.

The Government has given councils access to up to £3.6 billion more dedicated

funding for adult social care in 2018-19 and up to £3.9 billion for 2019-20.



HOME OFFICE

Asylum


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases remain

unresolved after 52 weeks.

Caroline Nokes:

We are committed to ensuring that asylum claims are considered without

unnecessary delay, to ensure that those who need protection are granted as soon as

possible and can start to integrate and rebuild their lives, including those granted at

appeal.

Information regarding the number of asylum claims which remain unresolved after 52

weeks, is routinely published as part of the Government’s Transparency agenda. The

latest release of which can be found at can be found at table Asy_11: Age of Asylum

Initial Decision Work In Progress - applications made from 1st Oct 2006 at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2018.

This table shows the number of asylum cases outstanding after 12 months for both

straightforward and non-straightforward cases as at Quarter 3, 2018.

Asylum: Children


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied

asylum seeking children have been received by Nottinghamshire County Council under

the voluntary national transfer scheme; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied

asylum seeking children Nottinghamshire County Council has accepted under the

voluntary national transfer scheme; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of

unaccompanied asylum seeking children each local authority area has accepted under

the voluntary national transfer scheme; and if he will make a statement.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has for the future

of the voluntary national transfer scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children;

and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes:

Data on the local authorities participating in the National Transfer Scheme (NTS),

including the number of transfers in and out of each authority, can be found in the


http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2018.

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2018.





Asylum transparency dataset, last published in November 2018 at;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-

2018.

Since it was launched in July 2016, 790 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

have been transferred via the NTS. This is a significant achievement which has seen

many local authorities offer placements for children whose best interests are served

by transferring to another local authority. However we recognise that the scheme is

not operating as effectively as we would like. We will continue to engage with local

authorities across the country to encourage further offers and consider options in how

best to share the burden.

Asylum: Stoke on Trent


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence his

Department has had from Stoke-on-Trent City Council on partnership working with his

Department to accelerate decision making for asylum seekers and other residents who

have no recourse to public funds.

Caroline Nokes:

The Home Office is unable to find trace of correspondence received from Stoke-on-

Trent City Council regarding Partnership working with the Department to accelerate

decision making for asylum-seekers and other residents who have no recourse to

public funds.

Criminal Investigation: Medical Records

Neil Coyle: [206380]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has

plans to ensure police forces can access the medical records of suspects in (a) rape, (b)

transmitted disease, (c) grievous bodily harm with intent and (d) other cases.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The general position is that if information is given in circumstances where it is

expected that a duty of confidence applies, that information cannot normally be

disclosed without the information provider's consent.

Three circumstances making disclosure of confidential information lawful are:

• where the individual to whom the information relates has consented; • where

disclosure is in the public interest; and • where there is a legal duty to do so, for

example a court order.

So, under the common law, a healthcare provider wishing to disclose a patient's

personal information to anyone outside the team providing care should first seek the

consent of that patient.

There are legal gateways for sharing data and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act

1984 (PACE and Codes issued under the Act). These include a range of explicit and



implied powers enabling the police to seek and share information, in pursuit of their

policing purposes, including preventing a crime and protecting persons from harm.

Deportation: Human Trafficking

Fiona Onasanya: [209412]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on police

forces passing to his Department information on victims of trafficking offences who are in

the UK unlawfully in order to facilitate their deportation.

Mr Nick Hurd:

The police priority is to protect victims and investigate crime and forces are extremely

careful about doing anything to deter victims from reporting crime. Victims of crime

should be treated as victims first and foremost. Each case is considered very

carefully but there will be instances where police need to exchange information with

the Home Office.

When individuals are found to have no basis in the UK, Immigration Enforcement’s

(IE) immediate priority is to ensure that all vulnerable migrants receive the support

and assistance they need regardless of their immigration status.

Extradition


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contingency plans his

Department has made to ensure that people wanted by the UK criminal justice system

can be extradited to the UK in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr Nick Hurd:

In a No Deal scenario and the absence of access to the European Arrest Warrant,

the UK will operate the European Convention on Extradition with EU Member States.

Home Office: Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department

holds on the rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and (c) catering

staff in his Department in (i) Greater London and (ii) outside Greater London.

Victoria Atkins:

Cleaning services, security guarding services and catering services across the

department are mostly outsourced. Suppliers are responsible for setting rates of pay

for their staff and rates vary dependent on their age, location and market rates. All

suppliers are required to pay, as a minimum, either the National Minimum Wage or

the National Living Wage. The rates set by government for the National Minimum

Wage and the National Living Wage are to rise in April 2019.




Security guards who are Home Office employees receive the appropriate spot rate for

their grade, plus shift and unsocial hours payments where applicable. All Home Office

reward packages are in compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act.

Home Office: Reviews


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) precedent and (b)

approval process was for the commissioning of Sir Alex Allan to conduct an independent

review of the support provided by Home Office officials to the then Home Secretary,

Amber Rudd (i) before, (ii) during and (iii) after the Home Affairs Select Committee oral

evidence session on 25 April.

Victoria Atkins:

In oral evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee (HC 1713, principally Q.31 ff.;

13 November 2018), my Department’s Permanent Secretary set out the approach to

commissioning Sir Alex Allan’s review.

Immigrants: Detainees

Ms Harriet Harman: [210454]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of immigration

detainees entered the immigration detention estate for more than 24 hours in Quarter 3 of

2018 as a result of prior decisions to detain those detainees.



detainees who are (a) foreign national offenders (b) other detainees had been in

immigration detention for (i) 28 days or fewer and (ii) over 28 days at the end of quarter 3

of 2018.



detainees who are (a) foreign national offenders (b) other detainees had been in

immigration detention for (i) 28 days or fewer and (ii) over 28 days at the end of quarter 2

of 2018.

Caroline Nokes:

Providing the information requested would require a manual check of individual

records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office publishes the number of Foreign National Offenders currently

detained. The data can be found in the quarterly Immigration Enforcement

Transparency Data. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-

enforcement-data-november-2018

The Home Office also publishes data on immigration detention, including the length

of detention of those leaving detention (table dt_06_q) and the length of detention of





https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-enforcement-data-november-2018



those in detention at the end of each quarter (table dt_11_q). The data can be found

in the detention tables in the latest Immigration Statistics, year ending September

2018, quarterly release.

I will be writing to the Right Honourable Lady separately concerning this as it links to

a request she has made as chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Immigrants: Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: [209309]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to abolish

the NHS surcharge for non-EU citizens who pay National Insurance contributions.

Caroline Nokes:

There are no plans to abolish the NHS surcharge for non-EU citizens who pay

National Insurance contributions. The surcharge is intended to represent a fair and

proportionate financial contribution to the NHS by migrants, corresponding with their

temporary immigration status

Temporary migrants will not have built up the long-term relationship and contribution

to the UK that a permanent resident has built up, and will build up, over the course of

their lifetime.

It is, therefore, the migrant’s immigra-tion status that determines whether they pay the

surcharge, not their tax contributions or their profession. The Government

recognises, however, that temporary migrants contribute to the UK economy in a

number of ways, including paying income tax and national insurance; these

contributions are reflected in the surcharge levels, which are below the average per

capi-ta cost to the NHS of treating temporary migrants.

The Immigration Health Charge does not apply to migrants granted indefinite leave to

remain; those granted this status qualify for free NHS care if they are properly settled

in the UK.

Immigration: EU Nationals


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has in place to

assist people with iPhones in (a) accessing and (b) using the settled status registration

app.

Caroline Nokes:

The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme can be completed on any

smartphone, tablet or computer. This includes Apple devices.

The ‘EU Exit: Identity Document Check’ app which allows applicants to prove their

identity remotely, without sending in their passport or national identity card is

currently available only on Android devices. Applicants can, if they wish, use a family

member or friend’s Android device to access the app, and complete the rest of the

process on their own device.



They can also attend a local centre, expected to number at least 50 by the full

opening of the scheme by 30 March 2019, at which they can access an Android

device loaded with the app. When the scheme is fully open, applicants will also have

the option of posting their identity document to the Home Office, to be checked and

returned to them quickly.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU citizens that do not

have five years continual residency who are (a) married to a UK citizen and (b) have

other long periods of residency will be entitled to settled status after the UK leaves the

EU.

Caroline Nokes:

All EU citizens who have completed five years’ continuous residence in the UK at any

point will be eligible to apply for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. This

can be satisfied by any such period of time during an applicant’s life in the UK rather

than the most recent five years, provided it began before 31 December 2020.

However, the applicant must not have been absent from the UK for more than five

consecutive years since that period ended.

All other resident EU citizens, including those who are married to UK nationals, will

be eligible to apply for pre-settled status to enable them to remain in the UK to

complete the five years’ continuous residence required to be eligible for settled

status.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU citizens have

already paid £65 to apply for Settled Status and will be refunded.

Caroline Nokes:

We have received over 30,000 applications over the two private beta test phases.

Anyone who has applied already, or who applies and pays a fee during the test

phases, will have their fee refunded.

The Home Office will set out full details in due course.

Intelligence Services: International Cooperation

Keith Vaz: [198271]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to

mitigate the effect of exclusion from European security cooperation on the UK's five eyes

security arrangements.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Prime Minister’s deal delivers the broadest security agreement the EU has with

any of its partners, providing for the exchange of information between the UK and the

EU in recognition of the shared threats we face.




There is no suggestion in the Withdrawal Agreement or the Political Declaration on

our future relationship that there will be ramifications on the UK’s security

arrangements with the Five Eyes.

Mukhtar Ablyazov


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will instruct the Serious

Fraud Office to investigate the activities of Mukhtar Ablyazov, in relation to international

money laundering.


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has powers to

require the SFO to investigate cases of international money laundering.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Home Office does not comment on particular cases.

The SFO is independent, it investigates and prosecutes only the most serious or

complex fraud, bribery and corruption cases and is superintended by the Attorney

General. The decision to commence an investigation is that of the Director alone.

Government cannot interfere with the operational independence of investigative or

prosecutorial agencies.

Police: Leave

Louise Haigh: [210621]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department

holds on police forces cancelling rest days for the after 29 March 2019 as part of

contingency plans for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Louise Haigh: [210622]

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

of the minimum staffing levels required by police forces after 29 March 2019 in the event

that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr Nick Hurd:

Decisions on arrangements for police rest days and the use and deployment of

resources are matters for operational policing and are the responsibility of Chief

Constables and not the Home Office.

Radicalism: Internet

Andrew Rosindell: [198759]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been

prosecuted for online radicalisation in the last five years for which information is available.






Mr Ben Wallace:

There is no single offence, either in statute or at common law, of “online

radicalisation”. A number of relevant offences may apply including those provided for

in the Terrorism Act 2006, Sections 1 and 2.

The Home Office publishes the Quarterly Statistics Bulletin on the operation of police

powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. This shows the

numbers of individuals arrested and charged with terrorist related offences. The most

recent bulletin, published on 6 December 2018, covers the period to the end of

September 2018

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Crime



any plans to ensure that people sentenced for deliberately transmitting sexual diseases to

other people are placed on the sex offenders' register.

Victoria Atkins:

There is no specific offence of deliberately transmitting a sexual disease. This

behaviour can be charged under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the

Person Act 1861.

There are no current plans to make persons convicted of these offences subject to

notification requirements (commonly referred to as being placed on the Sex

Offenders Register).



plans to provide police with additional powers police to assist investigations into cases

involving the deliberate transmission of sexual diseases.

Mr Nick Hurd:

There is no specific offence of deliberately transmitting a sexual disease. This

behaviour can be charged under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the

Person Act 1861.

There are no current plans to make persons convicted of these offences subject to

notification requirements (commonly referred to as being placed on the Sex

Offenders Register).

Unexplained Wealth Orders: Greater London



of the effectiveness of Unexplained Wealth Orders in tackling the illicit arms trade and

related financial flows in London.






of the potential use of Unexplained Wealth Orders against Sudhir Choudhrie and related

parties.

Mr Ben Wallace:

The Government does not comment on the potential use of Unexplained Wealth

Orders against individuals. They are available for use in cases of serious crime

including arms trafficking and related money laundering.

Where assets are suspected of representing the proceeds of crime, the NCA and

others consider all cases for denial and recovery activity across the full range of

criminal and civil approaches, including the new tools introduced in the Criminal

Finances Act such as Unexplained Wealth Orders. The Home Office continues to

work with law enforcement agencies to encourage their use.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: [210599]

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

to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 208362 on Buildings: Insulation, how many

of the 1,421 non-aluminium composite material cladding samples submitted to the

Building Research Establishment for testing were (a) metal composite material cladding,

(b) high-pressure laminate cladding and (c) expanded polystyrene insulation in external

wall insulation systems.

Kit Malthouse:

None of the samples submitted for screening tests are recorded as (a) metal

composite material cladding, (b) high-pressure laminate cladding and (c) expanded

polystyrene insulation in external wall insulation systems.

However the following categories of samples could have included these types of

products; 231 samples were categorised as containing ‘Metal’ and comprised more

than one layer. Samples categorised as boarding will have included high-pressure

laminate as well as other board products such as plasterboard, there were 172 of

these samples. 134 samples were categorised as rendered EPS (Expanded

Polystyrene).

Council Housing: Pets


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

information his Department holds on the number of local authorities that allow their

tenants to keep pets.




Kit Malthouse:

The Department does not hold information on the number of local authorities that

allow their tenants to keep pets. Local authorities may hold this information if

contacted directly.

Families: Disadvantaged


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

much funding his Department has allocated to the Troubled Families programme in each

year since 2012.

Rishi Sunak:

Because the Troubled Families Programme is a payment by results programme,

funding allocations are made on a multi-year rather than an annual basis so that local

authorities can claim payment when their work with families results in significant and

sustained progress.

The Department allocated £448 million to the first Troubled Families Programme

between 2012 and 2015. A further £920 million has been committed to the current

programme which runs between 2015 and 2020.

Females: Antisemitism

Paula Sherriff: [210562]


steps the Government is taking to tackle antisemitism against women.

Mrs Heather Wheeler:

The Government was pleased to support the Sara Conference in November 2018.

The conference focused specifically on the intersectionality between antisemitism

and sexism, looking particularly at the experience of Jewish women in public life. The

conference brought together an excellent cross-section of policy makers, academics,

and other experts, and set the agenda for what key organisations in this regard, such

as the Antisemitism Policy Trust, will do going forward. The Government will continue

to work closely with the Antisemitism Policy Trust, to understand this specific threat

and to support their work.

Females: Judaism


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

reference to the Sara conference of 26 November 2018, what plans his Department has

to encourage more Jewish women to participate in public life.


The Government was pleased to support the Sara Conference in November 2018. It

was an important platform for policy-makers, public figures, and experts to discuss




the intersectionality between antisemitism and sexism, and an important start to

understanding how antisemitic abuse targeted at women can be tackled. The

conference set the future direction for organisations dedicated to this issue, such as

the Antisemitism Policy Trust. We will continue to work closely with the Antisemitism

Policy Trust as they develop this important work and encourage women to enter

public life.

Fire Prevention

John Healey: [208750]


recent estimate he has made of the cost to building owners of replacing faulty composite

fire doors.

James Brokenshire:

The remediation of Glass Reinforced Plastic composite fire doors is being led by the

fire door industry. We are currently working with the Association of Composite Fire

Door Manufacturers on a plan to ensure that doors are replaced where this is

required.

John Healey: [208751]

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

he has plans to issue additional guidance to building owners on the replacement of faulty

composite fire doors.

James Brokenshire:

The Independent Expert Panel issued guidance for building owners who are looking

to fit or replace fire doors. This information can be found on the Building Safety

Programmes website. Social housing providers have also been provided with a

‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document for guidance in replacing fire doors and have

been provided with the opportunity to join the Government’s test sharing hub to share

the results of current testing of the timber fire doors market with the aim to prevent

duplication of testing and inform door replacement programmes. We will continue to

keep the content of our advice and guidance under review based on feedback from

local government and industry.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Dame Louise Ellman: [210545]

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

to his Answer of 2 July 2018 to Question 158171, what assessment he has made of the

adequacy of the response of Abacus Land 4 Ltd to tenants of Heysmoor Heights,

Liverpool who have been charged in relation to replacement of cladding following the

Grenfell Tower disaster; and if will he make a statement.

Kit Malthouse:

We understand that leaseholders in Heysmoor Heights have been protected from a

substantial proportion of the overall remediation costs due to a warranty claim being




accepted. However, we continue to set our strong expectation that leaseholders

should be protected from all remediation costs. We have written to, and continue to

engage with, individual building owners to reiterate this expectation.

Sarah Jones: [210698]


steps his Department has taken to evaluate the effect of cladding remediation work on

residents in tower blocks where such work is taking place.


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

many (a) social sector and (b) private sector tower blocks do not currently have cladding

due to ongoing remediation works.



assessment his Department has made of the health-related effects on residents affected

by cladding remediation work.

Kit Malthouse:

The Government is committed to ensuring residents are safe, and feel safe, in their

homes. We have set up a comprehensive programme to oversee the remediation of

high-rise residential buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM)

cladding.

The Health and Safety Executive, National Fire Chiefs Council and Local Authority

Building Control are working together in consultation with the Local Government

Association to coordinate a series of joint inspections on remedial works. Where

possible, the Health and Safety Executive’s interventions will be carried out alongside

local fire and rescue services and local authority building control to ensure that the

regulation of workplace, public and fire safety risks from remediation work are

addressed holistically.



assessment his Department has made of the financial effect on residents affected by

cladding remediation work in relation to heating costs.

Kit Malthouse:

The Government expects landlords to protect leaseholders, where possible, from any

disruption caused by the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding and to

communicate with them regularly during this process. That includes programming

and sequencing their work, in consultation with residents, to ensure that people are

not unduly exposed to the cold.

When the external wall of a building is renovated or replaced, the work must comply

with the energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. Residents

who have concerns about heating costs may wish to contact the Government-funded





Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) for independent information about energy

efficiency.

In the social sector, the Regulator of Social Housing requires that homes in the social

housing sector meet the Decent Homes Standard, which includes having efficient

heating and effective insulation. As social landlords have responsibility for the overall

standards of their buildings, we would expect them to take action and engage with

residents to ensure disruption is reduced whilst the works are completed as quickly

and safely as possible. We would expect those who have concerns about their ability

to do this to contact MHCLG or the Regulator of Social Housing.

Housing Associations: Pets



information his Department holds on the number of housing associations that allow their

tenants to keep pets.

Kit Malthouse:

The Regulator of Social Housing does not hold information on the number of housing

associations that allow their tenants to keep pets. Housing associations might be able

to provide this information if contacted directly.

Housing: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty



planning restrictions for house building there are in areas of outstanding natural beauty.



development restrictions there are in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Kit Malthouse:

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear the importance the

Government attaches to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Framework says

that great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic

beauty in these areas, which have the highest status of protection. It makes clear that

the scale and extent of any development – including housing - in these areas should

be limited. Local authorities are expected to refuse planning permission for major

development there, other than in exceptional circumstances and where the

development would be in the public interest.




Housing: Solar Power

Mr Gavin Shuker: [210668]


solar panels installed on domestic properties have a right to light protection under

planning legislation.

Kit Malthouse:

I would like to refer the Hon. Member to the Government’s response to UIN141851 of

20 May. The Government believes that sufficient protection is already afforded to

existing solar arrays by the planning system which can take into account whether a

proposed development would have an unreasonable impact on the light enjoyed by

neighbouring properties, in terms of its impact on living conditions.

Leasehold

Maria Eagle: [210492]

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

many occasions the Government has met with (a) property development companies and

(b) builders to discuss the leasehold law for existing leaseholders; and if he will make a

statement.


Ministers have engaged with industry on several occasions to discuss issues facing

existing leaseholders. On 5 November, Minister Wheeler met with the Home Builders

Federation and raised the issue of consumer redress in the leasehold market. On 8

November, the Secretary of State held a round table with developers and investors,

setting out his concerns regarding onerous ground rents and the lack of redress for

existing leaseholders. The answer to question UIN189727 of 19 November 2018,

details the attendees of the round table.

A full list of ministerial meetings up until 30 September 2018 is published at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data and is updated

regularly.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Rosindell: [211182]


steps his Department is taking to ensure the equitable allocation of funding to local

authorities.

Rishi Sunak:

The Government is undertaking a review of the relative needs and resources of local

authorities in England, with a view to setting fresh baseline funding levels in 2020-21.

We are working closely with local government representatives and others to consider

the drivers of local authorities’ costs. We are also looking at the resources available

locally to fund services, and how we should account for these in a way that draws a



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data


more transparent and understandable link between local circumstances and resource

allocations.

We are making good progress in collaboration with the sector and recently launched

a consultation exercise which will close on 21 February. Details of the consultation

are available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-local-

authorities-relative-needs-and-resources.

Planning Permission

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: [209796]

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

(a) clarify the objectives of the changes to the aspect of the National Planning Policy

Framework where design and style have a value and (b) make it his policy that (i)

appropriateness should be defined by clarifying local and commercial interests, (ii) the

views of the community should be taken into account and (iii) through early engagement

expectations should be clarified where previously it was explicit that decisions and

policies should not impose style nor taste.

Kit Malthouse:

Creating high quality buildings and places is an important objective of the National

Planning Policy Framework. To help achieve this, it stresses the importance of

establishing clear community expectations of what good design looks like in each

area, and of early discussions with the community about the design of emerging

schemes. It also makes clear that design policies should be grounded in an

understanding and evaluation of each area's defining characteristics, including

materials, while allowing a suitable degree of variety where justified. Updated

guidance to support these policies will be published in due course.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: [209797]


policy, guidance and coding restrictions on style will be (a) based on the outcomes of a

transparent, explicit and comprehensive consultation with the relevant local authority and

(b) expressed in clear and unambiguous terms.

Kit Malthouse:

The National Planning Policy Framework indicates that visual tools such as design

guides and codes should be prepared either by local planning authorities with the

involvement of the local community, or by local communities themselves through the

neighbourhood planning process. Such documents should set clear expectations, so

that applicants for planning permission have as much certainty as possible about

what is likely to be acceptable, while allowing a suitable degree of variety where this

would be justified.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-local-authorities-relative-needs-and-resources





Vagrancy Act 1824



he has plans to undertake a review of the provisions of the Vagrancy Act 1824.


This Government is clear that no-one should be criminalised simply for having

nowhere to live and sleeping rough. The cross Government Rough Sleeping Strategy

which was published in August committed to reviewing homelessness and rough

sleeping legislation, including the Vagrancy Act.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Abortion


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer

of 10 December 2018 to Question 199384 on developing countries: abortion, which

states that DFID does not disaggregate figures solely relating to safe abortion procedures

and the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 119743 on Marie Stopes International,

which states that DFID has robust monitoring procedures, if she will request information

from Marie Stopes International on the number of abortions funded by her Department in

2017.

Alistair Burt:

DFID takes an integrated approach to our programming on sexual and reproductive

health and rights in order to meet a wide range of women’s reproductive health

needs. Because these services are integrated, it is not possible to disaggregate

figures solely relating to safe abortion procedure. This principle applies to

programmes delivered by all partners with DFID funding, including Marie Stopes

International, and therefore this information is not available.

The aim of DFID’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights is to reduce the

number of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, increase the use of voluntary

family planning, and give women control over their own bodies and lives. DFID’s

robust monitoring and evaluation procedures vary by project and are tailored in order

to demonstrate the project is meeting its aims.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer

of 10 December 2018 to Question 199384 on developing countries: abortion, which

states that DFID does not disaggregate figures solely relating to safe abortion procedures

and the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 119743 on Marie Stopes International,

which states that DFID has robust monitoring procedures, what steps she is taking to

ensure accountability of UK funding to Kenya for sexual and reproductive health and

rights.




Harriett Baldwin:

DFID Kenya has in place a number of measures to ensure the accountability of all UK

aid. For the new £36m (2019-2024) Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases

in Family Planning in Kenya programme, these will include due diligence of all

primary implementing partners, regular spot checks, a robust monitoring and

evaluation system which includes beneficiary feedback and annual project reviews.

Partners will also be required to submit annual audit reports and regular progress and

financial reports. Meetings will be held on at least a quarterly basis with implementing

partners to track performance, to discuss risks to delivery and how they are working

with downstream partners to ensure they also comply with DFID’s accountability

requirements.

Education: Females

Giles Watling: [210047]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress her

Department has made on improving girls’ access to education throughout the world.

Harriett Baldwin:

The UK is a global leader on girls’ education and DFID spearheads the UK

Governments global campaign, Leave No Girl Behind, which promotes 12 years of

quality education and learning for all girls.

Between 2015 and 2018, UKAid provided by DFID has supported 5.6 million girls to

gain a decent education.

Through our investment in this area, we are supporting the most marginalised girls to

attend school, learn whilst they are there, and help ensure the critical transition from

primary to secondary education.

The UK is also leading by example, building evidence of what works in DFID’s

flagship Girls’ Education Challenge. Our largest single programme anywhere,

reaching 18 countries and up to 1.5 million girls. In the coming months it will reach

250,000 highly marginalised girls who have never attended or dropped out of school

due to poverty, motherhood, disability or conflict.

Kenya: Abortion


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 9

October 2018 to Question 173969, whether she now has the breakdown of the proportion

of her Department's funding for family planning in Kenya which will be allocated to

abortion provision; and what estimate she has made of the number of abortion

procedures funded by previous DFID programmes in that country.

Harriett Baldwin:

The Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning in Kenya

programme will support increased access to modern family planning services.

Abortion services will be supported within the parameters set out in the Kenyan



Constitution. The programme is still under procurement and therefore no further

information on budget breakdowns is available at this time.

DFID takes an integrated approach to programming on sexual and reproductive

health and rights - for example providing a woman with holistic care for gender-based

violence, HIV, counselling, post-abortion care and information on family planning. As

these services are integrated, we do not have disaggregated figures for previous

programmes in Kenya solely relating to safe abortion procedures.

Pakistan: Ethnic Groups

Mr Roger Godsiff: [210013]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department

is taking to help reform the education curricula in Pakistan to remove derogatory

references to Ahmadis and other minorities.

Alistair Burt:

Working with the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

DFID has supported improvements to primary English, Urdu, mathematics and

general knowledge textbooks. In Punjab DFID has also supported the government to

revise the primary curriculum in core subjects. HMG regularly raises freedom of

religious belief issues at the highest levels with Pakistan government counterparts.

DFID’s investments in education in Punjab and KP have supported 10 million primary

and nearly 6 million secondary children.

Zimbabwe: Bilateral Aid


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to

ensure that the Government of Zimbabwe distributes UK bilateral aid fairly through civic

and representative community organisations.

Harriett Baldwin:

The UK Government does not channel any UK bilateral aid through the Government

of Zimbabwe. The UK, through the Department for International Development in

Zimbabwe, provides extensive financial and technical assistance to a wide range of

civil society organisations in Zimbabwe. We do not publicise our partners to avoid

putting them at risk. Our funding supports Zimbabwean citizens to hold the state to

account in its respect for human rights and democratic principles.



INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Export Controls

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [210725]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether an Aardvark JSFU is a

controlled good.

Graham Stuart:

The Aardvark JSFU mine clearance vehicle is not a controlled item.

Trade Remedies: Trade Unions

Barry Gardiner: [210451]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether trade unions will be defined

as interested parties in trade remedies investigations once the UK has an independent

trade policy.

George Hollingbery:

The UK trade remedies system will adopt the WTO definition of interested parties,

that is:

• Producers of the like goods in the UK

• An overseas exporter or UK importer of the goods subject to investigation

• Trade or business associations of such producers, exporters or importers

• The government of the exporting country of the goods under investigation

Other parties who may have an interest in the case, such as Trade Unions, will be

able to participate as contributors.

JUSTICE

Berwyn Prison: Ambulance Services


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions ambulances have been

called to HMP Berwyn each year since that prison opened.

Rory Stewart:

In line with policy at HMP Berwyn, when a medical emergency procedure is activated,

it is standard response for the Communications room to call for an ambulance. This is

in partnership with the prisons healthcare providers – Betsi Cadwaladr University

Health Board (BCUHB) and Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST). On a number

of occasions there has been the requirement for such ambulances to attend the

prison.

Attended incidents are where the ambulance service has attended the scene of an

incident. The number of stand downs are where a vehicle was allocated, but did not




arrive at the scene within HMP Berwyn. BCUHB Health care professionals are the

only people that can stand down an ambulance. The table below provides the

breakdown per month of those attended and stood down in regards to HMP Berwyn.

Table One: Number of occasions an ambulance has attended/ been stood down

at HMP Berwyn:

MONTH ATTENDED INCIDENTS STAND DOWNS

2017* 89 62

2018 156 80

*Information is based from February 2017 as this was when the prison opened. Source -

Information has been provided by the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust - Health Informatics.

Please note that since opening in the spring 2017 the population of HMP Berwyn has

increased from 887 (Dec 17) to 1287 (Dec 18).

Berwyn Prison: Restraint Techniques


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many use of force incidents have been

recorded at HMP Berwyn in each month since the prison opened.

Rory Stewart:

In the Prison Service, staff use personal safety techniques when it is lawful and

necessary, to prevent harm to themselves or a third party. At HMP Berwyn, front line

Prison Staff are taught through their Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) how

to apply correct Control and Restraint techniques (C&R) when dealing with a violent

or recalcitrant prisoners. Alongside the national rollout of key worker and training

such as ‘Five minute Intervention (FMI), front line operational staff are taught that the

use of C&R techniques should be a last resort after all other means of de-escalation.

The decision to use force should take into account the type of harm that the member

of staff is trying to prevent, this will help to determine whether force is necessary in

the particular circumstances they are faced with. ‘Harm’ may cover all of the following

risks; risk to life, risk to limb, risk to property or risk to the good order of the

establishment.

Since opening in spring 2017 through to December 2018, the prison population has

increased significantly at HMP Berwyn.

There have been a number of incidents per month that have resulted in the

requirement of force being used. Table one below presents the figures per month:

Table One: The number of incidents per month whereby force has been used at

HMP Berwyn:


MARCH – DECEMBER 2017 JANUARY – DECEMBER 2018

Mar-17 8 Jan-18 115

Apr-17 11 Feb-18 97

May-17 41 Mar-18 75

Jun-17 22 Apr-18 87

Jul-17 35 May-18 88

Aug-17 47 Jun-18 83

Sep-17 32 Jul-18 98

Oct-17 53 Aug-18 2 131

Nov-17 70 Sep-18 108

Dec-17 1 64 Oct-18 101

Nov-18 110

Dec-18 3 78

1 In December 2017 there were 64 (7.2%) Use of Force incidents against a

population of 887.

2 In August 2018 there were 131 (11.5%) Use of Force incidents against a population

of 1139.

3 In December 2018 there were 78 (6.1%) Use of Force incidents against a

population of 1287.

Alongside Control and Restraint techniques, we’re equipping staff with the tools to do

their job safely - rolling out PAVA incapacitant spray and body-worn cameras.

Courts: Small Claims


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate the Government has made of the

level of non-compliance with judgements in small claims courts; and what plans he has to

strengthen the powers of courts to enforce judgements in small claims cases.

Lucy Frazer:

HM Courts and Tribunals Service does not have data about the level of compliance

with judgments in the county court, because judgment debts are not always paid into

court.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the enforcement of court judgments is

effective whilst protecting debtors from aggressive behaviour from enforcement


agents. We have launched a call for evidence on how enforcement agents operate as

part of our review of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The call for

evidence closes on 17 February 2019. We shall consider the need for further reform

of the powers and regulation of enforcement in the light of that evidence.

As part of its wider reform project, HMCTS is focusing on improving the service it

provides to people who wish to enforce a court judgment.

Ministry of Justice: Recruitment

Mr George Howarth: [209295]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date Amie Anelka was appointed to the

role of Data Protection Officer in his Department; and for how long Ms Anelka held that

role.

Rory Stewart:

Amie Alekna was appointed to the role of Data Protection Officer (DPO) on 25 May

2018 for the parts of the Department that did not have their own DPO arrangements.

Ms Alekna held that role for five months.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Imran Hussain: [209829]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff in each year from

2010 were (a) recorded at each high-security institution and (b) involved staff at high-

security institutions with less than three years’ experience.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harm were recorded

at each high-security institution in each year from 2010.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of homicide were recorded

at each high-security institution in each year from 2010.

Rory Stewart:

The Government publishes quarterly statistics on violence, self-harm and deaths in

prison custody, and a more detailed annual breakdown, and both are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-june-

2018.

The number of assaults in each prison can be seen in table 3.15 of Assaults in prison

custody 2000 to 2017; the number of self-harm incidents in each prison is in table

2.13 of Self-harm in prison custody 2004 to 2017; and the number of homicides in

each prison can be found in the Deaths data tool. I regret that the number of incidents

involving staff with less than three years’ experience could be found only at

disproportionate cost.





https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-june-2018



The Government is taking unprecedented action to improve safety in prisons custody.

This includes:

• investing in over 4,300 additional staff since October 2015;

• investing an extra £70 million to improve safety, security and decency, and

equipping officers with PAVA incapacitant spray and body-worn cameras to help

prevent serious harm to staff and prisoners when dealing with violent incidents;

• tackling the drugs that we know are fuelling much of the violence in custody -

introducing new x-ray scanners, drug-detection dogs and dedicated search teams;

• introducing new suicide and self-harm prevention training, which has already

reached over 24,000 staff;

• improving support for prisoners in their early days and weeks and rolling out a ‘key

worker’ scheme which ensures each prisoner has dedicated support from a

particular prison officer;

• funding the Samaritans service for a further three years’ for their valuable Listeners

Scheme; and

improving the ACCT case management process for those identified as at risk of self-

harm or suicide.

Sexual Offences: Sentencing

Priti Patel: [210626]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many sex offenders convicted in each of

the last five years were sentenced to a (a) non-custodial sentence, (b) custodial sentence

of less than six months, (c) custodial sentence of 6-12 months, (d) custodial sentence of

one-five years, (e) a custodial sentence of 5-10 years and (f) a custodial sentence of

more than 10 years by sexual offence type.

Rory Stewart:

Data on the number of offenders sentenced to custody for sexual offences, broken

down by offence and length of sentence, is available in the “Outcomes by offence

data tool” at: https://www.gov.uk/Government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-

statistics-quarterly-december-2017

To obtain the requested data, carry out the following steps:

• Remove the ‘Values’ field from Rows

• Select 2013 to 2017 in the ‘Year’ field

• Filter ‘Offence group’ to ‘02: Sexual offences’

• Drag the ‘Offence’ field into Rows

• Drag all the ‘Custody’ fields into Values (this can also be done by ticking the boxes

for each field and ensuring the ‘Values’ field this creates is in Rows)


• For each requested sentence length period, combine the values of the relevant

custodial sentence lengths

• For those sentenced to a non-custodial sentence, drag the ‘Sentenced’ and ‘Total

Immediate Custody’ fields into Values and take the difference as the number of

non-custodial sentences.

SCOTLAND

Exports: Scotland

Douglas Chapman: [210041]

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the total value of exports of goods and

services from Scotland under WTO rules was in the last year for which figures are

available.

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 a bilateral trade and investment relationship with a great number

of countries, including Scotland’s top international export destination valued at

£4.8bn, the USA.

Scotland Office: Legal Costs

Richard Burgon: [209817]

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the highest hourly rate paid for legal

advice was by (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's arms length bodies in

2018.

David Mundell:

The Office of the Advocate General provides any necessary legal advice to the Office

of the Secretary of State for Scotland and its arms-length bodies.

Scotland Office: Pay


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



David Mundell:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland has an office in both Edinburgh and

London.




It has contracts in place for both Security and Cleaning Services at its Edinburgh

office. Specific rates of pay are a matter for each individual contractor, as the

employer, but assurances are provided to ensure full compliance with the

requirements of the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage. Both

suppliers pay the National Living Wage or above.

The London office is leased from the Government Property Agency, who are

responsible for the management of the building and delivery of support services.

Information on the rates of pay paid to Security and Cleaning staff is not held by the

Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Office has no catering staff in either location.

TRANSPORT

Channel Ferries: Freight

Alan Brown: [210667]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2019

to Question 208869 on Channel Ferries: Freight, how many companies have made

representations to the Government.

Ms Nusrat Ghani:

We have received a small number of representations, in confidence, from other

freight operators.

Department for Transport: Staff

Grahame Morris: [210508]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the agreed budgeted FTE figure is for

(a) his Department and (b) its agencies.

Jesse Norman:

In response to your request, the agreed budgeted FTE figure for the Department and

its agencies (the Driver Vehicle & Licensing Agency, the Driver & Vehicle Services

Agency, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency) is

as follows:

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 18/19

Budgeted FTE

DfTc 2676

MCA 1114.2



END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 18/19

VCA 203.7

DVSA 4648

DVLA 5387.5

The figures represent employees and do not include contractors and other non-

payroll employees.

Grahame Morris: [210509]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional funding for staff (a) his

Department and (b) its agencies have received from EU exit funding.

Chris Grayling:

Since 2016 the Department has received funding of £79.7m from HM Treasury for EU

Exit contingency programmes. Of this funding, £12m covered the Department’s

staffing and legal costs. Executive agency staff costs are included in the overall EU

Exit contingency programme funding..

Driving: Diabetes


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Driving Vehicle Licensing

Agency is making to update its guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for

people with diabetes.

Jesse Norman:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is currently amending the Assessing

Fitness to Drive guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for people with

diabetes. The revised guidance is due to be published in February. This will allow the

testing of interstitial fluid for driving licensing purposes for people with diabetes who

drive cars or motorcycles. Drivers of goods vehicles and buses must continue to

monitor blood glucose levels.

Mr Laurence Robertson: [210480]

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

DVLA on testing blood glucose levels using flash and continuous glucose monitoring

technology for the purposes of assessing fitness to drive; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is currently amending the Assessing

Fitness to Drive guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for people with

diabetes. The revised guidance is due to be published in February. This will allow the

testing of interstitial fluid for driving licensing purposes for people with diabetes who

drive cars or motorcycles. Drivers of goods vehicles and buses must continue to

monitor blood glucose levels.




London North Eastern Railway: Rail Gourmet Holding

Ian Mearns: [R] [210502]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether London North Eastern Railway sets

the rates of pay for staff that are employed under its Rail Gourmet contract.

Andrew Jones:

Rail Gourmet sets the rates of pay for its own staff.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many contracts London North Eastern

Railway holds with Rail Gourmet; and what the cost to the public purse is of each of those

contracts.

Andrew Jones:

LNER has one contract in place with Rail Gourmet; for catering logistics and product

supply. While there is an element of fixed cost in this contract, most of the spend

under the terms of this contract is driven by the amount of products (food and drink)

LNER orders from Rail Gourmet. The value of these contracts is commercially

sensitive as it could well impact a proposal an alternative supplier would put forwards

when next this contract goes through a competitive tender exercise. This could then

reduce funds returned by LNER to the tax payer.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps London North Eastern Railway

has taken to assess whether Rail Gourmet follow appropriate bullying and harassment

policies.

Andrew Jones:

This contract commenced before LNER began operating on the East Coast Main

Line. LNER policy is to undertake detailed checks to ensure all relevant policies are

in place before we enter into contracts with suppliers. This includes ensuring

suppliers accept our code of conduct which includes bullying and harassment.

Midlands Connect


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

Midlands Connect on its proposed expressway from Leicestershire to Gloucestershire;

and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

The A46 corridor connects together Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire. This is one of

the corridors identified by Midlands Connect - the sub national transport body for the

Midlands - as of key strategic importance.

With funding from the Department, Midlands Connect is currently conducting a

detailed study into the potential for development of the A46, which it believes could





play an important role in improving pan-regional connectivity and relieving congestion

on motorways in the West Midlands. The Department is monitoring this study closely.

Motorways: Noise


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

potential effectiveness of reducing noise emissions from motorways by reducing speed

limits; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman:

Noise is a Key Performance Indicator for Highways England. They are working to

reduce people’s exposure to road noise by considering measures such as barriers,

road resurfacing and insulation at locations with the highest noise levels and

delivering these through major projects, maintenance work and their designated

environment fund. Reducing speed limits is not one of the measures.

While reducing speed limits on motorways can reduce noise for those nearby, it can

also have unintended consequences. Some traffic may be diverted to less suitable

roads in more built-up areas, where loud noise could be experienced by more people.

Even at lower speeds, noise effects can be greater off the motorway network, as

roads tend to be closer to homes.

Highways England’s approach reduces the noise which people experience near

some of the busiest motorways while retaining existing speed limits on these

important arterial routes, speed limits that reflect drivers’ experience and expectations

for longer-distance journeys.

Rail Gourmet Holding: Industrial Relations


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

adequacy of the industrial relations of Rail Gourmet.

Andrew Jones:

This is a local dispute over a breakdown in industrial relations between a private

employer in the rail catering business and its catering employees who are members

of the RMT. It is not appropriate for the Secretary of State to make any assessment

and is for the parties concerned to resolve.

Railways: Wales

Jessica Morden: [210022]

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

adequacy of the level of infrastructure spending on the Network Rail Wales route.

Andrew Jones:

Throughout Control Period 5, covering the years 2014-2019, £900m has been

invested by Network Rail in the rail network in Wales. Network Rail’s proposed




investment for the rail network in Wales during Control Period 6, covering the period

from 2019 to 2024, is £1.34bn. The Welsh Government also now have responsibility

for franchising rail services in Wales, and franchises bring investment. For example,

the new Transport for Wales franchise will recruit an additional 600 members of staff,

and invest £194m in station improvements.



feasibility of giving the Welsh Government shared oversight over the specification and

operation of all rail franchises operating in Wales.

Andrew Jones:

During 2018 the Welsh rail devolution arrangements were further strengthened in line

with the recommendations of the Commission on Devolution in Wales (the Silk

Commission). In the lead up to this, the need for closer working between the

Department and the Welsh Government in respect of cross-border services of

franchises specified and managed by the Department was fully recognised and

agreed. These arrangements are set out in sections 7 and 8 of the Co-operation and

Collaboration Agreement between the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers

published on 11 September 2018.

Roads: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what protections there are to protect areas of

outstanding natural beauty against new road building.

Jesse Norman:

The National Networks National Policy Statement (NPS) sets out Government’s

policies to deliver development of nationally significant infrastructure projects on the

national road and rail networks in England. It is the basis for examination of schemes

by an independent inspector and decisions by the Secretary of State.

As set out in the NPS, there is a strong presumption against any significant road

widening or the building of new roads in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

(AONB), unless it can be shown there are compelling reasons for the new or

enhanced capacity and with any benefits outweighing the costs significantly. AONB

designated areas have a specific statutory purpose that helps ensure their continued

protection and which the Secretary of State has a statutory duty to have regard to in

decisions.

Further protections for AONB are set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act

2000 and Defra’s English national parks and the broads: UK government vision and

circular 2010 or successor documents.



Roads: St Helens


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

allocated to St Helens Council to repair potholes in each year since 2010.

Jesse Norman:

St Helens Council is a constituent member of the Liverpool City Region Combined

Authority. Since 2015 highway maintenance block funding has been paid directly to

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The funding provided by the Department for Transport for highway maintenance,

including pothole repair, to St Helens Council since 2010 is shown in the table

attached.

Attachments:

1. Table which is mentioned in the above answer [210592 Table.docx]

South Wales Railway Line



difference between Intercity Express Train service speeds on Network Rail routes

between (a) Bristol and London and (b) the Severn Tunnel and Swansea.

Andrew Jones:

Intercity Express Train services between Bristol and London have a maximum line

speed of up to 125mph, as opposed to 90mph between the Severn Tunnel and

Swansea.

South Wales benefits from the £5bn investment in the Great Western route.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Bambos Charalambous: [209901]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the change in

alcohol consumption as a result of alcohol duty freezes and reductions since 2013.

Robert Jenrick:

HMRC publishes a tax information and impact note (TIIN) on gov.uk explaining the

impact of the policy change, each time alcohol duty rates are amended. The most

recent TIIN published at Autumn Budget 2018 can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-

duty-uprating




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating



Football Pools: Excise Duties

Chris Stephens: [209398]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department have made an assessment of

the potential effect on the betting industry of the effect of reducing the Pools Duty to 10

per cent; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick:

Pool Betting Duty raises around £4m in revenue for the Exchequer per annum.

Reducing it to 10% is likely to have a negligible effect on the betting industry, but

could put revenue at risk particularly through incentivising switching of products from

other forms of bets to pooled bets.

National Productivity Investment Fund

Douglas Chapman: [209850]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the National Productivity

Investment Fund has been allocated to (a) housing, (b) research and development, (c)

economic infrastructure and (d) skills since its inception.

Elizabeth Truss:

The Government established the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) to

increase capital spending for areas critical for improving productivity. The NPIF is

now set to deliver £37bn of high-value investment to 2023/24 in economic

infrastructure, R&D, and housing.

The Chancellor has set out how over £24bn of the NPIF will be allocated. This

includes:

• £740m for digital infrastructure, to mobilise the market to develop full-fibre

broadband networks and 5G capacity;

• £7bn extra for R&D by 2021-22 – the largest increase for 40 years – including

£750m for skills and talent (PhDs and fellowships), demonstrating progress

towards the government’s ambition of increasing the R&D intensity of the economy

to 2.4% of GDP by 2027;

• £6.5bn for transport, including a £2.5bn Transforming Cities Fund, designed to

drive productivity by improving intra-city transport and reducing congestion;

• £13bn for housing, to build more homes in high demand locations so that people

can live near the best job opportunities for them.

Revenue and Customs: Peterlee

Anneliese Dodds: [210724]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Answer of 17 January 2019 to

Question 208357, for what reasons his Department delayed the closure of the HMRC

office in Peterlee.




Mel Stride:

HMRC has decided to keep its office in Peterlee, Emerald Court, open until 2022-23

in order to respond to changing priorities.

HMRC now expects that there will be more people in the Department in 2021 than it

anticipated when its location plans were originally announced in 2015. This is due to

the recruitment of people into Customer Services, extra staff to support new

compliance work, the need for more operational staff to support EU Exit work and the

change to the Department for Work and Pensions’ approach to rolling out Universal

Credit, all resulting in more staff staying with HMRC.

There are no current plans to retain any more other offices for longer, other than

those which HMRC had previously announced.

Taxation: Self-assessment


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Simple Assessment tax demands his

Department has issued in the last 12 months.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the letter setting out a person's tax

liability under the Simple Assessment procedure includes an address to which a cheque

can be sent in settlement of that liability.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to ensure

people who are not online are able to process communications on tax liabilities under the

Simple Assessment procedure.

Mel Stride:

Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled

at disproportionate cost.

The calculation letter only includes an address for cheque payments where the

calculation goes to a customer who is ineligible to access a Personal Tax Account.

Those customers who can access a Personal Tax Account can pay online.

Customers receive paper copies of their Simple Assessment regardless of the digital

preference. While customers can pay online using the Personal Tax Account, they

can also choose alternatives such as telephone banking, BACs or cheque payments.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged (a) over 65, (b) over 70,

(c) over 75, (d) over 80, (e) over 85 and (f) over 90 have been issued with a Simple

Assessment of their tax liability in the last 12 months.





Mel Stride:

HMRC does not currently count the number of Simple Assessment tax demands

issued as the number is not needed for management or reporting purposes. HMRC

believe that the number is well over 250,000 for the requested period.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will waive any fines incurred by elderly

people assessed as having a liability under the simple assessment tax liability procedure

who have difficulty in dealing with HMRC online.

Mel Stride:

Customers who are late in paying a tax liability assessed under Simple Assessment

are not presently issued with a penalty.

Customers who have difficulty in dealing with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

online can ask for help from HMRC by phone or by post. Alternatively they can

appoint someone to deal with HMRC on their behalf.

Treasury: Pay


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the



Robert Jenrick:

The cleaning, security and catering service at HM Treasury is provided through a

service contract, let by the landlord for 1 Horse Guards Road (Exchequer

Partnership). HM Treasury does not hold information on remuneration for cleaners,

security guards or catering staff.

WALES

Ports: Wales


To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to ensure

the free flow of goods at the ports of Holyhead and Pembroke in the event that the UK

leaves the EU without a deal.

Alun Cairns:

Officials in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and colleagues across

Government meet regularly with the Welsh Government, port authorities and other

maritime stakeholders in Wales to support the smooth and orderly implementation of

any new arrangements required as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union.




Wales Office: Pay


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



Nigel Adams:

Cleaning and security guard services provided to the Office of the Secretary of State

for Wales are undertaken by outsourced providers under Ministry of Justice contracts.

Rates of pay for cleaners and security guards are determined by their respective

employers and are not held by the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales or

Ministry of Justice.

All employers are obligated to pay at least the National Minimum Wage and National

Living Wage.

The Office does not have any in-house catering facilities.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Dr Lisa Cameron: [209832]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress her Department has made

on the consultation on a renewed access to elected office fund.

Victoria Atkins:

The Government believes that political parties have the prime responsibility for

supporting their disabled candidates. We are undertaking a programme of work to

help political parties to better support disabled candidates. As part of this my officials

have met with political parties and disability organisations and continue this

engagement.

The Access to Elected Office Fund has been closed since 2015. We have launched

the EnAble Fund for Elected Office, which is a £250,000 commitment to support

disabled candidates, primarily for the forthcoming local elections in May. The fund will

help cover disability-related expenses people might face when seeking elected office.

Religion: Community Relations


To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much funding her Department has

allocated to interfaith projects in each of the last three years.

Victoria Atkins:

The Government Equalities Office has not allocated any funding to interfaith projects

during the last three years.




WORK AND PENSIONS

[Subject Heading to be Assigned]


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Backbench

Business Committee debate on Mental Health First Aid on 17 January 2019 Official

Report columns 1366-1395, what steps her Department is taking to ensure employers are

aware of the the Health and Safety Executive's guidelines on existing requirements to

consider mental health alongside physical health when undertaking a first aid needs

assessment, published in November 2018.

Sarah Newton:

On the 21 November 2018 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published revised

guidance for employers on compliance with the existing Health and Safety (First Aid)

Regulations 1981 (http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/needs-assessment.htm). HSE

developed this revised guidance with Mental Health First Aid-England to clarify and

increase employer understanding that mental health should already be considered

alongside physical health when undertaking a first aid needs assessment. The

findings from this assessment will help direct employers to decide what measures

they need to put in place. There are a range of actions that employers can undertake,

but their choice should be guided by the outcomes of their first aid needs assessment

and will depend on factors such as employee needs, the type of work and size of

company.

HSE has communicated this clarified guidance directly to key stakeholders involved

in the design and delivery of first aid at work training courses.

HSE is also taking opportunities to raise awareness through existing activity under its

Health and Work programme, where preventing work-related mental ill health is a key

priority. There is also related wider government activity led by the Joint DWP/DHSC

Work and Health Unit to promote mental health core standards from the Lord

Stevenson and Paul Farmer ‘Thriving at Work’ review published in October 2017, to

help employers implement a comprehensive approach to managing mental health in

the workplace.

Employment and Support Allowance


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

support allowance, how many ESA65B letters her Department has sent to GPs in each

month since May 2018.

Sarah Newton:

The Department does not hold information on the number of ESA65B letters sent to

GPs.



Employment and Support Allowance: Chronic Illnesses

Marion Fellows: [210604]

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

Support Allowance (ESA), how many and what proportion of people with the most severe

health conditions and disabilities with lifetime award of ESA have been placed in the ESA

Support Group or Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity

category and are exempt from repeat assessments; what steps his Department has taken

to ensure individuals with lifelong illnesses will not be required to be reassessed; and for

what reasons decision-makers are allocating timeframes for the award of ESA for

applicants whose ESA 50 forms have not been reviewed.

Sarah Newton:

In response to (a)(i), information on the number of claimants who have met the

severe conditions criteria for Employment and Support Allowance is published and

can be found in tables 5a and 5b in the file which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-

assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-december-2018

With regard to (a)(ii), the information requested is not readily available and could only

be provided at disproportionate cost.

In response to (b), the Honourable lady might be interested to know that we have

worked with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to develop a set of

criteria to switch off re-assessments for people with the most severe health conditions

or disabilities (unless there is a change of circumstances). From 29 September 2017

those placed in ESA’s Support Group and the UC equivalent who have the most

severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function would

always mean that they would have Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related

Activity, and be unlikely ever to be able to move into work, will no longer be routinely

reassessed.

With regards to question (c) to clarify, all ESA50 questionnaires completed and

returned by claimants are reviewed by a Healthcare Professional. Their advice to the

decision maker including advice on the review period will be based on all of the

evidence they have considered.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Alex Cunningham: [209347]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with

the Health and Safety Executive on the (a) application and (b) enforcement of the UK

Continental Shelf of Directive 2013/30/EU on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations

in the event that the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without a deal.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the provisions of the

Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-december-2018





(OSDR) require amendment in order to continue applying on installations on the UK

Continental Shelf after the UK leaves the EU.

Sarah Newton:

The Government is committed to maintaining health and safety protections for

workers when the UK leaves the EU so there is no reason for these standards to

change .

The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations

2015 (SCR15) transposed the health and safety requirements of Directive

2013/30/EU into domestic legislation. All requirements and duties in SCR15 will

continue to apply after the UK has left the EU. This will provide certainty and clarity

for workers and industry.

Minor technical amendments are required to make sure SCR15 remains operable

after EU exit.

Three amendments are included in The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit)

Regulations 2018 (SI 218/1370)

(http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made). This Statutory

Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament on 18 December 2018.

One further amendment is included in The Product Safety and Metrology etc.

(Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

(http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368). The draft SI was laid in

Parliament on 11 December 2018.


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

Offshore Major Accident Hazards Advisory Committee (OMAHAC) there have been since

March 2016; and if she will list the attendees at each meeting of OMAHAC to date.

Sarah Newton:

There have been five OMAHAC meetings since March 2016. OMAHAC’s

membership comprises representatives from the following organisations: Health and

Safety Executive (HSE); Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and

Decommissioning; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Health and Safety Executive

Northern Ireland (Regulators); Oil & Gas UK; International Association of Drilling

Contractors; British Rig Owners Association; International Marine Contractors

Association; Step Change in Safety (Industry Bodies); National Union of Rail,

Maritime and Transport Workers and Unite (Unions). Most of OMAHAC’s meeting

agendas, minutes and attendee lists have been made available from HSE’s website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm.

Offshore Safety Directive Regulator


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with

the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made



http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368





Industrial Strategy on the status of the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator after the UK

leaves the EU.

Sarah Newton:

The Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR) will continue to function as the

competent authority and regulator of the offshore oil and gas major hazard regime

after the UK leaves the EU.

This partnership competent authority was set up administratively under a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU and arrangements in place will not

be affected after exiting the EU.

The legislative requirements of the Directive were transposed into domestic

legislation which will continue to apply in the UK after EU exit. OSDR will continue to

oversee industry compliance with this legislation and perform its’ regulatory and

administrative functions.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Offshore Safety Directive

Regulator last updated trade unions organising offshore oil and gas workers.

Sarah Newton:

The Offshore Major Accident Hazards Advisory Committee (OMAHAC) is tripartite in

composition. This means that the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator can discuss

regulatory developments with both trade union and employers’ representatives.

Representatives of both Unite and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport

Workers (RMT) are members of OMAHAC and expect to attend all meetings if they

are available to do so.

The most recent OMAHAC meeting was held on 18 December 2018 and both Unite

and RMT attended the meeting. Most of OMAHAC’s meeting agendas, minutes and

attendee lists are available on HSE’s website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm.

Social Security Benefits: Fibromyalgia


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to update

the training module on Fibromyalgia issued by her Department on 18 April 2018; and

whether her Department has made an assessment of (a) the level of compliance with the

training module by benefits assessors and (b) the effectiveness of the guidance in

identifying suffers of Fibromyalgia.

Sarah Newton:

The training module is due to be reviewed in April 2019 and Fibromyalgia UK will be

invited to quality assure the document which they previously reviewed in March 2018.

The Department’s Independent Audit Team conducts an audit of a statistically

significant sample of the Centre for Health and Disability Assessment reports that

includes Fibromyalgia cases. The role of Healthcare Professionals conducting


http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm


assessments is to provide advice on the functional impact of a condition and not to

diagnose or advise on treatment.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Frank Field: [210464]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will increase the number

recording devices available for benefits assessments in Wirral.

Sarah Newton:

Anyone who is required to attend a Work Capability Assessment can ask to have

their face-to-face assessment audio recorded. The Centre for Health and Disability

Assessments ensure that sufficient recording equipment is available at the

assessment centre, including transferring additional equipment to sites as required.

Every claimant for Personal Independence Payment who wishes to have their

assessment recorded has the right to do so but they must provide the recording

equipment. DWP has set conditions for such recordings to take place, which are

listed in the PIP Assessment Guide and are contained within correspondence to

claimants from Assessment Providers.

DWP will continue to keep the recording of assessments policy under review.


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

made of the effect of the availability of recording devices for benefits assessments on the

(a) quality and (b) timeliness of those assessments.

Sarah Newton:

Every person who is required to attend a Work Capability Assessment can ask to

have their face-to-face assessment audio recorded. Where the request is made in

advance the requirement will be met. Requests made on the day will be met where

possible and the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments reviews the demand

to ensure there is sufficient audio recording equipment. Personal Independence

Payment claimants who wish to have their assessment recorded have the right to do

so but they must provide the recording equipment.

The Government’s response to recommendation 4b of Paul Gray’s second

independent review of the Personal Independence Payment assessment (

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

ent_data/file/668621/pip-assessment-second-independent-review-government-

response.pdf ) set out our assessment of a trial of audio recording assessments

DWP also recently commenced a video recording pilot for claimants with Personal

Independence Payment face-to-face assessments. The pilot enables us to test

communications products and live testing of video recording, providing that claimants

elect to participate. Findings from the pilot will inform views on rolling out video

recording more widely, in order to promote greater trust and transparency.

DWP will continue to keep the recording of assessments policy under review.



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668621/pip-assessment-second-independent-review-government-response.pdf




Universal Credit: EU Nationals

Stuart C. McDonald: [210587]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK EU citizens

have been refused universal credit on the basis that they do not have a right to reside in

each month since January 2017.

Alok Sharma:

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur

disproportionate cost.

Comprehensive guidance outlining eligibility for Universal Credit for EEA Nationals

and the habitual residency test is available to all staff across the Jobcentre network.

Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the

Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.

Eligibility for income-related (means-tested) social security benefits depends on a

person’s immigration status in the UK. Claimants must be exercising a legal right to

reside and be habitually resident before they are eligible to claim income related

benefit. This is assessed through the Habitual Residence Test (HRT). DWP does not

automatically provide other Government departments with information regarding an

individual’s benefit claim. The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations

2016 and immigration decisions are the responsibility of the Home Office.

Universal Credit: Self-employed


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of universal

credit are classified as gainfully self-employed.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has

made on ensuring that 50,000 claimants of universal credit are in gainful self-employment

by Summer 2019.

Alok Sharma:

We plan to publish statistics on Universal Credit and self-employment, including

claimant numbers, in Spring 2019. The Government’s commitment remains to helping

self-employed claimants with viable businesses to thrive, while protecting public

funds.

We provide tailored support to our claimants who are in self-employment through our

work coaches to help them to increase their productivity and earnings. Work coaches

can also sign-post claimants to the extensive business support which is already

funded by the Government.

As we announced in the Autumn Budget 2018, we will be extending the 12-month

start-up period where claimants are exempt from the Minimum Income Floor to all

gainfully self-employed claimants who are new to Universal Credit. This start-up




period will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their

business, or to adjust to Universal Credit.

The Department has also extended mentoring support from New Enterprise

Allowance mentors to Universal Credit claimants with earnings below their Minimum

Income Floor, to help them to develop a plan to grow their earnings.

MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS


Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Bodies

Catherine West: [208407]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff at

the (a) Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, (b) Animal and Plant Health

Agency, (c) Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (d) Rural

Payments Agency and (e) Veterinary Medicines Doctorate (i) inside and (ii) outside

Greater London are paid at a rate below the London Living Wage.

An error has been identified in the written answer given on 22 January 2019. The

correct answer should have been:

George Eustice:

The table below shows the number of staff paid below the London Living Wage,

working inside and outside of Greater London, in the Agriculture and Horticulture

Development Board, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Centre for Environment,

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Rural Payments Agency and Veterinary

Medicines Directorate.

ORGANISATION INSIDE GREATER LONDON OUTSIDE GREATER LONDON

Agriculture and Horticulture

Development Board

N/A 6

Animal and Plant Health

Agency

0 7

Centre for Environment,

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Science

N/A 71

Rural Payments Agency 0 0

Veterinary Medicines

Directorate

N/A 0

All permanent staff working outside of Greater London are paid above both the

National Living Wage (£7.83 per hour) and non-London Living Wage

( £8.75 £9.00 per hour).


WRITTEN STATEMENTS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Business Update

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and

Corporate Responsibility (Kelly Tolhurst): [HCWS1277]

Through the Industrial Strategy the Government is working to transform our economy to

ensure that everyone, no matter what their background, can enter into the Labour Market

and progress at work.

In the “Good Work Plan” we set out an ambition that all work should be fair and decent.

Pregnancy and maternity discrimination has absolutely no place in that ambition. It is

unlawful.

In our response to the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into pregnancy and

maternity discrimination, we made a commitment to review the position in relation to

redundancy following the suggestion that we could further strengthen existing protections.

We have completed that review.

Tomorrow, we are publishing a consultation document proposing legislative changes to

strengthen the existing protection against redundancy by extending it into a period of

return to work after maternity leave or other types of parental leave. It currently applies to

women on maternity leave. By doing so we will further help tackle discrimination and

support new parents in work.

The consultation also covers other steps we are taking to change the culture which can

exist around pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace.

Copies of the consultation will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

DEFENCE

War Pensions Scheme Uprating 2019

Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood): [HCWS1275]

The new rates of war pensions and allowances proposed from April 2019 are set out in

the following tables. The annual uprating of war pensions and allowances for 2019 will

take place from the week beginning 8 April 2019. Rates for 2019 are increasing by 2.4

per cent in line with the September 2018 Consumer Price Index.

War Pensions Rates

RATES RATES

(Weekly rates unless

otherwise shown)

2018 2019

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-01-24/HCWS1277/


RATES RATES

£ £

WAR PENSIONS

Disablement Pension (100%

rates)

officer (per annum) 9,674.00 9,904.00

other ranks (weekly amount) 185.40 189.80

Age allowances payable from

age 65

40%-50% 12.40 12.70

over 50% but not over 70% 19.10 19.55

over 70% but not over 90% 27.15 27.80

over 90% 38.20 39.10

Disablement gratuity (one-off

payment)

specified minor injury (min.) 1,181.00 1,209.00

specified minor injury (max.) 8,816.00 9,028.00

1 – 5% gratuity 2,948.00 3,019.00

6 – 14% gratuity 6,554.00 6,711.00

15 – 19% gratuity 11,462.00 11,737.00

SUPPLEMENTARY

ALLOWANCES

Unemployability allowance

Personal 114.55 117.30

adult dependency increase 63.65 65.20

increase for first child 14.80 15.15

increase for subsequent 17.40 17.80

RATES RATES

children

Invalidity allowance

higher rate 22.65 23.20

middle rate 14.70 15.10

lower rate 7.35 7.55

Constant attendance

allowance

exceptional rate 139.80 143.20

intermediate rate 104.85 107.40

full day rate 69.90 71.60

Part-day rate 34.95 35.80

Comforts allowance

higher rate 30.10 30.80

lower rate 15.05 15.40

Mobility supplement 66.75 68.35

Allowance for lowered

standard of occupation

(maximum)

69.92 71.60

Therapeutic earnings limit

(annual rate)

6,526.00 6,838.00

Exceptionally severe

disablement allowance

69.90 71.60

Severe disablement

occupational allowance

34.95 35.80

Clothing allowance (per

annum)

239.00 245.00

RATES RATES

Education allowance (per

annum) (maximum)

120.00 120.00

WIDOW(ER)S BENEFITS

Widow(er)s' - other ranks

(basic with children) (weekly

amount)

140.60 143.95

Widow(er) - Officer higher rate

both wars (basic with children)

(per annum)

7,477.00 7,656.00

Childless widow(er)s' u-40

(other ranks) (weekly amount)

33.67 34.48

Widow(er) – Officer lower rate

both wars (per annum)

2,597.00 2,659.00

Supplementary Pension 94.05 96.31

Age allowance

(a) age 65 to 69 16.00 16.40

(b) age 70 to 79 30.80 31.55

(c) age 80 and over 45.70 46.80

Children's allowance

Increase for first child 22.05 22.60

Increase for subsequent

children

24.70 25.30

Orphan's pension

Increase for first child 25.25 25.85

Increase for subsequent

children

27.60 28.25

Unmarried dependant living as 138.25 141.60

RATES RATES

spouse (maximum)

Rent allowance (maximum) 52.95 54.20

Adult orphan's pension

(maximum)

108.05 110.65


January Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (George Eustice):

[HCWS1273]

Agriculture and Fisheries Council takes place in Brussels on 28 January.

As the provisional agenda stands, the primary focus for agriculture will be on the Post-

2020 Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform package. There will be an exchange of

views on the new delivery model for the regulation on CAP strategic plans, followed by a

presentation from the Commission on green architecture. Council will then discuss the

proposed regulation on common market organisation (CMO) of agricultural products.

The Presidency will also give a presentation on its work programme, and there will be a

presentation by the Commission on a protein plan, which Council will then debate.

There is currently one item scheduled for discussion under ‘any other business’:

- information from the Danish delegation on the establishment of an International Centre

for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) to strengthen the fight against AMR

internationally and especially in low- and middle-income countries.

An additional item is also expected to be added to the agenda under ‘any other business’:

- information from the Commission on the outcome of the Ministerial Conference on

‘Eradication of African swine fever in the EU and the long-term management of wild boar

populations’



HOME OFFICE

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Inspection

Report: ‘A joint inspection of search applications and production only processes’

The Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd):

[HCWS1276]

The National Crime Agency (NCA) leads the fight against serious and organised crime. It

has the power to task other law enforcement partners and a capability, with local to

international reach, to disrupt the impact of serious and organised crime on the UK.

This is the fifth HMIC inspection of the NCA. The inspection stemmed from a

recommendation in the 2015 NCA internal review of warrants and was conducted jointly

with HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI).

This report is being published today and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the

House Library. I have asked HMICFRS to publish this report on my behalf and it will be

available online at www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk.

The inspection found that the NCA has been working to tackle the areas of concern

highlighted in the 2015 review. The inspection of search authorities, search warrants and

production orders identified some deficiencies, but overall HMICFRS found the

applications are completed to a good standard. HMICFRS made six recommendations

which will improve procedures and update guidance and they believe these

recommendations will help enhance what is already a mature process.

It is for the Director General to respond to these recommendations, in line with the

requirements of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

Police Grant Report England and Wales 2019/20

The Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service (Mr Nick Hurd):

[HCWS1274]

My rt hon Friend, the Home Secretary, has today laid before the House, the Police Grant

Report (England and Wales) 2019/20 (HC 1896) for the approval of the House. The

Report sets out, my rt hon Friend, the Home Secretary’s determination for 2019/20 of the

aggregate amount of grant that he proposes to pay under section 46(2) of the Police Act

1996.

The first role of government is to protect the public. We will always ensure that the police

have the powers and resources needed to keep our citizens and communities safe. We

know that the police need the right capabilities and resources to respond to the changing

nature of crime. This financial year, we provided forces with a £460m increase in overall

funding, including increased funding to tackle counter-terrorism and £280m for local

policing through the police precept. Most Police and Crime Commissioners set out plans

to use this funding to either protect or enhance frontline policing. Last year, we indicated

we would provide a similar funding settlement in 2019/20, if the police made progress in

delivering further commercial savings, used mobile digital working and increased financial

reserves transparency. The police have delivered on these conditions and are on track to





deliver £120m in commercial and back office savings by 2020/21 and move towards a

new commercial operating model. All forces have published reserves strategies using the

guidance we published in January 2018.

Before announcing the Government’s proposals, we reviewed the demand on the police

again. It is clear that demand pressures on the police have risen this year as a result of

changing crime. There has been a major increase in the reporting of high harm,

previously hidden crimes such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery and a

growing threat from serious and organised crime (SOC). SOC affects more UK citizens,

more often, than any other national security threat and costs the economy at least £37

billion each year. It is increasing in both volume and complexity.

Through the Serious Violence Strategy, we are bearing down on the worst spike in

serious violence and knife crime that we have seen in a decade by combining support for

more robust and targeted policing with effective long-term investment in prevention and

earlier intervention. And we need to recognise the work done by the police to combat the

evolving threat from terrorism. The Government is determined to support the police to

meet the demand across counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime and local

policing.

I have carefully considered the responses to the consultation on the provisional Police

Grant Report. I am pleased with the positive response we have received with most Police

and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) consulting their communities on using the new £24

precept flexibility in full and many saying that they will use the additional funding to

increase or protect the frontline.

I can confirm that the allocations that have been laid before the House today are the

same as those proposed in my Statement of 13 December 2018. These proposals will

help forces to both meet additional demand and manage financial pressures. In total, we

will enable an increase in funding for the police system of up to £970m compared to

2018/19, the biggest increase since 2010. This includes increases in Government grant

funding, full use of precept flexibility, funding to support pensions costs, and increased

national funding to meet the threats from counter-terrorism and serious and organised

crime.

As the Chancellor announced at the Budget, funding for counter-terrorism policing will

increase by £160m compared to the 2015 Spending Review settlement. This is a year on

year increase in counter-terrorism police funding of £59m (8%) compared to 2018/19.

This increases the counter-terrorism budget to £816m, including £24m for an uplift in

armed policing from the Police Transformation Fund. This is a significant additional

investment in the vital work of counter-terrorism police officers across the country. PCCs

will be notified of force allocations separately. These will not be made public for security

reasons. The Government has prioritised serious and organised crime (SOC) within our

funding for national priorities in 2019/20. Criminal networks are increasingly resilient and

adaptable, exploiting technology and ruthlessly targeting the most vulnerable, ruining

lives and blighting communities. The new SOC Strategy, published on 1 November, sets

out the Government’s new approach to prevent serious and organised crime, build our

defences against it, track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Police forces,

alongside the NCA and Regional Organised Crime Units, are an essential part of this

approach, tackling complex SOC threats, including fraud, cyber crime and child sexual

exploitation and abuse. We will invest £90m in much-needed SOC capabilities at

national, regional and local levels, with a significant proportion allocated directly to police

forces. We are increasing the general Government grants to PCCs by £161m (including

£90m additional funding from the Exchequer) to a total of £7.8bn, including a £146m

increase in core grant funding. Each PCC will see their Government grant funding

protected in real terms. Specific grants to the Metropolitan Police Service and City of

London Police will increase by £14m; an affordable increase that will better reflect the

additional costs of policing London, at a time when the Metropolitan Police Service faces

specific financial pressures, and the City of London Police does not benefit from

additional Council Tax precept flexibility.

Following the announcement at the Budget that the Government would allocate funding

from the Reserve to pay part of the costs of increases in public sector pensions

contributions in 2019/20, we are allocating a further £153m of specific grant funding to

support the policing system with increases in pensions contributions (including additional

funding for the counter-terrorism police network and the National Crime Agency). This

funding will be distributed according to a methodology developed with police leaders. We

are also proposing to double the precept flexibility for locally accountable PCCs. Last

year, we provided an additional £12 precept flexibility. This year, we propose giving PCCs

the freedom to ask for an additional £2 a month in 2019/20, to increase their Band D

precept by £24 in 2019/20 without the need to call a local referendum. It is for locally

accountable PCCs to take decisions on local precept and explain to their electorate how

this additional investment will help deliver a better police service. If all PCCs use their

flexibility in full in 2019/20, based on the latest Office for Budget Responsibility tax base

forecasts, it will mean around an additional £509m public investment in our police system.

Taken together, this substantial increase in police funding will enable forces to continue

recruiting, fill crucial capability gaps such as in detectives, meet their genuine financial

pressures, drive through efficiency programmes, and improve their effectiveness by

preventing crime and delivering better outcomes for victims of crime. In addition to these

increases in direct funding, we will also support PCCs and forces through continued

investment of £175m in the Police Transformation Fund (PTF) and £495m to improve

police technology, as we did last year. Our priorities in the PTF are to support sector led

initiatives that will build important national capabilities delivered to forces through the

major national police led programmes, which include a Single Online Home (Policing

website) to engage more effectively with the public, and new ways of working through

productivity and cyber-security tools supporting collaboration. The Home Office

technology programmes will, for example, replace and upgrade end of life critical

infrastructure such as the Airwave communication system with the 4G Emergency

Services Network. The Law Enforcement Data Service will replace the existing Police

National Computer and Police National Database with an integrated service to provide

intelligence to law enforcement and its partners. I set out in an annex to this letter further

information regarding police funding in 2019/20, namely tables illustrating how we

propose to allocate the police funding settlement between the different funding streams

and between Police and Crime Commissioners for 2019/20. As I set out in my statement

of 13 December, this investment will support four key pillars of police effectiveness.

Firstly, increasing capacity, including investing in Police Now to attract excellent new

talent, while introducing technology that saves time – so officers spend longer on the

frontline. Secondly, crime prevention, including funding for innovative new techniques.

Thirdly, enhancing the support we offer to hard-working frontline police officers and staff,

with the new national welfare service. And finally, through ensuring system leaders

provide national direction on performance, including through working more smartly, with

the digitally enabled modern tools to police effectively. As set out in December, this

settlement sets out four priority areas to drive efficiency, productivity and effectiveness

next year to drive improvements in services to the public. 1. On behalf of the taxpayer,

the Government will expect to see continued efficiency savings in 2019/20 through

collective procurement and shared services. We need to see national approaches to

procuring forensics, vehicles and basic equipment such as helmets, developed over the

coming year. And we will be setting an expectation that every force contributes

substantially to procurement savings; we will work with the police to agree the right force

level objectives for 2019/20 and 2020/21 in the coming months. All forces should also

contribute to the development of a new commercial operating model over 2019/20. 2. We

will expect major progress to resolve the challenges in investigative resource identified by

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, including

recruiting more detectives to tackle the shortfall. We will work with the College of Policing

and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to support forces to make this change by

accelerating their action plan on investigations, making full use of the innovation offered

by Police Now. 3. Forces will have to continue improving productivity, including through

smarter use of data, and digital capabilities including mobile working, with an ambition to

deliver £50m of productivity gains in 2019/20. 4. Furthermore, we expect forces to

maintain a SOC response that spans the identification and management of local threats

as well as support for national and regional priorities. This response should be built

around the disruption of local SOC threats alongside SOC prevention, safeguarding,

partnerships and community engagement. We will be engaging with police leaders in due

course to discuss how these improvements will be delivered.

This settlement is the last before the next Spending Review, which will set long term

police budgets and look at how resources are allocated fairly across police forces. The

Home Office is grateful to the police for the good work they are doing to build the

evidence base to support that work, and we will also want to see evidence that this year’s

investment is being well spent. In addition to working together to understand demand, we

will be working with the police to present an ambitious plan to drive improved efficiency,

productivity and effectiveness through the next Spending Review period. I have made

clear that the Government’s priorities are an increasing emphasis on crime prevention,

while maintaining a focus on catching the perpetrators of crime; improved outcomes for

victims of crime; better support for front line officers; and a step change in the

effectiveness of how data and digital technology are used to build a smarter police

system and support a more effective service to the public. The Government pays tribute

to our police forces and police staff around the country for their exceptional attitude, hard

work and bravery.

I have set out in a separate document the tables illustrating how we propose to allocate

the police funding settlement between the different funding streams and between Police

& Crime Commissioners for 2019/20. These documents are intended to be read together.

Attachments:

1. Police Grant allocation tables 2019/20 [Final Police Settlement 2019-20 - WMS tables

(002) (002).pdf]

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Housing redress

Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

(James Brokenshire): [HCWS1272]

Our White Paper Fixing our broken housing market, published February 2017, highlighted

the need to make the housing market work for everyone, and set out a comprehensive

plan to achieve this.

We have been clear that we want to make the housing market fairer and more

transparent for tenants, leaseholders and homeowners. This includes making sure

consumers have straightforward routes for getting problems swiftly put right when things

go wrong with their homes.

That is why my Department consulted earlier this year on options for strengthening

consumer redress in housing, including options for streamlining housing redress services

to simplify access for consumers.

The consultation sought views on the existing provision of redress for housing consumers

and considered how we could improve services, strengthening access where there may

be gaps in existing provision, and how future services could be configured to serve

consumers better.

Today I am pleased to publish my response to this consultation. The response sets out

proposals for a programme of reform to strengthen redress for housing consumers.

First, I am clear that people should be able to access help in resolving housing

complaints without needing to apply to the court system. We will bring forward legislation

to require all Private Rented Sector landlords, regardless of whether they employ an

agent for full management services, to be a member of a redress scheme, including all

residential park home site owners and private providers of purpose-built student

accommodation. We will also introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows to

require all freeholders of leasehold properties, regardless of whether they employ a

managing agent, to be a member of a redress scheme. Finally, we propose to bring

forward legislation to create a similar requirement on all developers of new build homes

to belong to a New Homes Ombudsman and will consult on the detail of that legislation in

due course.


Secondly, there is a need to simplify access to existing redress schemes. Responses to

the consultation were clear that we need to reduce confusion for customers in the face of

a multiplicity of schemes, while maintaining the specialisms needed to handle complaints

within specific tenures.

I therefore propose the establishment of a new Housing Complaints Resolution

Service, a new single access portal through which consumers will be able to seek help to

resolve complaints and access redress when they have not been able to resolve disputes

with their landlord, property agent or developer.

I intend to work closely with ombudsmen and redress schemes to deliver this in

partnership. My ambition is for this service to be available for social housing residents,

private renters, leaseholders and buyers of new build homes. People must be confident in

their options when things go wrong with their homes, and we will commit to raising

consumer awareness of how to resolve complaints once the new service is operational.

We will establish a Redress Reform Working Group with ombudsmen and redress

schemes to help drive the programme of reform, including the establishment of the

resolution service. We want to work with this group to undertake a comprehensive audit

of existing standards for handling complaints and explore how they could be improved

through existing and new voluntary guidance on a sector by sector basis which, where

appropriate, will be underpinned through legislation or regulation.

It is my ambition that this will develop into a comprehensive ‘ Code of Practice ’ on

complaint handling for the whole housing sector. Through this we can ensure that there

are clear expectations for accessibility, transparency, timeliness and sanctions in terms of

handling complaints. Work to improve complaints handling in the social housing sector

will initially be carried forward separately, given our commitments in the Social Housing

Green Paper to address the specific issues facing social housing residents.

The Redress Reform Working Group will also help us work both to understand how to

deal with complex and difficult cases, which may not fit easily within the remit of redress

schemes, and how to better enforce decisions. We will keep open the option of tabling

further legislation if necessary, to make this as effective as possible.

Finally, in October, we announced proposals to ensure that a New Homes Ombudsman

is established to protect the interests of homebuyers and hold developers to account

when things go wrong. We intend to bring forward the legislation to require developers of

new build homes to belong to a New Homes Ombudsman and we will consult on the

detail of the proposed legislation.

Cumulatively these reforms will help ensure that nobody will be left without somewhere to

go when something goes wrong with their housing, and that they will have free,

accessible and independent routes to have their case resolved in a timely way.

The policy proposals primarily relate to England. The UK Government will be discussing

these issues with devolved administrations on those matters where proposals have scope

outside England.

Copies of the consultation response will be placed in the House Library and are available

on the Government's website here

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-consumer-redress-in-

housing

PRIME MINISTER

Statement under Section 13(11)(a) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Prime Minister (Mrs Theresa May): [HCWS1271]

Further to section 13(11)(a) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the 2018 Act),

the Government proposes to proceed with the steps outlined in my statement of Monday

21 January 2019 [HCWS1258] made under section 13(4) of the 2018 Act. As set out in

that statement the Government will schedule a debate on a joint motion in neutral terms

to the effect that Parliament has considered the relevant statements pursuant to the

provisions of section 13 of the 2018 Act, which includes both that earlier statement and

this statement. The debates will be scheduled to take place on Monday 28 January 2019

in the House of Lords and Tuesday 29 January 2019 in the House of Commons.

To enable these debates to take place the Government will today table in each House

joint motions under sections 13(6) and (11) of the 2018 Act, and as provided for by

section 13(13) of the 2018 Act. As was explained in the statement of 21 January, these

joint motions will replace the motions tabled in both Houses on Monday 21 January under

section 13(6) of the 2018 Act. As referenced in that statement, Members will need to re-

table the amendments tabled to the original motion under section 13(6)(a) of the 2018

Act. Members should seek advice from the House Authorities on tabling amendments.

This approach is being taken to avoid any legal uncertainty as to whether the

Government has complied fully with the terms of the 2018 Act.

TRANSPORT

Future Maritime Strategy

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Ms Nusrat Ghani):

[HCWS1270]

I am today announcing the publication of Maritime 2050: Navigating the Future, the

Government’s landmark strategy setting out our vision and ambitions for the future of the

British maritime sector.

Our nation depends on the wide range of benefits the maritime sector delivers. It

contributes over £14 billion a year to the UK economy and directly supports an estimated

186,000 jobs. Around 95% of British imports and exports are moved by sea. The leisure

and marine sectors are vital to our enjoyment of the seas. Our maritime clusters around

the UK showcase the diversity of our regional economies, from professional services in

London to ship management and educational excellence in Scotland.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-consumer-redress-in-housing






We rightly take pride in our maritime past. Maritime 2050 is about looking forward;

anticipating the challenges and opportunities ahead and recognising the UK’s strengths

so we are well placed to capitalise on them. Maritime 2050 looks at these across 7

themes and under each makes short, medium and long-term recommendations: UK

competitive advantage; people; environment; technology; infrastructure; trade; security

and resilience. It highlights multi-billion pound commercial investment in maritime

infrastructure at ports and beyond. Our unwavering commitment to safety and security.

Our reputation for innovation, paving the way on regulatory frameworks and technology to

facilitate smart shipping and autonomy; leading the way in clean maritime growth. But no

matter how far advances in ships and technology take us, it sets out how the people

graduating from our maritime training and academic institutions will reflect the world

around us and continue to be sought after across the globe for their skills.

As the global maritime sector adapts to challenges such as climate change, rapid

technological advances and security concerns, Maritime 2050 sets a series of strategic

ambitions around which Government and the sector will focus its efforts, and core values

which we will be guided by.

The partnership between Government and the maritime sector has been vital to the

development of this strategy. It began in March 2018 with a call for evidence, seeking to

reach all branches of the sector, complemented by workshops around the UK to capture

the views from across our maritime clusters, and interviews with leaders in industry and

academia. Maritime 2050 has also benefitted from the advice and scrutiny of an

independent panel of thirteen internationally respected academics, industry leaders,

maritime business services providers and promotional bodies. As a result, Maritime 2050

reflects the depth and breadth of the UK’s rich maritime sector.

A copy of Maritime 2050 has been placed in the library of both Houses and is available

on GOV.UK, together with the Trade and Technology route maps setting out in greater

detail the steps needed to achieve the UK’s strategic maritime ambitions.

daily report thursday, 24 january 2019 contents

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