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100291

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2014 to Question 209683 to the hon. Member for Stourbridge, what assessment he has made of the factors that resulted in there being no prosecutions for not paying the national minimum wage in each of the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, HMRC undertake targeted enforcement on employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment. Where they do not do so, HMRC pursues recovery through the civil courts. HMRC‘s approach to tackling underpayment of NMW through the civil courts is the best way to ensure that money is paid back to the person underpaid and provides the most effective resolution for tax-payers. Criminal investigations may not result in arrears being paid to workers and are therefore reserved for the most serious cases.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke question first answered 03/11/2014 15:32:50 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100311

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Social Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the national minimum wage arrears identified in the social care sector by HM Revenue and Customs in the findings of its social care evaluation of November 2013 have been recovered and paid to the workers affected.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC does not keep data in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers. HMRC contacts every employer whom they find has paid workers below the National Minimum Wage to confirm that they have paid the identified arrears to the workers. In addition, where it has found arrears for five or fewer workers it will contact all the workers to confirm payment by the employer. In cases involving arrears for more than five workers it will contact a minimum sample of five workers to confirm payment by the employer. HMRC will pursue non-payment of arrears through civil recovery action.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and will always investigate any case of possible National Minimum Wage abuse. Therefore there will always be variation in the number of cases investigated within specific sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 211547 211653 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:22:53 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100315

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Home Care Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2014 to Question 209191, for what reason fewer HM Revenue and Customs investigations into the home-care sector were carried out in 2013-14 than 2012-13.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211547
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC does not keep data in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers. HMRC contacts every employer whom they find has paid workers below the National Minimum Wage to confirm that they have paid the identified arrears to the workers. In addition, where it has found arrears for five or fewer workers it will contact all the workers to confirm payment by the employer. In cases involving arrears for more than five workers it will contact a minimum sample of five workers to confirm payment by the employer. HMRC will pursue non-payment of arrears through civil recovery action.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and will always investigate any case of possible National Minimum Wage abuse. Therefore there will always be variation in the number of cases investigated within specific sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 211605 211653 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:22:53 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100317

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Carer's Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to link an increase of the earnings threshold for carer's allowance to the rise in the National Minimum Wage.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The earnings threshold in Carer’s Allowance is regularly reviewed. It is designed to enable carers to maintain a link with the labour market and achieve greater financial independence. It is increased periodically, most recently from £100 to £102 on 20 May 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/10/2014 17:42:37 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100318

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Home Care Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2014 to question 209191, how many investigations by HM Revenue and Customs into the home care sector were conducted in the first six months of 2014-15.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC does not keep data in a format to enable provision of the statistics requested on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers. HMRC contacts every employer whom they find has paid workers below the National Minimum Wage to confirm that they have paid the identified arrears to the workers. In addition, where it has found arrears for five or fewer workers it will contact all the workers to confirm payment by the employer. In cases involving arrears for more than five workers it will contact a minimum sample of five workers to confirm payment by the employer. HMRC will pursue non-payment of arrears through civil recovery action.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and will always investigate any case of possible National Minimum Wage abuse. Therefore there will always be variation in the number of cases investigated within specific sectors.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 211547 211605 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:22:54 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100351

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter dated 1 August 2014 from the Secretary of State for Defence to the Defence Committee, published in that Committee's Seventh Special Report of Session 2014-15, HC 387, Appendix B, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full analysis undertaken by the Adjutant General into the cost effectiveness of recruiting under-18's
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The document requested is being reviewed. Once the review is complete, it will be placed in the Library of the House.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Canterbury answering member printed Mr Julian Brazier question first answered 28/10/2014 16:39:44 answering member 77 label Biography information for Sir Julian Brazier
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100360

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
	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 20 October 2014 to Question 210122, what costs (a) have been and (b) will be incurred by her Department for the (i) design and (ii) editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211549
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education has not incurred any costs for the design or editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 28/10/2014 17:24:30 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100407

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Social Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2014 to Question 209199, what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) considered on (i) the effect of treatment of staff on standards of care and (ii) the relationship between levels of pay and quality of social care services.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The Department has not conducted any recent research on the effect of treatment of staff on standards of care and on the relationship between levels of pay and quality of social care services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the development of Caring for our Future white paper in 2011, the Department undertook extensive engagement with both service users and carers who highlighted range of issues they felt needed addressing to ensure high quality care and support is available. In addressing this, the Department, working with the Sector Skills Council - Skills for Care - and other partners, has implemented a range of policies that has included setting out clear minimum training standards, recruiting more apprentices and supporting the transformation of the social work profession.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 29/10/2014 14:27:48 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100420

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Social Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many meetings officials of his Department have had with officials of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the naming and shaming of social care providers who do not comply with National Minimum Wage legislation; and when he expects such social care providers to be named and shamed for such non-compliance.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>During the course of this year, officials from the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BiS) have formally met once for policy discussions on the issue of non-compliance of social care employers with National Minimum Wage legislation. I have also recently written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Employment Relations (Jo Swinson) on this subject.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new scheme making it easier to name and shame employers who do not comply with National Minimum Wage legislation came into effect from October 2013 and applies to investigations initiated after that date. HM Revenue and Customs leads on the conduct of investigations and makes recommendations to BiS Ministers on the issue of naming employers found to be in breach. The timing of any naming of social care providers is therefore dependent on the outcome of investigations, and will follow where appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 29/10/2014 14:40:50 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1005686

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the total number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area in England, Scotland and Wales through the asylum dispersal programme in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	190457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes quarterly figures on the number of asylum seek-ers housed in dispersed accommodation, including under Section 95, by lo-cal authority in the Immigration Statistics release, in table as_16q and 17q in volume 4 of the Asylum data tables. These are available at:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2017/list-of-tables#asylum" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2017/list-of-tables#asylum</a></p><p>This does not include those asylum seekers who are accommodated with friends and family, and who are not in receipt of support.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 15/11/2018 16:23:56 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100770

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will include data on the average length of time taken to process personal independence payment claims in his Department's next quarterly statistics release.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211677
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Departmental statisticians are continuing to develop measures around clearance times and waiting times to ensure they provide a rounded and representative picture of personal independence payment performance, improvement activity and the claimants’ experience. These statistics will be published when they are ready, with the release pre-announced in line with United Kingdom Statistics Authority release protocols.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 211729 question first answered 28/10/2014 14:04:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100843

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Social Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of HM Revenue and Customs launching pro-active investigations into the non-payment of the national minimum wage.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the merits of pro-active investigations but believes they are an important part of enforcement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>HMRC published findings from their targeted social care evaluation on 25 November 2013. Over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, HMRC had made enquiries into 224 employers in the social care sector. Of the cases completed by the end of September 2014, HMRC have found non-compliance in 108 (48%) of their enquiries, identifying £1,319,729 arrears of pay for 6,550 workers, with penalties issued with a total value of £146,931.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of this targeted enforcement activity, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health has recently published statutory guidance for local authorities as part of the package of secondary legislation that accompanies the Care Act. The chapter of statutory guidance on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states that local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels will not compromise care providers’ ability to pay at least minimum wages. A copy of the guidance can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-statutory-guidance-for-implementation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-statutory-guidance-for-implementation</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department of Health is asking all Local Authorities to sign up to the Social Care Commitment which incorporates a statement about employer compliance with minimum wage legislation. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has written out to all its members encouraging them to support the Commitment as a way of raising standards in adult social care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We regularly update our Guidance on Gov.UK and we will continue to work with the sector to improve understanding and compliance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should call the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HM Revenue &amp; Customs investigate all complaints.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 03/11/2014 11:47:07 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100853

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Home Care Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits and disbenefits of HM Revenue and Customs launching pro-active investigations into the home care sector and the non-payment of the national minimum wage.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211863
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage very seriously. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should make a complaint to the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, by collating and analysing data received from various sources, HMRC ensure targeted enforcement through robust risk assessment processes to identify employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying National Minimum Wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the targeted enforcement activity undertaken, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies, such as the UK Home Care Association, and payroll software service providers to improve understanding and awareness of National Minimum Wage compliance issues and assist in the development of compliance toolkits to enable those organisations to promote and facilitate voluntary compliance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 211864 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:30:25 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100854

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Care Workers: Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of or received evidence on the effect on care standards of non-payment of the national minimum wage in the social care sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department has not conducted any recent research on the effect of treatment of staff on standards of care and on the relationship between levels of pay and quality of social care services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the development of Caring for our Future white paper in 2011, the Department undertook extensive engagement with both service users and carers who highlighted a range of issues they felt needed addressing to ensure high quality care and support is available. In addressing this, the Department, working with the Sector Skills Council – Skills for Care – and other partners, has implemented a range of policies that has included setting out clear minimum training standards, recruiting more apprentices and supporting the transformation of the social work profession.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are a number of factors that determine the quality of care provided in the social care sector, including the way staff are treated. Pay is not the single most significant factor in delivering high quality services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department is clear however that care providers must abide by the law with regards to payment of the national minimum wage and is taking steps to ensure this happens. The Department is liaising with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to name and shame any social care providers who do not comply with the national minimum wage legislation and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is continuing to carry out enforcement action in the social care sector and will investigate all complaints made by care workers that their employer is not paying them the national minimum wage. In addition, it is looking to ensure that the statutory guidance that will accompany the Care Act on commissioning and market shaping explicitly states local authorities should have evidence that contract terms, conditions and fee levels are appropriate to provide the agreed care packages with agreed quality of care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 03/11/2014 16:37:18 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100855

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Social Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs plans to launch any further pro-active investigations into non-compliance with the national minimum wage in the social care sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211864
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage very seriously. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should make a complaint to the Pay &amp; Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, by collating and analysing data received from various sources, HMRC ensure targeted enforcement through robust risk assessment processes to identify employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying National Minimum Wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the targeted enforcement activity undertaken, HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies, such as the UK Home Care Association, and payroll software service providers to improve understanding and awareness of National Minimum Wage compliance issues and assist in the development of compliance toolkits to enable those organisations to promote and facilitate voluntary compliance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Hertfordshire answering member printed Mr David Gauke grouped question UIN 211863 question first answered 03/11/2014 15:30:24 answering member 1529 label Biography information for Mr David Gauke
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100861

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage infrastructure-based competition across the market for high-speed broadband connections; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK has a highly competitive broadband market. Superfast broadband is currently available to 78% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010. In addition to BT, KCom and Virgin Media, a growing number of both fixed and wireless providers are making infrastructure investments. In September 2012 the Government announced a package of measures to reduce the barriers to deployment of superfast broadband, reducing red tape and bureaucracy to enable communications providers to deploy competing networks. The Digital Communications Infrastructure Strategy consultation invited industry to submit views on what more the Government might do to support infrastructure deployment. That consultation closed on 1 October and the Government is currently considering the responses received.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:22:39 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100862

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will co-operate with the Department for Communities and Local Government over potential actions to reduce the costs associated with planning regulations and other barriers in relation to the rollout of high-speed broadband.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>DCMS worked closely with Communities and Local Government, industry and other interested parties to design and implement in 2013 a significant and substantial package of planning relaxations in England. The changes support the roll out of fixed line high-speed broadband in protected areas*, and high-speed mobile broadband (4G) in protected and unprotected areas by removing the need to seek planning permission for specified developments. This year, joint working with Communities and Local Government has continued, together with house builders and communications providers, to develop an action plan to ensure that new developments have access to superfast broadband.</p><p> </p><p>*(National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage Site, Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and Conservation Areas but not Sites of Special Scientific Interest)</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:24:19 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100863

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will hold discussions with local authorities to encourage uptake of narrow trenching techniques in order to lower deployment costs for high-speed broadband connections and expedite its rollout to more homes and businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>We encourage and support a range of innovative approaches in street works, particularly where these can lower the cost and speed up deployment of superfast broadband. The standards that street works reinstatements must meet are set out in the statutory code, the Specification of the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH). SROH sets out a range of deployment methods and approved materials that undertakers can use when carrying out street works, including narrow trenching and the use of foamed concrete as a reinstatement material.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 30/10/2014 11:25:18 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010259

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Air Pollution: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to which schemes and projects with the specific purpose of reducing children’s exposure to air pollution his Department has allocated funding to local authorities from the air quality grant in (a) 2018- 19, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2016-17 and (d) 2015-16; and how much such funding was allocated to each of those schemes and projects in each of those years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses and residents. Local authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air quality and to take action to reduce pollution where these breach statutory limits, and are best placed to determine local priorities.</p><p>Defra awarded a total of £2.4million to local authorities in England from the 2017/18 air quality grant fund; £3.7million was awarded in 2016/17, and £0.5million in 2015/6. £3million has been allocated for 2018/19.</p><p>Whilst all measures which reduce air pollution will reduce children’s exposure to these harmful pollutants, some projects have elements that are specifically targeted at children. For example:</p><ul><li><p>In 2016-17, the London Borough of Islington were awarded £50,000 to run a local school focused awareness and engagement campaign through the air quality grant.</p></li><li><p>In 2017/18, Spelthorne Borough Council were given £145,188 to run an awareness campaign in schools across Surrey.</p></li></ul><p>Details of further funding from the Air Quality Grant Programme, including funding specifically directed at children can be found on the Air Quality Grant Programme webpage here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-grant-programme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-grant-programme</a>.</p><p>The Government has also put in place a £3.5billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, which includes £495million for councils to improve air quality. We have consulted on our new world leading Clean Air Strategy, which includes new and ambitious goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to clean up our air faster and more effectively.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/11/2018 17:19:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010286

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	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 the average processing time for income-related employment support allowance claims where a claimant has a DS1500 medical condition report is.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The DS1500 is not a claim form and its use in providing evidential support for claims from people who are terminally ill claiming benefit is not obligatory.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 26/11/2018 11:54:41 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010287

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons MPs offices have implicit consent arrangements for universal credit applications and advice services require explicit consent to support claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>On 13 March 2017 <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-03-13/HCWS528/" target="_blank">Written Statement - HCWS528</a> outlined the implicit consent arrangements for MPs.</p><p>Where explicit consent is needed it can be quickly given in different ways. For example, claimants only need to put a note in their journal to give consent; this is a far simpler and more straightforward process than in legacy systems. Once consent is given, advisers will work with the claimant’s representatives.</p><p>In our response to the Social Security Advisory Committee we agreed to explore options for improving the process of explicit consent in relation to Universal Credit in collaboration with the Committee to consider how current practices could be enhanced and to publish a report on our joint conclusions.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 27/11/2018 17:56:29 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010298

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Mental Health Act 1983 Independent Review
	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 effect of the independent review of the Mental Health Act on the rate of detentions under that Act in NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192893
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 will report before the end of the year. The Government will consider its findings and respond in due course. The Review will make recommendations to Government for how it should improve the Act, including on improving the protection of people’s rights and considering how detentions might be reduced, but it was not commissioned to have a direct influence on legislation or practice.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price grouped question UIN 192889 192890 192891 192894 192895 192945 193436 193437 question first answered 22/11/2018 17:39:51 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010299

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Mental Health Act 1983
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will reform the Mental Health Act to better protect the rights of people with mental health needs.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 will report before the end of the year. The Government will consider its findings and respond in due course. The Review will make recommendations to Government for how it should improve the Act, including on improving the protection of people’s rights and considering how detentions might be reduced, but it was not commissioned to have a direct influence on legislation or practice.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price grouped question UIN 192889 192890 192891 192893 192895 192945 193436 193437 question first answered 22/11/2018 17:39:51 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010300

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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	Mental Health Act 1983 Independent Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable for his Department to respond to the recommendations of the independent review of the Mental Health Act is.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 will report before the end of the year. The Government will consider its findings and respond in due course. The Review will make recommendations to Government for how it should improve the Act, including on improving the protection of people’s rights and considering how detentions might be reduced, but it was not commissioned to have a direct influence on legislation or practice.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price grouped question UIN 192889 192890 192891 192893 192894 192945 193436 193437 question first answered 22/11/2018 17:39:51 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010312

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	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 seeks to recover remaining payments on an advance payment for universal credit from the estate of a deceased person.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192904
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) advances are available to claimants as a form of budgeting support, allowing them to better manage their finances. In most cases an advance would be repaid through a series of monthly deductions from their ongoing UC entitlement. The claimant is able to select the amount of time over which they repay their advance, currently up to a maximum of 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>If an advance is not recovered from the associated benefit claim because the claim ends or there was no entitlement to that benefit, the outstanding balance is treated as if it were an overpayment and referred to the Department’s Debt Management team to arrange recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Where a debtor dies and leaves outstanding Social Security debt, the Department becomes a creditor of the estate and will then make a claim for these debts from the estate. Where it is established that there is no estate the outstanding balance is written off.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 26/11/2018 14:03:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101103

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupil Premium
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the merits of extending the Pupil Premium to all children educated at home.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>The aim of the Pupil Premium is to raise the attainment of mainly economically disadvantaged pupils, which is why the funding is focused on those children who have been on free school meals at some point in the last six years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to extend the Pupil Premium to children who are educated at home. The Government respects the right of parents to choose how their children are educated, whether this is at home or in any of the institutions available to them. However, parents who choose to home educate their children must take responsibility for costs. Local authorities have the power to give assistance to parents who home school if they so choose.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/11/2014 13:54:35 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101104

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupil Premium
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will extend the Pupil Premium to children who are educated at home and have (a) foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and (b) other special needs.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p>There are no plans to extend the Pupil Premium to children who are educated at home, or to children with either foetal alcohol spectrum disorder or other special needs. The aim of the Pupil Premium is to help schools close the attainment gap, with funding focused on those children who have been on free school meals at some point in the last six years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government respects the right of parents to choose how their children are educated, whether this is at home or in any of the institutions available to them. However, parents who choose to home educate their children must take responsibility for the costs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Local authorities have the power to choose to give assistance to parents who home school. This can include providing support to children with special educational needs, whether or not they have a statement or Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. The 0-25 SEND Code of Practice makes it clear that local authorities should work with parents and consider whether to provide support in the home to help the parents make suitable provision. Where an authority draws up a statement or EHC plan which ‘names’ home education as the right provision for the child then they must make any additional special educational provision set out by the statement or plan.</p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 03/11/2014 13:51:55 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101306

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Home Care Services: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to take account of the omission of (a) some workers paid below the lower earnings limit and (b) unpaid travel time from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings when using that survey to estimate non-payment of the national minimum wage among homecare workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is an employer based pay survey and provides the most accurate information available from which we can derive non-compliance estimates. Estimates are based on a sample from pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) data and may not include some workers earning below the lower earnings limit. However, following the introduction of Real Time Information, ASHE now includes the majority of those earning below the lower earnings limit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The HMRC paper “National Minimum Wage compliance in the social care sector” (November 2013) looked at, amongst other things, the issue of unpaid travel time in compliance. It found that unpaid travel time was not the main cause of non-compliance in the sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We take non-compliance in the care sector very seriously, and to proactively tackle non-compliance HMRC have collaborated with care sector representative bodies to improve understanding of compliance risks and design controls within payroll systems that prevent workers being underpaid the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. Individuals should contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. HMRC investigates every complaint made.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Dunbartonshire answering member printed Jo Swinson question first answered 05/11/2014 15:11:25 answering member 1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1013170

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2018
	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	Local Government: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme currently comply with the first Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision Directive and the new Directive due to be implemented on 13 January 2019; and if he will place all correspondence on those Directives his Department has had with the EU Commission in the Library.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	195078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government's approach to transposition of the two Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision Directives for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) reflects the fact that it is a statutory public service scheme. The appropriate response is therefore different than it is for other, trust-based schemes. Having taken legal advice, our view is that the current governance arrangements of the LGPS, set out in the LGPS Regulations and the broader suite of local authorities' statutory obligations, are sufficient to meet the objectives of the directive. The Department of Work and Pensions has led for the UK Government on negotiation and transposition of the directives with the EU Commission and any request to see correspondence with the Commission should be addressed to them.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 28/11/2018 15:47:28 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101319

	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	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that people entitled to carer's allowance are included in the groups that qualify for the childcare costs earnings disregard for the purposes of calculating housing benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department has no plans to amend housing benefit regulations to include entitlement to carer’s allowance to the groups who qualify for the childcare costs earnings disregard.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 04/11/2014 15:19:49 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1015031

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	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	Local Government: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 apply to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	195604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2018 answer text <p>These draft regulations make minor and technical changes to correct any elements of the UK’s occupational and personal pensions legislation that will not work effectively after the UK departs the EU. They will not apply to the Local Government Pension Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 29/11/2018 15:24:22 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1015401

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	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	Electronic Cigarettes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions and meetings the Government has had with the (a) tobacco and (b) vaping industries on e-cigarette regulation and policy in the last three years for which information is available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	196229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department has held discussions and meetings with the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), who is independent of the tobacco industry, over the past three years. I also met the IBVTA on 12 March 2018 to discuss United Kingdom vaping and regulations.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not collect data on discussions with the vaping industry from other Government Departments.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 05/12/2018 16:26:49 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1015402

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2018
	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	Electronic Cigarettes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to publish its Command Paper in response to the Science and Technology Committee's Seventh Report of Session 2017-19 on E-cigarettes, HC 505; and whether it has taken steps to implement the report’s recommendations.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	196230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government will respond to the report shortly.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 05/12/2018 16:50:24 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101543

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group receive (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The attached table shows the number of recipients of the Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation (ALSO) and the Unemployability Supplement (UnSupp) under the War Pension Scheme, by age group, as at 31 March 2014 (the latest date for which data are available).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Recipients of ALSO and UnSupp, by age group, as at 31 March 2014, numbers<sup>1</sup></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: War Pensions Computer System (WPCS), Defence Business Services</p><p>In line with Defence Statistics' Rounding Policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest 5 and figures fewer than five have been suppressed and marked ~.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:32:49 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name 20141106 - Table for answer 212425.doc title Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation previous answer version 26469 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101544

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost his Department (a) has and (b) will incur for the (i) design and (ii) editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212451
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>None. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not incurred any cost in the design and editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource, which was produced and edited independently.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:47:30 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26470 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1016239

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2018
	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: Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the tobacco industry is excluded from funding or helping to provide stop smoking services at a local government level.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	196780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2018 answer text <p>The United Kingdom Government is a signatory to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Article 5.3 of which commits Parties to protect public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. The Government and local authorities take very seriously their obligations under the WHO FCTC, including the commitment under Article 5.3. The Government has endorsed the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control, which was launched in 2013.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 07/12/2018 13:00:22 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101629

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much in total is paid to claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group claiming (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide details of how much is paid in each age range to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and the Unemployability Supplement because details of such expenditure are not held in age groupings, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, for financial year 2013-14, a total of £33 million was paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and £37 million was paid to recipients of the Unemployability Supplement.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 10/11/2014 17:27:29 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26467 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101630

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much on average is received each week by claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group who claim (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard or Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide details of how much on average is paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and the Unemployability Supplement because details of such expenditure are not held in age groupings, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p>However, for financial year 2013-14, an average £60 per week was paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and an average £110 per week was paid to recipients of the Unemployability Supplement.</p><p><em>In line with Defence Statistics' Rounding Policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest 5.</em></p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:45:50 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26468 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101762

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Students: Plagiarism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the number of higher education students purchasing assignment writing services.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212580
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>This is an issue which the Higher Education sector takes very seriously and where institutions have clear policies in place.</p><p>Institutions are supported in this area by the work of Plagiarism Advice (<a href="http://www.plagiarismadvice.org/" target="_blank">www.plagiarismadvice.org</a>) which was established to address concerns about plagiarism and the authenticity of student work. The sanctions that universities are able to apply to students who attempt to pass off work as their own, when it is not, are serious and significant.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark grouped question UIN 212825 question first answered 10/11/2014 14:09:25 answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1019415

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
	answering dept id	203
	answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
	answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
	hansard heading	Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the cost to the public purse was of the Government's case against the ECJ's hearing whether the UK is able unilaterally to revoke its decision to leave the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	198217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government does not have a final figure for its costs, but in our Annual Report and Accounts for Financial Year 18/19, there will be a disclosure of the Department's legal costs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 11/12/2018 11:19:47 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

102018

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Students: Plagiarism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has (a) considered and (b) taken to ensure that businesses advertising assignment writing services clearly state the potential ramifications for students of portraying such materials as their own work.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>This is an issue which the Higher Education sector takes very seriously and where institutions have clear policies in place.</p><p>Institutions are supported in this area by the work of Plagiarism Advice (<a href="http://www.plagiarismadvice.org/" target="_blank">www.plagiarismadvice.org</a>) which was established to address concerns about plagiarism and the authenticity of student work. The sanctions that universities are able to apply to students who attempt to pass off work as their own, when it is not, are serious and significant.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark grouped question UIN 212580 question first answered 10/11/2014 14:09:25 answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1020421

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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	Teesside International Airport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the proposal from the Tees Valley Mayor to buy Durham Tees Valley Airport, what the Government's policy is on devolved resources to Combined Authorities being used to bring airports into public ownership; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	199386
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>In 2015, Tees Valley Combined Authority was awarded the long term Investment Fund of £450 million over 30 years as part of its Devolution Deal and Single Pot funding arrangements. In line with other Devolution Deals agreed, places can allocate and spend Investment Funds on locally appraised projects, providing them with greater control over directing priority investment decisions.</p><p>The Combined Authority has responsibility for how it will invest these funds within the scope of an agreed assurance framework, which sets out how they will appraise, monitor and evaluates schemes to achieve value for money. This is based on Government’s Single Pot Assurance Framework national guidance. To ensure value for money is achieved for the taxpayer, future release of Investment Funds are subject to five yearly Gateway Reviews which include an economic impact assessment carried out by an independent panel.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 10/12/2018 17:35:17 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023039

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the early years attainment gap over the last ten years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>The ‘Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) results 2017-2018’ include time series data on attainment gaps for pupil characteristics - including eligibility for free school meals (FSM), special educational needs and disabilities and ethnicity - for the period 2013 to 2018. (EYFSP 2018 additional tables by pupil characteristics – Table 1: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759345/EYFSP2018_additional_tables.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759345/EYFSP2018_additional_tables.xlsx</a>).</p><p>Since 2013, the gap between the percentage of children eligible for FSM achieving a good level of development and their peers has narrowed by 1.7 percentage points.</p><p>EYFSP data for 2008 to 2012 can be found online, however since the EYFSP was revised for academic year 2012-13, any data prior to this is not comparable.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/12/2018 15:13:11 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023040

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money from the public purse his Department has allocated to marketing for the (a) early years initial (b) primary and (c) secondary teacher training courses.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>The marketing budget allocated for recruitment to post-graduate initial teacher training for the financial year 2018-19 is £16,671,000.</p><p> </p><p>A budget breakdown between primary and secondary recruitment is not held centrally.</p><p> </p><p>There is no budget allocated for the financial year 2018-19 for marketing the separate early years teaching entry routes.</p><p> </p><p>The marketing campaign for teacher training directs people to visit the Get Into Teaching site here:</p><p><a href="https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>On this website, they can find out more about training for early years, primary and secondary teaching.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 13/12/2018 16:55:13 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023041

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	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, what is the average salary is for an early years teacher working in the private, voluntary and independent sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p><p> </p><p>Employers in the early years sector are responsible for setting the pay and conditions for their employees, including early years teachers, within the statutory requirements set by government (for example, national minimum wage).</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/12/2018 15:46:21 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023042

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	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, what is the average salary was of an early years teacher in the (a) private, voluntary and independent and (b) public sector.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p><p> </p><p>Employers in the early years sector are responsible for setting the pay and conditions for their employees, including early years teachers, within the statutory requirements set by government (for example, national minimum wage).</p><p> </p><p>Teachers who hold qualified teacher status and work in maintained schools are entitled to school teachers’ pay and conditions.</p><p> </p><p>School teachers’ pay and conditions can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/12/2018 15:47:27 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023056

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Foster Care: Care Leavers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the policy paper entitled Keep on caring: supporting young people from care to independence, published in July 2016, when will the Government plans to review the implementation of the Staying Put programme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>The government keeps the Staying Put policy under constant review, including through monitoring data from local authorities on take-up by young people, engagement with the sector, and reviewing information from Ofsted inspections of local authorities. Staying Put was also considered as part of the independent fostering review undertaken by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers, published in February 2018. Staying Put has helped thousands of care leavers to transition more smoothly from care to independence, and provides continuity of relationships and care arrangements. Latest data shows that in the year ending March 2018, 55% of 18 year olds chose to Stay Put – an increase of 4% on 2017.</p><p>The government does not believe that introducing a national minimum allowance for Staying Put carers is the right way forward. Unlike children in foster care, young people in Staying Put arrangements are adults and may be in work, or claiming benefits. These can be used to contribute to the cost of providing the Staying Put arrangement, in a similar way that young people who are still living at home with their parents may contribute to the cost of running the household. The current arrangements allow local authorities to consider all factors in relation to each local Staying Put arrangement, and to negotiate the amount that the carer receives on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 200656 question first answered 18/12/2018 10:19:10 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023058

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Foster Care: Care Leavers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the report entitled, Staying Put: An Unfulfilled Promise, published in November 2018 by the Fostering Nework, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of a national minimum allowance for Staying Put programme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	200656
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2018 answer text <p>The government keeps the Staying Put policy under constant review, including through monitoring data from local authorities on take-up by young people, engagement with the sector, and reviewing information from Ofsted inspections of local authorities. Staying Put was also considered as part of the independent fostering review undertaken by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers, published in February 2018. Staying Put has helped thousands of care leavers to transition more smoothly from care to independence, and provides continuity of relationships and care arrangements. Latest data shows that in the year ending March 2018, 55% of 18 year olds chose to Stay Put – an increase of 4% on 2017.</p><p>The government does not believe that introducing a national minimum allowance for Staying Put carers is the right way forward. Unlike children in foster care, young people in Staying Put arrangements are adults and may be in work, or claiming benefits. These can be used to contribute to the cost of providing the Staying Put arrangement, in a similar way that young people who are still living at home with their parents may contribute to the cost of running the household. The current arrangements allow local authorities to consider all factors in relation to each local Staying Put arrangement, and to negotiate the amount that the carer receives on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 200655 question first answered 18/12/2018 10:19:10 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1023915

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2018
	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	Electronic Cigarettes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2018 to Question 196229 on Electronic Cigarettes, what (a) discussions and (b) meetings his Department has held with representatives from the tobacco industry on e-cigarette regulation and policy.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	201629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department met representatives of the tobacco industry to discuss the introduction of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The Department has not discussed e-cigarette policy with the tobacco industry during this period, as this would breach our commitments under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 20/12/2018 17:05:56 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1027285

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many requests for legal assistance were made by asylum applicants during the first instance procedure in 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	202740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not held by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).</p><p> </p><p>The LAA does not record data about the volumes of citizens who request this type of legal assistance, as the application process for the type of legal aid applicable to the matters described is devolved to the appointed solicitor. Where a client is found to be eligible for legal aid in a case of the kind enquired about, this information is reported subsequently to the Legal Aid Agency.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 202741 202742 question first answered 21/12/2018 14:33:28 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham