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1041754

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	NHS: Members' Constituency Work
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue instruction to NHS England that signed authority from a patient is not required for the NHS to progress an inquiry from an hon. Member pursuing a case on behalf of a constituent; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Helen Jones
	uin	208761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>There has been no change in policy with regards to obtaining consent of a patient for the purposes of an inquiry or investigation and therefore Ministers have not been consulted.</p><p> </p><p>If a National Health Service body is to disclose patient information held by it in order to progress an inquiry from a hon. Member<ins class="ministerial"> on behalf of a constituent</ins>, <ins class="ministerial">there are circumstances in which the body may provide patient information to a Member of Parliament without the Member evidencing the explicit consent of the patient, so long as that information is provided in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018</ins><del class="ministerial">it must obtain the consent of the patient before doing so</del>. An inquiry or an investigation will almost certainly require the disclosure by the NHS body of information relating to the constituent as patient.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS body must be content that there is a legal basis under the General Data Protection Regulation/Data Protection Act for processing patient information (i.e. disclosing and sharing it for the purposes of the investigation). This is easier to satisfy if it is clear the patient has consented to the hon. Member making investigations on their behalf.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 21/01/2019 15:10:03 question first ministerially corrected 12/02/2019 12:32:10 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 96339 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	432 label Biography information for Helen Jones

1168877

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Care Homes: Learning Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) unexpected deaths and (b) serious injuries have occurred in residential care homes among people with learning difficulties in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2020 answer text <p>The following table shows Unexpected Death and Serious Injury Notifications raised against 'Residential social care home' locations with a Service User Band of 'Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder', from 1 April 2010, provided by the Care Quality Commission:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Number of Notifications</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Raised Year</p></td><td><p>16-1 Unexpected Death</p></td><td><p>18-2a,b Serious Injury</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>260</p></td><td><p>558</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>1,201</p></td><td><p>2,656</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>1,248</p></td><td><p>3,112</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>936</p></td><td><p>3,077</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>948</p></td><td><p>3,215</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>1,067</p></td><td><p>3,866</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>1,221</p></td><td><p>4,236</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>1,081</p></td><td><p>4,573</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>1,153</p></td><td><p>4,513</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>959</p></td><td><p>4,812</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>48</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grand Total</p></td><td><p>10,086</p></td><td><p>34,666</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol><li>The data does not indicate whether a notification relates directly to someone with a learning disability or autism, only that the location has the Service User Band of 'Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder'. A location may have more than one Service User Band.</li><li>'Residential social care home' locations are defined as locations with a Primary Inspection Category of 'Residential social care', or with an Organisation Type of 'Social Care Organisation' and any of the Service Types 'Care home services with nursing', 'Care home services without nursing' or 'Specialist college services'</li><li>This data is at location level only.</li><li>The data for 2010 reflects both an incomplete year of reporting, i.e. from 1 April<ins class="ministerial"> 2010</ins><del class="ministerial">, and</del> from a starting point of data from <del class="ministerial">the</del> National Health Service <ins class="ministerial">providers </ins>alone<ins class="ministerial">,</ins> before <ins class="ministerial">social care and independent healthcare </ins>providers across <del class="ministerial">the United Kingdom</del> <ins class="ministerial">England </ins>were included.</li><li>Data for 2020 is up to and including 7 January.</li></ol><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 09/01/2020 12:17:38 question first ministerially corrected 20/01/2020 16:11:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 388 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1227041

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2020
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Arts: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make extended financial support available for freelancers in the arts sector when the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme end to respond to venues not being (a) permitted to open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased and (b) able to offer contracts of employment to freelancers in that sector.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	77843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">On 5 July, the Government announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. Guidance has been published by Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for applicants to the Culture Recovery Grants application rounds, and by Arts Council England for applicants to the Repayable Finance Scheme. Further details on eligibility and application processes are available in the published guidance.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of sectors, with one of our core objectives being to support the cultural organisations that are crucial to places across the whole country. We will ensure that funding is distributed fairly, and that smaller organisations and cultural venues that are at the centre of their communities are protected.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">We also recognise the crucial role that individuals play in making our arts and creative industries world-leading. As a result of these grants and loans, organisations will be more able to resume cultural activity, albeit in a socially distanced way, which will increase employment opportunities for freelancers.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">&quot;DCMS recognise that these are extremely challenging times for freelancers, and understand the crucial role they play in making our arts and creative industries world-leading. We are working hard to ensure that we help to provide financial support to freelancers during this period.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">On 5 July, DCMS announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of sectors, including performing arts and theatres, museums and galleries, heritage sites, live music venues and independent cinema.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">As a result of these grants and loans, organisations will be more able to resume cultural activity, albeit in a socially distanced way, which will increase employment opportunities for freelancers. Each organisation that receives money will know what best they can do to support their workforce, including their freelance workforce. </ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has also been extended with applications opening in August for a second and final grant. The grant will operate in the same way as the existing scheme with self-employed workers eligible for a single payment covering three months, at a level of 70% of average monthly earnings up to a maximum of £6,570 (i.e. down from 80% and a maximum of £7,500).</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Alongside this funding, ACE have announced £95m of additional support for individuals, which can include freelancers. This involves things such as an additional £75m in project grants. These will be focused on applications that maximise employment opportunities and those from under-represented groups and freelancers are eligible to apply to this directly. National Portfolio Organisations can also apply to create new work with bids that create employment opportunities prioritised. A further round of the ACE programme ‘Discover Your Creative Practice’ will also open in the autumn, which will make approximately £18m available for individuals looking to develop new creative skills that will help them to further develop their career. ACE will also be adding £2m into relevant benevolent funds to support those less well supported by the programmes outlined above, including stage managers and technicians</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 07/09/2020 13:44:21 question first ministerially corrected 08/09/2020 15:50:10 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 44674 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1230233

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Digital Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether (a) digital inclusion, (b) online harms and (c) algorithmic bias will be in the scope of the Government's forthcoming Digital Strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	83795
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2020 answer text <p>As I have previously announced, the forthcoming Digital Strategy will set out how the Government wants to maximise the benefits of a tech-led recovery to Covid-19, whilst coherently addressing the challenges it poses. The Strategy will focus on growth and using tech to power us out of the recession, to drive productivity and to create jobs in all parts of our economy. For the aspirations of this Strategy to be delivered successfully, we recognise people will need the capability and confidence to get the most out of an increasingly digital world. As part of the development process of the Digital Strategy, we are considering the most suitable ways to embed inclusion objectives to ensure that all citizens can benefit from a digitally-driven society.</p><p> </p><p>On online harms, we published the initial government response to the Online Harms White Paper in February, which set out the direction of travel, and we will publish the Full Government Response later this year. We are engaging experts, regulators, and industry over the coming months to ensure that the regulatory landscape is coherent, coordinated and effective.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Digital Strategy will also set out our plans for a governance regime that enables trust in digital technologies, provides clarity to businesses, and unlocks growth and innovation across the economy. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong> </strong></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">My officials in DCMS are continuing to develop the details of the Strategy ahead of its publication later this year and we welcome ideas for the Strategy from stakeholders, including Honourable Members.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong></strong></ins><br /><br /></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 17/09/2020 17:29:52 question first ministerially corrected 23/09/2020 10:35:47 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 48039 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1287575

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2021
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Pornography: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that forthcoming legislative proposals on preventing children's exposure to pornographic content online apply equally to all pornographic websites accessible by children.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	155215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">In negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed expanding a list of activities for Short Term Business Visitors to cover musicians, artists and their accompanying staff. This would have enabled musicians, artists and support staff to tour and perform in the EU without needing work-permits. I deeply regret that the EU rejected our proposals.There is scope to return to this issue in the future should the EU change its mind.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, they will be required to check domestic immigration rules for each Member State in which they intend to tour. This is because, while some Member States may allow paid performances without a visa or work permit, others will require musicians, artists and other creative professionals to obtain a visa or work permit, in the same way that they are required for other international artists.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Government is looking at how we can work with our partners in EU Member States to find ways to make life easier for the creative industries touring in the EU.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">We understand the concerns of the sector regarding the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting them as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes. The DCMS-led working group on creative and cultural touring, which involves sector representatives and other key government departments, is looking at the issues and options to help the sectors resume touring with ease as soon as it is safe to do so.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Protecting children is at the heart of our online harms agenda, and wider government priorities. Under our proposals, social media, websites, apps and other services which host user-generated content or facilitate online user interaction (including video and image sharing, commenting and live streaming) will be subject to a duty of care, giving them new responsibilities towards their users. The online harms regime will capture both the most visited pornography sites and pornography on social media, therefore covering the vast majority of sites where children are most likely to be exposed to pornography.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">We expect companies to use age assurance or age verification technologies to prevent children from accessing services which pose the highest risk of harm to children, such as online pornography. We are working closely with stakeholders across industry to establish the right conditions for the market to deliver age assurance and age verification technical solutions ahead of the legislative requirements coming into force.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 01/03/2021 17:32:09 question first ministerially corrected 06/04/2021 10:03:18 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 86254 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1311549

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2021
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Choirs: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the timescale for allowing choirs to sing (a) indoors and (b) outdoors as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
	tabling member constituency	Tynemouth
	tabling member printed	Sir Alan Campbell
	uin	185798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2021 answer text <p>Non-professional performing arts activities such as choirs are currently permitted outdoors, within the legal gathering limits. People should only take part in non-professional performing arts activities outdoors in groups of up to 6 people, or as a group of 2 households. A group made up of 2 households can include more than 6 people, but only where all members of the group are from the same 2 households (each household can include an existing support bubble, if eligible). Social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a bubble.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">Non-professional activity indoors is not permitted indoors at this time. The intention is that this will be permitted from Step 3 of the Roadmap (no earlier than 17 May). This is subject to review and further guidance will be provided in advance of step 3.</ins></p><p><del class="ministerial">Rules on outdoor singing for non-professionals will be relaxed at Step 3 of the roadmap and no earlier than 17 May, in line with the changes to social contact limits and wider performing arts activity restarting. Amateur singing indoors, is expected to return at Step 4 of the Roadmap and no earlier than 21 June.</del></p><p> </p><p>COVID-19 spreads from person to person through small droplets, aerosols and through direct contact. Singing, playing some musical instruments, shouting and physical activity increases the risk of transmission through small droplets and aerosols. The cumulative effect of aerosol transmission means the more people involved, the higher the risk of transmission. This means that it is currently important to limit the total number of individuals involved in singing as far as possible.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/04/2021 13:27:02 question first ministerially corrected 29/04/2021 12:48:42 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 99799 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	529 label Biography information for Sir Alan Campbell

1315110

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2021
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Arts Council: Music
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Arts Council spent on (a) opera and (b) brass bands in each of the last two financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	2248
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2021 answer text <p>The figures for Arts Council England funding for opera and brass bands in financial years 2019/20, 2020/21 are given below.</p><p> </p><p>The figures for each year are broken down into primary and secondary funding and then a total. Primary classification indicates that, in this case, opera or brass bands, was a major focus of the activity funded with the assumption most of this amount went to funding this activity. Secondary classification indicates this was a minor focus of the activity and so it cannot be assumed this full amount of funding went towards this activity.</p><p> </p><p>A small number of projects are classified under both opera and brass bands, so these figures cannot be added together, as these projects would be double counted.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">ACE Opera Funding:</ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Year</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Primary</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Secondary</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Total</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2019/20</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£59,230,322</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£26,335,477</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£85,565,799</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2020/21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£61,920,159</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£37,675,988</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£99,596,147</ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>ACE Brass Bands Funding:</strong></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Year</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Primary</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Secondary</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Total</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2019/20</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£375,339</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£765,573</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£1,140,912</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2020/21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£392,670</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£5,132,587</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£5,525,257</ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> <br /><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 20/05/2021 14:18:23 question first ministerially corrected 21/05/2021 10:00:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 1290 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

422699

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Prosecutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will assess the efficacy of the communication between the criminal courts and the family courts where a prosecution for domestic abuse is happening alongside child contact proceedings.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	12605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2015 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Ministry of Justice does not collect information centrally on Litigants in Person, or on who is cross examining witnesses in family court cases.</del></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government takes the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. A number of recent measures have been taken to strengthen and clarify the family court’s response to issues of domestic violence.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Where criminal and <a href="http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prosecution/domestic/domv.html#a10" target="_blank">civil proceedings</a> are taking place at the same time, prosecutors will ensure that the court has the appropriate information to enable them to make other orders that prioritise the safety of victims, children and young people.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Guidance to the family court makes clear that if domestic violence is alleged, the court must take this is into account when making decisions about contact with a child and the welfare of the child is of paramount importance.</ins></p><p><br /><ins class="ministerial"> Her Majesty’s Courts &amp; Tribunal Services (HMCTS) are constantly looking for ways to improve the service that they offer to victims and witnesses. This includes making the appropriate links between family court proceedings and the criminal justice system.</ins></p><br /> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 28/10/2015 13:17:50 question first ministerially corrected 28/10/2015 18:28:09 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 26151 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

652396

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2016
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Bank Services: Non-binary People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will take steps to encourage banks to include a non-binary gender option on their official documents.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	56057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the regulator for the public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. The Commission uses a range of levers to ensure local authorities and other public bodies comply with the requirements of the duty, from provision of guidance through to enforcement activity where it considers there to be a strategic benefit.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">In light of the Brighton University report highlighted by the Honourable Member, the Commission will be writing to the Local Government Association (LGA) drawing its attention to the findings of the research and of the Commission’s evidence of the key equality challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and asking the LGA to remind local authorities of their legal obligations under the public sector equality duty.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We encourage all service providers, including financial services, to provide a welcoming environment for all customers, including transgender and non-binary customers.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To support this aim, we published ‘Providing services for transgender customers: a guide’ in November 2015 to help service providers ensure transgender people are welcomed, included and valued as customers, clients, users or members, and to ensure they are treated fairly and appropriately. It also aims to help service providers comply with the law.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We welcome the fact that some banks, such as the Metro Bank, allow customers to select non-binary as a gender option.</ins></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 08/12/2016 09:25:50 question first ministerially corrected 13/12/2016 13:16:34 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 25173 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

747512

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	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, what steps he is taking to collect child maintenance arrears, by category of collectability.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	2606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The department publishes an annual estimate of child maintenance arrears in the Client Funds Account that sets out the three categories of collectability.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>1. Likely to be collected:</strong> Debt which meets criteria indicating that the Department has a good chance of collecting it. The criteria are:</del></p><ul><li><del class="ministerial">At least one payment made against the outstanding arrears in the six months prior to the reporting date.</del></li><li><del class="ministerial">At least one payment made in excess of the scheduled amount</del></li></ul><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>2. Potentially collectable:</strong> Debt which meets criteria indicating that the Department has a reasonable chance of collecting it. The criteria are:</del></p><ul><li><del class="ministerial">The existence of a payment schedule at any point during the six months prior to the reporting date, even though no payments were received in the period.</del></li><li><del class="ministerial">For recent arrears, i.e. aged three months or less, the receipt of at least one payment against those arrears after the reporting date.</del></li><li><del class="ministerial">Debt on cases where enforcement action such as deduction directly from the non-resident parent’s bank account, or forcing the sale of their property is likely to be successful.</del></li></ul><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>3. Uncollectable:</strong> All remaining debt which does not meet the criteria for either of the other categories.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong><ins class="ministerial"> <p><ins class="ministerial">The Department aims to ensure parents fulfil their obligation to make financial provision for their children and that maintenance is paid accurately and on time. Our priority, as outlined in our published Arrears and Compliance Strategy is to collect on-going maintenance and arrears in cases where there is still a child who stands to benefit.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Child maintenance arrears are categorised in the Client Fund Account according to the likelihood of them being collected. We consider action on all cases that fall into the collectable and potentially collectable categories of debt. Where we are unable to take enforcement action, for example where we cannot trace the non-resident parent, cases will fall into the uncollectable category and will be reviewed as resources allow.</ins></p></ins></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 06/07/2017 09:26:53 question first ministerially corrected 06/07/2017 10:03:54 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 2227 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows