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1197442

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	49734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The Department has a target of responding within 18 working days where a response is required. In 2019 the Department responded to 94% of correspondence from hon. Members within 18 working days, and 89% in 2018. A breakdown of the data by month is available in the attached table.</p><p>As you will understand, the Department is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised wherever possible, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.</p><p>All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 08/06/2020 11:09:30 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb attachment 1 file name 49734_Correspondence_timeliness_statistics.xls title 49734 Table
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1199746

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	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 potential merits of increasing the rate of employment support allowance in line with universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	53477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support were increased by 1.7% in April 2020following the Government’s announcement to end the benefit freeze. .</p><p> </p><p>It has always been the case that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for UC if they believe that they will be better off. There are special arrangements for those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium, who will be able to make a new claim to Universal Credit from January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants should check their eligibility before applying to Universal Credit as legacy benefits will end when they submit their claim and they will not be able to return to them in the future. For this reason, prospective claimants are signposted to independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. Neither DWP nor HMRC can advise individual claimants whether they would be better off moving to UC or remaining on legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>From 22 July 2020, a two-week run on of Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (IR) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB) will be available for all claimants whose claim to UC ends entitlement to these benefits to provide additional support for claimants moving to UC.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 54163 question first answered 08/06/2020 15:38:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1199747

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
	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 removing conditionality and sanctioning for disabled claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	53478
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>We continually evaluate the evidence and the feedback from our claimants and make improvements to guidance and policy, no specific assessment has been made on the potential merits of removing conditionality and sanctioning for disabled claimants.</p><p> </p><p>We engage at a personal and individual level with all of our claimants and are committed to tailoring support for specific individual needs, including agreeing realistic and structured steps to encourage claimants into or towards the labour market. These conditionality requirements are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate for the claimant.</p><p> </p><p>When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted, which is always a last resort.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/06/2020 16:08:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1199748

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay
	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 permanently removing waiting days for statutory sick pay for all illnesses and impairments.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	53479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>As part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by coronavirus (COVID 19), my department has made a number of limited changes to the operation of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). In doing so, we have balanced the need to provide additional support for employees who are sick, self-isolating or shielding due to coronavirus and are unable to work as a result, with considerations about the burden on employers.</p><p> </p><p>Temporarily suspending waiting days ensures SSP is payable from day one of a period of absence, rather than day four, to encourage people to follow government advice to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</p><p> </p><p>We consulted last year on a range of measures, including reform of SSP, designed to reduce ill-health related job loss. We will bring forward proposals on next steps later this year.</p><p> </p><p>SSP is just one part of the government’s safety net. Where an employee’s income is reduced while off sick and they require further financial support they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on individual circumstances.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/06/2020 12:33:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1197450

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Department for Transport: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	49741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department for Transport has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required. In September 2019 the Department adopted its own internal target of 7 Working days.</p><p> </p><p>As you will understand, the Department for Transport is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.</p><p>All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>A table showing the average number of days taken to respond to correspondence from Hon. Members is below. Please note, in some cases Ministers had not been appointed to the Department at the time the correspondence was received, however they signed the final reply, leading to some delay due to the handover from previous ministers.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="8"><p><strong><em>Average Number of Days to Respond - All Ministers by Month</em></strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-18</p></td><td><p>17.32</p></td><td><p>Jan-19</p></td><td><p>32.06</p></td><td><p>Jan-20</p></td><td><p>10.33</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-18</p></td><td><p>17.50</p></td><td><p>Feb-19</p></td><td><p>14.66</p></td><td><p>Feb-20</p></td><td><p>8.77</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-18</p></td><td><p>15.66</p></td><td><p>Mar-19</p></td><td><p>31.23</p></td><td><p>Mar-20</p></td><td><p>13.15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-18</p></td><td><p>18.99</p></td><td><p>Apr-19</p></td><td><p>31.70</p></td><td><p>Apr-20</p></td><td><p>8.42</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-18</p></td><td><p>20.31</p></td><td><p>May-19</p></td><td><p>30.27</p></td><td><p>May-20</p></td><td><p>4.20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-18</p></td><td><p>20.48</p></td><td><p>Jun-19</p></td><td><p>24.80</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-18</p></td><td><p>21.55</p></td><td><p>Jul-19</p></td><td><p>15.22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-18</p></td><td><p>30.81</p></td><td><p>Aug-19</p></td><td><p>13.07</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-18</p></td><td><p>52.62</p></td><td><p>Sep-19</p></td><td><p>7.27</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-18</p></td><td><p>49.76</p></td><td><p>Oct-19</p></td><td><p>6.63</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-18</p></td><td><p>38.60</p></td><td><p>Nov-19</p></td><td><p>6.53</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-18</p></td><td><p>36.34</p></td><td><p>Dec-19</p></td><td><p>10.10</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 08/06/2020 15:35:50 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1197444

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	49736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department aims to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days, where a response is required.</p><p> </p><p>The average response times for each month in the last two years is set out below. The data is correct as of 27 May and relates to correspondence for which a reply has been issued.</p><p> </p><table><thead><tr><td><p><strong>Month Due</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Days to Complete </strong></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>Apr-18</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-18</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-18</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-18</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-18</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-18</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-18</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-18</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-18</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-19</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-19</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-19</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-19</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-19</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-19</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-19</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-19</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-19</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-19</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-19</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-19</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-20</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-20</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-20</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-20</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 08/06/2020 13:29:18 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1197452

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Scotland Office: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	49743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required. As you will understand, the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.</p><p> </p><p>All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 08/06/2020 10:59:57 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1197438

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	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	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	49731
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required.</p><p>As you will understand, Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.</p><p>All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 08/06/2020 16:36:06 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1200023

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Audiobooks: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons audiobooks were not included in the zero-rating VAT on e-publications announced in the Budget 2020; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	54133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The extension of the zero rate of VAT has been introduced to provide consistency in approach between certain physical and digital publications in order to support reading and literacy in all its forms. Audiobooks are already taxed consistently at the standard rate in both physical and digital format.</p><p> </p><p>In UK law, a book is deemed to be something that is read or looked at, a definition that does not include audio content in both digital and physical form.</p><p> </p><p>The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 54134 question first answered 08/06/2020 14:46:16 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1200024

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Audiobooks: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the potential cost to the Exchequer of removing VAT from audiobooks; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	54134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The extension of the zero rate of VAT has been introduced to provide consistency in approach between certain physical and digital publications in order to support reading and literacy in all its forms. Audiobooks are already taxed consistently at the standard rate in both physical and digital format.</p><p> </p><p>In UK law, a book is deemed to be something that is read or looked at, a definition that does not include audio content in both digital and physical form.</p><p> </p><p>The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 54133 question first answered 08/06/2020 14:46:16 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows