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1000268

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 185131 on Independent Case Examiner, if she will publish that same information for complaints by women on the equalisation of the state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	187381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Individual departments have set up complaints procedures. That approach has not changed under Labour 1997-2010 or successive governments. The DWP has a two tier complaints process which considers formal complaints about our service<strong>. </strong>Once a complainant has exhausted the DWP complaint process they are signposted to the Independent Case Examiner’s Office if they are dissatisfied with the final response to their complaint.</p><p>The Independent Case Examiner is independent, and discusses complaints. The Independent Case Examiner is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an I Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.</p><p>The table below provides details of the number of complaints concerning the equalisation of women’s state pension age, that have been (a) received; (b) accepted for investigation and (c) resolved by the Independent Case Examiner in each month since January 2017 (we have interpreted (c) as a request for the number of concluded complaint examinations).</p><p>At the end of October 2018, there were 865 such cases awaiting a decision on whether the complaint could be accepted for investigation, which explains the drop in the number of cases accepted for investigation since April 2018.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Month</p></td><td><p>Complaints received</p></td><td><p>Complaints accepted for investigation</p></td><td><p>Concluded complaint examinations</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2017</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2017</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2017</p></td><td><p>211</p></td><td><p>187</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2017</p></td><td><p>172</p></td><td><p>157</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2017</p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p>148</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2017</p></td><td><p>144</p></td><td><p>124</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2017</p></td><td><p>222</p></td><td><p>185</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2017</p></td><td><p>290</p></td><td><p>243</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2017</p></td><td><p>297</p></td><td><p>232</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2017</p></td><td><p>418</p></td><td><p>338</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2017</p></td><td><p>320</p></td><td><p>265</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2017</p></td><td><p>222</p></td><td><p>177</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2018</p></td><td><p>314</p></td><td><p>254</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2018</p></td><td><p>240</p></td><td><p>210</p></td><td><p>28</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>171</p></td><td><p>132</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2018</p></td><td><p>196</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>159</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>147</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>131</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>108</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2018</p></td><td><p>119</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/11/2018 14:57:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1001938

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Defence: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2018 to Question 907182 on Defence: Scotland, if he will estimate the total defence spending by (a) current and (b) capital expenditure in Scotland in each year for which information is available since 2010-11.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	188235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Our regional analyses do not provide a breakdown on whether defence spending relates to resource or capital expenditure.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 12/11/2018 15:51:00 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1001940

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Defence Equipment: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2018 to Question 907182 on Defence: Scotland, how much of the £1.592 billion of his Department's expenditure in 2016-17 was spent on (a) maritime, (b) land and (c) air equipment.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	188236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The budgetary structure of the Ministry of Defence does not show separately the costs of the three individual Armed Services. This is because large parts of the Armed Services operate as fully integrated joint organisations in which elements from the Navy, Army and Air Force work closely together and share land, buildings and facilities, and sometimes equipment. The attached table shows expenditure with Scottish industry broken down by industry group.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 12/11/2018 16:00:51 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew attachment 1 file name Department's Expenditure UIN 188236.docx title Defence Scotland
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1005734

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to universal credit, what estimate she has made of the (a) proportion of claimants who apply for an advanced payment that are successful, (b) number of claimants who seek a deferred payment of three months when repaying an advanced payment and (c) proportion of claimants who receive an advanced payment and apply successfully for a deferred payment.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon Member to the reply to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/176262/" target="_blank">176262</a> on 11 October.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 15:46:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1005736

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the guidance issued by her Department on the thresholds for (a) financial hardship when a universal credit claimant applies for an advanced payment and (b) exceptional circumstances when a universal credit claimant with an advance payment applies for repayments to be delayed for up to three months.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing the information on a regular basis.</p><p>New claimants to Universal Credit have always been able to apply for a Universal Credit Advance in their first month if they need financial support until their first regular payment of Universal Credit is made.</p><p>We have previously increased the maximum amount available for advances from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the total award, and increased the repayment period from 6 months to 12 months. Last month’s Autumn Budget 2018 extended - from October 2021 - the maximum period over which an advance can be recovered, from 12 to 16 months. From October 2019, we will also reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance</p><p>If during the recovery of an advance the claimant experiences an unforeseen expense that would cause them or their family genuine hardship if they were required to continue to repay the advance, then they can be offered a deferral period of the repayment of the advance of up to 3 months for a new claim, benefit transfer or change of circumstance advance and up to 6 months for a budgeting advance.</p><p>In addition Personal Budgeting Support (PBS) is also offered to Universal Credit claimants from the outset of their claim. PBS helps claimants as they transition to Universal Credit and adapt to the financial changes that Universal Credit brings. PBS can be online, telephone or face to face support. Face to face support is currently delivered through local authorities via Universal Support.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 15:59:17 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1005743

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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: Christmas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to revise the payment dates for universal credit payments over Christmas and new year to allow claimants whose specified payment date is on or after 25 December 2018 to be paid more than one working day in advance of 25 December 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190533
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>The Department has extensive experience of paying claimants over holiday periods and we have also paid Universal Credit to significant numbers of claimants over previous Christmas periods.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will advance the timing of all payments for people affected by bank holidays, to make sure they have money over the festive period.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit payments due to be received on 24, 25 and 26 December will be paid no later than 21 December.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit payments due to be received on 30, 31 December and 1 January will receive payment no later than 31 December.</p><p> </p><p>This information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/how-to-have-your-benefits-paid" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/how-to-have-your-benefits-paid</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 17:25:12 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1006020

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Defence: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188235 on Defence: Scotland and with reference to the Scottish Government's document entitled Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2017-18, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of disaggregating his Department's data on defence spending in Scotland to separate resource and capital expenditure.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>We do not collate data on total Defence spending figures for Scotland (or any other part of the UK) and, therefore, it cannot be disaggregated to separate resource and capital expenditure.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 19/11/2018 16:36:10 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1019929

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Money
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish its response to the call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy that closed on 5 June 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	198928
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Call for Evidence produced a wide range of evidence, which requires thoughtful consideration.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently announced that the denominational mix of notes and coins would not change. Response to other matters will be made in due course.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 10/12/2018 15:13:22 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1023305

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2018
	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	Green Deal Scheme: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many complaints he has received under the Green Deal Framework (Disclosure Acknowledgement Redress etc.) Regulations 2012; and on how many of those complaints he has issued a decision.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	201259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2018 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received ninety four cases under the Green Deal Framework (Disclosure, Acknowledgment, Redress etc.) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations). To date, three final decisions and intention notices for two other cases have been issued.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to resolving all these cases fairly and as quickly as possible. However, the complex and legal nature of the redress process prescribed by the Regulations and volume of information we receive from consumers means complaints take some time to resolve. In most cases we need to go back to the consumer to seek further information to determine whether a breach has occurred which has caused (or is likely to cause) the consumer to suffer ‘substantive loss’. We also have to allow for periods during which representations can be made.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has obtained additional support to review cases in order to speed up the process and is aiming to address these appeals over the next few months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has separately put in place a process for redress at an earlier stage with the Green Deal Finance Company. This process relates to one particular Green Deal Provider, HELMS. Thus far, over 100 customers have received a settlement through that process.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 19/12/2018 16:52:38 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1027627

	registered interest
	date	18/12/2018
	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	Israel: Palestinians
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will seek discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the Israeli Government's decision to restrict the ability of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to import vaccines.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	203455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2018 answer text <p>We regularly raise the urgent need to ease all access and movement restrictions with Israeli authorities. The availability of some medical supplies and services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories can be restricted by Israeli security procedures. The UK Government supports a project that provides medical equipment and training to medical professionals in Gaza.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 28/12/2018 13:53:48 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1042334

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Sunbeds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the World Health Organization report, Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds, published in 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	209409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>Public Health England (PHE) contributed to the revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) report, ‘Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds’. The recommendations in the report are in line with PHE advice and the recommendations of the 13th report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). The full COMARE report is available to view at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comare-13th-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comare-13th-report</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 21/01/2019 16:44:16 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1051351

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2019
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether as a result of the ongoing judicial review into complaints in relation to the equalisation of state pension age, women that have lodged complaints that are being processed will have their complaints (a) paused or (b) closed until the judicial review is complete.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	214627
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2019 answer text <p>This government and the various other bodies are acting no differently to all previous governments subject to a legal challenge on such an issue.</p><p> </p><p>Following the High Court’s decision on 30 November 2018 to grant the claimants permission to proceed to a full judicial review hearing on the changes to State Pension age, the department has reviewed its handling of such complaints.</p><p> </p><p>The department has concluded that the issue in the Judicial Review does impact on the ongoing complaints. Therefore, the DWP has decided to temporarily suspend action on current and future complaints on State Pension age matters until the final court decision in the judicial review. We do not think it is appropriate for the DWP to investigate a matter that is currently being considered by the High Court. An update explaining this will be added to the gov.uk website, and anyone who has an affected complaint we will notify. Matters that are unrelated to the judicial review will be progressed as normal under DWP’s complaints procedure.</p><p> </p><p>This approach is consistent with the decision taken by the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman. Following the decision of the High Court to grant permission for a judicial review to go ahead on the changes to State Pension age, the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman’s office has confirmed that they will be taking no further action on current and future complaints they receive on changes to State Pension age until the court proceedings conclude.</p><p> </p><p>The Independent Case Examiner provides an independent review of complaints which remain unresolved following a final response from the DWP. As such, the Independent Case Examiner has also considered its position in light of the High Court decision. The Independent Case Examiner Office has no role to play in matters which are, or have been, the subject of legal proceedings. As a result, following the High Court decision, the Independent Case Examiners’ Office took action to close all live State Pension age complaints, in line with its agreed operational parameters.</p><p> </p><p>The table provides information on the number of cases closed at the Independent Case Examiner relating to State Pension age changes, and the rationale for closing them. The number rejected (b) may increase (complaints cannot currently be accepted due to the judicial review).</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Reason for complaint closure</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(a) Independent Case Examiner investigation report issued</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(b) Rejected (the complaint failed to meet the Independent Case Examiner acceptance criteria)</p></td><td><p>1,598</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(c) Withdrawn by complainant</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(d) Closed following the High Court decision to grant permission for a judicial review of the Department’s handling of the change to women’s State Pension age – it is not within the Independent Case Examiner remit to consider issues which are, or have been, subject to legal proceedings.</p></td><td><p>2,505</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>In the event that the High Court makes no legal determination in respect of the complaint regarding State Pension age change, the Department will review its position once more and consider lifting the suspension.</p><p> </p><p>At this point the Independent Case Examiner Office could, at the request of the Department, also re-open those complaints closed as a result of the judicial review. This would be on the understanding that: (a) the matter is no longer the subject of legal proceedings and (b) there has been no legal determination on the issues which form the basis of the complaint to the Independent Case Examiner.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/02/2019 17:07:55 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1055011

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214627 on State Retirement Pensions: Females, whether she plans to instruct her Department to re-open complaints relating to the equalisation of the state pension age in the event that (a) the matter is no longer the subject of legal proceedings and (b) there has been no legal determination on the issues which form the basis of the complaint to the Independent Case Examiner as set out in that Answer.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	217138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which forms the basis of this group of complaint, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/02/2019 15:49:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1077616

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Bank of England, (b) Financial Conduct Authority and (c) Payment Systems Regulator on the availability of access to cash through (i) ATMs and (ii) other means.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	226214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis.</p><p> </p><p>Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 226215 226216 question first answered 04/03/2019 14:12:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1077618

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will include in the statutory objectives of the Payment Systems Regulator powers to protect access to cash; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	226215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis.</p><p> </p><p>Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 226214 226216 question first answered 04/03/2019 14:12:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1077620

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Payment Systems Regulator on its review of cash infrastructure; and what the timeframe is for the publication of (a) further details on the review and (b) the review itself.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	226216
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis.</p><p> </p><p>Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 226214 226215 question first answered 04/03/2019 14:12:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1079574

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Bank Cards: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has plans to reform the cap on interchange rate fees for card payments introduced in the Interchange Fee Regulation 2016 from a percentage cap to a flat rate of 50p per transaction.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	227415
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government is open to hearing views on this issue, and digital payments more broadly, as evidenced by its call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. Amongst other things, this explored how the Government can best support digital payments. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 06/03/2019 15:24:01 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1079576

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2019
	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	Skin Cancer: Sunbeds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential correlation between the use of sunbeds for tanning the risk of skin cancer; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	227416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2019 answer text <p>Ultraviolet (UV) radiation-emitting tanning devices, including sunbeds, were classified in 2009 as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer based on consistent evidence of a positive association between their use and incidence of melanoma.</p><p> </p><p>In 2009, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment published advice to United Kingdom Government on the health effects and risks from UV sunbeds and concluded that there is evidence to suggest an increased risk of skin cancer among those who use sunbeds before the age of 35. The Committee's Report is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comare-13th-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comare-13th-report</a></p><p> </p><p>The World Health Organization (WHO) report on ‘Artificial tanning devices: public health interventions to manage sunbeds’ states that melanoma risk increases with younger age of first sunbed use and with greater lifetime use of sunbeds. The WHO report can be viewed at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.who.int/uv/publications/artificial-tanning-devices/en/" target="_blank">https://www.who.int/uv/publications/artificial-tanning-devices/en/</a></p><p> </p><p>A systematic review in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) showed that people who have used a sunbed at least once at any stage in their life have a 20% higher risk of developing melanoma than people who have never used a sunbed, and the first use of sunbeds before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 59%. The BMJ report can be viewed at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4757.long" target="_blank">https://www.bmj.com/content/345/bmj.e4757.long</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 06/03/2019 16:37:32 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1105165

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Access to Cash Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the final report of the Access to cash review published on 6 March 2019; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	237122
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry on this topic.</p><p> </p><p>The Treasury initiated a discussion on payment methods at Spring Statement 2018 through a Call for Evidence on Cash &amp; Digital Payments in the New Economy. This sought to gather evidence on how changing preferences for cash and digital payments impact on different sectors, regions and demographics.</p><p> </p><p>The Government welcomes the recent Access to Cash Review, which is an important contribution to the debate on cash and which will help inform our future policy development.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will formally respond to the Call for Evidence in due course.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 01/04/2019 14:31:09 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1124713

	registered interest
	date	03/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Cohabitation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending (a) the marriage allowance and (b) other benefits to long-term cohabiting couples.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	250798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government introduced the Marriage Allowance in April 2015. Every time the personal allowance increases, the Marriage Allowance automatically becomes more generous.</p>The increase to personal allowance to £12,500 means that, from April this year, eligible couples will be able to transfer £1,250, compared to £1,060 in 2015-16. This means that in 2019-20, eligible couples can receive a tax reduction of up to £250, or £1,150 if they make a backdated claim to 2015-16.<p> </p><p>The Marriage Allowance was introduced specifically to recognise marriage and civil partnerships in the tax system. Therefore, the Government has made no assessment of extending Marriage Allowance to cohabiting couples.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of benefits are paid on a household basis and the Government currently has no plans to change this.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 09/05/2019 13:34:34 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1125882

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 217138, what designation has been assigned to those complaints.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	252883
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer previously given in response to Question 217138. The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which form the basis of this group of complaints, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department. The Department cannot evaluate the potential merits of making such a request until the legal proceedings have been concluded.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 252884 question first answered 15/05/2019 09:21:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1125883

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 217138, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of her Department instructing the Independent Case Examiner to reopen complaints relating to the equalisation of the state pension age cases in the event that legal proceedings fall away.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	252884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer previously given in response to Question 217138. The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which form the basis of this group of complaints, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department. The Department cannot evaluate the potential merits of making such a request until the legal proceedings have been concluded.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 252883 question first answered 15/05/2019 09:21:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

802223

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2017
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will meet with the National Farmers Union Scotland to discuss a specific Agricultural Labour Scheme to meet labour shortages in the agricultural sector in Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	117910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2017 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>I have regular discussions with the National Farmers Union Scotland on a range of matters of importance to the agriculture sector in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>The precise nature of the UK’s seasonal labour needs, and how they might best be met post-EU exit, have yet to be determined. The Home Secretary has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake a detailed assessment of the impact of EU migration across all parts of the UK’s economy and society, and to gather evidence on patterns of EU migration ahead of our exit from the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>I do, of course, recognise that it is crucial that we secure a strong agricultural workforce as we develop a new approach to farming outside the EU, and I will continue to work closely with our food and farming industry in Scotland to consider their specific needs.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale answering member printed David Mundell question first answered 12/12/2017 12:37:32 answering member 1512 label Biography information for David Mundell
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

802740

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2017
	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	Jagtar Singh Johal
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the alleged torture of Jagtar Singh Johal in Punjab.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	118289
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2017 answer text <p>​Consular staff in India were made aware of allegations of mistreatment through Mr Johal's legal representation. Consular staff have visited Mr Johal on several occasions since early November and are in contact with his lawyer. Our priority is to inquire about these specific allegations with Mr Johal in private. With his consent we will then raise any allegations made with the relevant authorities. When considering how to act, we will avoid any action that might put the individual in question or any other person that may be affected at risk.</p> answering member constituency Cities of London and Westminster answering member printed Mark Field question first answered 15/12/2017 14:24:02 answering member 1405 label Biography information for Mark Field
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

802743

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Intelligence Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions has she had with (a) WhatsApp and (b) other technology companies on access by the security services to encrypted messages sent by a person of interest.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	118292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2017 answer text <p>The Government is in favour of strong encryption: it is critical to protect UK citizens from harm online, and billions of people use it every day for a range of services including banking, commerce and communications.</p><p>However, like many powerful technologies, encrypted services are abused by a small minority of people. There is a particular problem with end-to-end encryption where certain providers have deliberately designed their systems so that even they cannot see the content of the message.</p><p>The Secretary of State meets with a range of stakeholders to discuss various issues as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. However, we are committed to working with service providers to fulfil our collective responsibility to protect us from terrorists and those who commit serious crimes, while allowing providers to protect privacy. We are quite clear that it is essential for law enforcement to access content when there is a clear need and when properly warranted. The Government will continue to press for that ability.</p><p>A mature dialogue between government and industry on this issue is crucial, and we expect them to live up to their responsibilities: working with law enforcement where there is a warrant authorised by a Secretary of State and approved by a senior judge under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 14/12/2017 15:25:59 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen