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1237483

	registered interest
	date	24/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Darts: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to issue guidance on the conduct of (a) professional and (b) recreational darts during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	95064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to protect public health.</p><p>The Government has published guidance on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> allowing the phased return of sport and recreation activities in line with the latest medical guidance. The Government does not plan to publish sport-specific guidance. It is for the national governing bodies of sports to publish relevant guidance in accordance with the latest government guidance.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 29/09/2020 08:21:42 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236484

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Food Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children living in food insecure households in England.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2020 answer text <p>The Department’s Healthy Start scheme provides a nutritional safety net to hundreds of thousands of pregnant women and families with children under four in lower-income families. Healthy Start encourages a healthy diet by providing vouchers that can only be spent on fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables, plain cow’s milk and infant formula.</p><p>Free school meals, led by the Department for Education, play an important role in ensuring disadvantaged children receive a healthy, nutritious meal each day. They are aimed at families who are out of work or on low incomes.</p><p>Under the benefits-related criteria, there are currently around 1.4 million pupils eligible for and claiming a free school meal, saving families around £400 a year for each child.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 01/10/2020 21:15:55 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 49593 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236483

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the digitisation of Healthy Start vouchers.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>The Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review and the Government continues working to ensure that eligible families are aware of the scheme and how it will benefit them. The current uptake figure is 47%.</p><p>The scheme is promoted through the Healthy Start and Start4Life websites, reminding families to take up the vouchers. The Healthy Start Issuing Unit is also proactive in identifying and making contact with families who may be eligible for Healthy Start and issues invitations to apply for the scheme and pre-populated application forms by post.</p><p>The NHS Business Services Authority is delivering the project to digitise the Healthy Start Scheme. As part of the project, the NHS Business Services Authority holds monthly showcase events for stakeholders, this includes representatives from National Health Service trusts and local authorities. The NHS Business Services Authority will continue to communicate with all appropriate stakeholders in advance of each stage of the rollout of the digital project. The digital approach to Healthy Start will make it easier for families to apply for, receive and use Healthy Start benefits.</p><p>The project is due to begin the private beta phase later this year, followed by a public beta phase starting in early 2021, where new applicants will be able to apply for and use the digital service. The NHS Business Services Authority will also transfer beneficiaries who currently receive the paper-based voucher onto the new digital service from early 2021.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 91833 question first answered 06/11/2020 14:02:56 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 49592 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236481

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of take up of the Healthy Start voucher scheme in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91833
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>The Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review and the Government continues working to ensure that eligible families are aware of the scheme and how it will benefit them. The current uptake figure is 47%.</p><p>The scheme is promoted through the Healthy Start and Start4Life websites, reminding families to take up the vouchers. The Healthy Start Issuing Unit is also proactive in identifying and making contact with families who may be eligible for Healthy Start and issues invitations to apply for the scheme and pre-populated application forms by post.</p><p>The NHS Business Services Authority is delivering the project to digitise the Healthy Start Scheme. As part of the project, the NHS Business Services Authority holds monthly showcase events for stakeholders, this includes representatives from National Health Service trusts and local authorities. The NHS Business Services Authority will continue to communicate with all appropriate stakeholders in advance of each stage of the rollout of the digital project. The digital approach to Healthy Start will make it easier for families to apply for, receive and use Healthy Start benefits.</p><p>The project is due to begin the private beta phase later this year, followed by a public beta phase starting in early 2021, where new applicants will be able to apply for and use the digital service. The NHS Business Services Authority will also transfer beneficiaries who currently receive the paper-based voucher onto the new digital service from early 2021.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 91834 question first answered 06/11/2020 14:02:56 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 49591 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236480

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on Healthy Start vouchers in 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2020 answer text <p>The total expenditure on Healthy Start vouchers in England, for the most recent year that data is available, 2018/19, was £44,787,081. This expenditure includes the expenditure on Healthy Start vouchers redeemed and the administrative costs for the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 91831 question first answered 01/10/2020 21:33:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 49590 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236479

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Healthy Start Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what value of Healthy Start vouchers have been redeemed in 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91831
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2020 answer text <p>The total expenditure on Healthy Start vouchers in England, for the most recent year that data is available, 2018/19, was £44,787,081. This expenditure includes the expenditure on Healthy Start vouchers redeemed and the administrative costs for the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 91832 question first answered 01/10/2020 21:33:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 49589 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1235565

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91624
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1% of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3% by March 2021. DCMS has achieved 1.9% apprentices of the total staff employed within the department. We are reviewing our departmental apprenticeship strategy and are working to achieve the target for 2020/21 through a mixture of new appointments and development opportunities for existing staff. Given this target is a percentage of the total workforce the percentage changes in line with workforce fluctuations over time therefore making it challenging to predict when a department will meet it. The data for 2018/19 can be found<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019" target="_blank"> here</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on<a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank"> gov.uk</a> by the end of September 2020.</p><p>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3% target. The impact of the current pandemic has slowed recruitment due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 24/09/2020 15:05:23 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1235563

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Department for Transport: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1% of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3% by March 2021. Department for Transport (DfT) has currently achieved 1.3% of the total staff employed within the department for 2020/21. Given this target is a percentage of the total workforce, the percentage changes in line with workforce fluctuations over time therefore making it challenging to predict when a department will meet it. The data for 2018/19 can be found <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.gov.uk_government_publications_civil-2Dservice-2Dapprenticeship-2Ddata-2D2018-2Dto-2D2019&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=troKkvwivNn_CddsvWCHHPiPoFoTgTGIbXJULvYU158&amp;r=JtgUEfFFpp_fia79x1lvcbuMW3hkWpSiV9N3TKlIv9A&amp;m=Usjg8zC7ZIzFit3NK2T00_XzQK-_qHBi2cQZx_WYcPk&amp;s=bj__HV6sMGxwd9frnCCuL68ATckJxqeGvSIs1jD6yAY&amp;e=" target="_blank">here</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__gov.uk&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=troKkvwivNn_CddsvWCHHPiPoFoTgTGIbXJULvYU158&amp;r=JtgUEfFFpp_fia79x1lvcbuMW3hkWpSiV9N3TKlIv9A&amp;m=Usjg8zC7ZIzFit3NK2T00_XzQK-_qHBi2cQZx_WYcPk&amp;s=KfmE2ihmiyHJHePQXtmTI3HdjgSxSODnH4iQGJxyiJs&amp;e=" target="_blank">gov.uk</a> by the end of September 2020. Due to the diverse nature of our work, the central department (DfTc) and our executive agencies (DfT Group) have developed localised strategies to allow us to continue towards the Government target. In September 2020 DfTc additionally transitioned to a cohort-based model of recruitment for apprenticeships; further strengthening our ambition for apprenticeship recruitment, and providing economies of scale to improve quality of provision and overall employee experience for the apprenticeship community.</p><p>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3% target. The impact of the current pandemic has slowed recruitment due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 23/09/2020 09:14:41 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1235562

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	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	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Apprentices
	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 is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91622
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1 per cent of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3 per cent by March 2021. On 21 September 2020, the equivalent figure for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was 1.7 per cent. Given this target is a percentage of the total workforce the percentage changes in line with workforce fluctuations over time therefore making it challenging to predict when a Department will meet it. Data for 2018/19 can be found <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcivil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019&amp;data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cd591d5a6c9f043d1e3db08d8608969a6%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637365490580634889&amp;sdata=%2Beorcj0%2BQlmQLuvwraRyAp8f9pOytcDQnXSYZLQo8dU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on gov.uk by the end of September 2020. <br> <br>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3 per cent target. The impact of the current pandemic has slowed recruitment due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p><p>A multi-year approach on apprenticeships from FY 2021/22 will be developed by MHCLG’s Early Talent Team in the coming months, which will be aligned to the new apprenticeship strategy and any new targets included within.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 25/09/2020 13:41:32 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1235561

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	91621
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1% of its total workforce as apprentices against the legislative target for the public sector of 2.3% by March 2021. Defra had achieved 1% of the total staff employed within the department.</p><p> </p><p>In Defra group, we have taken the following steps towards the public sector apprenticeship target.</p><p> </p><p>We have reactivated our ‘Early Talent’ Strategy for 2020/21 to focus on:</p><ul><li>increasing the use of apprenticeships within external recruitment;</li><li>promoting the use of apprenticeships to support development of existing staff;</li><li>increasing and maximising the use of the levy; and</li><li>using targeted apprenticeship recruitment to improve the diversity of our workforce.</li><li> </li></ul><p>We have identified a number of levers that can be used to achieve the above and these are actively being discussed within the business. We continue to enhance the information and tools available to line managers to improve understanding.</p><p> </p><p>While there are a number of standards that we can actively use, given the unique nature and breadth of our activities in Defra group, we continue to explore and invest in trailblazer activity.</p><p> </p><p>Defra group has been focused on delivery against EU exit requirements and more recently COVID-19. Defra remains committed to the Civil Service Apprenticeship Strategy and is looking to increase our use of apprenticeships across Defra group over the next 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>Given this target is a percentage of the total workforce, the percentage changes in line with workforce fluctuations over time, therefore making it challenging to predict when a department will meet the target. The data for 2018/19 can be found on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on GOV.UK by the end of September 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3% target. The impact of the current pandemic has slowed recruitment due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 25/09/2020 11:12:23 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon