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1060961

registered interest
date	14/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Tickets
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans his Department has to expand smart ticketing for rail passengers.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	909229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>We have launched a consultation on extending the very popular pay-as-you-go Oyster system to other parts of the south-east, and we are looking at the underlying principles for the rest of the country, too. As the public consultation document sets out, we are considering different options, and I would encourage anyone who believes their local station should be included in a pay-as-you-go zone to respond to the consultation, saying what they want and why.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 14/02/2019 14:59:17 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1060962

registered interest
date	14/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Transport: Social Mobility
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment he has made of the importance of transport connectivity to social mobility.
tabling member constituency	Leigh
tabling member printed	Jo Platt
uin	909232
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>Good transport connectivity is critical for social mobility and allows people to access a wider pool of economic opportunities, from high quality jobs to education and training opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we have committed record capital investment in the transport systems and why we have put more spending power in the hands of local communities who best know the needs of their area.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 14/02/2019 15:16:14 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

1060963

registered interest
date	14/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Stations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to increase accessibility and capacity at local railway stations.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	909237
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to improving accessibility and in April I will be announcing the stations which will benefit from an additional £300m of Access for All funding. This is in addition to access improvements being delivered at stations by the industry itself.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 14/02/2019 15:40:48 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1060964

registered interest
date	14/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Bus Services: Tees Valley
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to improve bus services in Teesside.
tabling member constituency	Stockton South
tabling member printed	Dr Paul Williams
uin	909238
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools that local authorities need to improve local bus services. Bus Open Data powers in the Act will require bus operators in England to open up information about routes, timetables, fares and tickets in real time for passengers by 2020. These improvements aim to improve journey planning and help passengers secure best value tickets.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with interested local authorities to determine which of the powers provided are best able to support bus networks in their areas.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 14/02/2019 15:44:58 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
tabling member	4666 label Biography information for Dr Paul Williams

1060472

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Sustainable Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps her Department is taking to encourage people to contribute to the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals.
tabling member constituency	Wells
tabling member printed	James Heappey
uin	909197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>I am committed to an inclusive Voluntary National Review that showcases activity across the UK. Almost 200 organisations and individuals have submitted case studies highlighting activity to support delivery of the Goals. We continue to welcome contributions which can be submitted via our gov.uk VNR website.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:10:58 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4528 label Biography information for James Heappey

1060473

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Trade Agreements: Developing Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps her Department is taking to promote the Government's trade for development programme.
tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
tabling member printed	Scott Mann
uin	909199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains a world leader in trade for development. We are prioritising our trading partners for the future, for example through our commitments on gender, the new Commonwealth Standards Network and our ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:12:13 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

1060474

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	CDC: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps she is taking to ensure that new investments made by the CDC Group contribute to poverty reduction.
tabling member constituency	Bradford East
tabling member printed	Imran Hussain
uin	909200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>CDC invests to create jobs and reduce poverty. The five year Strategic Framework published in 2017 sets out steps CDC is taking to maximise the development impact of its investments. Almost 750,000 people are directly employed by companies supported by CDC in the poorest countries in Africa and South Asia.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:13:11 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4394 label Biography information for Imran Hussain

1060475

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	International Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps she is taking to promote reform of OECD Development Assistance Committee rules on aid spending.
tabling member constituency	Saffron Walden
tabling member printed	Mrs Kemi Badenoch
uin	909203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK is leading efforts to modernise the international aid rules to ensure they can keep pace with new challenges and support the delivery of the Global Goals. We have secured significant progress in changing the rules, including the recent agreement on an ODA reverse-graduation mechanism.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:15:07 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4597 label Biography information for Mrs Kemi Badenoch

1060476

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Trade Agreements: Developing Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps her Department is taking to promote the Government's trade for development programme.
tabling member constituency	Stafford
tabling member printed	Jeremy Lefroy
uin	909204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains a world leader in trade for development. We are prioritising our trading partners for the future, for example through our commitments on gender, the new Commonwealth Standards Network and our ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:11:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4109 label Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy

1060477

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Overseas Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the UK’s international development sector.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	909205
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>UK organisations have shared with us their own assessments of leaving the EU. The Withdrawal Agreement confirms that UK organisations are entitled to participate in current EU programmes for their duration. In the future, any UK financial contribution to EU programmes would require eligibility for UK organisations to implement relevant programmes.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 13/02/2019 15:15:43 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1060617

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps his Department has taken to minimise disruption to the work of the Serious Fraud Office in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	220767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The SFO has already put contingency plans in place to ensure minimal disruption to its casework in the event of no deal. This includes delivering training and awareness sessions and reviewing cases that are using or will use EU tools and measures. In addition an exercise is underway to recruit six additional staff members to support case teams when the UK exits the EU.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:33:04 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1060715

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking to promote green energy production in Wales.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	220939
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK Government supports a range of renewable energy schemes in Wales through the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariffs schemes, and has supported 192 MW of renewable energy generation in Wales through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Scheme. The Government plans to open a further CfD allocation round by May 2019, and Welsh stakeholders were invited to contribute to the consultation process at an event in Cardiff on 20 February 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is investing in Wales to support its low carbon generation targets through initiatives such as the Pembroke Dock Marine project in the Swansea Bay City Deal. Furthermore, we are in negotiations with local partners in North Wales about the inclusion of a Smart Energy Networks project within the North Wales Growth Deal, and have included the Morlais Marine Energy Infrastructure Project in the Department for International Trade’s Capital Investments Energy Portfolio.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 18/02/2019 10:53:49 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1060751

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been created in Wolverhampton North East (a) in each of the twelve months before the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and (b) in each month since the levy was introduced.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220893
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The attached table shows the figures for apprenticeship starts for Wolverhampton North East constituency for each month by academic year from 2015/16 to 2018/19 (quarter 1 reported to date).</p><p>In May 2017, there were significant structural changes to the apprenticeship funding system, including the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and apprenticeship service. The profile of apprenticeship starts changed significantly, both in the run-up to the introduction of the levy and subsequently. Care should be taken when comparing individual months with previous years as they are unlikely to provide a meaningful year-on-year trend. Numbers of reported starts are likely to change as the reforms to apprenticeship funding continue to bed in and employers engage with the new system.</p><p>The information requested is not held centrally regarding the proportion of levy-paying firms that have taken on apprentices. However, the department holds information on the number of apprenticeship service accounts (ASAs) registered. As of 31 December 2018, there were 16,100 ASAs registered on the apprenticeship service.</p><p>Since the introduction of the levy, 268,500 levy-supported starts have been recorded for England. Levy-supported learners are those supported by levy-paying organisations using at least £1 of their own levy funds. For context, there have been 555,800 total starts for England since the levy (from quarter 4 of 2016/17 to quarter 1 of 2018/19).</p><p>In addition, in January 2018, we published that 91.7 percent of those who had PAYE schemes with apprenticeship levy declarations in England of over £150,000 had registered on the apprenticeship service.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton grouped question UIN 220895 question first answered 18/02/2019 11:54:06 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton attachment 1 file name 220893_220895_apprenticeships_table_attachment.xls title 220893_220895_apprenticeships_table_attachment
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1060782

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of apprenticeship levy-paying employers have hired apprentices.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	220895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The attached table shows the figures for apprenticeship starts for Wolverhampton North East constituency for each month by academic year from 2015/16 to 2018/19 (quarter 1 reported to date).</p><p>In May 2017, there were significant structural changes to the apprenticeship funding system, including the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and apprenticeship service. The profile of apprenticeship starts changed significantly, both in the run-up to the introduction of the levy and subsequently. Care should be taken when comparing individual months with previous years as they are unlikely to provide a meaningful year-on-year trend. Numbers of reported starts are likely to change as the reforms to apprenticeship funding continue to bed in and employers engage with the new system.</p><p>The information requested is not held centrally regarding the proportion of levy-paying firms that have taken on apprentices. However, the department holds information on the number of apprenticeship service accounts (ASAs) registered. As of 31 December 2018, there were 16,100 ASAs registered on the apprenticeship service.</p><p>Since the introduction of the levy, 268,500 levy-supported starts have been recorded for England. Levy-supported learners are those supported by levy-paying organisations using at least £1 of their own levy funds. For context, there have been 555,800 total starts for England since the levy (from quarter 4 of 2016/17 to quarter 1 of 2018/19).</p><p>In addition, in January 2018, we published that 91.7 percent of those who had PAYE schemes with apprenticeship levy declarations in England of over £150,000 had registered on the apprenticeship service.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton grouped question UIN 220893 question first answered 18/02/2019 11:54:06 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton attachment 1 file name 220893_220895_apprenticeships_table_attachment.xls title 220893_220895_apprenticeships_table_attachment
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1060808

registered interest
date	13/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many staff the Crown Prosecution Service employed (a) in each region and (b) at CPS Direct in each year from 2010.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	220762
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The number of staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in each Region and in CPS Direct in each year from 2010 (As at 31 December of each year) is listed in the table below:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>CPS Region</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central Casework</p></td><td><p>620</p></td><td><p>472</p></td><td><p>592</p></td><td><p>564</p></td><td><p>662</p></td><td><p>633</p></td><td><p>661</p></td><td><p>704</p></td><td><p>707</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CPS Direct</p></td><td><p>155</p></td><td><p>135</p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p>302</p></td><td><p>286</p></td><td><p>260</p></td><td><p>244</p></td><td><p>210</p></td><td><p>183</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CPS Headquarters</p></td><td><p>482</p></td><td><p>413</p></td><td><p>443</p></td><td><p>434</p></td><td><p>414</p></td><td><p>432</p></td><td><p>390</p></td><td><p>444</p></td><td><p>500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cymru Wales</p></td><td><p>432</p></td><td><p>403</p></td><td><p>381</p></td><td><p>321</p></td><td><p>296</p></td><td><p>275</p></td><td><p>284</p></td><td><p>278</p></td><td><p>275</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>526</p></td><td><p>477</p></td><td><p>426</p></td><td><p>355</p></td><td><p>330</p></td><td><p>310</p></td><td><p>308</p></td><td><p>316</p></td><td><p>311</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eastern</p></td><td><p>408</p></td><td><p>385</p></td><td><p>366</p></td><td><p>325</p></td><td><p>284</p></td><td><p>257</p></td><td><p>251</p></td><td><p>254</p></td><td><p>266</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>1203</p></td><td><p>1233</p></td><td><p>1047</p></td><td><p>955</p></td><td><p>937</p></td><td><p>876</p></td><td><p>924</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London North</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>463</p></td><td><p>463</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London South</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>474</p></td><td><p>466</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Merseyside &amp; Cheshire</p></td><td><p>358</p></td><td><p>338</p></td><td><p>282</p></td><td><p>233</p></td><td><p>223</p></td><td><p>205</p></td><td><p>217</p></td><td><p>224</p></td><td><p>240</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>422</p></td><td><p>391</p></td><td><p>368</p></td><td><p>320</p></td><td><p>293</p></td><td><p>256</p></td><td><p>270</p></td><td><p>264</p></td><td><p>260</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West Group</p></td><td><p>769</p></td><td><p>687</p></td><td><p>688</p></td><td><p>614</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>510</p></td><td><p>516</p></td><td><p>494</p></td><td><p>458</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>404</p></td><td><p>373</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>291</p></td><td><p>287</p></td><td><p>242</p></td><td><p>246</p></td><td><p>250</p></td><td><p>250</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>338</p></td><td><p>313</p></td><td><p>281</p></td><td><p>256</p></td><td><p>219</p></td><td><p>212</p></td><td><p>210</p></td><td><p>223</p></td><td><p>217</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Thames &amp; Chiltern</p></td><td><p>430</p></td><td><p>396</p></td><td><p>412</p></td><td><p>342</p></td><td><p>332</p></td><td><p>282</p></td><td><p>271</p></td><td><p>288</p></td><td><p>275</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wessex</p></td><td><p>348</p></td><td><p>330</p></td><td><p>317</p></td><td><p>264</p></td><td><p>265</p></td><td><p>233</p></td><td><p>231</p></td><td><p>221</p></td><td><p>229</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands Group</p></td><td><p>775</p></td><td><p>698</p></td><td><p>617</p></td><td><p>520</p></td><td><p>489</p></td><td><p>457</p></td><td><p>449</p></td><td><p>435</p></td><td><p>424</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorkshire &amp; Humberside Group</p></td><td><p>674</p></td><td><p>628</p></td><td><p>612</p></td><td><p>537</p></td><td><p>507</p></td><td><p>482</p></td><td><p>482</p></td><td><p>447</p></td><td><p>422</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>8344</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>7672</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>7373</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>6633</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>6384</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5922</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5954</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5989</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5946</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>*Note: Following an organisational restructure in 2011 some CPS commands were changed from Groups to single Areas under the leadership of a single Chief Crown Prosecutor.</p><p>Data Source: Trent HR Database February 2019.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:41:32 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1059376

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Compensation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on the introduction of an automated delay repay compensation scheme that is interoperable across train operating companies.
tabling member constituency	North East Hampshire
tabling member printed	Mr Ranil Jayawardena
uin	909230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>As announced by the Secretary of State in October, the Government will mandate new franchises to introduce simple “one-click” automated claims systems, available via smartphones and smartcard registration. This will make it easier for passengers to claim compensation when they have suffered delays.</p><p> </p><p>We are also encouraging “one-click” compensation to be introduced across all DfT train operators.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 14/02/2019 15:06:37 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4498 label Biography information for Mr Ranil Jayawardena

1059613

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Parking Offences: Appeals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the proposals contained within the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, what plans they have to introduce a single appeals service for the private parking sector.
tabling member printed	Viscount Astor
uin	HL13636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is supportive of the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, which we believe will get the fairest deal for motorists, operators and landowners. Our current intention is to appoint a single appeals service for the private parking sector, using the powers granted by the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill should it pass in to law.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth question first answered 14/02/2019 17:16:29 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	3429 label Biography information for Viscount Astor

1059722

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	City Deals: Swansea Bay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what progress he has made on the joint investigations by the UK and Welsh Governments into the Swansea Bay City Deal.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	220181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Actica Consulting were appointed by the UK and Welsh Governments to undertake the Joint Independent Review of the Swansea Bay City Region City Deal in January 2019. The review is currently underway and I expect to receive the final report by the end of February.</p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 18/02/2019 10:54:43 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1059796

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to prepare the education sector for the effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	220064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Leaving the EU with a deal remains the government’s top priority. This has not changed.</p><p>The department has published “no deal notices” on GOV.UK[1] to provide information and advice to schools and to further education and higher education institutions. The purpose of these notices is to help them prepare in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.</p><p> </p><p>[1] EU Exit: No deal preparations for schools in England - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england</a>.</p><p>EU Exit: No deal preparations for further education and apprenticeship providers - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-further-education-and-apprenticeship-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-further-education-and-apprenticeship-providers</a>.</p><p>EU Exit: No deal preparati​ons for higher education institutions - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-higher-education-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-higher-education-institutions</a>.</p><p>Erasmus+ in the UK if there's no brexit deal - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 18/02/2019 11:46:00 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1059821

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Insects: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to preserve natural habitats for (a) butterflies, (b) bees and (c) moths.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	220088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>To preserve natural habitats the Government is taking action to protect our best wildlife sites, expand habitat for insects in the wider countryside and support partnerships working on targeted habitat restoration and species recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Over one million hectares of our best habitats for wildlife on land and in our freshwater and coastal areas are conserved through our protected sites designations.</p><p> </p><p>Outside the protected sites series we are managing land to create new wildlife-rich habitat. Since 2011, over 130,000 ha in England have been set aside for this purpose. In 2015, we introduced new and simple agri-environment ‘packages’ to make it easier for farmers to provide flower rich margins or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England, our statutory nature conservation adviser, continues to work with a range of landowning and NGO partners to support the recovery of threatened insect species by managing and creating habitats for threatened species such as the barberry carpet moth, the short-haired bumblebee and chequered skipper butterfly.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to preserving habitats, the Government is taking action to reduce threats to pollinators. We are supporting science-led restrictions on neonicotinoids so we can protect bees and other pollinators. We also continue to tackle threats from invasive species, such as the Asian hornet, and protect honey bees from pests and diseases through a nationwide team of bee inspectors.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 11:32:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1059863

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Children: Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the merits of introducing a statutory definition of day-to-day care for the purpose of determining whether there is a requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance when they have equal shared overnight care.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	220289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The Service’s definition of a day-to-day care for the purpose of establishing the receiving parent is broadly aligned with that of Child Benefit, where an overall care test is used to determine entitlement. Entitlement to receive Child Benefit is used as an indicator at the application stage. There are currently no plans to change the process of establishing maintenance liability.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/02/2019 13:43:38 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1059923

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
answering dept id	203
answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
hansard heading	Oliver Robbins
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what position in the hierarchy of negotiators Olly Robbins holds.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	220165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Prime Minister retains personal overall responsibility for the negotiations on the UK side and is supported by her Europe Advisor, who heads up the official-level negotiating team.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 18/02/2019 09:54:05 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1059932

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	European Union Withdrawal Agreement (Public Vote) Bill: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will require a legislative consent motion from the National Assembly for Wales.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	220303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is an essential part of our preparations for a smooth and orderly exit from the EU. The Bill is yet to be introduced, but we expect to seek the legislative consent of the National Assembly for Wales for some of its provisions.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has undertaken extensive and meaningful engagement with the Welsh Government in preparing the Bill. Regular JMC (European Negotiations) meetings have provided a productive forum for Ministers from the UK, Welsh and Scottish governments to discuss the Bill. The UK Government has also shared clauses in draft with Ministers from the devolved administrations, allowing them the opportunity to comment and inform the UK Government’s approach to the Bill. UK Government officials have also met with their counterparts in the Welsh Government on a fortnightly basis since the summer to discuss the Bill. The Welsh Government has been positive about both the quantity and quality of engagement to date and this engagement will continue as we prepare for the introduction of the Bill.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns grouped question UIN 220304 question first answered 18/02/2019 10:52:41 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1059935

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	European Union Withdrawal Agreement (Public Vote) Bill: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Government receives legislative consent from the National Assembly for Wales on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	220304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is an essential part of our preparations for a smooth and orderly exit from the EU. The Bill is yet to be introduced, but we expect to seek the legislative consent of the National Assembly for Wales for some of its provisions.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has undertaken extensive and meaningful engagement with the Welsh Government in preparing the Bill. Regular JMC (European Negotiations) meetings have provided a productive forum for Ministers from the UK, Welsh and Scottish governments to discuss the Bill. The UK Government has also shared clauses in draft with Ministers from the devolved administrations, allowing them the opportunity to comment and inform the UK Government’s approach to the Bill. UK Government officials have also met with their counterparts in the Welsh Government on a fortnightly basis since the summer to discuss the Bill. The Welsh Government has been positive about both the quantity and quality of engagement to date and this engagement will continue as we prepare for the introduction of the Bill.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns grouped question UIN 220303 question first answered 18/02/2019 10:52:42 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1059953

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of trends in the level of funding on the financial sustainability of the further education sector.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	220323
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We are examining the trends in the level of funding for further education in considering the funding and resilience of further education and in assessing how far existing and forecast funding and regulatory structures enable high quality provision. We recognise that some of the key areas of funding have not kept up with costs and we will continue to look carefully at these issues in preparation for the next Spending Review and in the light of the recommendations of the Post-18 Review.</p><p>We have protected the base rate of funding for all 16 to 19 year old students until 2020 and plan to invest nearly £7 billion this academic year to make sure that there is a place in education or in training, including for apprenticeships, for every 16 to 19 year old. We are investing in education for adult learners, including for those furthest from learning and the labour market. We are continuing to provide Advanced Learner Loans, which is an established part of the Further Education funding framework and a key source of provider income. We are also doubling the amount of funding available for apprenticeships in England (in cash terms) by 2019-20 when compared with actual levels of spend in 2010-11. This includes funding for both 16-19 and adult apprenticeships.</p><p>From 1 April 2016 to 31 January 2019, as part of the area review programme, we made approximately £470 million available to support major college restructuring, supporting significant improvements to financial sustainability in the sector.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 18/02/2019 11:44:46 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1059961

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 11 of February 2019 to Question 217439 on Crown Prosecution Service: West Midlands, for each Principle Offence type, what estimate he has made of the number of cases pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service which did not result in a trial in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2010; and if he will publish the reasons for each of those cases not resulting in a trial.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	220059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The number of cases which did not result in a trial can be broken down into a number of categories. Guilty pleas and Proved in Absence prosecutions result in a conviction while Dropped and Administratively Finalised prosecutions result in a non-conviction. The four tables in Annex A provide the Guilty pleas and Proved in Absence prosecutions together with the Dropped and Administratively Finalised prosecutions for both England and CPS West Midlands.</p><p> </p><p>The definition for each category of prosecution is provided in the notes in Annex A. The notes provide an explanation as to why these case types did not proceed to trial.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:36:14 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland attachment 1 file name 220059 - Annex A.docx title Annex A
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1059962

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 11 of February 2019 to Question 217439 on Crown Prosecution Service: West Midlands and with reference to the finding that there was a 67 percent reduction in the number of minor motoring cases in that area with a similar fall reflected across England, how many minor motoring cases there were in (a) the West Midlands and (b) England in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	220060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The tables below show the number of finalised prosecution outcomes with the Principal Offence Category of Motoring and the Mode of Trial recorded as Summary-Only during each year from 2010-11 to 2017-18 in the West Midlands CPS Area and in England.</p><p> </p><p>During the period in question, the percentage reduction in caseload was 67.4% in the West Midlands and 67.1% in England.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2010-11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011-12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012-13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013-14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014-15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015-16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>West Midlands</strong></p></td><td><p>28,770</p></td><td><p>24,720</p></td><td><p>24,039</p></td><td><p>19,202</p></td><td><p>9,377</p></td><td><p>10,833</p></td><td><p>11,149</p></td><td><p>9,392</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p>269,129</p></td><td><p>239,581</p></td><td><p>208,235</p></td><td><p>150,565</p></td><td><p>94,424</p></td><td><p>97,441</p></td><td><p>93,031</p></td><td><p>88,469</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:41:25 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1059995

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, prior to the formal notification to the Information Commissioner's Office of Paul Woods' appointment as the Data Protection Officer in his Department, who else was appointed to that role; and for what periods of time those appointments were made.
tabling member constituency	Knowsley
tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
uin	220098
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Data Protection compliance at the Attorney General’s Office was managed as part of a wider role in the office and was in place from April 2015. There were no DPOs required before May 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:28:16 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland
tabling member	481 label Biography information for Mr George Howarth

1060009

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, on what date Paul Woods, the Departmental Records Officer and FOI/DPA coordinator in the Government Legal Department, became the Data Protection Officer for his Department; and (a) when and (b) how that appointment was notified to the (i) Information Commissioner's Office, (ii) Ministers of his Department, (iii) staff of his Department and (iv) Treasury Solicitor.
tabling member constituency	Knowsley
tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
uin	220099
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Appointment was confirmed on 22 May 2018 and the Attorney General’s Office was informed that day. The ICO, GLD Staff and the Treasury Solicitor were notified 25 May 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 18/02/2019 09:30:47 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Robert Buckland
tabling member	481 label Biography information for Mr George Howarth

1060025

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Fisheries: Quotas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will remove the existing fishing quotas in 2019 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	220114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is planning for all scenarios including leaving the EU without a deal. We have published a technical notice on arrangements for UK fisheries should we leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement. UK fisheries administrations would advise UK quota holders what their allocation will be for the remaining months of 2019 after we leave the EU.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 12:19:06 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1060029

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Marine Protected Area: Ascension Island
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has expedited communications with Cabinet colleagues on provision of funding for a marine protected area for Ascension Island.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	220118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Responsibility within Government for the establishment and ongoing management of marine protected areas around the UK’s Overseas Territories, including Ascension Island, lies with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Discussions between departments are ongoing.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 11:44:10 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1055791

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Overseas Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he is taking steps to support a global initiative of Governments and businesses to ensure that workers in (a) cocoa and (b) other supply chains receive a living income; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	217632
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>One of the keys to driving poverty reduction is enabling workers in global supply chains to be paid a living wage. The UK works with Governments, businesses and other actors to advance this agenda. For example, the Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which works with companies such as the Body Shop, Co-op and Tesco, as well as trade unions. The UK also supports initiatives such as the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest business sustainability initiative, which focuses partly on labour rights and has over 12,000 signatories from over 160 countries.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 14/02/2019 16:12:42 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1055833

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
answering dept id	203
answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
hansard heading	Alternative Arrangements Working Group
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, under which section of the Civil Service Code is civil service support to the Alternative Arrangements Working Group permissible.
tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
uin	217471
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>Ministers, including myself, have been meeting a wide range of MPs in various groups and other stakeholders to discuss the Government’s approach to EU Exit. This has included discussion of alternative arrangements to the backstop, following Parliament’s indication of support for such a position.</p><p>The Civil Service supports the Government in developing and implementing its policies. In this context, it is proper for civil servants to support Ministers in conducting these meetings. No support has been extended to backbench MPs, or other individuals or groups outwith Government.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Stephen Barclay question first answered 14/02/2019 13:11:22 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Stephen Barclay
tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1058635

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	Whether her Department has plans to redesign the reassessment process for benefit recipients with severe mental or physical disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	909127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to assessing people with health conditions and disabilities fairly and accurately, and helping people to access the right support. We made a clear commitment in <em>Improving Lives</em>: <em>The Future of Work, Health and Disability</em> to reform the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and recognise the importance of getting this right. We are therefore testing new approaches to build the evidence base for what works, and working with external stakeholders to inform future changes to the WCA.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last year we have introduced new guidance into Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC), as well as updated guidance for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to improve the service we provide for those with the most severe/lifelong conditions. For ESA/UC since September 2017 we have switched off routine reassessments for those who meet the Severe Conditions criteria, and since August 2018, those receiving the highest level of support in PIP, whose needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/02/2019 17:02:14 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1058636

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment her Department has made of the (a) accuracy and (b) efficiency of contracted-out health assessments for (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) personal independence payment.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	909128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring claimants receive high quality assessments. Providers are closely monitored against a range of measures including through independent audit to improve accuracy and decision making. We are seeing continuous improvement in PIP assessment quality and recent data shows both PIP providers meeting quality expectations. We continually look to improve the efficiency of the assessment process by working closely with health assessment providers and the disabled people the Department supports.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/02/2019 16:37:48 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1058637

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Pensioners: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of pensioner poverty; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	909129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>This Government has seen the absolute poverty rate for pensioners fall to record lows, with over 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty before housing costs. Rates of material deprivation for pensioners are also at record lows.</p><p>We have reduced pensioner poverty close to historically low levels, lifting the incomes of millions of older people. Since 2009/10, material deprivation for pensioners has fallen from 10 per cent to 7 per cent in 2016/17 and since 2010 there are 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty, a record low.</p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £97 billion on the State Pension for this year.</p><p>The Government has also committed to up-rating the basic State Pension by the highest of the growth in earnings, prices or 2.5 per cent - the 'triple lock' guarantee. This will mean that the full basic State Pension will be around £1450 per year higher in 2018/19 than in 2010. The Government has committed to the triple lock for the remainder of this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/02/2019 17:58:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1058688

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Stoats: Pest Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to control stoat numbers.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219436
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>While the Government regulates the management of wildlife it is not directly involved in the control of stoats. Responsibility for management lies with the landowner or occupier.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/02/2019 12:05:30 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058690

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Water: Pollution Control
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce water pollution from industry.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219438
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Water pollution from industry is controlled by permits issued under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2015. In England, these permits are issued by the Environment Agency (EA) and control the levels of pollution in effluent discharges by setting limits on the chemical concentration and volume of the effluent. The limits are set to protect waters from the adverse impacts of pollution and to meet the appropriate environmental standards for river, ground water and bathing water quality. Operators must comply with the permit and it is an offence to breach a permit condition. Enforcement action may be taken dependant on the nature and severity of the offence.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to controlling pollution from discharges using permits, the EA receives around 40,000 water pollution incident reports per year. Most have little or minor impact but there are around 250 incidents per year which are classified as significant or serious. Very few of these are deliberate acts and are caused accidentally after spillage or system failure. Most significant or serious pollution incidents come from the water industry and agriculture. The remainder are spread across other sectors such as transport, retail, manufacturing, domestic and residential or are a result of natural causes.</p><p> </p><p>The EA responds to all serious incidents and follows them up with appropriate action including warning letters, formal caution, civil sanctions and prosecution. In 2014 the sentencing guidelines were revised so that fines are now related to the level of culpability and the company’s turnover. This has seen a steep rise in the value of fines which is now a much greater deterrent to causing pollution.</p><p> </p><p>Working to control discharges through environmental permits and by taking decisive action in response to pollution offences has led to significant reductions in pollution and improvements in water quality over recent years. Plans for continued improvement in this area are included in the Government's 25 Year Environmental Plan.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 11:06:26 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058691

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Salmon
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase stocks of (a) wild and (b) farmed salmon in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219439
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The management of wild salmon populations, freshwater fisheries and salmon farming is devolved.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government is collaborating with industry on the “Salmon Five Point Approach” to address the pressures that cause salmon numbers to fall, such as water quality, migration barriers, marine survival and exploitation. In 2018, the Government introduced National Salmon and Sea Trout Protection byelaws which restrict recreational and net fisheries in England, to reduce exploitation and conserve adult salmon enabling them to spawn successfully.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 12:35:14 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058692

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Birds of Prey: Theft
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent birds of prey being stolen to order.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219440
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government takes wildlife crime, including the illegal taking of birds of prey, seriously. All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with strong penalties for those committing offences against birds of prey including up to six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.</p><p> </p><p>Birds of prey are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which controls trade in endangered species through a permitting system. This protects species from the risk of extinction due to unsustainable trade. The Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018 means that anyone committing CITES offences, including trying to trade in birds of prey taken from the wild, could face up to five years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.</p><p> </p><p>Raptor persecution and CITES issues are two of six UK wildlife crime priorities. Local police and Border Force are responsible for wildlife crime enforcement. The National Wildlife Crime Unit, which is co-funded by Defra and the Home Office, provides intelligence to support police and Border Force enforcement activities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/02/2019 12:40:50 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058694

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Partridges: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has allocated to grey partridge recovery projects.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The funding of agri-environment schemes is the principal means of improving habitat provision for farmland birds such as the grey partridge. Examples of measures funded to benefit the grey partridge include the provision of over-wintered stubble and wild bird seed mixtures to provide seed in the winter, reduced input arable margins, such as conservation headlands, to provide food in spring and summer and sympathetic management of hedgerows to provide enhanced nesting opportunities.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 10:45:52 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058695

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Poultry
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the numbers of geese that migrated to the UK in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s Goose and Swan and Monitoring Programme assesses the number of geese which migrate here every year. The programme is jointly run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Scottish Natural Heritage.</p><p> </p><p>Data for the winter season 2017-2018 is available on the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust website: <a href="https://monitoring.wwt.org.uk/our-work/goose-swan-monitoring-programme/" target="_blank">https://monitoring.wwt.org.uk/our-work/goose-swan-monitoring-programme/</a>. As the 2018/19 winter season has yet to finish, data for this season will not be available until late summer 2019.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/02/2019 16:24:07 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058696

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage young people into farming.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>Having a skilled workforce in place and attracting young talent into agricultural careers is vital for the future of UK food and farming. The Government is working with industry bodies, such as the Food and Drink Sector Council, to improve access to the talent and skills required by the industry and raise awareness of agriculture as an exciting and attractive career path.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is reforming post-16 technical education to provide clear routes to skilled employment in agriculture and other sectors. A key part of this is the introduction of new T levels programmes, which alongside apprenticeships, will sit within 15 routes, including an Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care route.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published a Policy Statement in September 2018, alongside its landmark Agriculture Bill. This sets out how we will help facilitate structural change to open up more opportunities for new entrants to farming by delinking Direct Payments from the land during the agricultural transition period. This will give farmers freedom over how they use funding from Direct Payments. Some may use the money to invest in their business. Others may choose to use the money to diversify their activities or decide to stop farming altogether and use the payment to contribute to their retirement. It should increase the ease with which new entrants, and those existing farmers wishing to expand, could acquire land.</p><p> </p><p>We are also exploring how to help Local Authorities who want to invest in their Council Farms, so that they offer real opportunities for new farmers to start a foundation business and gain the experience they need to progress onto a larger unit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 12:44:41 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058701

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Livestock: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taking to improve animal conditions on farms.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	219447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government is making good on our commitment to make the UK a world leader in the care and protection of animals as we leave the EU. We are planning to increase maximum penalties for animal cruelty from six months’ to five years’ imprisonment. We are updating our statutory welfare codes, starting with the publication of new meat chicken and laying hen codes last year. These codes strengthen guidance for keepers and owners of livestock on how to meet the needs of their animals and enhance their welfare.</p><p> </p><p>We are considering what more can be done to improve our already high animal welfare standards in the context of our future agricultural policy. In England, we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond our high regulatory baseline that are not sufficiently rewarded by the market.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 14/02/2019 15:56:25 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1058713

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of files held by his Department in relation to Sri Lanka dating from the 1970s and 1980s that (a) have been and (b) are planned to be destroyed.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	219553
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>​The FCO is unable to collate these estimates of file destruction within the timescale provided without incurring disproportionate cost.</p><p>The FCO, as with all government departments, reviews all its files in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act before making a decision on permanent preservation. This applies to all files from the 1970s and 1980s relating to Sri Lanka which the FCO has already reviewed under the Act.</p><p>Selection of such records for permanent preservation took place under the guidance and supervision of The National Archives.</p><p>The Public Records Act does not require departments to preserve files if they are of no long-term historical value. For instance, the FCO may destroy a file if it only contains administrative or ephemeral content or because it only contains information which is already in the public domain.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 14/02/2019 16:36:27 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1058729

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Rail Franchise
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what decisions his Department has taken on the next Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
uin	219532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Department has started considering the future of the Thameslink, Southern, and Great Northern franchise (TSGN). We are working closely with the Williams Rail Review, which is examining the most appropriate organisational and commercial models for the future of the rail industry. As a result, a decision will not be made regarding the future of TSGN before the Review findings are published in Autumn 2019.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 14/02/2019 14:54:14 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1058730

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Home Office: Official Engagements
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list his engagements for Monday 4 February 2019.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	219277
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>It is not Home Office policy to release detailed accounts of the Home Secretary’s diary. We do however release quarterly transparency data that details their external meetings, which can be found here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/home-office-ministers-hospitality-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/home-office-ministers-hospitality-data</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/02/2019 17:25:06 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1058732

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Kurds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Turkish counterparts on the detention and imprisonment of Kurdish politicians.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	219361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>​We have raised the detention of People's Democratic Party (HDP) Members of Parliament, most recently in January regarding the case of Ms Leyla Guven MP. We regularly discuss these issues with the HDP itself. We expect Turkey, as a modern democracy, to undertake legal processes against MPs fairly, transparently and with full respect for the rule of law. We will continue to monitor both the imprisionment of HDP MPs, and the wider Kurdish issue closely.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 14/02/2019 16:26:51 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1058733

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Abdullah Öcalan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on Kurdish people on hunger strike throughout the world in protest to the isolation of Abdullah Ocalan in that country.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	219362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>Our Embassy in Ankara raised the issue of hunger strikers with the Turkish authorities in mid-January, specifically highlighting our concerns over the case of Ms Leyla Guven MP, who we are pleased to note was recently released from prison. We urge Turkey to uphold the human rights of hunger striking prisoners, including ensuring they have access to medical treatment.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 14/02/2019 16:30:37 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1058734

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Abdullah Öcalan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the prison conditions and isolation of Abdullah Ocalan in Turkey.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	219363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>British Embassy officials discussed Mr Öcalan’s case and the prison conditions with Turkish officials in mid-January. We note the concerns about isolation expressed by the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture in their report following their visit in 2016 to the prison where Mr Öcalan is held.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan