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1002696

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Supporting People Programme
	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 assessment the Government has made of the effect of removing the ring-fencing on Supporting People funding on the provision of homelessness services.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	188802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling rough sleeping and homelessness, which is why we are providing over £1.2 billion of funding to address the issue. This year we have implemented the Homelessness Reduction Act, published our £100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy and taken immediate action to begin to reduce the number of people rough sleeping. <br> <br> We also announced this summer that funding for housing costs across the supported accommodation sector, including short-term accommodation like homelessness hostels, will stay in Housing Benefit and that we would undertake a review of housing-related support. While the review will not assess the effect of the removal of the ringfence, it will help us better understand how housing and support fit together across the supported housing sector, including in supported homelessness provision.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 15/11/2018 12:20:04 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1002698

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Sleeping Rough: Private Rented Housing
	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 plans the Government has to support landlords in the private rented sector to let to people with a history of rough sleeping.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	188803
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2018 answer text <p>On 10 October we launched the Private Rented Sector Access Fund which makes available £20 million for schemes that will help landlords in the private rented sector let to people who are, or at risk of becoming homeless and sleeping rough. In the rough sleeping strategy, published in August, we committed to deliver the Rapid Rehousing Pathway. This includes support for both increased tenancy sustainment support for rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping and funding for local lettings agencies to strengthen relationships between landlords and tenants.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 16/11/2018 14:43:01 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1005680

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Social Rented Housing: Waiting Lists
	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 assessment he has made of the validity of reports that local authorities are excluding people from social housing waiting lists due to (a) a history of rent arrears, (b) criminal convictions and (c) experience of rough sleeping.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	190431
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Localism Act 2011 gave local authorities the power to set their own qualification criteria for social housing. They can now decide who should qualify for social housing in their area, and develop solutions which make best use of the social housing stock. The Localism Act also retained the statutory ‘reasonable preference’ requirements which ensure that overall priority for social housing goes to those in housing need, including homeless households, those in overcrowded housing, and those with medical and welfare needs.</p><p>The Social Housing Green Paper published in August this year (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-deal-for-social-housing" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-deal-for-social-housing</a>) sets out an intention to undertake an evidence collection exercise to help us understand how the social housing allocation framework is playing out in local areas and if it is striking the right balance of fairness, support and aspiration. The exercise will include a focus on how local authority flexibilities on qualification and prioritisation are being used in practice.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 19/11/2018 16:25:12 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1017475

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2018
	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	Housing Revenue Accounts
	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 steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to increase housebuilding as a result of the removal of the HRA borrowing cap.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	197621
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>We are developing the planning capacity local authorities need to increase the delivery of new homes through the Planning Delivery Fund. Local authorities are able to draw from a wide range of sector led advice, good practice, and case study examples and we will also be working closely with local authorities to ensure they are able to make the most of the tools we have given them.</p><p>Local authorities can bid alongside housing associations for the £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme to build affordable homes. We are also providing a longer term rent deal for 5 years from 2020 to provide local authorities with a stable investment environment to deliver new homes and we have consulted on options for allowing local authorities more flexibility in the use of their Right to Buy receipts.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 05/12/2018 16:55:47 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1019426

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	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	Smoking
	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 his Department has spent on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2018-19; and what funding his Department plans to allocated to cessation campaigns in 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	198221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Public Health England runs smoking cessation campaigns. Media spend to date during 2018/19 on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking is £1.2 million.</p><p> </p><p>£2.4 million has been allocated in total for the media spend on cessation campaigns in 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>As the 2018/19 financial year is not yet complete and campaign work is ongoing, these figures should be considered provisional. Figures are net plus agency fees and commissions (rounded to the nearest £100,000). Figures exclude Value Added Tax.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 11/12/2018 16:50:32 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

102231

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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	Older Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to support older workers.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	905825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>This Government has abolished the default retirement age, extended the right to request flexible working, and will be giving people more freedom in how they draw their pension pots to smooth the transition to retirement. The Department also published “Fuller Working Lives - A Framework for Action” in June, which set out the business case for employing older workers and included the following actions:</p><p> </p><ul><li>DWP to work more closely with Local Enterprise Partnerships to encourage them to focus on the issue of fuller working lives in their local area;</li></ul><ul><li>DH, DWP and GEO to launch a trial on carers in employment and the role assistive technology can play in helping them to combine work and care:</li></ul><ul><li>A number of pilots with Jobcentre Plus on back to work support for carers; and</li></ul><ul><li>DWP to develop a new guidance toolkit for employers - this will build on the existing Age Positive employer guidance.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In July 2014, Dr Ros Altmann was appointed as the Business Champion for Older Workers and is making the case for the importance of fuller working lives for individuals, employers and wider society.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 03/11/2014 17:08:38 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1029158

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2018
	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	Castes: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What progress the Government has made on repealing the duty under the amendment to section 9 of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to caste discrimination.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	908344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>We intend to legislate to repeal the caste duty as soon as we have a suitable legislative vehicle and parliamentary time, and we expect to publish guidance on caste and the Equality Act before the summer.</p><p> </p><p>My Hon Friend will know that I have been determined to ensure this issue is resolved since I became Minister for Women and Equalities.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/12/2018 12:04:29 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1029164

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2018
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Overseas Trade: Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What opportunities he identified for further trade co-operation with Israel during his recent visit to that country.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	908329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Economy and Industry Eli Cohen during a visit to Israel in November, when we discussed our record levels of trade and investment and noted the good progress made on our continuity trade arrangement. I agreed with President Netanyahu to increase trade cooperation through joint Government sponsorship of a high-level trade and investment conference in 2019.</p> answering member constituency North Somerset answering member printed Dr Liam Fox question first answered 20/12/2018 13:28:44 answering member 223 label Biography information for Sir Liam Fox
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1050432

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Smoking
	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 his Department spent from the public purse on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2017-18.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	214029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>Expenditure on smoking cessation advertising campaigns by Public Health England in 2017-18 was £1.99 million.</p><p> </p><p>Campaign spending is defined as covering only media spend. Figures are net, rounded to nearest £10,000. Figures exclude value added tax.</p><p> </p><p>Media spend includes expenditure for advertising on television, radio, national press, regional press, out of home (outdoor), cinema and digital. Recruitment advertising and media partnerships are not included.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 06/02/2019 15:12:42 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1052333

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	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	Social Services: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential effects on children of not using the children’s services relative needs formula to distribute the social care support grant announced in Budget 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	215161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>At Autumn Budget 2019, the Chancellor made available £410 million in 2019/20 for social care services in local authorities – both adult and children’s social care. We proposed in the provisional local government finance settlement to distribute these resources based on the existing Adult Social Care relative needs formula, as the best available method. Consultation responses overwhelmingly supported this approach which was confirmed in the final settlement. Local authorities have welcomed the additional funding and the discretion to spend in a way which best fits their community’s needs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 06/02/2019 16:56:38 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1052334

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	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	Local Government Finance
	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 assessment his Department made of the needs of urban areas when allocating £1 billion of additional funding in the provisional local government finance settlement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	215162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>The final local government finance settlement confirmed a real-terms increase in available funding for local authorities to help deliver local services, support vulnerable residents and build vibrant communities.</p><p>This includes an additional £650 million for social care, allocated using the well-established Adult Social Care relative needs formula, which takes into account the relative needs of local authorities, including in urban areas.</p><p>The additional resources provided through the settlement also included the distribution of £180 million of surplus in the business rates retention levy account, which was allocated on the basis of each authority’s 2013-14 Settlement Funding Assessment. The Settlement Funding Assessment is a measure of the relative needs of local authorities, including in urban areas.</p><p>Funding baselines for every authority are determined by an assessment of the relative needs of areas, including measures of deprivation.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 07/02/2019 17:14:15 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1058892

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Pay
	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 9 January 2019 to Question 204600 on Teachers: Pay, what representations his Department received on the decision to award the teachers’ pay grant to maintained schools and academies but not sixth form colleges.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	219402
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>Since the Teachers’ Pay Grant methodology was published in September 2018, the Department has been contacted by representative organisations, unions, individual colleges, Members of Parliament, and members of the public. These have mainly been through correspondence, but also some meetings with officials and ministers.</p><p>Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges have a different legal status and relationship to government when compared with schools. They are private institutions, independent of government, and it is for individual employers to agree pay structures, based on local needs. The Department is carefully considering the needs of FE providers, including in relation to funding, in preparation for the next Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/02/2019 16:55:47 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1077208

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Pay
	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 9 January 2019 to Question 204600 on Teachers: Pay, what advice his Department received on the decision to award the teachers’ pay grant to maintained schools and academies and not sixth form colleges.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	225482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>Ministers received detailed advice from officials before announcing the Teachers’ Pay Grant. Unions and other representative organisations also contacted the Department.</p><p>The Teachers’ Pay Grant was introduced in response to changes to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), following recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body. This document applies to maintained schools, and as many academies choose to follow it, the grant was available to both maintained schools and academies.</p><p>There are 16-19 maintained schools which must follow the STPCD. These were included in the pay grant, alongside equivalent academies.</p><p>Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges have a different legal status and relationship to Government. They are private institutions, independent of Government, and it is for employers to agree pay structures, based on local needs. The Department is considering carefully the needs of FE colleges, including in relation to funding, in preparation for the next Spending Review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 04/03/2019 14:40:22 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1077393

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2019
	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	Kashmir: Terrorism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What diplomatic steps he has taken to support India following the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	909449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>The UK government unequivocally condemns the appalling terror attacks in Pulwama on 14 Februrary. We are actively encouraging the Governments of both India and Pakistan to find diplomatic solutions and refrain from actions that could jeopardise regional stability. We are also working through the UN Security Council to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 26/02/2019 16:05:00 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1086597

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of companies who have transferred the apprenticeship levy in London.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	230796
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>As at 31 January 2019, there were 200 commitments in England entered into the apprenticeship service, where the transfer of funds between apprenticeship service accounts has been approved (a commitment is where a potential apprentice, who is expected to go on to start an apprenticeship, has been recorded with the Apprenticeship Service). Of these transferred commitments as at 31 January 2019, there were 130 transferred commitments that had materialised into apprenticeship starts. More information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-february-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-february-2019</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Information on companies transferring apprenticeship levy funds in each region of England is not held centrally. Many levy-paying employers are headquartered in one region but operate across the country meaning that we cannot attribute levy-funds transferred in individual locations. Individual employers have control of the expenditure (and transfer) of apprenticeship levy funds based on their current and future skills needs.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 19/03/2019 12:31:20 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1105886

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Shoplifting: Harrow East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to support convenience retailers in Harrow East to prevent shop theft.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	238327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>I chair the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) which brings together partners including the police, trade bodies and retailers and is overseeing a range of work to tackle retail crime. This includes the collation and dissemination of good practice and developing guidance on the use of Impact Statements for Business, which give victims of business crime the opportunity to set out the impact the crime has had on the business, including, for example, financial loss. The NRCSG also continues to work with retailers to improve the management and response to shop theft using a partnership approach.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/04/2019 16:18:48 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1105887

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Reoffenders: Community Orders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commencing Section 151 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to allow courts to deal more appropriately with low-level offences by repeat offenders through the use of community orders rather than fines.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	238328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2019 answer text <p>There are no current plans to commence Section 151 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which allows courts, in certain circumstances, to use community orders for repeat offenders who might otherwise expect to receive fines.</p><p> </p><p>Section 143(2) of that Act requires courts to treat previous convictions as an aggravating factor when sentencing. For shop theft offences, the Sentencing Council’s guideline on theft offences came into force in 2016. This guideline allows for the imposition of community sentences for shop theft in a wide range of circumstances. In cases involving significant persistent offending, the community and custodial thresholds may be crossed even though the offence otherwise warrants a lesser sentence.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 03/04/2019 16:40:51 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1109036

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Emergency Calls
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of legal protections for police emergency drivers; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	239935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government fully recognises the difficult job that police drivers do every day to keep road users and the wider public safe.</p><p>In September 2017, the Home Office announced a review into the law, guidance and practice surrounding both police pursuits and response driving to ensure that officers have the right legal protections. That included working closely with the police representatives, including the Federation, other government departments and groups representing road users and those advocating road safety.</p><p>Following the outcome of the review, a consultation was published in May 2018 inviting comments on reforms to certain aspects of road traffic law, the tests set out in the Road Traffic Act 1988 for the offences of careless and dangerous driving, police guidance and training for both pursuit and response driving.</p><p>The consultation closed in August 2018 and we will shortly announce the next steps.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 05/04/2019 12:42:11 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1109724

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	STEM Subjects: Degrees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to encourage more students to study STEM degrees.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	241025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>Overall numbers of students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are rising. The share of students studying science subjects at English Higher Education providers has increased from 41% in 2010/11 to 45% in 2016/17.</p><p>Despite rising STEM student numbers, we are far from complacent and we know that employer groups continue to point to an unmet demand for higher level STEM skills. This issue seems to be particularly acute in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, engineering, science and technology. We are therefore implementing a number of initiatives across government to increase the numbers of STEM graduates. For example:</p><ul><li>The Department for Education (DfE) is piloting a conversion course scheme to enable graduates to retrain in engineering and computer science.</li><li>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are leading a £90 million investment in 1,000 new PhD places, of which around 85% will be in STEM areas, and 40% will aim to boost collaboration between industry and academia.</li><li>The government is providing funding for the new Institute of Coding, which aims to improve digital skills provision at levels 6 and 7. It will target a skills gap in digital skills and involves collaboration between education providers and industry.</li><li>The DfE is also supporting (with £15 million over 3 years) the New Model in Technology &amp; Engineering, a STEM-focused institution due to take its first full cohort of students in 2020.</li><li>Institutes of Technology are being established to help meet STEM skills needs at levels 4 – 6, working closely with local employers and Local Enterprise Partnerships.</li></ul><p>Effective careers guidance and advice is also key to supporting young people to undertake learning in areas that will give them the skills employers are looking for. The government’s careers strategy sets out a long-term plan to build a world class careers system to achieve this ambition. We are increasing the information available to students to ensure they can make informed choices about what and where to study.</p><p>As set out in the Industrial Strategy White Paper, the Skills Advisory Panels (SAPs) programme aims to ensure that the local provision of skills, and the delivery of skills policy in local areas, meets and responds to changing employer needs. SAPs analysis will inform Local Industrial Strategies and local post-16 skills provision, so that skills provision better meets labour market needs.</p><p>Degree apprenticeships also allow universities to build partnerships with businesses and employers and to work together to create a skilled workforce. Employers are working in partnership with universities and professional bodies to meet the high-level technical skills that employers and our economy need to prosper.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 10/04/2019 16:39:45 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1109725

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: Universities
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on ensuring that the UK continues to attract international students to British universities after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	241026
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>Ministers within the Department for Education have regular discussions with the Home Office on ways to ensure the UK remains an attractive study destination, and the UK already has a strong offer for overseas students who graduate in the UK. International graduates can remain in the UK to work following their studies by switching to several existing visa routes, including Tier 2 (skilled worker) visas.</p><p>As you will be aware, the Immigration White Paper, published in December 2018, proposes increasing the post-study leave period for international students following completion of studies to 12 months for those completing a PhD, and to 6 months for all full-time postgraduate and undergraduate students at institutions with degree awarding powers. These proposals go beyond recommendations set out in the Migration Advisory Committee’s report and will benefit tens of thousands of international students. During the Home Office’s 12-month engagement programme on the Immigration White Paper, business and stakeholders from a wide range of sectors, including the Higher Education sector, will be able to feed in their views on white paper proposals.</p><p>In addition, the International Education Strategy, published on 16 March 2019, sets out actions to continue to provide a welcoming environment for international students, and includes our ambition to increase the number of international students we host to 600,000 by 2030. One of the actions within the strategy includes considering where processes could be improved to improve the visa experience for international students.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 10/04/2019 16:47:37 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1109727

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the level of (a) female and (b) BAME representation in top university positions.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	241027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>Diversity and equality in higher education is a priority for this government. Higher education institutions are independent bodies and responsible for decisions about who they employ. Like every employer they must ensure they meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.</p><p>Important progress has been made on the number of women in leadership roles in higher education, particularly in the increase in the proportion of female Chairs of Governing Bodies and female Vice-Chancellors. Sector-led gender initiatives, such as the Athena SWAN Charter and the Aurora development scheme, demonstrate the importance the sector attaches to tackling the barriers that hinder women’s progression in higher education careers.</p><p>On 1 February, the government announced measures to tackle ethnic disparities in higher education including encouraging higher education providers to make use of tools such as the Race at Work Charter and the Race Equality Charter to drive forward a step-change in the recruitment and progression of ethnic minority employees.</p><p>The government has also consulted on ethnicity pay reporting in order to inform future government policy.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 10/04/2019 16:06:43 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1121829

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Smoking: Health Education
	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 funding his Department spent on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2018-19; and what funding has been allocated to such campaigns in 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	245755
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>Expenditure on smoking cessation advertising media by Public Health England in 2018-19 was £2.5 million. Figures are net (rounded to nearest £10,000) and exclude Value Added Tax.</p><p>Media spend includes expenditure for advertising on television, radio, national press, regional press, out of home (outdoor), cinema and digital. Recruitment advertising and media partnerships are not included.</p><p>The funding allocation for 2019/20 is yet to be agreed.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 30/04/2019 13:24:41 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1122955

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Overseas Trade: India
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps he is taking to increase the UK's proportion of global trade with India.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	910520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>Exports to India were up nearly 20% in 2018 on the previous year, totalling over £7.9 billion.</p><p> </p><p>We have a number of initiatives to strengthen our bilateral trade relationship with India, including the Joint Working Group on Trade, which recently met in March.</p><p> </p><p>Only last night I was at the Grant Thornton tracker event with the Confederation of Indian Industry, to celebrate the success of some of the top Indian companies in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 25/04/2019 10:37:16 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1127389

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Nuclear Weapons: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent estimate she has made of the number of jobs supported by the nuclear defence sector.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	910985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>We estimate, based on industry and Government statistics, that the Defence Nuclear Enterprise supports at least 30,000 jobs, supporting prosperity across the United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 20/05/2019 16:50:12 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1128112

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Lotteries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	Whether he plans to increase the annual turnover limit for society lotteries to £100 million per annum.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	911079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The annual sales limit was one of the limits on which the government consulted and that we are considering in our response.</p><p>I am still committed to ensuring that the regulatory framework for lotteries is appropriate and that both society lotteries and the National Lottery are able to thrive.</p><p>My aim is to allow the society lottery sector to continue to grow, while maintaining the balance between society lotteries and the National Lottery.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/05/2019 11:45:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman