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1052284

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	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	Iraq: Politics and Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in Iraq.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK supports the consolidation of democracy in Iraq through both diplomatic engagement and programme support. During my visit to Baghdad and Erbil in January, I welcomed the recent national elections and those in the Kurdistan region and encouraged swift completion of the formation of the Iraqi cabinet and Kurdistan Regional Government. We recently welcomed the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and a delegation of Iraqi MPs to the UK where they were able to witness British parliamentary processes and exchange experiences. As part of our programme assistance, the UK is helping the Government of Iraq in newly liberated areas and in Basra to make governance and the delivery of services more effective and responsive, so strengthening relations between local communities and the Iraqi authorities.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 08/02/2019 13:46:38 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1041740

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	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, how much the increase in the work allowance of universal credit is worth per household.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	208848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>Work allowance rates will be increased by £1000 from April 2019 and uprated in line with inflation thereafter. This measure provides additional support in a package worth £1.7 billion in 2023/24 to some of the most vulnerable low paid working households.</p><p> </p><p>It will increase the amount that these households can earn before the Universal Credit taper rate is applied, providing 2.4 million working households with around an extra £630 a year.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 23/01/2019 17:07:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045634

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to enhance animal welfare standards as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Whilst the UK already has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, we are considering what more can be done in the context of our future agricultural policy. We will maintain our existing standards and look to raise standards sustainably over time as new research and evidence emerges.</p><p> </p><p>In England, we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond regulatory requirements that are not sufficiently rewarded by the market and want to provide greater transparency and certainty for consumers and for farmers. We are also looking to control exports of live animals for slaughter.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this work related to our departure from the EU, we are planning to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty to five years. We are also introducing a ban on the ivory trade which is the toughest in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:32:51 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024010

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Veterinary Medicine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of qualified veterinary surgeons that would be required to sign off export health certificates for the export of animals and animal products in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	201659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>We have analysed expected demand for export health certificates (EHCs) if we leave the EU without a deal.</p><p> </p><p>We have looked at the capacity within the current veterinary market, and taken into consideration a number of factors that will impact on the amount of time required by official vets to sign EHCs for EU-bound products.</p><p> </p><p>We are also making it possible for the providers of certification services to employ new support officers to carry out certain administrative aspects of the EHC process, freeing up the time and capacity of official vets to provide the final assurances for the EHC.</p><p> </p><p>We expect demand for EHCs will be at the lower end of estimates and expect efficiencies to be made by the larger exporters.</p><p> </p><p>Therefore, we estimate the market will need increased capacity equivalent to about 50 full-time official vets and providers of certification services are confident they can meet the demand.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 20/12/2018 16:57:08 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045636

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Fly-tipping
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fly-tipping incidents there have been in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210618
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only. The below table shows the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded in England in the last five years.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>857,655</p></td><td><p>905,604</p></td><td><p>941,896</p></td><td><p>1,011,199</p></td><td><p>997,553</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The national fly-tipping statistics are published annually by Defra and are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 24/01/2019 09:46:35 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1024690

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Animals: Exports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on levels of safety of certifying non-qualified personnel to sign-off health certificates for animal exports which are currently drafted by veterinary surgeons.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	202057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>There are no plans to certify non-qualified personnel to sign-off export health certificates.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of assurance of our exports is a high priority for the government and important for our trading partners. The use of Certification Support Officers will have no impact on this. As now Export Health Certificates will continue to be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) when that is required by the importing country. Certification Support Officers (CSOs) will be trained and authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency so they will have a suitable qualification. They must work under the direction of an OV and may carry out preparatory and administrative tasks, such as checking documents, identifying products or sealing containers. Ultimately, the official vet must be satisfied that the required conditions have been met before signing the certificate. CSOs are not authorised to assist with the certification of live animals.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 18/12/2018 12:36:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1038558

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Syria: Internally Displaced People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in the Rukban camp in Syria.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	206820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p>The UK is extremely concerned about the dire humanitarian situation of the 40,000 – 50,000 displaced Syrians currently stranded at Rukban camp. Whilst we were encouraged by the recent aid convoy that took place in November 2018, it is crucial that this is not viewed as a one-off event. A recent UN assessment highlighted in particular the major health and protection concerns caused by the lack of sustained access provided to humanitarian actors.</p><p> </p><p>The UK urges the Assad regime and its backers, in the strongest possible terms, to facilitate full humanitarian access to enable a second convoy with winter supplies to take place followed by regular and unrestricted aid deliveries thereafter.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/01/2019 17:12:46 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052299

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	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	Data Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on cross-border data handling when the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215167
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with his Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including cross-border data handling when the UK leaves the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has published information and guidance on handling cross-border data flows when the UK leaves the European Union.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 08/02/2019 14:38:25 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045640

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Environment Protection: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what new initiatives his Department plans to bring forward to tackle environmental crimes.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State commissioned an independent review into serious and organised crime in the waste industry which was published in November last year. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our new strategic approach to tackling crime and poor performance in the waste sector and actions in response to the recommendations of the review. We will:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>consult on a fundamental reform of the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system to ensure that the supply of waste to criminals is curtailed;</p></li><li><p>consult on mandatory digital tracking of waste movements; and</p></li><li><p>work with the Environment Agency to create a Joint Unit for Waste Crime to deal with the threat of serious and organised criminal gangs.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>These actions will build on the strong action we have already taken, including by:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>legislating to enable local authorities and the Environment Agency to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who breach their duty of care to only pass their waste to authorised operators who can dispose of it legally and safely. The penalties came into force on 7 January this year;</p></li><li><p>enhancing local authorities’ and the Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and introducing new powers for the Environment Agency to block access to problem waste sites.</p></li><li><p>increasing the fixed penalties for littering offence, and introducing new powers to tackle littering from vehicles. From April this year, the minimum fixed penalty for littering will rise from £50 to £65; and</p></li><li><p>consulting on improved guidance to litter authorities on the proportionate and effective use of their enforcement powers. The new guidance will be published shortly.</p><p> </p></li></ul> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/01/2019 13:10:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052182

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Water
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department's Estates Directorate has made in analysing water usage and associated costs on the prison estate.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice undertook a review of water use, and associated costs, on the prison estate, in 2018. This has informed the development and application of good, typical and poor water efficiency benchmarks for prisons; and water reduction targets have now been set for all prisons. In addition, more detailed consumption data is being provided to prison Governors to facilitate improved water management at site level.</p><p>In-depth audits of the ten highest water consuming prisons will be carried out in February 2019; and the Department has developed a Water Strategy which it intends to publish in Spring 2019.</p><p>The Department is also re-procuring water services contract this year. This contract will provide for the installation of automatic meter reading (‘smart meters’) to enable improved monitoring and targeting of excessive water consumption.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 05/02/2019 18:45:09 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord