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1505553

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Languages: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on teaching (a) Punjabi, (b) Bengali, (c) Hindi, (d) Gujarati, (e) Urdu, (f) Sinhalese, (g) Tamil, (h) Pashto and (i) Dari in schools in England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	48198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>Awarding organisations offering GCSEs and A levels are independent, <ins class="ministerial">and mostly</ins> not-for-profit organisations<ins class="ministerial">, with the exception of Pearson Edexcel which is profit making</ins>. They are not contracted to provide assessments for pupils in particular subjects. AQA offer a GCSE and A level qualification in Punjabi and Bengali, as well as a GCSE in Urdu. Pearson Edexcel offer a GCSE and A level qualification in Gujarati and Urdu and International GCSEs (IGCSEs) in Bengali, Hindi, Sinhalese, and Tamil. Cambridge International offer an A level in Hindi, Urdu, and Tamil. There are no qualifications available in Pashto or Dari. Awarding organisations are free to introduce qualifications in any GCSE or A level subject where they consider there to be a case to do so.</p><p>It is up to schools to decide which languages are taught as part of their curriculum, both at primary and secondary school, and the government does not specify which languages should be taught or how to teach them.</p><p>There has been no funding provided directly for the teaching of Punjabi, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Sinhalese, Tamil, Pashto and Dari within the previous five years. However, the department has committed to establishing a network of language hubs, as per the Schools White Paper, and are considering ways in which we can support home, heritage and community languages as part of this.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/09/2022 17:23:22 question first ministerially corrected 17/10/2022 09:03:46 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 18097 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1272349

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2020
	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	Members: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 8 October 2020 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay and chase up correspondence of 5 November 2020 and 25 November 2020 on constituent with reference JB29095.
	tabling member constituency	Basildon and Billericay
	tabling member printed	Mr John Baron
	uin	131185
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>The answer to the correspondence is not straight forward and we are working with other departments across Whitehall to see if there is an avenue of help that might be available to assist the honourable member’s constituent.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 15/01/2021 09:15:28 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 72593 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1390 label Biography information for Mr John Baron

1257672

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2020
	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	Sleeping Rough: Bexley and Greenwich
	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 support has been given to (a) Bexley Borough Council and (b) Greenwich Borough Council to help rough sleepers (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	124342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2020 answer text <p>In 2020/21, we are providing over £700 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across England.</p><p>Greenwich have been allocated £951,740 through rough sleeping programmes in 2020/21. This includes Rough Sleeping Initiative funding to support the establishment or enhancement of coordinated local services for rough sleepers or those at risk of sleeping rough, £413,207 Next Steps Accommodation Programme funding to prevent as many as possible of those brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic returning to the streets and Cold Weather Funding: giving local areas the tools they need to protect people from cold weather and the risks posed by Covid-19.</p><p>Bexley have been allocated £240,000 through rough sleeping programmes in 2020/21. Bexley have been allocated £190,000 in funding through the Next Steps Accommodation Programme and Cold Weather Funding.</p><p>Both authorities are also being closely supported by our MHCLG Rough Sleeping Initiative advisers and Homelessness Advice and Support Team. These expert advisers are pro-actively working with local areas and will continue to support these authorities with the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act and the Rough Sleeping Initiative.</p><p>Both authorities produced delivery plans setting out how they will be supporting rough sleepers. Delivery plans were used in the allocation of Next Steps Accommodation Programme funding.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 08/12/2020 17:30:51 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 67318 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1256617

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2020
	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	Leasehold: Reform
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the Law Commission’s recommendations on leasehold reform; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	122568
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>We are working with the Law Commission to make buying a freehold or extending a lease easier, quicker and cheaper, and to reinvigorate Commonhold to provide consumers with a choice of tenure, and to reform the Right to Manage to help empower those that wish to, to take on management responsibilities for their properties.</p><p>In January this year the Law Commission published their first of four reports, on the valuation aspects of enfranchisement, followed on 21 July by their further three reports on the remaining aspects of enfranchisement, Commonhold, and Right to Manage. Further information can be found here: <a href="https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/residential-leasehold-and-commonhold/" target="_blank">https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/residential-leasehold-and-commonhold/</a>. <br> <br>We will be publishing further details of how Government will take forward reform across these key policy issues as soon as possible. This is a long-term reform programme; it is complex and controversial with many interdependencies and will take time to get the detail right. Once it is enacted the effect will be felt for generations and so we are determined this work considers all the implications with care.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/12/2020 17:55:01 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 66505 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1256657

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2020
	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	Business Rates: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether small businesses that fail to pay business rents due in December 2020 can be evicted by their landlord during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	122692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for everyone, and Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our businesses. That is why we have introduced temporary new measures to further safeguard the high street and millions of jobs.</p><p>Section 82 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 provides for a moratorium on forfeitures of commercial leases due to the non-payment of rent accrued during the pandemic. This means that landlords of commercial properties will not have the option to evict tenants for not paying the rent that was due after 23 March 2020. Government has announced that it will extend the moratorium on forfeiture until the end of the year. The extension provides landlords and tenants with a further opportunity to come together to have these discussions and reach agreements on outstanding rent.</p><p>Government has also restricted landlords’ ability to seize goods in lieu of rent and protected tenants from insolvency measures including statutory demands and winding up petitions.  All these measures are currently in place until 31 December 2020. Government has published a voluntary Code of Practice to encourage constructive dialogue between tenants and landlords; and is clear that those tenants who can pay in full should do so, those who cannot should pay what they can, and those landlords who can grant concessions should do so.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/12/2020 17:57:06 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 66506 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1256780

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2020
	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	Reopening High Streets Safely Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which organisations have received funding from the Reopening High Streets Fund; how much funding they received; and what the criteria was for its allocation.
	tabling member constituency	South Shields
	tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
	uin	122726
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>Our £50 million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund (RHSSF) is playing an important role in getting people back to work, supporting our businesses and helping to reinvigorate our local communities.</p><p>This funding has been allocated to 314 local authorities in England on a per capita basis, with a minimum limit of £30,000. Each local authority is responsible for deciding how the grant should be spent whilst ensuring that the activity is eligible under the terms of the grant.</p><p>The full RHSSF criteria, including an Annex detailing local authority funding allocations, can be found in the fund guidance: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Freopening-high-streets-safely-fund-guidance&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cac30c8be21b742f0a7b108d896f6361d%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637425331495188939%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Jh%2BpgEbReEPSEGbK%2Bq51ehXIkyftGweTejJ1QnC3FSA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reopening-high-streets-safely-fund-guidance</a>.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/12/2020 17:57:33 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 66508 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1250766

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the allocation to local authorities of (a) £15 million funding through the Protect Programme and (b) £10 million funding through the Cold Weather Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	114247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>On 5 November the Protect Programme was announced. The fund will provide a further £15 million to support the ongoing efforts to provide accommodation for rough sleepers during the pandemic. This programme will help areas that need additional support most throughout winter.</p><p>Local authorities who will be receiving Protect Programme funding have been informed. All local authorities are eligible for the £10 million Cold Weather Funds, to help keep rough sleepers safe this winter.</p><p>Our Policy and rough sleeping advisers are working intensively with councils on their specific local needs and challenges to develop delivery plans and confirm funding allocations for both these funds.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/11/2020 18:11:12 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 61558 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1250956

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Business Improvement Districts: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to require local authorities to cancel levies in relation to Business Improvement Districts for 2020 and until after the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	114077
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are a proven and effective vehicle for leveraging private investment and have a significant role to play in high street regeneration. Their role will be even more important in the recovery phase from the current crisis.</p><p>BID organisations are advised to work closely with their members, sector bodies and local authorities in coming to sensible arrangements on charging given the current circumstances. BIDs or local authorities may want to take legal advice on how they can manage their BID levy using their existing powers.</p><p>In March, the Government included provisions within the Coronavirus Act 2020 that enables BIDs to delay any renewal ballots due to take place before 31 December 2020 until 31 March 2021. This allows businesses to focus on recovery from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic before deciding whether to participate in future BID arrangements.</p><p>In addition to this legislation, the Government made available up to £6.1 million of support to BIDs. The funding has been delivered to 260 BIDs in England via local authorities, including £53,270.30 paid to Scarborough Borough Council on behalf of the Yorkshire Coast BID, part of which covers the East Yorkshire constituency.</p><p>We will continue to work closely with the sector to look at how further we can support BIDs, and the businesses that contribute to them, during this time.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/11/2020 18:13:12 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 61557 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1250958

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many companies have voluntarily opted out of charging event fees on retirement properties.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	114280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>This information is not held by my Department.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/11/2020 18:11:35 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 61559 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1250996

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Housing: Older People
	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 progress his Department has made on commissioning research on establishing an online database to provide information for prospective buyers on event fees associated with leasehold retirement properties.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	114281
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>In 2017, the Law Commission published a report of their review of event fees on behalf of this Department. The Law Commission made a number of recommendations in its report, which can be downloaded at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lawcom.gov.uk%2Fproject%2Fevent-fees-in-retirement-properties&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cd351b485574b4b4582da08d88a5a4e83%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637411467748509677%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=0w2nvQEhhmrDrQkLC9yWEU%2BXllAh%2FnSynyMCRXqcQ%2BI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/event-fees-in-retirement-properties</a>.</p><p>The Government responded to the Law Commission, thanking them for the report and agreeing to implement the majority of the recommendations. The Government is further considering two recommendations, on succession rights and a database of leasehold retirement properties with event fees, and will make an announcement in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 114282 question first answered 16/11/2020 18:21:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 61560 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1251000

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Housing: Older People
	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 progress his Department has made on a consultation on the implications for consumers and buyers of spouses’ and live-in carers’ succession rights to stay in a leasehold retirement property, without payment of an event fee.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield, Southgate
	tabling member printed	Bambos Charalambous
	uin	114282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>In 2017, the Law Commission published a report of their review of event fees on behalf of this Department. The Law Commission made a number of recommendations in its report, which can be downloaded at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lawcom.gov.uk%2Fproject%2Fevent-fees-in-retirement-properties&amp;data=04%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cd351b485574b4b4582da08d88a5a4e83%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637411467748509677%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=0w2nvQEhhmrDrQkLC9yWEU%2BXllAh%2FnSynyMCRXqcQ%2BI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/event-fees-in-retirement-properties</a>.</p><p>The Government responded to the Law Commission, thanking them for the report and agreeing to implement the majority of the recommendations. The Government is further considering two recommendations, on succession rights and a database of leasehold retirement properties with event fees, and will make an announcement in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 114281 question first answered 16/11/2020 18:21:16 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 61561 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4610 label Biography information for Bambos Charalambous

1246530

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2020
	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	Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus
	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 plans he has to ensure the provision of covid-secure accommodation for rough sleepers over winter 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
	tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
	uin	108227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2020 answer text <p>During the pandemic, we have worked closely with local authorities and the sector to offer vulnerable people safe accommodation and support. That work is ongoing and in September, we had successfully supported over 29,000 people, with 10,000 in emergency accommodation and nearly 19,000 provided with settled accommodation or move on support.</p><p>On 13 October, we announced additional winter support, to give local areas the tools they need to support vulnerable rough sleepers this winter. This includes a new £10 million Cold Weather Fund for local areas and £2 million in funding for the faith, communities and voluntary sector to bring forward self-contained and COVID secure accommodation this winter. <br> <br>We have worked extensively with Public Health England (PHE) to provide Operating Principles for the sector to help them open shelters as safely as possible where necessary, when self-contained accommodation cannot be made available and when local partners agree that it is the right thing to do.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 02/11/2020 18:53:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 58247 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris

1244333

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	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	Night Shelters: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his announcement of 13 October 2020 entitled COVID-19: provision of night shelters, if he will publish the advice his Department received from Public Health England.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	105417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>We have worked extensively with Public Health England (PHE) to provide Operating Principles for the sector, to help them open shelters as safely as possible where necessary, when self-contained accommodation can’t be made available and when local partners agree that it’s the right thing to do. PHE were closely involved in the production of the Operating Principles and offered advice as part of our Night Shelter Working Group. .</p><p>The Operating Principles are part of a wider package. Last week we announced a £10 million Cold Weather Fund to support councils to tackle homelessness this winter and bring forward self-contained accommodation and COVID-secure accommodation, as well as a £2 million fund for the sector to help them transform their traditional models to be COVID-secure.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2020 16:20:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 56452 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1244336

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	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	Night Shelters: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's announcement of 13 October 2020 on COVID-19: provision of night shelters, what steps the Government is taking to help support shelters which are not financially viable for re-opening with fewer guests during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	105420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>On 13 October, the Government announced additional support for rough sleepers this winter, giving local areas the tools they need to protect people from cold weather and the risks posed by COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>Building on the £6.4 billion already given to councils to help them manage the impacts of COVID-19, this announcement includes a new £10 million Cold Weather Fund for local areas to bring forward COVID-secure accommodation. This is in addition to the new £2 million Transformation Fund for the faith, community and voluntary groups to help them provide secure accommodation for rough sleepers.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, comprehensive guidance to the sector, produced with Public Health England and Homeless Link, has been published to help them open shelters more safely in situations where this decision needs to be taken and where not doing so would endanger lives.</p><p> </p><p>We have allocated £91.5 million to Local Authorities from the Next Steps Accommodation Programme and have a £161 million fund this year to bring forward long term accommodation for rough sleepers.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 22/10/2020 17:05:42 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 56479 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1244498

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	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	Sleeping Rough: Coronavirus
	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 financial and other support he is providing to local authorities to enable them to provide self-contained accommodation to rough sleepers during winter 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	105418
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2020 answer text <p>On 17 September MHCLG announced that £91.5 million had been allocated to 274 councils in England for the short-term funding aspect of the Next Steps Accommodation Programme, to help vulnerable people housed during the pandemic, and throughout the winter period.</p><p>On 13 October, we announced a further £10 million Cold Weather Fund for local areas to bring forward self-contained and COVID secure accommodation this winter, and £2 million funding for the faith, communities and voluntary sector to make available self-contained and COVID secure accommodation. Alongside this, comprehensive guidance to the sector, produced with input from Public Health England, Housing Justice and Homeless Link, has been published to help them open shelters more safely in situations where this decision needs to be taken, as a last resort and where not doing so would endanger lives.</p><p>This is on top of Government’s commitment to support up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation, with 3,300 units of this accommodation becoming available in 2020/2021. Homes England, in partnership with MHCLG, have pledged to work hand-in-hand with leading Housing Associations and local authorities to deliver this.</p><p>Taken together, the overall amount Government is spending on rough sleeping and homelessness this year is over £700 million.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 22/10/2020 17:05:30 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 56478 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1236682

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2020
	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	Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2020 to Question 91059 on the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel, how many times the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel has met in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	93603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2020 answer text <p>The Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel last met in June. Owing to the General Election and COVID-19 related pressures, this was the only panel held in the last 12 months.</p><p>Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with panel members over the last 12 months. We are committed to continuing regular conversations and following through on actions taken.</p><p>We are scheduling another meeting of the panel, which will take place before the end of the year</p><p><br>This Government is committed to ending rough sleeping to before the end of this Parliament and will continue to update Advisory Panel members on progress.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 30/09/2020 14:20:49 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 50023 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1205250

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Ferries: Freight
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to Question 51908 on Ferries: Freight, if he will publish the names of the external experts that provided (a) legal, (b) technical and (c) financial advice on the design of the Public Service Obligation Agreements; and what the cost to the public purse was of that advice.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
	tabling member printed	Karl Turner
	uin	61472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is providing up to £35.2m in funding to maintain capacity for critical goods for 9 weeks across 16 critical freight routes. During the height of the crisis, we believed it was important to keep this vital flow of critical goods such as medicines and food into and across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The providers of expert advice are as follows:</p><ol><li><p>Legal advice - Slaughter &amp; May</p></li><li><p>Technical advice - Costain</p></li><li><p>Financial advice - PwC</p></li></ol><p> </p><p>The amounts spent on the external experts to date are as follows:</p><ol><li><p>Slaughter &amp; May - £394,048</p></li><li><p>Costain - £188,676</p></li><li><p>PwC - £178,058</p></li></ol><p> </p><p>These figures exclude VAT.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 30/06/2020 15:42:48 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 31433 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

1192345

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	British Airways: Redundancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a response to EDM 418 on British Airways job losses.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	42058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that the recent news regarding job losses at British Airways will be very distressing for the airline’s employees and their families.</p><p> </p><p>The aviation sector is essential to the UK economy, and we encourage firms to draw on the unprecedented package of measures we have made available to support them through this time. This includes schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:37:29 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19537 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1192035

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to introduce a period of quarantine for people arriving at UK airports from abroad.
	tabling member constituency	New Forest West
	tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
	uin	41877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government continues to follow Public Health England guidance in relation to public health measures for passengers arriving to the UK. As this is a fast-evolving situation, the Government is currently working through a large number of potential measures specific to the aviation sector.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:14:19 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19528 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1192082

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to introduce a compulsory 2 week quarantine period for air passengers arriving in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
	tabling member printed	Dr Dan Poulter
	uin	41971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government continues to follow Public Health England guidance in relation to public health measures for passengers arriving to the UK. As this is a fast-evolving situation, the Government is currently working through a large number of potential measures specific to the aviation sector.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:17:06 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19531 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter

1192208

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	British Airways: Redundancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking in response to the announcement by British Airways that the company will make 12,000 members of staff redundant.
	tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
	tabling member printed	John McDonnell
	uin	41888
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that this will be very distressing news for British Airways employees and their families.</p><p> </p><p>The aviation sector is essential to the UK economy, and we encourage firms to draw on the unprecedented package of measures we have made available to support them through this time. This includes schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:35:24 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19530 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1192363

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	British Airways: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Airways on (a) worker safety, (b) job protections and (c) financial assistance from the Government to that company during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	41980
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Transport is engaging on a regular basis with airlines, unions and Public Health England on the application of public health measures in aviation</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for workers of airline companies. Measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are being used across the aviation industry to protect the sector against the Covid-19 economic crisis.</p><p> </p><p>These measures, alongside other Government support measures such as Coronavirus Large Business Loan Interruption Scheme and the CCFF, are helping airlines of all sizes get through this crisis and beyond. The Chancellor has noted that under exceptional circumstances bespoke support could be provided to airlines.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 41982 question first answered 07/05/2020 12:21:52 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19533 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1192364

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Flybe: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he had with FlyBe prior to that company entering administration on (a) worker safety, (b) job protections and (c) financial assistance from the Government due to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	41981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>Government was in discussion with Flybe’s shareholders and directors, exploring multiple options to find a solution that would ensure a long-term future for the company. However, keeping the company operating was not deemed viable by its directors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:27:09 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19536 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1192365

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Ryanair: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Ryanair on (a) worker safety, (b) job protections and (c) financial assistance from the Government during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	41982
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Transport is engaging on a regular basis with airlines, unions and Public Health England on the application of public health measures in aviation</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for workers of airline companies. Measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are being used across the aviation industry to protect the sector against the Covid-19 economic crisis.</p><p> </p><p>These measures, alongside other Government support measures such as Coronavirus Large Business Loan Interruption Scheme and the CCFF, are helping airlines of all sizes get through this crisis and beyond. The Chancellor has noted that under exceptional circumstances bespoke support could be provided to airlines.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 41980 question first answered 07/05/2020 12:21:52 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19535 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1192380

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions has he had with representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority on pilots maintaining their ratings during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Morgan
	uin	42167
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are doing everything possible to support the industry during this difficult period, including being flexible about regulatory requirements where possible without compromising safety. The CAA have issued four General Exemptions which extend the validity period of certain licences, ratings, and certificates which expire before the 31<sup>st</sup> of October 2020 until the end date of the exemption (22<sup>nd</sup> of November 2020). The references for these General Exemptions and the associated conditions are ORS4 No.1378, ORS4 No.1383, ORS4 No.1384, and ORS4 No.1385. These are all publicly available on the CAA website at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&amp;pagetype=65&amp;appid=11&amp;mode=list&amp;type=sercat&amp;id=17" target="_blank">https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&amp;pagetype=65&amp;appid=11&amp;mode=list&amp;type=sercat&amp;id=17</a></p><p>The Government and the CAA will continue to monitor the situation in consultation with stakeholders and we expect to issue further exemptions in the near future to support the aviation sector further.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:28:51 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19538 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1192381

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Airports: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions has he had with representatives from managers of UK airports on ensuring airports are ready to return to receiving regular fights after the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Morgan
	uin	42168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2020 answer text <p>The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times it is facing as a result of COVID-19. We continue to work closely with the sector to carry on with the repatriation of British Nationals and to maintain critical freight routes for medical supplies, whilst increasingly focusing on restart and recovery. Our transport systems are critical to support the restart of the wider economy and we are working closely with airports and the wider aviation sector on these restart plans.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 07/05/2020 12:32:24 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 19539 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1190585

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the risk of covid-19 being spread in the UK by people arriving from overseas into UK airports.
	tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
	tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
	uin	40530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Airlines and airports have implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.</p><p>Targeted screening measures were carried out at UK airports for inbound passengers during the containment phase of the pandemic when the aim was to prevent the virus coming in to the UK.</p><p>Whilst there is community transmission within the UK, the role played by imported cases is less significant and so our focus in the current delay phase has not been on screening measures at the border.</p><p><br> <br> As you would expect our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/05/2020 16:21:44 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 18621 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

1187754

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is holding discussions with the airline industry on the emergence of above-market-rate ticket prices for repatriation flights.
	tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
	uin	34963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Ministers and officials are meeting regularly with the aviation sector. The Government is absolutely focused on working with the sector to ensure that UK citizens can make their way home.</p><p> </p><p>We have agreed with airlines that they will keep as many commercial routes open as they can, for as long as they can. We are working with international partners to facilitate this.</p><p> </p><p>In some countries where commercial routes are no longer an option, we have worked with airlines to charter their aircraft to help stranded British travellers return home.</p><p> </p><p>The government is paying for these flights but we have a responsibility to the taxpayer. Therefore, we are asking passengers to pay a share of the overall cost. Flights are costed differently based on country of origin however the ticket cost only reflects a proportion of the overall costs. Foreign Office officials will be able to offer support to British travellers unable to pay including an emergency loan as a last resort.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/04/2020 13:02:20 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 16467 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1187759

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of barring inbound flights as a result of covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	35010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is working to a scientifically-led, step-by-step action plan, focusing on taking the right measures at the right time.</p><p>Targeted screening measures were carried out at UK airports for inbound passengers during the containment phase of the pandemic when the aim was to prevent the virus coming in to the UK.</p><p>Whilst there is community transmission within the UK, the role played by imported cases is less significant and so our focus in the current delay phase has not been on screening measures at the border. Additionally, it is vital that flights are still able to land in the UK in order to allow Britons who have been stranded abroad as a result of the pandemic to return home, and to allow key supplies to continue moving into and around the UK.</p><p>Airlines and airports have already implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.</p><p>As you would expect our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/04/2020 13:12:58 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 16468 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1183263

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding from the public purse for Heathrow airport expansion is allocated in line with the recent judgment on that expansion.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	26174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The sale of nut-based products on board aircrafts is a commercial decision for individual airlines. However, the Government is pleased to note that a number of UK airlines have taken positive steps to ban nuts and nut products from their aircraft. We continue to encourage industry to take appropriate measures. Government also wants to see improved clarity and consistency in how airlines operating in the UK assist nut allergy sufferers.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. It will receive no public funds. </ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 11/03/2020 16:05:02 question first ministerially corrected 13/03/2020 09:04:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 11819 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1180362

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an updated assessment of the economic effect of Heathrow expansion as a result of new proposals to phase the delivery of additional capacity.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	20541
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>The Court of Appeal ruled on 27 February that when designating the Airports National Policy Statement, which was backed by Parliament, the previous Government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050. We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish.</p><p> </p><p>As part of its judgment, the Court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008. The Court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/03/2020 13:45:51 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 9730 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1178918

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the effect of real terms funding reductions to North East bus services on the provision of those services.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	18392
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>Announced on February 2020, there is £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London. This package of investment will boost bus services by focusing on a range of priorities, set to include: higher frequency services, new priority schemes will make routes more efficient, more affordable simpler fares and at least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department for Transport provides £250m of support to local authorities and bus operators via Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG). In October 2019, the Government committed to review how BSOG is paid to ensure it supports the environment and improved passenger journeys.</p><p>In October 2019, the Government published A Better Deal for Bus Users, which sets out the Government’s plans for buses, including providing local authorities with an additional £30m of funding in 2020/21 and publishing a National Bus Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018/19, bus operators received around £2.1bn of support from the public sector, with around £1bn of funding for older and disabled people’s concessions and £850m of subsidy for socially necessary services provided by local authorities and funded via MHCLG’s Revenue Support Grant.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/02/2020 11:22:03 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 8638 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178919

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to increase funding for bus services in (a) Newcastle and (b) the North East.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	18393
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>The £220 million Better Deal for Bus Users package provides new funding to transform bus services and includes a National Bus Strategy, which together will detail measures to improve bus services.</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-better-deal-for-bus-users/a-better-deal-for-bus-users" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-better-deal-for-bus-users/a-better-deal-for-bus-users</a></p><p>This includes an extra £30 million for local authorities in 2020/21.</p><p>If the North East Joint Transport Committee (responsible for public transport policy in Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland) complete statements of intent demonstrating how they will meet the funding requirements, they will be provided with the additional allocation of £1,454,485.</p><p>In addition, there is £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London. This package of investment will boost bus services by focusing on a range of priorities, set to include: higher frequency services, new priority schemes will make routes more efficient, more affordable simpler fares and at least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/02/2020 11:28:34 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 8639 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1179442

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Buses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether bus operators are required to (a) report accidents and (b) adopt confidential reporting systems under the public service vehicle operator licensing system; and whether he plans to amend that system in relation to bus safety.
	tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
	tabling member printed	Matt Western
	uin	19023
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>It is a legislative duty for the holder of a public service vehicle operator’s licence to report to the Secretary of State as soon as is practicable, any failure or damage of a nature calculated to affect the safety of occupants of the public service vehicle or of persons using the road incurred by a public service vehicle owned by the holder.</p><p> </p><p>There is also a statutory requirement for road traffic incidents on public roads involving injury to be reported to the police. This is not specific to public service vehicles.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has no plans to require public service vehicle operators to adopt a confidential reporting system.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/02/2020 11:12:58 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 8637 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1176469

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Equal Pay: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to tackle the LGBT+ pay gap.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	12847
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>This is a matter for the Government’s Equalities Office and they will be responding shortly to the same question.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 11/02/2020 08:55:04 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 6047 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1173565

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Fireworks
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2020 to Question 4707, when the Office for Product Safety and Standards will publish the findings of its fact-based evidence base on the key issues that have been raised around fireworks.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	8137
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The work that the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is conducting to develop an evidence base is ongoing. It is continuing to review new and emerging data and will report in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/02/2020 14:54:07 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 4123 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1173585

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Thomas Cook: Insolvency
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it is the Government's policy to introduce a statutory compensation scheme for customers facing serious hardship as a result of injuries or loss of life suffered while on a Thomas Cook holiday.
	tabling member constituency	North Durham
	tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
	uin	8162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>As announced to the House by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 5 November, the Government intends to introduce a scheme to assist those facing serious hardship as a result of a life-changing injury, illness or loss of life for which UK-based Thomas Cook companies would have been liable, but for insolvency.</p><p>While the government cannot and will not step into the shoes of Thomas Cook, we are developing proposals to make payments to those in need, and who otherwise will receive nothing. Any scheme must strike a responsible balance between supporting those in the most serious financial need and our responsibility to the taxpayer. Accordingly, it will be a capped fund, sufficient to ensure there is support for those customers facing the most serious hardship.</p><p>Legislation to deliver the scheme will be introduced in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/02/2020 14:54:43 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 4124 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1173605

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Conditions of Employment: Pregnancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to help safeguard pregnant women from (a) workplace discrimination and (b) unfair dismissal.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Morgan
	uin	8449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of tackling pregnancy and maternity discrimination.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s manifesto committed to reform the law so that women returning from maternity leave receive additional protection from redundancy.</p><p> </p><p>We will extend the redundancy protection period for six months once a new mother has returned to work and provide similar protections for those parents taking adoption leave and shared parental leave. This will be part of an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/02/2020 14:54:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 4125 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1173629

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which employers have been named by the national minimum wage enforcement unit for non-compliance in the last three years; and what criteria her Department uses to decide on naming an employer.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	8456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The current NMW Naming Scheme commenced in 2013; employers named for National Minimum Wage (NMW) non-compliance since then, and the policy document which sets out how the scheme operates, can be found on gov.uk.</p><p>Following a recommendation from the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, the NMW Naming Scheme is currently under review and the Department will shortly publish the outcome of that work. This will detail any changes we are making to the scheme to ensure its continued effectiveness as a deterrent to non-compliance.</p><p>All employers who meet the eligibility criteria for naming are given a chance to make a representation as to why they should not be named. Exemptions to naming can be granted in line with the published exemption criteria. In the most recent naming round in July 2018, 95% of eligible cases were ultimately named.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8457 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:55:10 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 4126 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1173630

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many employers that were identified as non-compliant by the national minimum wage enforcement unit were not publicly named.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	8457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The current NMW Naming Scheme commenced in 2013; employers named for National Minimum Wage (NMW) non-compliance since then, and the policy document which sets out how the scheme operates, can be found on gov.uk.</p><p>Following a recommendation from the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, the NMW Naming Scheme is currently under review and the Department will shortly publish the outcome of that work. This will detail any changes we are making to the scheme to ensure its continued effectiveness as a deterrent to non-compliance.</p><p>All employers who meet the eligibility criteria for naming are given a chance to make a representation as to why they should not be named. Exemptions to naming can be granted in line with the published exemption criteria. In the most recent naming round in July 2018, 95% of eligible cases were ultimately named.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8456 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:55:10 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 4127 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1171015

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Disability: EU Law
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to replicate the European Accessibility Act when the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	3799
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>The UK believes in robust legislation on accessibility as evidenced by the landmark Disability Discrimination Act. We have always supported the aims of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in seeking to improve the accessibility of a range of products and services to citizens with disabilities. Once we leave the EU, the Government will consider how to improve or enchance accessibility in domestic legislation.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/01/2020 16:19:06 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 1797 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1169199

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Living Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate she has made of the number of people paid below the Real Living Wage in (a) London and (b) the rest of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	1079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to building an economy that works for everyone. Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) the Government protects the lowest paid within our society and ensures they are fairly rewarded for their contribution to the economy.</p><p>The NMW and NLW rates are legal minimum thresholds. These rates are different from the Living Wage which is a voluntary minimum rate of pay endorsed by the Living Wage Foundation. The Government commends the work of the Living Wage Foundation and those employers who commit to paying the Living Wage rates.</p><p>In April 2020, we will be increasing the NLW by 6.2% to £8.72 meeting the Government’s target of reaching 60% of median earnings by 2020. The Low Pay Commission estimates that these increases to the NMW and NLW will directly benefit over 2.8 million people. Last year, the Chancellor pledged to raise the NLW further, to two-thirds of median earnings, to an expected £10.50 by 2024, making the UK the first major economy in the world to set such an ambition.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/01/2020 17:18:38 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 1154 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1167137

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when she plans to put the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority on a statutory basis.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	7054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to putting the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority on a statutory basis as soon as Parliamentary time allows. This will be part of an overall and comprehensive programme of reform taking account of the CMA’s findings and in response to what Sir Donald Brydon may recommend in his Independent Review on the quality and effectiveness of audit.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2019 14:19:09 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 3793 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1167140

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Office for Product Safety and Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding was allocated to the Office for Product Safety and Standards; and how many staff were employed in that organisation in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Salford and Eccles
	tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
	uin	7164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>This information can be derived from the BEIS Main and Supplementary Supply Estimates and the BEIS Annual Report and Accounts which are publicly available at the following:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fhmt-main-estimates&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cfinance.foipq%40beis.gov.uk%7C5eb90949f40743afdf1808d7611d4862%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637084650701124548&amp;sdata=l1g1c6QWv6%2BhXFfGO9xUXrQBYx%2Bnh3Np4MhvlZMGhr4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-main-estimates</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fbeis-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cfinance.foipq%40beis.gov.uk%7C5eb90949f40743afdf1808d7611d4862%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637084650701124548&amp;sdata=saIyeoRJe7npFIdo8YrMHJ76axjTG%2F87r7s53ZoW0IQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beis-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fbeis-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018&amp;data=02%7C01%7Cfinance.foipq%40beis.gov.uk%7C5eb90949f40743afdf1808d7611d4862%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637084650701134542&amp;sdata=lkyNshhhBnsFTTDqOBwREh1RsXDzeFTAEoHb6tBP3Qg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beis-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018</a></p><p> </p><p>The OPSS was formed in January 2018 and its funding up to 31 March 2018 is not separately identifiable.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2019 14:19:15 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 3795 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

1167144

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Consumers: Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary for State of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost to the public purse was of all departmental and non-departmental public body spending on (a) consumer protection, (b) product safety and (c) consumer enforcement from 2010 to 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Salford and Eccles
	tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
	uin	7166
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>This Government is committed to ensuring consumers know and can exercise their rights and that there is an effective system to enforce them when things go wrong. Protecting public safety is a priority for this government and stringent legislation is in place which requires manufacturers to place only safe products on the market. The Office for Product Safety and Standards was set up in January 2018 to provide leadership on product safety issues.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year £M)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Consumer <strong>[i]</strong>Advice</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Consumer Advocacy<strong>[ii]</strong></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Enforcement<strong>[iii]</strong></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Product Safety</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>1.4</p></td><td><p>4.9</p></td><td><p>7.8</p></td><td rowspan="6"><p>N/A</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>8.5</p></td><td><p>3.9</p></td><td><p>8.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>15.8</p></td><td><p>2.7</p></td><td><p>4.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>10.8</p></td><td><p>3.7</p></td><td><p>14.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>10.4</p></td><td><p>4.2</p></td><td><p>14.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>11.0</p></td><td><p>4.2</p></td><td><p>14.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>10.6</p></td><td><p>3.7</p></td><td><p>14.4</p></td><td><p>0.67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>9.7</p></td><td><p>3.6</p></td><td><p>14.3</p></td><td><p>1.15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>9.5</p></td><td><p>3.6</p></td><td><p>14.2</p></td><td><p>8.46</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>It has not been possible within the timeframe to identify robust information on BEIS expenditure on product safety prior to 2016-17.</p><p> </p><p>[i] Telephone and online advice for consumers on general consumer issues. Increase in 2012-13 includes £5m in transition costs moving the service from Consumer Direct to the Citizens Advice consumer service.</p><p>[ii] Provision of general consumer advocacy only</p><p>[iii] 2010-11 and 2011-12 represents BEIS funding for specific enforcement projects such as Scambusters, Illegal Money Lending, Ports and Borders prior to the establishment of National Trading Standards and Trading Standards Scotland in April 2012 to deliver national and cross-border enforcement.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2019 14:25:44 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 3797 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

1167145

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Consumers: Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost to the public purse has been of all departmental and non-departmental public body spending on (a) consumer protection, (b) product safety and (c) consumer enforcement to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Salford and Eccles
	tabling member printed	Rebecca Long Bailey
	uin	7167
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>BEIS has allocated a total of £4.7m to Citizens Advice (including proportionate provision for Citizens Advice Scotland) to review and update advice provided across the advice spectrum, including consumer, to assist with EU exit. We have also allocated £0.4m to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to update advice for businesses on consumer rights and training for Trading Standards Officers.</p><p> </p><p>On product safety, BEIS has spent a total of £3.1m in 2017/18 and 2018/19 to enable the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) to prepare for EU exit.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2019 14:25:51 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 3798 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4396 label Biography information for Rebecca Long Bailey

1156419

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Business: Disadvantaged
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps she has taken to support the development of businesses in deprived communities.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	5432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>Across the UK, the Government-backed British Business Bank (the Bank) seeks to increase the supply of finance for smaller businesses and to reduce regional disparities in access to finance. The Bank’s programmes are currently supporting over £6.6 billion of finance to over 89,000 SMEs (as at June 2019). And through the Bank's Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) there is currently approximately £300mn of headroom available to lenders this financial year. There is also approximately £1bn of guarantee headroom currently available to lenders under the Bank's ENABLE Guarantee programme.</p><p>Government has also supported and invested in the creation of a network of 38 Growth Hubs in England – one in each Local Enterprise Partnership area) – to provide a free, impartial, single point of local contact to all businesses, no matter their size or sector, to access advice and support across the public and private sector: in 2018-2019 Growth Hubs in England supported over 121,500 businesses. At the end of FY18/19, Government had invested £56.4 million in Growth Hubs that helped over 9,500 individuals start a business achieving an average customer satisfaction rate of 81.45%.</p><p>Businesses in England can also access business support through GOV.UK, and the National Business Support Helpline.</p><p>Since Budget 2016, the Government has announced reductions to business rates worth more than £13 billion until 2021.</p><p>My rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced a £3.6 billion Towns Fund, including £1 billion for an accelerated Future High Streets Fund. Last year the Government also made a number of announcements to support High Street businesses:</p><ul><li>cutting the business rates bills of retailers by one third until April 2021 for properties with a rateable value below £51,000;</li><li>potential for up to 90% of retail properties in England to be eligible for the retail discount, worth almost £900m to businesses over two years; and</li><li>potential for retail discount to help a retailer save up to £8,000 off their 2019-20 bill.</li></ul><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018, HM Treasury announced that the VAT threshold will be maintained at the current level of £85,000 until April 2022. The VAT threshold is the highest in the EU and the OECD. It keeps an estimated over 3.55 million small businesses out of VAT.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 05/11/2019 14:19:47 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2862 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1156420

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Social Enterprises
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the global perception poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the UK has fallen from third to 13th place since 2016 in the list of the best places to be a social entrepreneur.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	5433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes the contribution which social enterprises make to local growth and prosperity in our communities up and down the country. The UK’s company law framework allows for a variety of business forms, in part to suit those adopting social or environmental purposes, and we will continue to look at what more can be done to support social entrepreneurship in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 08:22:03 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2867 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1156425

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices: Bank Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to oblige banks and building societies to sign an agreement with the Post Office to enable customers to withdraw money from their bank accounts at their local post office.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	5435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,600 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>On 8th October 2019 the Post Office announced a new Banking Framework agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. Signing up to this framework was a commercial decision for each bank to make, as banks and building societies have a commercial right to decide. ​ We are pleased that as of 25 October 2019 all 28 high street banks signed up in full. This will ensure that communities across the UK, in particular the elderly and vulnerable, have access to withdraw cash.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 31/10/2019 09:32:14 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2869 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1156127

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Retail Trade: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to prevent job losses in the retail industry.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	4919
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Retail remains a high employment sector – approximately 3 million jobs in the UK. More people are involved in retailing than in any other single industry in the country.</p><p> </p><p>There were 84,000 vacancies in the retail sector as of August 2019.</p><p> </p><p>In 2018, Government established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and economic health. The Council has agreed its six priority work areas with four already underway. These are: Costs to Business, Skills and Lifelong Learning, Industrial Strategy and Employment workstreams.</p><p> </p><p>As part of wider Government efforts to support adult training, we are also investing £100m to develop The National Retraining Scheme, which will help prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by automation, and help them retrain into better jobs. This funding has allowed us to start delivering the first part of the service, Get Help to Retrain, whilst developing and evaluating as we build-up the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>We have introduced Get Help to Retrain to 6 areas of England and we will be rolling it out across England in 2020. The digital service helps adults understand their existing skills and explore alternative occupations, and training opportunities to develop new skills.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 30/10/2019 16:34:08 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 2597 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham