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1126726

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Press Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Reporters Without Borders 2019 World Press Freedom Index; and the UK’s position at 33 in that index.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL15743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text We welcome the improvement in the UK’s ranking, but are disappointed that our position is not higher. The UK press is among the most respected and free in the world. The government recognises press freedom is fundamental to a healthy democracy and strongly supports it, including committing to repeal s40; publishing a world leading independent review on the sustainability of high quality journalism by Dame Cairncross; and launching a Global Media Freedoms campaign.<p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 29/05/2019 13:06:55 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1127483

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Department for International Development: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many officials in his Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Tottenham
	tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
	uin	256201
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>134 DFID staff have been temporarily seconded from their normal duties to work on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. DFID is working closely with other government departments to facilitate the return of staff deployed to other government departments, following the extension of Article 50. As of 21 May 2019, 100 of these staff have returned.</p><p> </p><p>To release staff for deployment, DFID undertook a detailed prioritisation exercise to assess the internal resource required to maintain essential delivery. For DFID, this meant meeting the legal commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) on international development in an effective and value for money way and the ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies. All other DFID business is highly important however officials made decisions to slow or pause delivery in order to support the EU exit related resource requirements of other government departments.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 29/05/2019 14:33:16 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1127489

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in her Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Tottenham
	tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
	uin	256207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>A total of 257 Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servants were augmented to Other Government Departments (OGDs) as preparation for the UK to leave the EU. This figure includes those who were augmented in support of Operation Yellowhammer. As at 23 May 2019, 254 had returned to the MOD. Three MOD civil servants remain augmenting OGDs as preparation for the UK to leave the EU. In addition, a total of 61 MOD civil servants were moved internally to work on EU Exit within MOD, of which 54 had returned to non-EU specific roles as at 23 May.</p><p>The MOD continually reviews workforce plans, reprioritising and assessing changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate. We have accelerated our plans, and at the same time, the civil service as a whole is working to ensure that EU Exit implementation is carried out to a high quality without impacting public service delivery across the whole of Government. The MOD continues to meet all its current commitments, keeping the country and its interests safe. The augmentation outlined above has had no impact on Defence outputs; as at 1 April 2019, 318 augmentees represented 0.55 per cent of the MOD civilian personnel strength (full time equivalent).</p> answering member constituency Milton Keynes North answering member printed Mark Lancaster question first answered 29/05/2019 13:40:32 answering member 1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
	tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1127594

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to consult (a) disabled people and (b) the organisations that represent disabled people to ensure that her digital by default programme for universal credit is compatible with the assistive technology that many disabled people rely on to access online services.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	256375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>All Department for Work and Pensions’ digital services are designed and built in line with Government Digital Service guidelines, and international standards for IT accessibility (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1). The intention is to make the services usable by as many people as possible without the use of assistive technology, and to be compatible with screen reading and magnifying tools for those people requiring them.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure that they meet these standards, the services are tested during the development process and prior to implementation. This includes both a range of technical tests and assessment of their usability by intended end users.</p><p> </p><p>Feedback from users of the services is encouraged and acted upon.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, for Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS), we continue to work closely with service users and their representatives and have recently completed our second external Audit that provided WCAG AA accreditation. The Department has a dedicated team ensuring that user experience (and accessibility is key to this) is at the heart of the way we develop the service.</p><p> </p><p>For people unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. Face-to-face support is also available in Jobcentres. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland are delivering the new ‘Help to Claim’ support to claimants making a new Universal Credit (UC) claim or moving from a legacy benefit to UC because of a change of circumstances. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim offers tailored, practical support to help people make a UC claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. It is available online, through web-chat, through a Freephone number and face to face through local Citizens Advice services.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/05/2019 11:46:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1127675

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Suicide: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of teenage suicides.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	256417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Although relatively rare, the number of suicides amongst children and young people remains a concern. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights children and young people as a group requiring tailored approaches to mental health to reduce their risk of suicide. We published the first Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan in January this year which sets out an ambitious programme for suicide prevention across national and local government. This workplan highlights steps we are taking across Government to reduce suicides in children and young people. The workplan is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772210/national-suicide-prevention-strategy-workplan.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772210/national-suicide-prevention-strategy-workplan.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 29/05/2019 14:22:12 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1127575

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the benefits freeze on the incomes of households with children.
	tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
	tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
	uin	256366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>An Impact Assessment of the benefit freeze was published in 2015, this is available in the link below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Welfare Reforms such as the benefit freeze were designed to incentivise parents to choose to move into and progress in work. Evidence shows that work is the best route out of poverty. Children in workless households are five time more likely to be in poverty than those in households where all adults were working. Since 2007/08, the incomes of the poorest fifth have increased by over £850 above inflation, whereas the incomes of the richest fifth have increased by around £650.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/05/2019 12:21:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1127001

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when HS2 is (1) built to Birmingham, and (2) completed, what is their estimate of the tonnage of freight that could be diverted from the roads onto the existing south to north railways, over what period of years, and with what effect on air pollution and greenhouse gases.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL15762
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>As a new rail line, HS2 will free up train paths on the existing railway which could be used to allow more freight to travel by rail. The freight operating companies will be able to apply for these additional paths in accordance with normal railway industry processes. The freight operators are independent commercial companies and the types of cargo, the tonnages and the routes will depend upon the demand that exists from their customers at that time. Any increase in the number of freight trains that results in a reduction in freight moved by road is likely to lead to a reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gases emissions.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 13:14:06 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1127481

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials in his Department have been seconded away from their normal duties to work on the UK's withdrawal from the EU; and what effect that secondment of staff has had on the effectiveness of his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Tottenham
	tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
	uin	256199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>As part of the department’s preparations for the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal, around 110 officials were seconded away from their normal duties to support on EU Exit work. In addition, a significant number of officials had their work re-prioritised to include EU Exit work whilst remaining in their primary roles.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 29/05/2019 15:45:36 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

1127549

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will change the rules on universal credit joint applications to enable couples to verify their ID in person at separate times.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>At present, there are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: online using the gov.uk verify service; in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p><p> </p><p>If an appointment is needed to verify a claimant’s ID in person, both members of a “couple claim” are not required to attend at the same time. The current process is that separate appointments will be arranged for each partner, at a time that is convenient for them.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2019 12:04:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1126711

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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 Science: Research
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the readership of Government-funded social science research, outside of universities, in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mawson
	uin	HL15728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Available information on the readership of social science research does not distinguish between different categories of reader. However, there are many different ways for research to be disseminated and to have impact wider than academic readership.</p><p> </p><p>Over 2000 case studies of the impact from social science research outside academia were submitted to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 Panel C on Social Sciences (around 30% of total impact case studies submitted to the REF). Analysis from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement shows that 52% of those submitted to Panel C included public engagement. Additional analysis by Kings College London and Digital Science (attached) looked at the impact of research on public policy and parliamentary debate, showing that case studies submitted to Panel C were the most likely to evidence political engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2012-16, at least 25% of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research included collaboration or partnership with at least one partner organisation. ESRC funded research is also highly connected to the public sector with up to 27% of funded research showing policy or practice impacts in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Specific examples of the impact from ESRC’s funded social science research can be found on their website, many of these involve working closely with industry, government, or not-for-profits.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with UK Research and Innovation and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and industry will work together to reach our target of increasing R&amp;D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term.</p><p> </p><p>The £236m Strength in Places Fund supports areas across the UK to build on their science and innovation strengths and develop stronger local networks. It funds proposals developed by local consortia which demonstrate a strong impact on local growth and productivity. Successful wave 1 bids were announced by UKRI in March 2019, and wave two was launched on 8 May 2019. It is expected that successful bids to this initial stage will be announced during summer 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 29/05/2019 12:53:14 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley attachment 1 file name ref-impact.pdf title Initial analysis of REF 2014 impact case studies
	tabling member	3830 label Biography information for Lord Mawson