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1129489

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to the criteria for free school meals eligibility in 2018; and how many students now receive free school meals compared to the number who received them before these changes took place.
tabling member printed	Lord Bassam of Brighton
uin	HL15974
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lord to the answers I gave on 6 February 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-01-24/HL13093/" target="_blank">HL13093</a> and Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-01-24/HL13094/" target="_blank">HL13094</a>. I will also refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 20 February 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-02-06/HL13492/" target="_blank">HL13492</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Under the new eligibility criteria that we introduced in April 2018, we estimate that more pupils will benefit from free school meals (FSM) by 2022, compared with the previous criteria. In addition, generous transitional protections were put in place to ensure no child will lose their eligibility for FSM during the change to the new criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Under the benefits-based criteria, to be eligible to receive FSM, a pupil or their parent must be in receipt of any one of the qualifying benefits and must make a claim to the school for FSM. The qualifying criteria includes benefits for both out of work and low-earning families. The full eligibility criteria is attached and also available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 11/06/2019 13:21:03 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL15974_webpage.pdf title HL15974_FSM_eligibility
tabling member	3504 label Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton

1129514

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Government Departments: Procurement
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the Cabinet Office has made of the potential benefits of the application of ISO 44001 to their procurement policy, and the procurement policy of all Departments.
tabling member printed	Lord Evans of Watford
uin	HL15999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has a long-established approach to identifying, developing and managing collaborative business relationships. For example, the Government recognises the importance of managing its relationships with strategic suppliers, on a cross-government basis, by observing their performance in the delivery of public services and monitoring financial health.</p><p>This year, the Government introduced a new approach to the monitoring and management of strategic suppliers through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and each of our strategic suppliers. The approach of using an MOU reflects the Government’s now well-developed relationships with, and understanding of, its strategic suppliers. Under this new approach, strategic suppliers will agree to provide the government with the information it needs to monitor and manage risks across its strategic supplier base, with the full cooperation of industry.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 11/06/2019 17:01:16 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	2766 label Biography information for Lord Evans of Watford

1129543

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Nuclear Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Renata Dwan, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, warned on 21 May that the risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, and that the world should take this threat more seriously.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL16028
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Today's security climate is challenging, with the threats faced by the United Kingdom increasing in scale, diversity and complexity. However, Her Majesty's Government does not believe that the risk of nuclear war is greater today than it was during the Cold War.</p><p>While the operation of an independent, minimum, credible nuclear deterrent continues to be necessary to protect the United Kingdom from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, the UK has taken a number of unilateral actions that build confidence and reduce international tensions. Our negative security assurances, as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, are designed to give Non-Nuclear Weapons States in compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty confidence that nuclear weapons will not be used against them. Further, since 1994, UK Trident missiles have not been targeted at any State; our Vanguard class submarines are at several days' notice to fire; only the Prime Minister has the authority to launch nuclear weapons maintaining political control at all times; and the UK has been transparent about its nuclear capability, including missile and warhead numbers.</p><p>The Government is committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons and continues to work internationally, within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, towards achieving the conditions in which all nuclear weapons possessor states are willing to relinquish their nuclear weapons.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 11/06/2019 15:17:19 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1129545

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	F-35 Aircraft
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the cost per flight hour of the F35-B aircraft; and what is their expected in service flight hours.
tabling member printed	Lord Moonie
uin	HL16030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence does not yet have its own figure for the hourly flying cost for an F-35B Lightning as the aircraft has not been in service long enough to generate the required data. However, information would in any case be withheld as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.</p><p>The expected service life of an F-35B Lightning is 8,000 or more flying hours.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 11/06/2019 15:13:43 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	621 label Biography information for Lord Moonie

1129588

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances: Ministers of Religion
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the views of religious groups on the new Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	260037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The Tier 2 route for Ministers of Religion has been in place for several years. In January 2019 changes were made to the Immigration Rules governing the Tier 5 visa for religious workers. The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail and rationale behind those changes.</p><p><br>We are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system, and will be talking to representatives from a range of faith and community groups. Officials also remain in regular contact with their representatives.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 11/06/2019 14:10:50 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1129593

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Radio Frequencies: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on establishing a new National Spectrum Centre in Aberystwyth to enable UK businesses to (a) develop and (b) test wireless technology in a suitable environment.
tabling member constituency	Wantage
tabling member printed	Mr Edward Vaizey
uin	259916
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Government is not directly involved in this initiative. We welcome industry-led research to develop innovative and efficient uses of spectrum.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 11/06/2019 16:09:48 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot

1129595

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints she has received on the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro newspaper; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	259861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. We have a responsibility to advertise Universal Credit and have been doing so for some time. This helps ensure people understand the benefits they may be entitled to and that they have the information they need when it comes to making a claim.</p><p>The Department has a responsibility to ensure claimants do not miss out on their full entitlements and to encourage people to make their claim as quickly as possible.</p><p>To identify complaint cases concerning the Universal Credit campaign in the Metro newspaper would require every complaint case to be examined. So, this data could only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p>In November 2018 Ministers agreed to the principle of national media partnerships. The specific Metro campaign was taken forward by Departmental officials. Ministers agreed the content of the launch products.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 259862 question first answered 11/06/2019 13:40:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1129617

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Synthetic Cannabinoids
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs plans to publish its review into the inclusion of synthetic cannabinoids in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	260109
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>The ACMD were formally commissioned on 15 February 2019 to advise the Home Secretary on part-two of the review on cannabis and cannabis related products. The ACMD will provide their advice by Summer 2020</p><p>The full commission to the ACMD can be found on the Home Office website: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779330/Long-term_commission_to_the_ACMD_on_CBPM_-_05.02.2019.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779330/Long-term_commission_to_the_ACMD_on_CBPM_-_05.02.2019.pdf </a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 11/06/2019 14:16:33 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1129620

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints relating to the tax-free childcare scheme have been received by HMRC as of 31 May 2019.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
uin	259995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>More than half a million parents have successfully opened a childcare account, and the vast majority of parents use the childcare service without issues. Since Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) was fully rolled out in February 2018, the rate of new complaints received by HMRC in relation to the childcare service has decreased substantially, while the number of users of TFC has more than trebled.</p><p> </p><p>However, it is not possible to break down complaints received about the childcare service between TFC and 30 hours free childcare complaints, as many parents receive both TFC and 30 hours free childcare.</p><p> </p><p>I refer the honorable member to my answer on 28 November 2018 (193504) <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-20/193504/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-20/193504/</a>, which sets out that to 31 October 2018, HMRC received 4,560 complaints from parents who experienced technical issues with the childcare service.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 943 new complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare (known as Tier 1). This includes complaints due to technical issues and customer service issues.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019, HMRC received 205 complaints from customers in relation to TFC and 30 hours free childcare where a customer was dissatisfied with our decision on their initial complaint and they have asked us to look at their concerns again (known as Tier 2).</p><p> </p><p>As set out in HMRC’s monthly reports available for the 2018-19 period at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2018-to-2019</a>, complaints are not always logged on HMRC’s live system during the month they are received and the numbers can, therefore, be revised upwards for subsequent monthly reports. The current month will be subject to greatest revision. The information to 31 May is therefore not yet available to a robust enough standard.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 11/06/2019 14:06:35 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1129675

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	House of Commons: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are planned to be taken to improve the digital accessibility of the House of Commons through the Restoration and Renewal programme.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	260011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>Plans to improve the digital accessibility of Parliament as part of the Restoration and Renewal programme have not yet been agreed, as this work is still at an early stage. However, recognising the importance of this matter, the shadow Sponsor Board has agreed a strategic approach, which commits the programme to deliver a building which supports Parliament’s core function as a working legislature using high-quality design and technology, as well as encouraging wider participation in the work of Parliament, including through improved digital access. This strategic approach has also been endorsed by the Commissions of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Carshalton and Wallington answering member printed Tom Brake question first answered 11/06/2019 15:37:20 answering member 151 label Biography information for Tom Brake
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed