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1568201

	registered interest
	date	18/01/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh: Humanitarian Situation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of (a) food, (b) medicine and (c) energy supply in Nagorno Karabakh; and what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on recent developments and ensuring freedom and security of movement along the Lachin corridor.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	126560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government has made clear that the closure of the Lachin corridor risks severe humanitarian consequences, particularly during winter. I [Leo Docherty] spoke to Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan on 18 January where we agreed on the importance of the immediate re-opening of the Lachin Corridor and the need to ensure gas and electricity supplies into Nagorno-Karabakh are not switched off. <ins class="ministerial">UK officials, including our Ambassador in Baku, have engaged extensively with Azerbaijani counterparts. </ins>On 18 January officials spoke to the ICRC regarding the humanitarian situation, including the dwindling food and medical supplies, and will remain in contact in the coming weeks to share their assessment of the impact of the closure. <del class="ministerial">The UK Government will continue to engage with counterparts and with humanitarian agencies to support efforts aimed at resolving the current closure of the Lachin corridor.</del></p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 23/01/2023 17:28:22 question first ministerially corrected 23/01/2023 17:37:35 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty previous answer version 49300 answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1010390

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants receiving the housing element of universal credit are also claiming the state pension.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	192811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The table gives the estimated number of households receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018. The notes should be read in conjunction with the information provided in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p>Estimated number of households in payment and receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">471,800</del><ins class="ministerial">425,400</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Claiming State Pension</p></td><td><p>200</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Source:</strong> Household on Universal Credit dataset <strong>and</strong> Work and Pensions Longitudinal Survey.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ol><li>The figures are derived from unpublished information and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Individual figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.</li><li>A count date of the second Thursday of the month is used when calculating the statistics for households on Universal Credit.</li><li>Further information on the background and methodology for Universal Credit can be accessed here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf</a></li></ol> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/11/2018 11:22:16 question first ministerially corrected 06/12/2018 16:58:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 87254 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1469101

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2022
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Wales: UK Trade with EU
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has conducted an impact assessment of the cost of increased UK-EU trade barriers to the Welsh economy.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	15194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2022 answer text <p>The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is a comprehensive free trade deal which maintains zero tariffs and zero quotas on trade in goods between the UK and the EU. It also secures market access across a broad range of key service sectors and establishes close cooperation in areas like transport, digital, and fighting crime.</p><p><del class="ministerial">The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has not prepared an economic Impact Assessment on the TCA. The Government is taking action to support businesses across the UK to trade effectively with Europe, including through the free-to-use Export Support Service. The Government is committed to working with the Welsh Government where it has an interest in TCA implementation.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Given the tight Parliamentary timetable the Government faced in December 2020, we were unable to produce and publish an impact assessment of the TCA before passing the EU (Future Relationship) Act 2020.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government is taking action to support businesses across the UK to trade effectively with Europe, including through the free-to-use Export Support Service. We are also making use of the freedoms we now enjoy as a result of leaving the EU, including amending our subsidy control regime to help all public authorities, including the Welsh Government, attract investment into the United Kingdom.</ins></p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 14/06/2022 16:42:11 question first ministerially corrected 17/06/2022 14:05:07 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly previous answer version 6251 answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1050160

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the funding for advertising the settled status scheme was spent on online advertising in the latest period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	213251
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Home Office is putting in place measures to ensure that the EU Settlement Scheme is streamlined, user-friendly and accessible to all prospective applicants. That is why we are working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make sure we reach everyone.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Since November 2017, we have held monthly meetings with representatives of EU citizens on the design and development of the scheme and communications plans. We have been working closely with these groups to identify the needs of potentially vulnerable applicants including the disabled, elderly and isolated. There will be a broad range of support in place; for those who need non-specialist support there is the assisted digital service for technological support, and the Settlement Resolution Centre which will be able to assist with questions relating to the application process.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">When the scheme fully opens by 30 March, there will be further routes available to have identity documents checked. This includes posting passports or ID cards to the Home Office to be checked and returned, and there will be over 50 locations all over the country where applicants can have their document scanned.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Home Office is committed to supporting vulnerable EU citizens to obtain UK immigration status and we will continue to engage with representative groups to ensure the needs of vulnerable citizens are taken into account.</del></p><p><br /><ins class="ministerial">All EU Settlement Scheme advertising since March 2018 has been digital, using online channels. (This was a campaign from March 2018 to July 2018).</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">A broader range of channels will be used for advertising from March 2019.</ins></p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 05/02/2019 16:27:05 question first ministerially corrected 06/02/2019 14:47:34 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes previous answer version 99811 answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1193663

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2020
	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: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the opening times of the universal credit helpline have changed; and if she will ensure that the (a) UK Government and (b) universal credit websites are updated with the new information.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	43840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>Since the start of the pandemic, we have received unprecedented levels of claims for Universal Credit. This was accompanied by a significant increase in call volumes which was impacting our ability to support customers, particularly those making new claims.</p><p>To enable our people to pay customers their benefit, we implemented a temporary pause to the handling of general queries through the telephony service at the beginning and end of the day. The purpose of this change was to allow case managers to focus on progressing claims during these times.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>New claim appointments and new claims by phone remained open as usual.</p><p> </p><p>At the moment, people making new claims for Universal Credit do not in fact need to call the Department as part of the process and we have communicated that widely. Once they have completed their online application we will call them if we need to check any of the information they have given us.</p><p>The Universal Credit helpline returned to our normal operating hours from 11 May (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/05/2020 10:37:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 20796 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1195133

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2020
	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: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who requested a mandatory reconsideration of their universal credit claim before the covid-19 outbreak are awaiting the outcome; what the average wait is for universal credit mandatory reconsiderations; and what steps she is taking to ensure that people are supported while waiting for the outcome of those reconsiderations.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	45963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2020 answer text <p>5% of the Mandatory Reconsiderations recorded prior to the CV19 outbreak are awaiting a decision.</p><p> </p><p>Where a decision has been made, the average time to reach a decision is 26 calendar days.</p><p> </p><p>Benefit claimants may also be eligible for assistance from their local Council through Local Welfare Support schemes. Councils will be able to use funding from the new £500 million Hardship Fund to provide further discretionary support to vulnerable people through other support arrangements such as Local Welfare Schemes.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/05/2020 14:48:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 22280 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1195135

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	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 the potential merits of amending the eligibility criteria for backdating universal credit payments to include people affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	45964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>As Universal Credit claims can be made online or, where needed, by calling the Universal Credit helpline, most claims will not require backdating. However, backdating, up to a maximum of one month, is available where the circumstances are such that someone could not reasonably have been expected to claim earlier including due to illness, disability or an official computer system failure.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/05/2020 13:42:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 22281 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1198841

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	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	Means-tested Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the savings thresholds for (a) universal credit, (b) pension credit, (c) income-based jobseekers allowance, (d) income-related employment and support allowance, (e) housing benefit and (f) income support.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	51623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>The capital limits are kept under continual review. However, they can be increased only when priorities and resources allow. The Government does not intend to increase the threshold at this time.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/06/2020 16:45:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 25862 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

837792

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2018
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Attorney General: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	126823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2018 answer text <p>Given the role of the Attorney General’s Department, it does not lead on specific projects related to the UK leaving the EU and therefore has not incurred any additional expenditure. None of the Law Officers’ Departments has received direct funding therefore for work relating to the UK leaving the EU. Members of staff across the Law Officers’ Departments provide advice and analysis on different issues as required, and different Government departments bid for funding from HMT to pay for their resource needs, including the services of the Government Legal Department (GLD).</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 22/02/2018 07:46:55 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland previous answer version 42260 answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1462610

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2022
	answering body	House of Commons Commission
	answering dept id	18
	answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
	answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
	hansard heading	Opening of Parliament: Costs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the House administration has been in (a) preparing and conducting the State Opening of Parliament and (b) providing officials with ceremonial garments for the State Opening of Parliament in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	1111
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>The main costs incurred for State Opening relate to maintenance works to support areas such as broadcasting and digital, as well as the installation works for the Royal Gallery, Robing Room, House of Lords Chamber and other areas. Costs are incurred for labour, both directly employed and specialist contractors, as well as transportation for items held in storage off site and the works required to the security barriers around St Stephens entrance.</p><p>Costs are split between the House of Commons, who pay 60%, and the House of Lords, who pay 40%. The table shows the House of Commons share for the last five years. Data for May 2022 is not yet available. In 2018 and 2020 there was no State Opening, while there were two in 2019.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>£, House of Commons share</em></p></td><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>2021</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Staff salaries</p></td><td><p>25,216</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>33,516</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>18,740</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other staff costs</p></td><td><p>224</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Direct works</p></td><td><p>125,545</p></td><td><p>4,374</p></td><td><p>320,090</p></td><td><p>-594</p></td><td><p>107,628</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other</p></td><td><p>10,341</p></td><td><p>11,050</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10,622</p></td><td><p>10,710</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total (House of Commons)</p></td><td><p>161,326</p></td><td><p>15,424</p></td><td><p>353,606</p></td><td><p>10,028</p></td><td><p>137,387</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>Other minor identifiable costs for the House of Commons not related to maintenance for State Opening in 2022 are shown in the table below.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Security pass provision (Commons share of 70%): £2,500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Sign Language provision and audio description: £1,400</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>Ceremonial dress is purchased for roles in the House of Commons when needed during the year or when postholders change. Data on ceremonial uniform costs cannot be separated from other uniform spending.</p><p /> <p>Chamber related teams, including Clerks, the Speaker and their office, the Serjeant and their team of doorkeepers, require uniform supplies throughout the year. Total uniform expenditure for these functions over the last five years is shown below. Most of this spend relates to uniform for day to day use during the normal business of the House as well as supporting events and work outside the Chamber.</p><p /> <p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020/21</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021/22</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Uniform expenditure (Clerks, Speaker team, Serjeant team)</p></td><td><p>£17,824</p></td><td><p>£13,403</p></td><td><p>£25,607</p></td><td><p>£25,197</p></td><td><p>£23,285</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This answer does not represent the full cost of State Opening, or costs directly incurred by the House of Lords. Costs will also have been incurred by other bodies, which may include Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Household.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker question first answered 20/05/2022 12:32:46 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 816 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Sir Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams