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1187748

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Polychlorinated Biphenyls: EU Law
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2020 to Question 22381 on Polychlorinated Biphenyl, if she will place in the Library all data submitted by the UK to the EU as part of the inventories of open and closed sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) under Directive 96/59/EC; and whether that data so submitted included PCB wastes disposed of in solid or liquid containment from UK landfill sites.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Directive 96/59/EC requires Member States to produce an inventory of closed source PCB equipment with more than 0.005% PCB contamination. The Environment Agency holds this inventory for England and Wales and updates it annually in July. After the initial list, produced in the late 1990s, this information is not sent to the EU but can be viewed on request to the Environment Agency.</p><p> </p><p>The inventory data does not include information on the disposal of PCB waste, but since the domestic PCB regulation ‘The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000’ came into force it has been illegal to dispose of PCBs in landfill. All PCB liquid and materials must be destroyed or irreversibly transformed, usually by high temperature incineration.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/04/2020 16:59:11 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187837

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Media: Coronavirus
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 discussions he has had with the Independent Community News Network on (a) the viability of and (b) Government support for independent local media during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34958
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The need for independent, verifiable news and information is more important than ever, given the current crisis caused by the outbreak of Covid-19. The news publishing sector’s sustainability and the continued provision of reliable, high-quality information is therefore a priority for the Government. Ministers in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are actively engaging with stakeholders across the media industry, including local and independent news publishing outlets, to understand the challenges posed by the current crisis and to establish the most effective means of supporting the whole of the industry.</p><p><strong><br></strong>Several measures have already been put in place as part of an unprecedented package of support. The Business Interruption Loan, designed for small and medium enterprises, could be helpful to local news publishers. Additionally, the Government is supporting business through the Job Retention Scheme, VAT and tax deferrals, and through covering the cost of statutory sick pay. We are committed to ensuring that firms whose business models were viable before this crisis remain viable once it is over.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 21/04/2020 08:22:01 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187840

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Hospitals: ICT
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 his Department has had with technology companies on the donation of (a) mobile phones and (b) tablets to hospitals to enable patients dying from covid-19 without access to technological devices to communicate with their families.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34959
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>On 27 March 2020, NHS England published a clinical guide for the management of palliative care in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance highlights the importance of supporting those close to a dying patient to keep in touch, including the ability to connect via phone or other virtual communication.</p><p>Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0081-Speciality-guide-Palliative-care-and-coronavirus.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0081-Speciality-guide-Palliative-care-and-coronavirus.pdf</a></p><p>With regard to patients’ ability to access technology to communicate with their families, whilst in hospital, on 9 April, the Government launched an initiative whereby the National Health Service is working with tech firms to help care home residents and patients connect with loved ones. Fifty of the devices have already been deployed to pilot sites in Surrey with Manchester, Newcastle and London to follow.</p><p>Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-works-with-tech-firms-to-help-care-home-residents-and-patients-connect-with-loved-ones" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-works-with-tech-firms-to-help-care-home-residents-and-patients-connect-with-loved-ones</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 29/04/2020 14:20:38 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 16321 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187841

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Allergies: Drugs
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 his Department has made of the adequacy of the supply of (a) Zaditen tablets, (b) Ketotifen Zaditen Elixir and (c) other Ketotifen products; and what steps his Department is taking to secure the supply of those medicines.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34960
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department is aware that Alfasigma, the sole licensed supplier of ketotifen tablets and oral syrup in the United Kingdom made the decision to withdraw this product from the UK market during 2019 due to commercial reasons.</p><p>Following ongoing discussions between the Department and Alfasigma, the company have since reversed this decision and informed us that they will be reintroducing ketotifen tablets and oral solution to the UK. Supplies will be available again during April 2020. In the interim, supplies of unlicensed ketotifen products from abroad have been made available by specialist importer companies. Information about this issue and the availability of the unlicensed product has been communicated to the National Health Service and relevant patient groups.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 12/05/2020 10:24:08 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187880

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2020 to Question 28608, on Universal Credit, how many universal credit claims were made in 2019 by households containing a person that declared they are receiving Statutory Maternity Pay.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34962
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by an employer through their payroll system and is therefore treated as a form of earnings for the purposes of assessing entitlement to Universal Credit. Any SMP received is subject to the work allowance (where a claimant is eligible) and tapering, in the same way as other earned income. The earnings data we receive does not allow the Department to identify earnings that include SMP.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit seeks to take earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by their employer or employers during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p> </p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income changes, they do not have to wait several months for a corresponding change in their Universal Credit award. Claimants can discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their Case Manager or Work Coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 21/04/2020 16:27:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187479

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Magistrates' Courts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of the continuation of priority cases in the Magistrates courts on efforts to reduce transmission of covid-19; what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with the two metre social distancing advice for those involved in any continued proceedings; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34322
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The judiciary has agreed that magistrates’ courts should focus on only the highest priority cases for hearings in open court, and on work that can be dealt with remotely. This has greatly reduced the number of people entering what would otherwise be busy magistrates’ courts. Guidance has been issued to courts to make sure that the advice on observing social distance requirements is observed as far as is practicable. The judiciary continue to review the prioritisation of work in the magistrates’ courts, with the need for courts to be able to operate safely being paramount.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 21/04/2020 15:53:04 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187587

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
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: Electronic Voting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission is holding discussions with other Parliaments moving to establish secure electronic voting systems by use of (a) email and (b) other methods during the covid-19 outbreak; and if the Commission will ensure that technical work to allow electronic voting in the UK Parliament is undertaken to enable proposals on the introduction of a secure electronic voting system to be put before the House; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34323
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission has held no discussions with other Parliaments about electronic voting by use of email or other methods during the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p>Any decision to implement electronic voting would need to be agreed by the House first. The Commission’s responsibility in this matter would be limited to the financial and staffing implications of the decision, which would include the technical work to allow electronic voting to take place.</p><p>The House has not made a decision to introduce electronic voting. In July 2019, the Procedure Committee began an inquiry into voting procedures in the House of Commons that included a consideration of “the desirability and/or feasibility of alternatives to current arrangements”. That inquiry was interrupted by the general election and the Committee has not made any decision on whether to reopen it.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 21/04/2020 08:01:13 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187600

registered interest
date	24/03/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will set up a national scheme to provide additional funding for schools to provide meals or vouchers for pupils eligible for free school meals; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	34324
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The continuing provision of free school meals to children from out of work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government. No child who would ordinarily receive a free school meal should go without due to school closures or having to self-isolate at home.</p><p>We are encouraging schools to speak to their catering team or provider to see if they can prepare meals or food parcels that could be delivered to or collected by families, ensuring they are distributed in line with social distancing guidelines.</p><p>If that is not possible, the department has launched a centrally-funded national voucher scheme to support schools. Guidance is available at the link below:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools</a>.</p><p>We understand that other approaches, such as providing food parcels or purchasing vouchers for shops currently not included in the national scheme, may mean that schools incur additional expenses.</p><p>Further guidance is available setting out how we will compensate schools who incur these additional costs: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 21/04/2020 09:52:53 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187151

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
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	Coronavirus: Pharmacy
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 availability of over-the-counter paracetamol; if he will take steps to ensure the availability of (a) paracetamol, (b) other over-the-counter medicines and (c) baby milk during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	33488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The country is well prepared to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 and we have stockpiles of medicines, including paracetamol, in the event of any supply issues or significant increases in demand.</p><p>The Department is also aware of some recent local food stockpiling issues and is in discussion with industry to ensure a continued supply of infant formula. This dialogue with the formula industry, including the British Specialist Nutrition Association Ltd, will remain active and we will continue to monitor the situation.</p><p>The Department is working closely with industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines they need, and precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.</p><p>The steps being taken to protect United Kingdom supplies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak were set out in the Department’s press statement issued on 11 February 2020. This statement can be read at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-monitor-impact-of-coronavirus-on-uk-medicine-supply" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-monitor-impact-of-coronavirus-on-uk-medicine-supply</a></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 28/04/2020 10:10:21 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187186

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business: Insurance
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 require insurance companies to define covid-19 as a notifiable disease for the purposes of claims made by businesses affected by the Government’s order to close; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	33489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector about its contribution to handling this unprecedented situation.</p><p> </p><p>For those businesses which have an appropriate policy that covers government ordered closure and unspecified notifiable diseases, the Government’s social distancing instructions are sufficient to allow businesses to make a claim against their insurance, provided the other terms and conditions in their policy are met.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA’s rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.</p><p> </p><p>However, it is important to note that most businesses have not purchased insurance that covers losses from unspecified notifiable diseases, such as COVID-19. Some policies cover losses arising from any disease classed as notifiable by the government, however most policies only cover a specific list of notifiable diseases.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that businesses who do not have appropriate insurance cover will require support from elsewhere. As such, businesses should explore the full package of support set out by the Chancellor in the Budget, on 17 March, and on 20 March, which includes measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 31/03/2020 10:45:16 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas