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1126628

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Reciprocal Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2019 to Question 242790 on State Retirement Pensions: Reciprocal Arrangements, which non-EU countries have made requests for reciprocal social security agreements with the UK since 1992.
	tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
	tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
	uin	254152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Requests for social security agreements may be raised in formal and informal meetings and correspondence at both ministerial and official level. The Department for Work and Pensions does not, as a matter of routine, maintain records of such requests.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/05/2019 16:24:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

1126573

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in her Department; and what the cost was to her Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	254082
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department recognises its legal duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees; this includes identifying and reducing workplace stressors. Our approach is a holistic one that utilises the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Management Standards for work related stress and follows key principles to help identify and reduce work place stressors.</p><p> </p><p>2,473 employees took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months which represents 3% of our paid staff. As a percentage, such absences equated to 10.7% of all Working Days Lost due to sickness absence. However, as the Department continues to pay salaries during sickness absence there is no direct financial cost.</p><p> </p><p>Our approach to absence is fair but robust with the emphasis on health promotion and absence prevention. The Department has a range of support from mental health toolkits, stress reduction plans plus tailored support for people who do go off sick or need support through our Employee Assistance Programme which includes counselling.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has 965 Mental Health First Aiders, who provide acute, short-term and structured support to individuals, provide reassurance and signpost colleagues to both DWP and external sources of support as appropriate. Mental Health First Aiders are also provided with continuous professional development and support for their own mental wellbeing.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/05/2019 16:17:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126601

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	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	Independent Case Examiner: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the 158 complaints about the Independent Case Examiner in 2017-18 were on the length of time it took to investigate a complaint.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	254099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner’s Office recorded 158 complaints about its service during the 2017/18 reporting year, of which 60 concerned delays in starting investigations and 6 concerned delays in concluding investigations.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/05/2019 16:04:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1126816

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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, what assessment she has made of whether there is a need for transitional protection for mixed-age couples that will see eligibility for pension credit and housing benefit affected by transferring to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Preseli Pembrokeshire
	tabling member printed	Stephen Crabb
	uin	254779
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couples change will not apply to couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners on 14 May for as long as they remain entitled to either benefit. DWP wrote earlier this year to those mixed age couples already receiving Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners to ensure they know about the change and how they could be affected if their circumstances change on or after 15 May.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would be eligible for the pension age benefits under the previous rules but have not claimed before 15 May will have up to 13 August to make a backdated claim to 14 May and we encourage them to do so.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/05/2019 15:54:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1554 label Biography information for Stephen Crabb

1124381

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Government Equalities Office: Secondment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many civil servants in the Government Equalities Office have been seconded to (a) the Department for Exiting the European Union and (b) the Department for International Trade in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	249913
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government Equalities Office (GEO) confirms no GEO civil servants have been seconded to either the Department for Exiting the European Union or the Department for International Trade in the last three years.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/05/2019 15:13:56 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1124692

	registered interest
	date	03/05/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help ensure that employers provide reasonable adjustments to the workplace so that people with hidden or invisible conditions are able to (a) access and (b) stay in employment.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	250748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The law is very clear that employers must make reasonable adjustments for employees and job applicants who meet the Equality Act 2010’s definition of disability, namely having a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on the person’s ability to do normal daily activities. Where a disability is not obvious, it will be necessary for the employee or job applicant to declare their condition, but at that point the onus passes to the employer to meet its legal obligations.</p><p> </p><p>To help employers comply with the law, the Government has issued guidance on the duty to make reasonable adjustments, here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers</a></p><p> </p><p>In addition, guidance on this subject has been issued by Acas and by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has also published a statutory code of practice for employers. Where employers fall short on their obligations, legal remedies exist for employees and job applicants, together with Acas’s early conciliation service, which aims to settle disputes before they reach the employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/05/2019 15:13:27 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

1126332

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Banking Hubs: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to update competition law to allow for shared banking hubs in areas where local bank branches have been closed.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Branch closures can be difficult for the communities affected and the Government pays close attention to this issue. However, the decision to close a branch is a commercial one for a firm, and Government does not intervene in those decisions.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government is equally clear that as banking providers seek to respond to technological advances and changes in customer behaviour, they must also consider carefully the needs of those who still rely on their local bank branch. Since May 2017, the major high street banks have been signed up to the Access to Banking Standard, which commits them to work with customers and communities to minimise the impact of branch closures and put in place alternative banking services.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also supports the Post Office Banking Framework Agreement which enables 99% of the UK’s personal and 95% of the UK’s small business customers to withdraw money, deposit cash and cheques and check balances at any one of the Post Office’s network of 11,500 branches.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>While banks do have to comply with competition law, there is no specific regulation that prevents banks from sharing branches or other premises where their strategies align. The Government therefore has no plans to update competition law on this basis. Government does not intervene in these commercial decisions, but will continue to encourage banks to think creatively about how they can ensure that consumers can access a wide range of banking services on a sustainable basis. For example, NatWest, Lloyds Bank and Barclays are trialling shared business banking hubs in 6 locations across the UK in the coming weeks.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:37:43 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1126718

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Loans
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have modelled the systemic risk impact of growth in instructional, non bank, lending.
	tabling member printed	Lord Myners
	uin	HL15735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) of the Bank of England was set up to identify, monitor and take action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to protecting and enhancing the resilience of the UK financial system as part of the new financial regulatory framework legislated for under The Financial Services Act 2012. Part of the FPC’s remit includes the responsibility for assessing risks in the financial system, including from the non-bank financial system. The FPC set out its most recent assessment of financial stability risks from the non-bank financial sector in its 28th November 2018 Financial Stability Report.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:28:54 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	3869 label Biography information for Lord Myners

1127020

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Credit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any increase in complaints regarding short-term and payday lenders related to those suffering with problem debt.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, transferring regulatory responsibility to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 1 April 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA requires payday lenders to carry out robust affordability checks, limits the number of times a payday loan can be rolled over to two, places tough restrictions on lenders’ use of continuous payment authorities, and requires all payday lending adverts to include a risk warning and information about where to get free debt advice.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has given the FCA strong powers to protect consumers and to take action against firms and individuals that do not meet its standards. In 2018, the FCA issued total fines of £60 million.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>On problem debt more broadly, the Government is implementing its manifesto commitment to introduce a breathing space and statutory debt repayment plan. The two polices aim to give people in problem debt the opportunity to take control of their finances and put them on a sustainable footing.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:23:21 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1126562

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Treasury: Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in his Department; and what the cost was to his Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	254071
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Treasury’s sickness absence data for ‘mental health and related issues includes stress related conditions. HM Treasury publishes data in the Annual report and Accounts. The data for January to December 2017 can be found in the 2017/18 report and accounts, and data for the period January to December 2018 will be reported in the 2018/19 annual report and accounts which is due to be published in July.</p><p> </p><p>For information I have attached a link below to the 2017/18 report.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-annual-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-annual-report</a></p><p> </p><p>We do not currently make an estimate of the cost of sick absence to the department.</p><p> </p><p>HM Treasury has the following support in place for those that are suffering due to stress or poor mental health including:</p><ul><li>Stress and Mental Health Awareness e-learning – which covers learning about stress, what the stressors can be and how to identify and lessen stress</li><li>Stress risk assessment used to identify stressors and implement controls to help reduce/eliminate the stress</li><li>Workplace Adjustments including flexible working</li><li>Stress Management guidance</li><li>Wellbeing Gateway</li><li>Mental Health Tips</li><li>Tips to help reduce stress</li><li>Mental Health First Aiders</li><li>Employee Assistance Programme - provides a number of confidential advisory, counselling and support services. Their helpline is available 24/7</li><li>Occupational Health provision</li><li>Mental Wellbeing Network</li><li>Treasury Supporters who are employees trained to help colleagues work through any concerns, however serious whatever their cause</li><li>Wellness Action Plans</li><li>Time to Talk Workshops</li><li>HR Advisers and Health, Safety &amp; Wellbeing Team</li><li>HSE Stress Talking Toolkit</li></ul> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 22/05/2019 16:38:48 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126305

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Insolvency
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the basis for their estimate in the consultation by HMRC Protecting your taxes in insolvency, published on 26 February, that the reintroduction of preferential status for any Crown creditor would yield £185 million per annum in additional tax revenue.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL15665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The estimate is the tax recovered from insolvencies that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) would not otherwise have collected before the policy was implemented. Adjustments were made for tax and payment timing.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:21:03 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1126306

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Insolvency
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposals in the consultation by HMRC Protecting your taxes in insolvency, published on 26 February, to reintroduce preferential status for any Crown creditor takes into account lost Government revenue resulting from other taxpayers suffering additional bad debts due to the priority payment of HMRC, and any consequential loss to the economy resulting other taxpayers themselves becoming insolvent due to an increased burden of bad debt; and what assessment, if any, they have made of the impact of that change on lending.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL15666
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The ‘Protecting your taxes in insolvency’ proposals take into account lost government revenue resulting from other taxpayers suffering additional bad debts due to the priority payment of HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>Lending against fixed assets will not be impacted by this measure, but lending against floating assets will be impacted, as HMRC will move above secured creditors with floating charges in insolvencies.</p><p> </p><p>At Budget 2018, the independent OBR chose not to make any adjustments to their economic forecast in response to this measure.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 22/05/2019 16:22:56 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1125507

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether FirstGroup has met all Department of Transport criteria on railways pensions as a shortlisted bidder for the West Coast Partnership rail franchise.
	tabling member printed	Lord Myners
	uin	HL15602
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not comment on a live competition. Please note that all bids received for any franchise competition are evaluated against the requirements and instructions set out in the relevant Invitation To Tender.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 22/05/2019 14:21:03 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	3869 label Biography information for Lord Myners

1125493

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their Bus Services Act 2017: bus open data consultation response, published in January, why the provision of accessibility information “would be too great an implementation burden for bus operators”; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the lack of such information on those with disabilities.
	tabling member printed	Lord Holmes of Richmond
	uin	HL15588
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Transport consulted with bus operators, passengers and their representative groups to explore the technical feasibility of requiring operators and/or local transport authorities to provide accessibility data for both vehicles and stops. We came to the conclusion that the industry is not yet ready to meet this challenge and therefore have chosen to focus on only legally requiring the core data types for the Bus Open Data Digital Service.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst we do consider accessibility information to be of great importance for public transport users, many operators would need to upgrade their systems in order to openly publish accessibility information, and many operators are not currently in a position to do so.</p><p> </p><p>However, we are working with the industry to support the voluntary and open publication of accessibility information and at a later stage in the programme, after the core requirements have been successfully delivered, return to this important data type and consider whether it would be feasible to legally require the industry to openly publish accessibility information about vehicles.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 22/05/2019 14:20:17 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4294 label Biography information for Lord Holmes of Richmond

1126693

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Railways
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to announce the next stage of the process for selecting a preferred developer for a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow Airport.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL15710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department has not undertaken a procurement process to select a preferred developer for a Southern Rail Link to Heathrow.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 22/05/2019 14:28:26 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

1126692

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Railways
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect (1) funding to be approved, and (2) an application for a Development Consent Order to be made, for a Western Rail Link to Heathrow Airport.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL15709
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government fully supports the development of a Western Rail Link to Heathrow.</p><p> </p><p>The development of a five case business case for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is nearing completion. The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline sets out the process and principles underpinning funding of enhancements to the railway.</p><p> </p><p>Subject a satisfactory business case, and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry, funding would be made available to take the project forward to the ‘Design’ gateway. On that basis, Network Rail expects to submit its Development Consent Order later in the Autumn.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 22/05/2019 14:23:26 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

1125497

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce legislation that requires all electricity used at charging points for electric vehicles to be from renewable sources.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL15592
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>We want an increasing proportion of the electricity used at electric vehicle charging points to be from renewable and low carbon sources. We are taking steps to facilitate this by cleaning up the UK’s power generation and increasing the amount of renewable generation and ensuring electric vehicles play a helpful role in our future smart and flexible energy system.</p><p> </p><p>The Clean Growth Strategy sets out steps the Government is taking to further decarbonise the power sector and the wider economy. Between now and 2050, the Government projects electricity grid emissions will continue to fall with increasing levels of low carbon and distributed renewable generation. To enable these changes in generation, the system is adapting to become more flexible and smarter in order to better manage the new flows in power. Electric vehicles have an important role to play in this transition – offering new opportunities for consumers and the power system. Smart charging will allow charging to happen at times when more renewable energy is available. The department plans to consult on smart chargepoint requirements shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 22/05/2019 16:53:08 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1128044

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	Whether she has plans to extend the provisions of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	910962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>As I have said on many occasions, I voted in support of same sex marriage in England and Wales and I hope that this can be extended to Northern Ireland in the future.</p><p> </p><p>However, marriage is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and an issue I want a restored Executive to resolve.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 22/05/2019 14:10:53 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1128046

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Common Travel Area: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent steps she has taken to ensure the maintenance of the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Bill Grant
	uin	910964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>On 8 May, the United Kingdom Government and the Irish Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding codifying the Common Travel Area (CTA) and associated reciprocal rights.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 22/05/2019 14:10:04 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

1128045

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Hospitals: Parking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	If she will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the abolition of hospital car parking charges in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	910963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The matter of hospital car parking is devolved in Northern Ireland and it would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to intervene.</p><p><br>In the absence of devolved government it remains for NI Permanent Secretaries to take the decisions they believe necessary in line with the guidance the Secretary of State set out last November, to keep the country running.</p> answering member constituency Weston-super-Mare answering member printed John Penrose question first answered 22/05/2019 14:00:54 answering member 1584 label Biography information for John Penrose
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1128042

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Sovereignty: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment she has made of the benefits to Northern Ireland of being part of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
	tabling member printed	Ross Thomson
	uin	910960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>This Government has made clear on many occasions that we will never be neutral in expressing our support for the Union.</p><p>Northern Ireland benefits hugely from the Union and my steadfast belief is that Northern Ireland’s future is best served within a stronger United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley grouped question UIN 910961 question first answered 22/05/2019 14:13:03 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4599 label Biography information for Ross Thomson

1128043

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Sovereignty: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment she has made of the benefits to Northern Ireland of being part of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Monmouth
	tabling member printed	David T. C. Davies
	uin	910961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>This Government has made clear on many occasions that we will never be neutral in expressing our support for the Union.</p><p>Northern Ireland benefits hugely from the Union and my steadfast belief is that Northern Ireland’s future is best served within a stronger United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley grouped question UIN 910960 question first answered 22/05/2019 14:13:03 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	1545 label Biography information for David T C Davies

1126636

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offenders: Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) young offenders institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) secure children’s homes do not have a formal written procedure for the identification, assessment and care planning of looked-after children.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds East
	tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
	uin	254240
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>All children in the youth secure estate have their needs and risks identified, addressed and managed in line with the requirements set out in ‘Standards for children in the youth justice system’ (<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780504/Standards_for_children_in_youth_justice_services_2019.doc.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780504/Standards_for_children_in_youth_justice_services_2019.doc.pdf</a>). These standards apply to all secure establishments providers, including health commissioners and providers. All youth secure establishments must also follow the relevant case management guidance relating to LAC. Therefore, having or not having ‘formal written procedures’ does not in itself dictate the quality of care for LAC.</p><p> </p><p>Children detained under criminal justice legislation in secure establishments are subject to the Children Act 1989. The responsible authority continues to have responsibilities towards them in the same way as they would to other children in need – recognising that the court, by sentencing the child, has determined where he/she will live. The duties and expectations placed on all local authorities in relation to effectively caring for looked-after children and care leavers, including where they are detained in the secure estate, are set out in the relevant legislation and accompanying statutory guidance.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 22/05/2019 16:44:33 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1126631

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Youth Justice System Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which of the recommendations made by the Taylor Review of the Youth Justice System, published in December 2016, have been (a) fully, (b) partially and (c) not achieved.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds East
	tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
	uin	254235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>In January 2017 we established a programme of reform to consider how we can deliver improvements across the youth justice system (YJS) and take account of the recommendations made by Charlie Taylor in his review of the YJS, published in December 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Since then we have established the Youth Custody Service to bring oversight of the whole youth secure estate under a single Executive Director directly accountable to me, and worked in partnership with DfE, DHSC and NHSE to develop the secure schools model. We hope to appoint the provider of the first secure school this summer. The Youth Justice Board has developed a new performance assessment process for Youth Offending Teams and we have increased the availability of liaison and diversion services across England.</p><p> </p><p>Work is also underway to review our criminal records processes and we have established a dedicated youth justice disproportionality team who are taking forward work to explain or address disproportionate representation and outcomes within the system. In addition, the HMCTS court reform programme has a specific workstream considering the needs of children and we are also undertaking a review of the use of remand for children.</p><p> </p><p>Work has therefore been completed, or is underway, in relation to every recommendation made in Charlie Taylor’s review and we will continue to use the review and the specific recommendations made to inform our work as we take our reform programme forward.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 22/05/2019 16:42:34 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1126970

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Trials: Ethnic Groups
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) BAME and (b) white defendants who enter guilty pleas.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	uin	254792
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The proportion of guilty pleas (where plea was known) has slowly been declining, from 74% in 2014 to 69% for white defendants, and from 61% in 2014 to 57% for BAME defendants in 2018.</p><p>Data is only available for defendants dealt with at Crown Court (not all defendants) for indictable offences.</p><p>The proportion of defendants who entered a guilty plea by ethnicity (2008 – 2018) can be found in the Crown court data tool at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802313/crown-court-tool-2018.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802313/crown-court-tool-2018.xlsx</a></p><ul><li>Remove the ‘Values’ field from Rows</li><li>Drag the ‘Ethnicity’ field into Rows</li><li>Drag the ‘Total for Trial’ field into Values</li><li>Filter to ’01: Guilty Plea’ in the ‘Plea at Crown Court’ field for the number of defendants that entered a guilty plea</li><li>Filter to ’01: Guilty Plea’ and ’02: Not Guilty plea’ in the ‘Plea at Crown Court’ field number of defendants that entered a plea overall (where plea was known)</li><li>The number of BAME defendants can be defined by combining ’02: Black’, ’03: Asian’, ’04: Mixed’ and ’05: Chinese and other’ rows. The number of white defendants who entered a guilty plea each year can be found in the ‘01: White’ row.</li><li>The proportion of defendants who entered a guilty plea can be found by dividing the number of guilty pleas by the number of overall pleas for the relevant ethnicity rows.</li></ul> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 22/05/2019 16:46:56 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi