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1059722

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Wales Office
answering dept id	28
answering dept short name	Wales
answering dept sort name	Wales
hansard heading	City Deals: Swansea Bay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what progress he has made on the joint investigations by the UK and Welsh Governments into the Swansea Bay City Deal.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	220181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Actica Consulting were appointed by the UK and Welsh Governments to undertake the Joint Independent Review of the Swansea Bay City Region City Deal in January 2019. The review is currently underway and I expect to receive the final report by the end of February.</p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 18/02/2019 10:54:43 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1059723

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Overseas Trade: Canada
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps he has taken to increase bilateral trade with Canada.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	220215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Canada-UK bilateral trading relationship is an important one and vital to our economy. Total trade between the UK and Canada in 2018 totalled £18.4bn and both sides have committed to deepening our commercial relationship further.</p><p>My Ministerial colleagues and I have regular contact with the Canadian Administration, business representatives and others, including through our diplomatic missions in Canada, to support and increase investment and trade flows.</p><p>Both the Prime Minister and PM Trudeau have publicly committed to a ‘seamless transition’ of the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CETA) as the UK leaves the EU and to avoid a cliff edge for Canadian and UK businesses.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 18/02/2019 17:53:58 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1059724

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Afghanistan: Humanitarian Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what humanitarian support her Department has provided to Afghanistan as a result of the drought in that country.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	220216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned about the impact of the deadly drought last year in Afghanistan. The UK is providing life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of Afghans affected by one of the worst droughts the country has ever faced, including vital food and shelter. We provided emergency food aid in July last year to 432,000 people to enable them to remain in their homes. UK Aid has also supported tents and urgent relief items for up to 260,000 people who are facing a severe winter away from their homes; cash transfers for 190,000 people to buy essential items; and special nutritious food for 90,000 children and pregnant women to prevent malnutrition. And, by contributing to the UN appeal, UK funds are reaching more people in need with food assistance. As the scale of the drought became clear over the course of the year, we increased our funding for the drought response to £35 million, bringing DFID’s total spend on the humanitarian response in Afghanistan to £67 million in 2018. This support is helping some of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable people.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 18/02/2019 17:09:06 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1059727

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	NHS: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) restrictions and (b) prohibitions are in place on (i) engaging with and (ii) selling to the NHS for senior staff who leave NHS England and move to work for private companies.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	220225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The standard contract of employment that NHS England Executive and Senior Manager staff are issued with includes the following:</p><p> </p><p>“20. Post-termination restrictions</p><p> </p><p>20.1 You agree that, following the termination of your employment for any reason you will not directly or indirectly, either alone or jointly with or on behalf of any person, firm or company and whether on your own account or as principal, shareholder, partner, employee, agent or otherwise:</p><p> </p><p>20.1.1 for a period of six months lobby the UK government in relation to any aspect of national or regional health policy with a view to promoting or advancing your own business interests or those of any third party</p><p> </p><p>20.1.2 for a period of six months solicit the employment or engagement of any person who immediately prior to termination of your employment was a senior employee in a managerial, executive or technical capacity of NHS England with whom you worked or with whom you had contact or whose work you were aware of in the 12 months prior to such termination.”</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 18/02/2019 12:26:36 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1059728

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Arms Trade: Bosnia and Herzegovina
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the article entitled UK Missed Chance to Stop Suspect Bosnian Bullet Deal published in Balkan Insight on 6 June 2018, whether those responsible for shipping ammunition from Bosnia to Saudi Arabia without a trade licence will be prosecuted; and whether future license applications from those responsible will be denied.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
uin	220314
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government cannot comment on individuals or companies that have previously been, or are currently being investigated. HM Revenue and Customs, on behalf of the Government, investigates all credible allegations of strategic export control offences, which can proceed to a full criminal investigation. HMRC investigators will recommend prosecution when and where there is clear evidence of a serious criminal offence.</p><p>Export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all prevailing circumstances at the time of the application. The assessment may also take into account the risk that the proposed legitimate activity to be licensed will directly or indirectly facilitate other activities that violate export control or sanctions legislation. In doing so, the Government will consider, inter alia, the conduct of the licence applicant.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 18/02/2019 17:50:23 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1059730

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of rent arrears among claimants.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	220052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Safeguards are in place for Universal Credit claimants, including Advances, budgeting support and Alternative Payment Arrangements and claimants already receiving Housing Benefit are paid an additional two weeks of Housing Benefit to support them whilst they transition to monthly payments on Universal Credit. Our work coaches gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview and can refer them to more specialist support for debt advice if required.</p><p> </p><p>According to latest figures (August 2018), only about 7% of social rented households were claiming Universal Credit. Many tenants have pre-existing rent arrears at the start of their claim; indications at this stage are that Universal Credit actually helps to clear these arrears over time.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/02/2019 16:27:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1059732

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Southwark
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reduce flight path concentration over the London borough of Southwark.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	220049
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Airports are responsible for the specific arrangements for low-level flightpaths. All proposals to alter these arrangements must follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) airspace change process which was revised in 2018, following the publication by the Department of revised air navigation guidance.</p><p> </p><p>This guidance requires airports who are seeking to make alterations to their flightpath arrangements to consult with those communities who may be affected by the proposed changes.</p><p> </p><p>A key requirement set out in the guidance is the need for airspace change sponsors to consider the use of multiple flightpaths to disperse air traffic, as well as undertaking a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to encourage airports to work with their local communities to identify possible options that may reduce the overall adverse health impacts arising from aircraft noise.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 18/02/2019 14:56:18 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Baroness Harman

1059733

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Noise
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, whether he plans to take steps to meet the World Health Organisation Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region 2018.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	220050
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We are working across Government to consider the guidelines and their relevance to future guidance and policy. An officials group is assessing the evidence base as well as other relevant recent research carried out in the UK and abroad, to inform our thinking on this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 15:59:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Baroness Harman

1059735

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to delay the loan charge settlement day until after the conclusion of the review of that charge.
tabling member constituency	Welwyn Hatfield
tabling member printed	Grant Shapps
uin	220152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government chose to accept section 95 during the passage of the Finance Bill introduced by a cross party group. As set out by section 95, the Government will lay a report no later than 30 March 2019. The report will review the effect of changes made to the time limits for assessment where tax loss arises in relation to offshore tax, and compare these with other legislation including the charge on disguised remuneration loans.</p><p>The charge on disguised remuneration loans remains unchanged as a result of the requirement for a report, and will apply to disguised remuneration loan balances on 5 April 2019.</p><p>The charge on disguised remuneration (DR) loans will apply to outstanding DR loan balances on 5 April 2019. It is targeted at artificial tax avoidance schemes where earnings were paid in the form of non-repayable loans made by a third party. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.</p><p> </p><p>The Government estimates that up to 50,000 individuals will be affected by the 2019 loan charge. Information is not held at constituency, borough or regional level.</p><p> </p><p>Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) liabilities fall on the employer in the first instance. The charge on DR loans does not change this principle and the employee will only be liable where the amount cannot reasonably be collected from the employer, such as where the employer is offshore or no longer exists. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals. HMRC will never force somebody to sell their main home to pay for their DR debt, or the loan charge.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is working hard to help individuals get out of avoidance for good and offer manageable and sustainable payment plans wherever possible. It carefully considers each case and there is no maximum limit on how long a customer can be given to pay what they owe. HMRC considers a customer’s ability to pay on a case by case basis and decisions are based on each individual’s personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has simplified the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can automatically agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to 7 years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Anybody who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible. They have a number of ways to help those who are genuinely unable to make a full payment of tax on time, for example, by arranging payments by instalments.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 18/02/2019 17:20:20 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	1582 label Biography information for Grant Shapps

1059736

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Secure Psychiatric Units: Autism and Learning disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on closing secure health care units for people with autism and learning difficulties of the proposed opening by Elysium Healthcare of five new such units in England.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	220278
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We have made no such assessment.</p><p> </p><p>We remain committed to reducing the number of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are inpatients in hospital, reducing the length of time those admitted spend there, and enhancing the quality of both hospital and community settings.</p><p> </p><p>Some people will continue to need access to time limited inpatient services for assessment of their needs and treatment where this is appropriate. In such circumstances, it is for National Health Service commissioners to take decisions on which providers to commission services from. Our position is that patients should receive the best possible service and outcomes irrespective of which organisation provides it.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 18/02/2019 17:56:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady