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604189

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2016
	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	Đuro Đaković
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received on Duro Dakovic TEP and its treatment of its employees.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2016 answer text <p>DWP has received no representations on Duro Dakovic TEP and its treatment of its employees.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/10/2016 16:17:47 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

530678

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Work Experience
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to encourage employers to provide work experience opportunities to people in full-time education.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	41558
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2016 answer text <p>We want young people to have opportunities to engage with employers and the world of work throughout their education. This should be an age appropriate approach which begins with work discovery activities in primary school.</p><p>We recognise that older children will benefit from an increasing range of employer interventions including inspiring talks, mentoring and work experience. That is why the employer-led Careers &amp; Enterprise Company is increasing the level of employer input into schools and colleges. For example, by rolling out its Enterprise Adviser Network, which works closely with Local Enterprise Partnerships to connect employees from firms of all sizes to schools through a network of volunteer enterprise advisers drawn from business.</p><p>We want more young people to have the opportunity to take part in high quality work experience that helps to prepare them for the workplace and develop the employability skills that employers require. Work experience and work placements should be an integral part of most students’ 16-19 study programmes.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 05/07/2016 13:44:06 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

524067

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Vocational Education: Tees Valley
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Lord Heseltine's report, Tees Valley: Opportunity unlimited, published on 7 June 2016, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of a University Technical College or Institute of Technology in the Tees Valley area.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40065
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2016 answer text <p>Lord Heseltine’s report recommends that, following the Tees Valley Post-16 Area Review, universities and local employers should consider whether technical based education provision in the form of either a University Technical College (UTC) or Institute of Technology (IoT) may help to address skill gaps and contribute to meeting the future needs of business.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to establishing a UTC or technical academy within reach of every city. As with other new academies, proposals to establish new UTCs and technical academies are submitted to the Department twice a year. The Department for Education would consider any proposals from the Tees Valley area as it would from elsewhere. The strongest applications that demonstrate a clear need and demand for their chosen specialisms in their local area are approved to develop their plans further.</p><p> </p><p>The Baker Dearing Educational Trust is funded by the Department to support applicant groups and can be contacted to discuss future UTC proposals. The process for establishing IoTs has not started yet, so no assessment has been made regarding the feasibility of an Institute in the Tees Valley area.</p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 15/06/2016 09:02:02 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles previous answer version 3060 answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

683007

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Violence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of (a) the extent of and (b) who is responsible for growth in the level of violence in the Donbas region of Ukraine; and whether such violence constitutes a breach of the ceasefire agreement.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	62742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2017 answer text <p>The increase in fighting and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in recent days around the town of Avdiivka in the Donbas represents a serious escalation. We have called publicly for all sides to demonstrate restraint, facilitate humanitarian access, and to commit to a full and sustained ceasefire, in line with the provisions of the Minsk Agreements.</p><p>Such fighting is clearly in breach of the ceasefire commitments set out in the Minsk Agreements. We are clear that the conflict in Ukraine has been caused, and is sustained by, deliberate Russian destabilisation of Ukraine.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 06/02/2017 17:37:50 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

636257

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2016
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Internally Displaced People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Ukraine on assistance for internally displaced people in that country.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	52738
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2016 answer text <p>DFID officials and staff of the British Embassy in Kyiv are in regular contact with the Government of Ukraine and international partners regarding assistance for internally displaced people in Ukraine. My predecessor, Sir Desmond Swayne, met the current Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced People during his visit to Ukraine in November 2015.</p><p>Since 2014, the UK has played a key role in supporting the humanitarian response in eastern Ukraine. For internally displaced people, this has included support to meet basic living requirements, providing training in business skills and help for those who have survived sexual and gender-based violence to access medical and legal services.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 17/11/2016 17:17:54 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

600649

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2016
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Aviation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is planning to take in respect of Russia as a result of the findings of the independent MH17 Joint Investigation Team.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2016 answer text <p>The Joint Investigation Team's ongoing investigation is essential to ensure that those responsible for this incident are brought to justice. Its initial criminal report has provided clear evidence that the missile that brought down MH17 was Russian-made, and launched from within territory held by Russian-backed separatist groups. We have urged Russia to engage constructively with the findings, the ongoing investigation, and any resulting attempts to prosecute those identified as the perpetrators.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 17/10/2016 16:22:31 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

573971

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	UK Commission for Employment and Skills
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 40241, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the reconstituting of her Department on the continuation of (a) the Employer Skills Survey, (b) the Employer Perspectives Survey, (c) Labour Market Information and (d) other research products previously produced by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	44309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>My written statement of 21 July [HCWS121] confirmed that management of the Employer Skills Survey, the Employer Perspectives Survey and the LMI (Labour Market Information) for All Portal would be transferred to the Department for Education.</p><p>The contract for maintaining the LMI for All portal has been re-let to the Institute for Employment Research, the Employer Perspectives Survey is being prepared for publication and we will shortly begin commissioning of the Employer Skills Survey.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 12/09/2016 15:16:55 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

601030

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2016
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Trident Submarines: Iron and Steel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department received any bid from steel companies with plants in the UK to supply plate steel for the Successor class of nuclear submarines.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48618
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2016 answer text <p>The management of the steel procurement process for the Successor Programme is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor, BAE Systems. The Ministry of Defence's involvement with suppliers was limited to conducting a technical assessment during the tendering process to ensure bids met specifications.</p><p>The tendering process was progressed and concluded by the Prime Contractor, no viable UK bid was received for this part of the Successor submarine manufacture. Other stages of construction will include grades of steel manufactured by British suppliers and I encourage them to take the opportunity to bid.</p><p>Overall, 85% of BAE System's supply chain for the new submarines is based in the UK.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin grouped question UIN 48578 question first answered 18/10/2016 15:02:59 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

528948

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Transport: Infrastructure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the British steel industry to future transport infrastructure projects in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	41298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2016 answer text <p>The Department has been working closely with BIS, Cabinet Office and industry to consider how Government can help the UK steel industry meet the challenges it has been facing.</p><p> </p><p>The bulk of infrastructure projects within the Department are being delivered by the Department’s Arm’s Length Bodies (ALB), in particular, Network Rail, Highways England and HS2. Cabinet Office guidance on the approach to steel procurement has been circulated to the Accounting Officers of each ALB and procurement and commercial teams within these organisations are aware of the need to:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Signal the future pipeline of requirements on steel sourcing and best practice in pre-procurement market engagement;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Ensure there is clear visibility of opportunities at sub-contractor level where the source of steel has not been defined by a Tier 1 contractor;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Assess the health and sustainability of potential suppliers in the supply chain at selection stage, including compliance with relevant health and safety and employment legislation;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Ensure that the price or cost calculations are based on an assessment of the whole-life cost and not lowest purchase price;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Take account of appropriate social and environmental impacts at the award stage where they are linked to the subject of the contract.</li></ul><p> </p><p>As with the rest of the materials for construction, steel is procured by the supply chain for the majority of our infrastructure projects. The Department and its ALBs are complying with the Cabinet Office guidance and ensuring that, for instance, where appropriate, assessment of social and environmental impacts are considered as part of the evaluation criteria. The Department and its ALBs also positively encourage bids from British companies and are holding discussions with UK suppliers to make sure they are in the best possible position to win contracts.</p><p> </p><p>Activity currently underway is as follows:</p><p><br><strong>Network Rail</strong></p><ul><li>Network Rail buys approximately 120,000 tonnes of steel for rails per annum directly from British Steel in Scunthorpe, which is around 96% of Network Rail’s total aggregated demand by value.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Highways England</strong></p><ul><li>Highways England does not procure steel materials directly, however over the last five years Highways England has used a category management framework as the main method of procuring steel gantries for the Strategic Road Network.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>To date circa 95% of this steel has been drawn from British Steel in the UK, which equates to approximately 11,000 tonnes of steel. The approximate framework spend is £30 million, of which about 35% will be steel procurement i.e. raw materials, and will equate to around £10.5 million.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Crossrail</strong></p><ul><li>The 57km of steel required for the rails of Crossrail’s brand new central tunnel section is being sourced entirely from British Steel in Scunthorpe. This equates to 7,000 tonnes of steel.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Crossrail Ltd does not directly procure steel as this is undertaken by their tier 1 contractors and their supply chains. However, Crossrail keeps an oversight of its critical contracts and estimates that 85% of its supply chain providing steel to the project is UK based.</li></ul><p><strong>HS2 </strong></p><ul><li>It is estimated that HS2 will need approximately 2 million tonnes of steel over the next 10 years. The procurement for the main civil engineering works between Euston and Birmingham is now underway with procurements for the stations and rail systems expected to commence later this year and for rolling stock in early 2017. Subject to Royal Assent, the project will start construction in 2017.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>As with the rest of the materials for construction, steel is procured by the supply chain. HS2 positively encourages bids from British companies and is already holding discussions with UK suppliers to make sure they are in the best possible position to complete for contracts for the steel that will be needed for track, concrete reinforcements, overhead wires and other structures.</li></ul> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 30/06/2016 14:22:12 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

670317

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2017
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Terrorism: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many former non-state actors who were formerly paramilitaries have been charged following a referral by the Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team to the Police Service of Northern Ireland or Public Prosecution Service.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	59030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2017 answer text <p>The Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information.</p><p>Operational matters relating to the Historical Enquiries Team and the Legacy Investigations Branch are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 59031 question first answered 12/01/2017 17:50:22 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

670318

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2017
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Terrorism: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) current and (b) former members of the Armed Forces currently under investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Legacy Investigations Branch were previously informed by the Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team that there would be no further action against them.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	59031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2017 answer text <p>The Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information.</p><p>Operational matters relating to the Historical Enquiries Team and the Legacy Investigations Branch are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 59030 question first answered 12/01/2017 17:50:22 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

524237

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will (a) establish an additional National Teaching Service (NTS) pilot in Teesside and (b) give priority to the Tees Valley in the NTS national roll-out in response to the recommendation in Lord Heseltine's report, Tees Valley: opportunity unlimited to prioritise the Tees Valley for national roll-out of the NTS.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40132
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2016 answer text <p>In November 2015 we announced that by 2020 the National Teaching Service (NTS) will have placed 1,500 high-performing teachers and middle leaders into challenging schools in areas of the country that struggle to attract, recruit and retain high quality teachers.</p><p>The NTS was launched with plans for a pilot scheme in the North West of England from September 2016 with the aim of attracting 100 NTS teachers and middle leaders into schools in the region. The national programme will include a clear focus on delivering cohorts of NTS teachers and middle leaders into eligible schools in Achieving Excellence Areas (AEAs) as set out in the Educational Excellence Everywhere White Paper. We will confirm our plans for rolling out the NTS in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 14/06/2016 16:52:50 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

601031

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2016 to Question 40132, whether there have been any changes to her Department's plans for the roll out of the National Teaching Service; and when her Department expects to confirm the details of those plans.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2016 answer text <p>We are currently reviewing the lessons learned from the National Teaching Service pilot alongside our growing evidence base on the recruitment challenges that different schools face. The next steps on this will be set out in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 18/10/2016 11:55:08 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

600802

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2016
	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	Tata Steel
	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 there has been a recent change to the policy that the Government would take a 25 per cent equity stake in Tata Steel's UK assets if a sale was necessary to secure the future of UK steel.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2016 answer text <p>There has been no change in the Government’s policy</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 31/10/2016 15:34:14 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

525523

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Students: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that universities offer disabled students levels of support which take account of recent changes to the disabled students' allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40680
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background or mode of learning. In the last academic year we saw record entry rates to higher education, including among those from disadvantaged backgrounds</p><p> </p><p>Higher Education Institutions have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support their students, including those with disabilities. They have a clear legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to ensure they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.</p><p> </p><p>To support Higher Education (HE) providers to prepare for the changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances that come into effect from academic year 2016/17, the Department has supported the establishment of a sector-led group ofstakeholders. The group’s focus is to communicate with senior leaders of HE providers, to help provide information about institutions’ responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students, and to encourage HE providers to develop inclusive learning environments.</p><p>In addition, universities expect to spend more than £745 million through access agreements agreed with the Director of Fair Access on measures to improve access and success for students from disadvantaged groups, including disabled students - up significantly from £404 million in 2009.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson grouped question UIN 40681 question first answered 27/06/2016 08:48:25 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

525524

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Students: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to increase accessibility to university buildings for disabled students.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40681
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background or mode of learning. In the last academic year we saw record entry rates to higher education, including among those from disadvantaged backgrounds</p><p> </p><p>Higher Education Institutions have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support their students, including those with disabilities. They have a clear legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to ensure they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.</p><p> </p><p>To support Higher Education (HE) providers to prepare for the changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances that come into effect from academic year 2016/17, the Department has supported the establishment of a sector-led group ofstakeholders. The group’s focus is to communicate with senior leaders of HE providers, to help provide information about institutions’ responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students, and to encourage HE providers to develop inclusive learning environments.</p><p>In addition, universities expect to spend more than £745 million through access agreements agreed with the Director of Fair Access on measures to improve access and success for students from disadvantaged groups, including disabled students - up significantly from £404 million in 2009.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson grouped question UIN 40680 question first answered 27/06/2016 08:48:25 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

638391

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Social Media: Criminal Investigation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with social media companies on improving their cooperation with police investigations.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	53500
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/12/2016 answer text <p>The Home Secretary engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that our law enforcement agencies are able to undertake effectively their core function of protecting the public. As more and more communications take place online, this of course includes providers of telecommunications services such as social media companies.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 09/12/2016 16:15:08 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

599377

	registered interest
	date	11/10/2016
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Smoke Alarms
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what data his Department holds on the proportion of households without working smoke alarms in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) Redcar and Cleveland and (d) Middlesbrough in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	48061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2016 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government holds data on the proportion of households without smoke alarms in England from the English Housing Survey which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2014-to-2015-smoke-alarms-in-english-homes-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2014-to-2015-smoke-alarms-in-english-homes-report</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon Central answering member printed Gavin Barwell question first answered 17/10/2016 11:15:57 answering member 3955 label Biography information for Lord Barwell
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

581998

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2016
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Slaughterhouses: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask the Foods Standards Agency to review the licence granted for BHM Food Group Ltd to operate an abattoir in Boosbeck.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	45945
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2016 answer text <p>BHM Food Group Ltd are no longer approved to operate as a slaughterhouse. They remain conditionally approved as a cutting plant and minced meat establishment. A third and final approval assessment will be conducted by 11 November 2016 to check their compliance against all relevant requirements of food law. If they have not met all these requirements their application for full approval will be refused.</p><p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency is aware of concerns raised by local residents regarding the environmental impact of a slaughterhouse sited within the village of Boosbeck. However, the Agency is not the competent authority for environmental hygiene matters which inform planning consent. Both of these roles (Environmental Health and Planning) are fulfilled by the local authority.</p> answering member constituency Oxford West and Abingdon answering member printed Nicola Blackwood question first answered 15/09/2016 14:28:08 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

524419

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2016
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Skilled Workers: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will make an assessment of the effect of the withdrawal of funding from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills on the Government's analysis of skills shortages in the North East.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40241
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2016 answer text <p>In the context of needing to make savings in non-participation budgets to allow the core adult skills participation budgets to be protected in cash terms, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has consulted the Devolved Administrations and other users of labour market information on future research priorities.</p><p> </p><p>Following these discussions, we have identified the significance of the Employer Skills Survey, the Employer Perspectives Survey and the LMI (Labour Market Information) for All Portal and decided that these products will be maintained. We are currently working with the Commission to transfer the management of these to BIS, and we will work users on how information from these surveys will be disseminated in the future including the provision of regional and local information.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 15/06/2016 08:57:55 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

573629

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Sign Language: Adult Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider changing adult learning funding to fund British Sign Language courses for families of children who are born deaf.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	44477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2016 answer text <p>This Department funds British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications in England through the Adult Education Budget (AEB). In the current economic climate, our funding must be focussed where it can have the most impact, so we support young adults aged 19 and over to gain the skills and qualifications they need to get work or to progress in their chosen career.</p><p> </p><p>Learners who need lip reading skills to access work or stay in work are eligible to receive public funding through the Skills Funding Agency, and we are introducing changes that will make BSL qualifications acceptable, for the purposes of apprenticeship completion requirements, as an alternative to Functional Skills English for apprentices whose first language is BSL.</p><p> </p><p>Colleges and training providers are independent and autonomous bodies and are responsible for their course provision. They are required to respond to the needs of learners, employers and communities to ensure that provision meets the need of local people, and we would expect every college or training organisation that receives public investment to consider offering lip-reading and sign language provision if there is a demand for it locally. Our more flexible adult education budget funding rules for 2016/17 enable broader types of learning activities that re-engage people in learning, build confidence, and enhance well-being.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 13/09/2016 15:52:06 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

638023

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2016
	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	Shell: North Sea
	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 he has made of the potential costs and benefits to customers, workers and the public purse of a UK company purchasing Shell's North Sea assets.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	53366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2016 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made. Any potential sale of Shell’s North Sea assets is a commercial matter for the company rather than Her Majesty’s Government.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/11/2016 15:59:07 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

638453

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2016
	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	Shell: North Sea
	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 his Department has made of the potential effect of Shell's sale of its North Sea field assets on the long-term future of the North Sea as an energy asset.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	53573
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2016 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made. The Oil and Gas Authority will assess any licence transfer as the licensing authority.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 22/11/2016 14:31:40 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

542252

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Sexual Offences: Cleveland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of sexual offences Cleveland Police received in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those reports led to prosecutions.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	43991
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The number of sexual and violence against the person offences recorded by Cleveland police from 2011/12 to 2015/16 are given in the table.</p><p>The Home Office does not hold data on the number of prosecutions resulting from offences recorded by the police. Information on crimes assigned a charge or summons outcome is available from April 2014, when data on outcomes were first collected linked specifically to their associated crimes. Previously, outcomes data supplied by forces related to the volume recorded regardless of when the crime was committed. The new method of collection was implemented to provide greater transparency and highlight how each crime recorded in any period is resolved by the police.</p><p>The table shows the proportion of sexual and violent offences that resulted in a police charge or summons in 2014/15 and 2015/16. In addition, it shows the proportion of each offence group that has not been assigned an outcome. This is important to note, in particular for sexual offences, because length of investigations mean that the most recent year has more crimes that have yet to be assigned an outcome than the previous year.</p><p>Not all charges or summonses will lead to a prosecution, the Ministry of Justice hold and publish data on prosecutions.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 43990 question first answered 05/09/2016 11:08:30 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis attachment 1 file name PQ43990-91 Blekinsop table _dw.xlsx title Sexual and violent offences
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop

524212

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2016
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
	hansard heading	Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK: Redcar
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to provide any funding for a further assessment of the Redcar SSI site as recommended in the independent report, Tees Valley: opportunity unlimited, published on 7 June 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
	tabling member printed	Tom Blenkinsop
	uin	40128
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2016 answer text <p>I welcome Lord Heseltine’s independent report on the Tees Valley following the closure of the SSI steelworks. As noted in the report, the Government is providing funding for an intermediate body to manage the site prior to the creation of the Mayoral Development Corporation, and is funding site assessments in 2016-17 in order to understand the scale and complexity of the SSI site. The case for any further Government funding will be considered in light of those assessments.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 14/06/2016 16:12:25 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
	tabling member	4037 label Biography information for Tom Blenkinsop