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786982

registered interest
date	10/11/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Department for International Development: Kenya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cost to the public purse was of the visit to Kenya by the Secretary of State for International Development on 7 to 8 November 2017.
tabling member constituency	Leigh
tabling member printed	Jo Platt
uin	112422
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>Information on Ministerial Travel is published as part of DFID’s quarterly transparency return on www.gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/11/2017 13:14:43 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

785878

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
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	Himalayan Balsam
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to eliminate Himalayan balsam; and what consideration they have given to introducing environmental schemes to reimburse landowners and farmers for its removal.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL3026
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>The UK has long recognised the threats posed by invasive non-native species. In 2008, we published a comprehensive Great Britain Non-native Species Strategy designed to tackle these threats, the first of its kind in Europe.</p><p> </p><p>Himalayan balsam was first introduced into the UK in the 1830s and is now widespread here and throughout most of Europe. It spreads rapidly, forming dense thickets and outcompeting our native species. Defra is currently funding the research organisation CABI to develop and test a biocontrol agent in the form of a rust fungus that is designed to infect Himalayan balsam leaves and stem its growth. This pioneering research project, the first ever release of a fungus against a plant in Europe, is showing early promise.</p><p> </p><p>Local action groups, with support from government, are actively involved in reducing and eradicating Himalayan balsam. For example, the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project has led 111 work parties this year involving 337 volunteers specifically to remove Himalayan balsam. Funds from a new EU RAPID LIFE project, totalling €1.1m, will also be available to local action groups to provide additional financial assistance. Natural England and the Environment Agency also undertake action nationally to remove Himalayan balsam where it is affecting protected sites, water quality or adds to the risk of flooding.</p><p> </p><p>The Countryside Stewardship Scheme Higher Tier includes an option, for which farmers can apply, that provides funding for the management of invasive plant species including Himalayan balsam.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/11/2017 12:34:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

786224

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Bowel Cancer
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve the identification and management of Lynch syndrome.
tabling member constituency	Chippenham
tabling member printed	Michelle Donelan
uin	111889
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>Testing for Lynch syndrome in people with colorectal cancer is targeted using criteria based on family history and age of cancer onset to determine those at highest risk. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance recommends extending this offer to all people with colorectal cancer when they are first diagnosed.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 14/11/2017 12:07:47 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
tabling member	4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan

786225

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Bowel Cancer
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote awareness and early diagnosis of bowel cancer.
tabling member constituency	Chippenham
tabling member printed	Michelle Donelan
uin	111891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>Public Health England’s (PHE) Be Clear on Cancer campaigns raise the public’s awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, and are an important step in diagnosing cancers earlier. The Be Clear on Cancer Abdominal Symptoms pilot campaign aimed to raise awareness of a range of abdominal symptoms that can indicate a number of cancers, including bowel, and encouraged people to visit their doctor promptly. The first pilot ran earlier this year in the East and West Midlands and PHE is working with NHS England on timings and location for the second pilot phase.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this year, PHE also collaborated with Cancer Research UK to deliver a pilot Be Clear on Cancer campaign in the North West of England to promote uptake of bowel screening; the campaign is currently being evaluated to assess its impact on uptake.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 14/11/2017 12:13:24 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
tabling member	4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan

786311

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
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	Wind Power: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress has been made on allowing zero subsidy contract for difference on-shore wind farms in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Alan Brown
uin	111922
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>Established technologies such as onshore wind are reducing in cost and if this continues they may have the capacity to play a significant role in the UK’s generation mix going forward.</p><p>No decisions have yet been taken on future Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation rounds for established technologies. It is right that we should focus support on those technologies where it is most needed, which is why we announced as part of the Clean Growth Strategy that up to £557m in total of annual funding would be made available for less established technologies such as offshore wind.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 14/11/2017 12:32:59 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford previous answer version 22060 answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

786414

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Married People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure UK residents are not being charged £1.37 a minute rate applied to non-UK residents over and above network charges to access her Department's spousal visa helpline.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	111996
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>For overseas customers, UK Visas and Immigration have a chargeable call rates of £1.37 per minute, this charge is levied to fund the contact centre commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services from outside the UK are predominantly prospective customers and in many cases no application will be made and no application fee collected.</p><p> </p><p>For UK Visas and Immigration in–country customers the contact centres provide information about the Immigration Rules and the Points Based System requirements via a number of published customer enquiry line numbers. In 2014, in line with Cabinet Office guidance, UKVI changed all 0845 and 0870 prefix helpline numbers to lower call tariff rate 0300 prefix numbers. UKVI do not generate any income from these non-geographic numbers enquiry lines.</p><p> </p><p>UKVI have in place self selection pages on the Gov.uk website (see link below), as well as effective use of informative telephony message on our help lines to further ensure and assist customers wanting to contact UKVI. This initial triaging activity on our website ensures customers are provided with the correct point of contact within our business regarding their in country or overseas application enquiry.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>UKVI have no imminent plans to increase the call charges on either the in country or overseas enquiry line numbers.</p><p> </p><p>Our web site <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a> is the main source of information and is free of charge.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 14/11/2017 14:46:48 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

786457

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: North of England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department has given to Transport for the North for the location of the (a) line and (b) stations on the Northern Powerhouse Rail.
tabling member constituency	Leigh
tabling member printed	Jo Platt
uin	112096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>The March 2015 document “The Northern Powerhouse: One Agenda, One Economy, One North” was jointly produced by Government, Northern city regions and local enterprise partnerships. That outlined a shared vision for rail services across the North designed to radically improve journey times and frequencies between major cities to support a single economy. The document also noted that projects in the northern transport strategy will need to offer good value for taxpayer’s money.</p><p> </p><p>This provides the backdrop for development of the northern powerhouse rail network. Work since 2015 has identified that as well as city centre to city centre services, there could be cases where serving locations between the cities could enhance the business case for investment and so be beneficial.</p><p> </p><p>It is for Transport for the North to come forward with proposals that respond to the vision and have a positive business case. We look forward to receiving those proposals next year.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 14/11/2017 11:39:50 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

786459

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	East Coast Main Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the economic value of the East Coast Main Line to the UK economy.
tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
uin	112125
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of the economic value of the East Coast Mainline as a whole. However, the impact of improvements to East Coast Mainline services are considered as part of their appraisal, including any wider impacts on the UK economy.</p><p> </p><p>The East Coast Mainline is a critical service supporting economic activity, connecting cities and businesses across England and Scotland.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 14/11/2017 10:41:10 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

786460

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	East Coast Main Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what enhancement projects are planned for the East Coast Main Line in Control Period 6 in order to accommodate the forecast growth in passengers using that line.
tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
uin	112127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>The Department for Transport is committed to improving journey for passengers along the East Coast Main Line in Control Period (CP6: 2019-2024) both through infrastructure works and the introduction of improved trains. From December 2018, new Intercity Express Trains will increase the number of seats along the East Coast Main Line. As these new trains continue to be introduced they will reduce journey times, increase capacity and improve the customer experience.</p><p> </p><p>The Statement of Funds Available for CP6 includes funding to continue to take forward the enhancements that now span both Control Period 5 (CP5: 2014-2019) and CP6, including schemes on the East Coast to improve capacity and reduce journey times. In line with the new process for enhancements these schemes will continue to be subject to ongoing consideration to ensure they deliver the best results for both rail users and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>We need to ensure investment best addresses the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of enhancements. This is why we’ll be using a new process to take forward enhancements.</p><p> </p><p>The new process will ensure that enhancements are only committed for development, design or delivery when they have been properly worked through, to avoid the problems of the past, where schemes were committed to too early. We will confirm the specific infrastructure enhancements are committed at which stage in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 14/11/2017 11:13:24 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

786461

registered interest
date	07/11/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	East Coast Main Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the expected increase in passengers using the East Coast Main Line over the next 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
uin	112126
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2017 answer text <p>The forecasts used as part of the recent case for investment in East Coast Main Line enhancements for passengers using inter city services equates to approximately 22% growth over the next 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>Demand forecasts are frequently updated and reviewed by both the Department and Network Rail as part of the long term planning process.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 14/11/2017 10:43:56 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott