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1149191

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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
	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 assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory and consistent (a) UK-wide logo and (b) on pack information for compostable food packaging; and what plans her Department has to introduce such a policy.
	tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
	tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
	uin	524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Resources and Waste Strategy analysed the challenges currently facing the recycling industry in this country, setting out how we would tackle these challenges. Building on commitments in the Strategy we launched a consultation earlier this year on reforming the packaging producer responsibility system, as part of that consultation the Government proposed a mandatory UK-wide labelling system that provides clear information to help people to recycle. Following strong support for the proposal from consultation respondents, the Government is minded to take forward a mandatory labelling scheme subject to further analysis and legal considerations. Defra officials are exploring how a mandatory labelling scheme can address consumer confusion about what to do with compostable packaging. The consultation closed on 13 May and the summary of responses and next steps can be found via the below link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/packaging-waste-changing-the-uk-producer-responsibility-system-for-packaging-waste" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/packaging-waste-changing-the-uk-producer-responsibility-system-for-packaging-waste</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that innovation into compostable and biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If these plastics are put in the domestic waste bin, for example, they are likely to end up in landfill and can break down to release powerful greenhouse gases, such as methane. If mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards.</p><p> </p><p>As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence in July 2019 to help consider the development of standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call for evidence closed on the 14 October 2019 and we are currently analysing the responses received to inform future policy. We currently do not have plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the matter of requiring any form of plastic packaging to be compostable.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 525 526 question first answered 22/10/2019 14:39:28 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1150486

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	11 Downing Street: Operating Costs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the running costs of No.11 Downing Street were in each of the last ten years.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
	uin	1724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The No 11 Downing Street running costs for the last ten years are in the table below: The figures cover Rent, Maintenance, Furniture &amp; Fittings and Official Entertainment</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Spend £</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>436,909</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>351,054</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>553,903</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>545,073</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>643,414</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>561,089</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>524,381</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>698,672</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>690,648</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>812,587</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 22/10/2019 11:17:55 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
	tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1149086

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Health Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to work with manufacturers of contact lenses to educate people on how to minimise the risk of contracting Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
	tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
	tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
	uin	265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety of all healthcare products in the UK.</p><p>Following reports of infections that have led to sight loss due to Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK), the MHRA participated in the Love your Lenses Campaign organised by the General Optical Council with involvement and support from manufacturers and opticians. The main aim of this campaign is to increase the effectiveness of aftercare information given to contact lens wearers. Details of the campaign can be found at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.loveyourlenses.com/" target="_blank">https://www.loveyourlenses.com/</a></p><p>The MHRA’s website also highlights the risks of AK and offers guidance and advice for patients to prevent injury and infection. The website can be found at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medical-devices-information-for-users-and-patients" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medical-devices-information-for-users-and-patients</a></p><p>In the United Kingdom, the Opticians Act restricts the sale and supply of contact lenses, including ‘zero powered’ (plano) contact lenses, to registered optometrists, dispensing opticians, and medical practitioners. An optometrist examining a patient wishing to wear contact lenses has a duty to assess the patient's suitability for contact lenses and provide the patient with an appropriate lens care regimen, including information on the care, wearing, treatment, cleaning and maintenance of the lens or lenses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 22/10/2019 11:20:12 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

1150564

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	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	Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of patients were seen within four hours in A&E in (a) 2018-19 and (b) each year since 2010-11.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	1672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>NHS Digital and NHS England publishes annual accident and emergency (A&amp;E) activity in National Health Service hospitals at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activity/2018-19" target="_blank">https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activity/2018-19</a></p><p>The percentage of patient attendances spending four hours or less in A&amp;E, 2009-10 to 2018-19 can be found in the following table.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>% 4 Hours or Less</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>98.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>97.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>96.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>95.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>95.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>93.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>91.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>89.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>88.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>88.0%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: NHS England and NHS Digital</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 22/10/2019 11:18:49 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1148785

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Adult Education: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to extend full fee remission for adult education courses to full time carers under Adult Education Budget rules.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Adult Education Budget (AEB) currently supports 3 legal entitlements to full funding for eligible adult learners:</p><ul><li>English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged 19+, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher.</li><li>First full qualification at level 2 for individuals aged 19 - 23.</li><li>First full qualification at level 3 for individuals aged 19 - 23.</li></ul><p> </p><p>A fourth legal entitlement to fully funded specified digital skills qualifications for adults, aged 19+, with no or low digital skills will come into effect from 1 August 2020.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the AEB supports delivery of flexible tailored provision for adults up to level 2 which is either fully funded or co-funded depending on a learner’s age, prior attainment and circumstances.</p><p><strong> <br> </strong>For the 2019/20 academic year, the AEB is continuing a trial to support those in work on low incomes, which allows providers to fully fund eligible learners on low wages, who would otherwise be eligible for co-funding. The trial will apply in respect of learners who are resident outside of devolved areas.</p><p> </p><p>From August 2019, approximately 50% of the AEB has been devolved to 6 Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Mayor of London, through the Greater London Authority. They are now responsible for commissioning and funding AEB provision for learners resident in their areas.</p><p>The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) remains responsible for funding learners resident in non-devolved areas. For those learners, we will continue to consider how we can most effectively support learners. However, currently there are no current plans to extend full fee remission to full time carers under the ESFA AEB funding rules.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 22/10/2019 16:50:21 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1148975

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Affordable Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department's definition of subsidy is as used in Annex 2A of the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Framework.
	tabling member constituency	South West Devon
	tabling member printed	Sir Gary Streeter
	uin	25
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The National Planning Policy Framework provides a definition of affordable housing for planning purposes. Within that, section a) provides a definition of affordable housing for rent. This includes a provision that homes remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.</p><p>The reference to subsidy within this section usually relates to where government has provided capital grant, in particular grant funding provided through the Affordable Homes Programme.</p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 22/10/2019 12:11:31 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	234 label Biography information for Sir Gary Streeter

1150189

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	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	Affordable Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in HM Treasury on the future of the Affordable Homes Programme, ahead of the Budget on 6 November 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The government is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing. The current £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme will continue to March 2022, delivering approximately 250,000 affordable homes in a range of tenures. The Department has worked closely with HM Treasury to ensure that longer term funding is available for affordable homes. In September 2018 we announced an additional £2 billion of long-term funding certainty for housing associations. This extra funding will deliver more affordable homes and stimulate the sector’s wider building ambitions, through strategic partnerships.</p><p>MHCLG officials regularly meet with HM Treasury officials to discuss matters related to the supply of affordable housing. Decisions about additional investment beyond the current Affordable Homes Programme will be announced at a future fiscal event.</p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 22/10/2019 12:45:30 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey previous answer version 680 answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1149728

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Armed Forces
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services to the United Kingdom armed forces in Afghanistan will be reviewed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL21
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>Joint Forces Command manages the current contract with The Big Word. However, this is being replaced with contract award expected in the first half of next year. Included in the Statement of Requirement - which bidders will quote against - is the new policy relating to threats and intimidation of interpreters in theatre.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 22/10/2019 15:16:58 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1149726

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Interpreters
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 17 June (HL Deb, col 655), whether the Ministry of Defence review of security clearance procedures for Afghan interpreters who have been relocated to the United Kingdom has been completed; and, if so, what changes have been made to facilitate their employment by NATO.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Coussins
	uin	HL19
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The review of security clearance policy for interpreters deployed in support of military operations is ongoing and nearing its conclusion. In the interim, requests by interpreters for security clearances are being considered on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 22/10/2019 15:17:54 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
	tabling member	3829 label Biography information for Baroness Coussins

1149483

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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	Age: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to tackle ageism in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010, provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or a job applicant because of their age, unless the employer can justify it as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.</p><p> </p><p>To tackle ageism in the workplace, Business in the Community have produced a toolkit which provides guidance and support to employers in getting started with age inclusion in the workplace and includes a three-step process based on Look, Listen, Act. <a href="https://age.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/toolkits/getting-started-age-look-listen-act-toolkit-will-guide-and-support-getting" target="_blank">https://age.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/toolkits/getting-started-age-look-listen-act-toolkit-will-guide-and-support-getting</a></p><p> </p><p>More widely, Government is taking steps to ensure that older workers are supported to remain in or return to the labour market, the Government has removed the Default Retirement Age meaning most people can choose when to retire, and extended the right to request flexible working to all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2017, the UK Government published “Fuller Working Lives: a partnership approach” to set out the role employers, individuals and Government can play in supporting fuller working lives.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also appointed Andy Briggs as Business Champion for Older Workers to spearhead the Government’s work to support employers to retain, retrain and recruit older workers. Andy Briggs and the Business In The Community Age at Work leadership team actively promote the benefits of older workers to employers across England.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/10/2019 09:10:22 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk