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1190865

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Coronavirus Act 2020
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the use of the powers contained in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	901907
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues, including the Covid-19 outbreak. I am unable to talk about any legal content of those discussions because whether or not the Law Officers have given advice, by convention, is not disclosed outside Government.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 28/04/2020 13:28:35 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191180

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Remote Hearings: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps have been taken to ensure that virtual court hearings during the covid-19 outbreak are accessible for people with disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>In response to the current pandemic HMCTS have increased the capacity for telephone and video hearings so that hearings can take place remotely where appropriate. We are clear that audio and video hearings provide an additional channel for conducting a hearing and should be as accessible as possible. However, they may not be suitable for everyone. The decision to hold a hearing by telephone or video is for the judge, panel or magistrate, taking into account the needs of the parties, including any disability or difficulties with access.</p><p>We ask participants to tell the court or tribunal if they need support or cannot participate effectively in the telephone or video hearing. The judiciary can then determine how to proceed, and whether to change the method of the hearing or put in place reasonable adjustments or alternative arrangements to ensure disabled users can participate.</p><p>We are working with the advice sector to fully understand the impacts on vulnerable people, reasonable adjustments, and reflecting up to date advice from the sector in our processes for court users to join hearings and related staff guidance. We have updated our GOV.UK content and have set up a technical support phone line for remote hearings and included additional information in hearing notices.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:04:54 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191181

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every person taking part in virtual court hearings during the covid-19 outbreak has adequate technology to do so.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41041
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>In response to the current pandemic HMCTS have increased the capacity for telephone and video hearings so that hearings can take place remotely where appropriate. We are clear that audio and video hearings provide an additional channel for conducting a hearing and should be as accessible as possible. However, they may not be suitable for everyone. The decision to hold a hearing by telephone or video is for the judge, panel or magistrate, taking into account the needs of the parties, including their ability to access and use the right technology.</p><p>The technology used by HMCTS should be accessible for many people. The teleconferencing technology, BTMeetMe, requires a phone. The video technology (Skype for Business and the Cloud Video Platform) needs a stable internet connection and internet enabled device with a camera and microphone. In order to join Skype for Business calls as a guest, users will need to download the Skype Meetings web app or the Skype for Business desktop app. These are both free, and straight forward processes.</p><p>HMCTS provides information and guidance on joining a remote hearing in hearing notices and on GOV.UK. HMCTS has created staff guidance and learning products so that staff can support users over the phone and set up a technical support line for remote hearings.</p><p>Court users can inform HMCTS if they need support or cannot participate effectively in a telephone or video hearing. The judiciary can then determine how to proceed, and whether to change the method of the hearing or put in place reasonable adjustments for disabled people or alternative arrangements to ensure users can participate. For example, it is possible to dial someone into a video hearing if needed.</p><p>HMCTS is working with the advice sector who are advising us on the impacts on users including impacts relating to access to technology.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:05:49 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1191182

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing retired judges back into employment to tackle the backlog of court cases that has accumulated since the beginning of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	41042
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The statutory retirement age for most judges is 70. The Lord Chief Justice (or in some instances the Senior President of Tribunals) may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, extend the appointment of judges below the High Court following their compulsory retirement date for a period of one year and for further one-year periods up to the point at which the judge turns 75 where it is in the public interest to do so.</p><p>The work that the judiciary are doing to prioritise the most urgent cases alongside court and tribunal staff, is keeping our justice system running in the most challenging of circumstances. The full resumption of cases will depend a great deal on the wider approach to social distancing to keep our judiciary, staff and court users safe and we continue to explore options to help with this.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 05/05/2020 16:07:10 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190592

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect retail workers from abusive or violent behaviour during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40593
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue. Any incident of violent or abusive behaviour towards retail workers is completely unacceptable and especially so in current circumstances during the covid-19 outbreak. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not hold data on the number of incidents of abusive or violent behaviour towards retail workers during the covid-19 outbreak period, however the Home Office is working closely with police and retail industry to monitor and understand these types of incidents during the current period.</p><p> </p><p>We launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to help strengthen our understanding of the scale and extent of the issue. The call for evidence has now closed and my intention had been to publish the Government response before the end of March. As the Government must focus its communications on tackling covid-19, the publication of the Government response has been delayed and will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 40594 40596 question first answered 05/05/2020 15:57:53 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190593

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of incidents of abusive or violent behaviour towards retail workers during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40594
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue. Any incident of violent or abusive behaviour towards retail workers is completely unacceptable and especially so in current circumstances during the covid-19 outbreak. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not hold data on the number of incidents of abusive or violent behaviour towards retail workers during the covid-19 outbreak period, however the Home Office is working closely with police and retail industry to monitor and understand these types of incidents during the current period.</p><p> </p><p>We launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to help strengthen our understanding of the scale and extent of the issue. The call for evidence has now closed and my intention had been to publish the Government response before the end of March. As the Government must focus its communications on tackling covid-19, the publication of the Government response has been delayed and will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 40593 40596 question first answered 05/05/2020 15:57:53 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190594

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on levels of retail crime.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40595
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the damaging impact that retail crime can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community. Shops are the lifeblood of our communities and neighbourhoods, and it is important that businesses should be free to trade without fear of crime or disorder, particularly in these unprecedented times.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Following Government announcements on 23<sup>rd</sup> March, much of the retail sector has closed outlets to customers and those that have remained open have implemented social distancing measures. Together these were expected to lead to a reduction in the level of retail crime. Provisional figures published by the NPCC have indicated that shoplifting reported to and recorded by the police has fallen by 54% in the 4 weeks ending 12<sup>th</sup> April.</p><p> </p><p>I am working closely with the police and industry to continue to monitor these types of incidents during this challenging period.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 05/05/2020 16:19:39 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190595

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Abuse and Violence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish a response to her Department's call for evidence on abuse and violence towards shop staff; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make assaults against retail workers aggravated.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the damaging impact that violence and abuse can have on victims, businesses, and the wider community; and we are committed to tackling this issue. Any incident of violent or abusive behaviour towards retail workers is completely unacceptable and especially so in current circumstances during the covid-19 outbreak. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not hold data on the number of incidents of abusive or violent behaviour towards retail workers during the covid-19 outbreak period, however the Home Office is working closely with police and retail industry to monitor and understand these types of incidents during the current period.</p><p> </p><p>We launched a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to help strengthen our understanding of the scale and extent of the issue. The call for evidence has now closed and my intention had been to publish the Government response before the end of March. As the Government must focus its communications on tackling covid-19, the publication of the Government response has been delayed and will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 40593 40594 question first answered 05/05/2020 15:57:53 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190614

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with UK airlines on issuing refunds to customers whose travel arrangements were cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds.</p><p> </p><p>The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. The Department is working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 40598 question first answered 05/05/2020 16:04:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1190615

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with travel agents including on-line agents on their roll in issuing refunds to customers that have booked flights through those agents which have subsequently been cancelled as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	40598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds.</p><p> </p><p>The Government appreciates the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. The Department is working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 40597 question first answered 05/05/2020 16:04:11 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham