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1203347

registered interest
date	12/06/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the provision of covid-19 guidance in the workplace for (a) employers and (b) staff in the offshore oil and gas industry.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	59220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a contributing member of the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Pandemic Steering Group (PSG), which also includes members from OGUK, helicopter operators, oil and gas companies, industry associations, medical professionals, Step Change in Safety (SCiS), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and trade unions, including Unite and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.</p><p> </p><p>The PSG has developed and published a range of guidance for offshore oil and gas companies on measures required to manage the risks of COVID-19 infection. The PSG has also produced guidance specifically for the offshore workforce on the measures oil and gas companies should have in place to manage the risks of COVID-19 offshore: <a href="https://oilandgasuk.co.uk/covid-19/" target="_blank">https://oilandgasuk.co.uk/covid-19/</a> and <a href="https://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/workgroups/covid-19/" target="_blank">https://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/workgroups/covid-19/</a>. HSE has also supported the PSG in formulating Scottish Government sector guidance which supports working safely offshore during the COVID-19 pandemic: <a href="https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/guidance-for-prevention-and-management-of-cases-of-covid-19-on-offshore-installations/" target="_blank">https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/guidance-for-prevention-and-management-of-cases-of-covid-19-on-offshore-installations/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2020 16:56:33 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1203348

registered interest
date	12/06/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) Scottish Government on the (i) provision and (ii) uptake of public covid-19 test facilities for offshore oil and gas workers.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	59221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State and I engage with a wide variety of stakeholders on a regular basis.</p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supports the testing of offshore workers to identify and manage the risks from COVID-19. HSE has given its full support to the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Pandemic Steering Group (PSG) to help deliver testing for all offshore workers. HSE is in regular communication with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to further support the availability of testing for all offshore workers, including those who are asymptomatic.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2020 16:52:02 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1203349

registered interest
date	12/06/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Wind Power: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) content and (b) availability of covid-19 workplace safety guidance for (i) employers and (ii) staff in the offshore wind industry; and when she last discussed that matter with that industry's representatives.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	59222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>On 24<sup>th</sup> March 2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wrote to the offshore wind industry reminding employers of their legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their workforce. The letter also directed duty holders to the more detailed social distancing guidelines on the Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and Public Health Wales websites.</p><p> </p><p>On 26<sup>th</sup> March 2020, HSE met virtually with representatives of major industry duty holders and trade associations to discuss how the industry would comply with social distancing requirements. On 1<sup>st</sup> April 2020 the Renewable Energy Emergency Response Forum (“REEF”) held a meeting at which HSE, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Police and industry representatives agreed that each duty holder would develop their own arrangements to comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, based on the above mentioned social distancing guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>Since then, HSE continues to contact offshore wind farm duty holders to check that they have suitable COVID-19 risk control measures in place.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/06/2020 13:00:32 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1196306

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Tees Valley
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new universal credit claimants there were in each of the five local authority areas within the Tees Valley in each of the last three months.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	47286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>Information on new Universal Credit claims is not available by local authority. However, data surrounding starts to UC by postcode area is published online and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p>This includes data on the number of new Universal Credit claims in the postcode areas of Cleveland and Darlington up to 9<sup>th</sup> April 2020.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/05/2020 14:39:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1196307

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has provided to staff processing claims for universal credit on using a better off calculation when a new claim is received.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	47287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>DWP staff will signpost people to independent benefit calculators where they can check their eligibility for Universal Credit before applying.</p><p> </p><p>The independent benefits calculators we endorse are intended to provide useful estimations of what people can get in certain circumstances, based on what information is entered on the calculators themselves. This is to allow people to safely explore what help they may receive from Universal Credit before they apply, or based on potential changes of circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>For people considering claiming Universal Credit, we have updated our information on gov.uk and on understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk, where links to independent benefit calculators are published.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/05/2020 14:42:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1187731

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure that (a) social distancing and (b) other measures to help prevent increasing covid-19 infection rates are enforced among offshore oil and gas workers.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	34979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a contributing member of the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Pandemic Steering Group, which also contains members from OGUK, helicopter operators, oil and gas companies, Step Change in Safety and Health Protection Scotland. The Pandemic Steering Group has developed a protocol and range of measures to give guidance to offshore oil and gas companies on social distancing and other measures to prevent the COVID-19 infection of offshore workers. This has been disseminated to the industry via the OGUK working groups and online communication channels where appropriate and will be supported by the published full guidance document on OGUK’s website early next week.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/04/2020 15:40:40 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 16496 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1178906

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Wind Power
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the names of the training providers in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales that offer courses in (i) basic safety training and (ii) basic technical training that are required for employment in the offshore wind industry.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>It is a legal duty on all employers within the offshore wind industry to provide sufficient information, instruction and training to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of people in their employment and others who may be affected. It is a matter for each individual employer to decide on how that information, instruction and training is provided, commensurate to the risks. Therefore, HSE does not approve the industry training standards.</p><p> </p><p>HSE is aware of the Global Wind Organisation’s (GWO) training standards and that training providers are audited on a regular basis by the GWO to ensure that training is delivered to those standards. Further information can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.globalwindsafety.org/trainingproviders/findttraningprovider?d19e55cf_page=5" target="_blank">https://www.globalwindsafety.org/trainingproviders/findttraningprovider?d19e55cf_page=5</a>.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2020 16:26:35 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1179130

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Wind Power: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken since 2016 to assess the compliance of (a) basic safety training and (b) basic technical training standards required by employers in the offshore wind industry with domestic health and safety regulations.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18689
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>In 2012, in response to the emergence of the offshore wind industry, HSE created a dedicated team to regulate the offshore renewable energy industry. In addition to carrying out planned inspection and investigation of injuries and incidents, HSE’s dedicated team has worked with a range of stakeholders to encourage the development of good standards for health and safety. This has included working with industry bodies including the Global Wind Organisation (GWO), G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation (G+) and RenewableUK (RUK).</p><p> </p><p>In November 2015, HSE hosted an industry leaders’ event where a commitment was made by those organisations to further improve industry leadership, increase engagement across the supply chain, develop a common risk reduction programme for the industry and develop and deliver good practice. The industry created a steering group to ensure the effective delivery of improvement. In April 2018, HSE and the industry reviewed progress and were broadly satisfied that progress had been made with a desire to do more.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2012, one of HSE’s priorities has been worker competence to ensure that people work safely. Although HSE does not approve training standards, it has been involved in discussions about the GWO training standards for basic safety. HSE sees the benefit in industry minimum standards of training as it facilitates worker mobility, reduces unnecessary bureaucracy and costs without reducing health and safety standards. However, they make clear to industry that this should be supplemented with an individual training needs analysis to determine the additional training needs for specific tasks required to be carried out safely.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2020 16:19:55 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1179131

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Wind Power: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of employees in the offshore wind industry that hold (a) basic safety training and (b) a basic technical training certification in line with the minimum safety training standards for the industry set by the Global Wind Organisation.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18690
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>It is a legal duty on all employers within the offshore wind industry to provide sufficient information, instruction and training to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of people in their employment and others who may be affected. It is a matter for each individual employer to decide on how that information, instruction and training is provided, commensurate with the risks. Therefore, HSE does not approve the industry training standards nor keep records of the numbers trained under any individual training scheme.</p><p /><p>At inspections and during investigations, HSE does make thorough inquiries to ensure that workers who go offshore have received basic safety training prior to going offshore and that this is refreshed on a regular basis. That basic safety training covers the following topics: Marine Safety; Work at Height and Escape and Evacuation; First Aid; Fire Awareness; and Manual Handling. In addition, HSE does make inquiries into ensuring job specific training is provided.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2020 16:09:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1179133

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Wind Power: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department his made of the adequacy of health and safety training standards required by employers for (a) commercial divers, (b) seafarers and (c) technicians for employment the offshore wind industry.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	18692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>It is a legal duty on all employers within the offshore wind industry to provide sufficient information, instruction and training to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of people in their employment and others who may be affected. It is a matter for each individual employer to decide on how that information, instruction and training is provided, commensurate to the risks.</p><p> </p><p>HSE does not have a statutory responsibility to approve training courses or standards for the sector. In 2012, HSE created a dedicated team to regulate the sector and that team has conducted inspections and investigations at offshore wind farms, enforcing health and safety legislation in accordance with HSE’s policies and procedures. Where HSE has identified that a duty holder has not provided suitable information, instruction and training, then it has taken action in accordance with its Enforcement Policy Statement (<a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm</a>).</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2020 16:38:27 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham