Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1125278

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
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	Broadband: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans to enable BT to charge more for Openreach network broadband connections in rural areas than in urban areas in order to subsidise the cost of high-speed fibre broadband.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	251942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to introduce legislation which would allow BT/Openreach to charge rural consumers more than urban consumers to subsidise their full fibre broadband connections.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is already supporting rural broadband connectivity in a number of ways. Our £1.8 billion superfast broadband programme has achieved its target of 95% superfast coverage across the UK. In our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), we set a target to go further and ensure that 15 million premises can connect to gigabit capable, full fibre broadband by 2025 with nationwide coverage by 2033. We are already investing to make that happen, stimulating the market through the £278 million Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme and the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. The FTIR was clear that the Government would also support full fibre broadband in less commercial areas of the country, likely to be around 10% of UK premises, so that no areas are systematically left behind. To start this, the 2018 Budget announced £200 million for the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers meet regularly with Ofcom to discuss a range of issues. Ofcom is currently consulting on its initial proposals for promoting competition and investment in fibre networks across the country including in less commercial, rural areas of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James grouped question UIN 251943 251944 question first answered 16/05/2019 09:31:47 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1125279

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
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	Broadband: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans to enable BT to levy upfront charges on consumers accessing Openreach network broadband connections in order to subsidise the cost of high-speed fibre broadband.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	251943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to introduce legislation which would allow BT/Openreach to charge rural consumers more than urban consumers to subsidise their full fibre broadband connections.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is already supporting rural broadband connectivity in a number of ways. Our £1.8 billion superfast broadband programme has achieved its target of 95% superfast coverage across the UK. In our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), we set a target to go further and ensure that 15 million premises can connect to gigabit capable, full fibre broadband by 2025 with nationwide coverage by 2033. We are already investing to make that happen, stimulating the market through the £278 million Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme and the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. The FTIR was clear that the Government would also support full fibre broadband in less commercial areas of the country, likely to be around 10% of UK premises, so that no areas are systematically left behind. To start this, the 2018 Budget announced £200 million for the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers meet regularly with Ofcom to discuss a range of issues. Ofcom is currently consulting on its initial proposals for promoting competition and investment in fibre networks across the country including in less commercial, rural areas of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James grouped question UIN 251942 251944 question first answered 16/05/2019 09:31:47 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1125280

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
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	Broadband: Rural Areas
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 recent representations he has received from representatives of Ofcom on the funding of high-speed fibre broadband infrastructure in rural areas.
tabling member constituency	Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
tabling member printed	Jonathan Edwards
uin	251944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to introduce legislation which would allow BT/Openreach to charge rural consumers more than urban consumers to subsidise their full fibre broadband connections.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is already supporting rural broadband connectivity in a number of ways. Our £1.8 billion superfast broadband programme has achieved its target of 95% superfast coverage across the UK. In our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), we set a target to go further and ensure that 15 million premises can connect to gigabit capable, full fibre broadband by 2025 with nationwide coverage by 2033. We are already investing to make that happen, stimulating the market through the £278 million Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme and the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. The FTIR was clear that the Government would also support full fibre broadband in less commercial areas of the country, likely to be around 10% of UK premises, so that no areas are systematically left behind. To start this, the 2018 Budget announced £200 million for the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers meet regularly with Ofcom to discuss a range of issues. Ofcom is currently consulting on its initial proposals for promoting competition and investment in fibre networks across the country including in less commercial, rural areas of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James grouped question UIN 251942 251943 question first answered 16/05/2019 09:31:47 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	3943 label Biography information for Jonathan Edwards

1125289

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Sleeping Rough: Veterans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to implement a data collection exercise system of similar quality to the Greater London Authority’s Combined Homelessness and Information Network throughout England to allow accurate data capture on the number of rough sleeping veterans; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	251879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>Our veterans play a vital role in keeping our country safe and we are committed to ensuring that they are provided with all the support they need to successfully adjust back into civilian life.</p><p>In March we allocated an additional £1 million of bespoke funding to support ex-members of the armed forces who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. The funding has been allocated between the Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority, and will be used to develop new services and support them in engaging with existing service provision.</p><p>As recommended by the UKSA, we have included CHAIN (Combined Homelessness and Information Network) statistics within the Rough Sleeping Statistics release. Overall, 7 per cent of people seen sleeping rough by outreach workers across London during 2017/18 had served in the armed forces at some point in their lives. 3 per cent of these were UK nationals - around 135 people. Although CHAIN offers more information on the flows and characteristics of people rough sleeping, data quality is influenced by the number of outreach workers active on any one night. Therefore a local authority which does not have a commissioned outreach team may appear to have fewer rough sleepers than an adjacent borough which does have an active outreach service.</p><p>MHCLG is actively encouraging local authorities with significant numbers of rough sleepers to improve their year-round data. We are working collaboratively with local authorities to develop improved homelessness data and outcomes that can measure progress in reducing rough sleeping and homelessness.</p><p>In April 2018, we introduced a new data capture tool called H-CLIC. H-CLIC captures information on all those who engage with local authority homelessness services and will collect information on the support needs of a household, including support need resulting from being in the armed forces.</p><p>We are also establishing local data pilots which will seek to improve the evidence on rough sleeping in some areas. These data pilots will help to provide a richer picture on the characteristics of rough sleepers in some areas.</p><p>The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all.</p><p>We have committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. In its first year, our Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff. This year we have expanded the RSI with investment of £46 million for 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 2,600 bed spaces and 750 staff.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 16/05/2019 09:20:32 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1125299

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Gatwick Airport: Railways
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on re-opening the Harrow and Wealdstone to Gatwick service; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	251895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong>There have been no discussions with Network Rail on this issue. There are frequent services between Harrow &amp; Wealdstone station and London Gatwick Airport requiring one or two changes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/05/2019 10:40:15 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1125313

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recourse is available to people who have a right to work in the UK when they have lost their job as a result of an employer failing to use the Employer Checking Service; and what guidance his Department has issued to employers on their responsibilities in relation to that service.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	251952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office issued guidance to employers on 28 January 2019 on how they can use the on-line digital service in complying with their responsibilities under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 on the prevention of illegal working. The online service provides an alternative digital means for individuals to evidence their right to work if they hold a biometric residence permit or biometric residence card or status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The Home Office guidance clearly stipulates that employers should provide individuals with every opportunity to demonstrate their right to work. They should not discriminate on the basis of whether or not an individual is able or willing to demonstrate their right to work using the online checking service, as opposed to using physical documents specified in Home Office regulations which continue to be acceptable. The guidance makes clear that employers who do so risk breaching the Equality Act 2010. Where employees have an outstanding immigration application or appeal, the Home Office provides a separate employer checking service which provides emailed confirmation to the employer of the person’s continuing right to work in these circumstances. The Home Office has issued a statutory code of practice for employers on how to avoid unlawful discrimination whilst conducting right to work checks.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 15/05/2019 16:55:57 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1125321

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
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	Social Media: Freedom of Expression
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 steps he is taking to ensure free speech on social media platforms.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	251956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to upholding free speech, and legislation is already in place to protect these fundamental rights. However, this freedom cannot be an excuse to cause harm or spread hatred.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Harms White Paper sets out the Government's proposals for making the UK the safest place to be online. The proposed independent regulator will have an obligation to protect users' rights online, particularly rights to privacy and freedom of expression. It will ensure that the new regulatory requirements do not lead to a disproportionately risk averse response from companies that unduly limits freedom of expression, including by limiting participation in public debate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 16/05/2019 09:54:58 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1125331

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Sentences: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women the Metropolitan police force area received an immediate custodial sentence of (a) less than and (b) more than six months for each category of offence from the (i) crown courts and (ii) magistrates courts in 2018-19.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	251958
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The number of female offenders sentenced to custody by court level and police force area, including the metropolitan police force area, in 2017, can be found in the Court outcomes by Police Force Area data tool, which can be found at the below link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2017</a></p><p> </p><p>Select the drop down boxes referring to custodial sentence length in order to establish sentence lengths. Select female from the sex drop box and, once having done this, young adults and adults to establish women. Offence classification can be found in both the Offence Type and Offence group boxes, depending on which categorisation is required here.</p><p> </p><p>Court proceedings data for 2018 are planned for publication on 16 May 2019, with data for 2019 planned for publication in May 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Our vision, as set out in our Female Offender Strategy, is to see fewer women coming into the criminal justice system and a greater proportion managed successfully in the community. To achieve this, we have invested £5m to support community provision for female offenders and women at risk of offending.</p><p> </p><p>There is persuasive evidence showing community sentences, in certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without supervision on release than other similar people given community orders.</p><p> </p><p>Unless we tackle the underlying causes of offending, we cannot protect the public from being victims of crime. Effective community orders can address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, and provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 15/05/2019 17:12:57 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1125440

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	East Midlands Rail Franchise
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 May 2019 to Question 247080, for what reason he is unable to state whether or not Arriva submitted a compliant bid for the East Midlands Trains franchise; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	252100
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable member to the answer given on 3 May Arriva’s bid is a matter for them.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/05/2019 10:44:32 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1125475

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's funding of the protection of places of worship.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	252122
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme has been in place since 2016. Over the first three years, in total the scheme has approved grants worth approximately £1.5 million with 63 to churches, 49 to mosques, 5 to Hindu temples and 17 to Gurdwaras.</p><p><br>We continuously listen to feedback to make the scheme as effective as possible, and places of worship which successfully bid for funding have described feeling an increased sense of safety. As part of our ongoing assessment of the success of the scheme, we monitor the scheme’s application rates and other related management information, seek regular feedback from faith communities and security experts, and undertake site visits at places of worship which have received funding. We have also heard that some places of worship found it cumbersome to gather multiple quotes for all measures, which is why we have removed the requirement under the 2019-20 scheme.</p><p><br>More widely, the Home Secretary has committed to consulting with faith communities to understand what more could and should be done to help protect faith communities at their places of worship. This upcoming consultation will also be an opportunity to assess the impact of the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme further and to identify any potential improvements, which will make the scheme even more effective.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/05/2019 16:58:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi