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1126071

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: ICT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to Question 249206 on Members: Allowances, what the (a) forecast and (b) final cost was of the new IPSA IT system; and what assessment was made of additional costs that would be incurred by MPs' staff to work on the new system.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	253492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>I have asked IPSA to reply.</p><p>The original April 2016 business case for IPSA’s new IT system, IPSA Online, estimated a cost of £4.641 million. At that time, IPSA expected the programme to be completed in 2017-18. The full costs of the system are now forecast to be £8.253 million.</p><p>The increase in cost was due in part to the unexpected General Election of June 2017 which diverted all IPSA work for up to nine months to supporting MPs who left or joined parliament, and increased supplier costs. Costs also increased following our change of suppliers in September 2018 to improve the quality of IPSA’s IT support. IPSA also spent longer than anticipated on testing the new system so that IPSA could have confidence that it would be fully secure and free of technical problems. The increases in cost have been partly mitigated by savings elsewhere in IPSA’s budget.</p><p>The new system administers MPs’ pay and business costs more efficiently and effectively, providing improved support to MPs and their staff while saving taxpayers’ money. MPs and their staff will benefit from these improvements by being able to access information and make changes to their staffing budget or office leases without needing to contact IPSA staff. They can now also access IPSA’s system directly through their secure parliamentary digital account without an additional logon. MPs and staff no longer need to send IPSA paper receipts and invoices through the post, but can scan and photograph them and upload them to IPSA digitally. The new system can also reimburse MPs’ staff directly rather than via the MP. On the basis of the experience so far, IPSA estimate that MPs will need to spend around 30 per cent less time overall on the new system than they did on the old one.</p><p>However, IPSA recognise that many MPs and their staff still need to get used to the new system. IPSA are therefore conducting group and one-to-one training in Parliament and have staff available on the phone to answer queries. IPSA are putting on more such training sessions in response to demand, with a regular presence in Portcullis House.</p><p>IPSA will shortly conduct a survey to gather more feedback about the new system, with plans for further improvements in due course. IPSA will report to the Speaker’s Committee for the IPSA later in the year on the overall costs and benefits of IPSA Online.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/05/2019 12:41:32 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1126072

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Buildings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the cost has been of the move by IPSA to new premises in central London; and what assessment was made of the potential merits of moving the organisation to a cheaper location outside London.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	253493
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>I have asked IPSA to reply.</p><p>IPSA moved into new office premises at 85 Strand in March 2019. The forecasted cost of this move is £732,900. This budget was approved by the Speaker’s Committee for the IPSA in January 2018. IPSA’s Annual Accounts for the 2018-19 financial year are being finalised and will be laid in Parliament in November. The Speaker’s Committee will have an opportunity to scrutinise this and other expenditure.</p><p>After reviewing properties on the market, the offices selected met IPSA’s criteria and offered the best value for money to the taxpayer over the long term, with competitive running cost over the life of the lease after completing initial fit-out work. Locations outside of London were considered. IPSA concluded that basing IPSA’s office in London and within reasonable distance of Parliament would ensure that IPSA can provide a better support to MPs and their staff, including regular meetings between them and their IPSA account managers.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/05/2019 12:40:18 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1126054

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Attorney General: Former Ministers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how much his Department has paid to hon. Members under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 since 13 July 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	253623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Attorney General’s Office has made no payments to Honourable Members under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 since 13 July 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Since 13 July 2016, two Ministers have left office, both were as a result of a Ministerial reshuffle and as such no severance payments were made.</p><p> </p><p>Reports of any Ministerial severance pay are published in the audited annual report and accounts for HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor and can be found on gov.uk.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 16/05/2019 13:50:20 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1126324

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Mobile Phones: Evidence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 May (HL Deb, col 1220), whether the Attorney General will personally supervise the review of the digital evidence consent form; and whether the views of police and crime commissioners were taken into account in the development of that form.
	tabling member printed	Lord Morris of Aberavon
	uin	HL15684
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>The digital evidence consent forms are overseen by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service, and they will continue to engage with victims’ groups and the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that the right approach is being taken. A draft of the form was issued to a number of stakeholders during development, and this included the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. The Attorney General will be issuing new Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure in the winter. These Guidelines will assist prosecutors and investigators in ensuring that privacy and data protection considerations are properly considered in disclosure practice and procedure.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 28/05/2019 15:14:22 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	565 label Biography information for Lord Morris of Aberavon

1126136

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Attorney General: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many staff of his Department who were transferred or seconded to work (a) in other Departments and (b) on other departmental briefs on preparations for the UK to leave the EU have since returned to his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	253465
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The Attorney General’s Office had one employee who joined DExEU on loan to support work on preparations for the UK to leave the EU. The employee subsequently moved permanently to another department and will not return to the Attorney General’s Office.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 21/05/2019 08:06:53 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126164

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Parks: Fees and Charges
	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 steps his Department has taken in response to its consultation on preserving the free use of public parks.
	tabling member constituency	Mansfield
	tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
	uin	253715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>On 14 December 2018 the Government published its response to the consultation stating that we would not impose regulations on local authorities preventing them from charging for free to use events held in public parks. However, we remain committed to the underlying principle that the use of public parks by the public for reasonable everyday use is, and should remain, free.</p><p>The Government is currently working together with the Local Government Association to identify models of good practice and collaborative working between local authorities and local groups that can be shared widely to make the best use of parks for the whole community.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 17/05/2019 10:49:33 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1126213

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Non-domestic Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities in England awarded a local business rates discount in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19; which local authorities made those awards; and what the level was of each discount.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	253565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>Data on the number of authorities and which authorities awarded a local business rates discount under Section 47 of the Local Government Act 1988 are collected from local authorities as a snapshot each year.</p><p>Data as at 31 December 2017 can be found at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684809/1819_NNDR1_Supplementary_table_web.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684809/1819_NNDR1_Supplementary_table_web.xlsx</a><br> <br> Data as at 31 December 2018 can be found at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/786864/NNDR1_2019-20_Supplementary_table.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/786864/NNDR1_2019-20_Supplementary_table.xlsx</a><br> <br> The Department does not collect data on the level of each discount awarded.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 16/05/2019 15:13:28 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1126229

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Social Rented Housing: Mental Illness
	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 assessment he has made of the number of people with mental health problems on social housing waiting lists.
	tabling member constituency	St Ives
	tabling member printed	Derek Thomas
	uin	253692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Local authorities are required by law to ensure that ‘reasonable preference’ (ie priority) for social housing is given to those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability. Statutory allocations guidance makes clear that this would include a mental illness or disorder.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 21/05/2019 15:02:04 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4532 label Biography information for Derek Thomas

1126092

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
	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 recent assessment he has made of the trends in the level of vacancy rates in town centre business properties.
	tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
	tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
	uin	253694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Town centres and high streets are a crucial part of our communities and the Government is determined to see these areas thriving, both now and in the future.</p><p>The Department receives vacancy rate data on retail units from the Local Data Company which has enabled the Department to monitor the change in these vacancy rates over time at a national level. The data demonstrates that retail vacancy rates peaked at 14.6 per cent in August 2012. Although there have been fluctuations in the rate, it has not reached this high point since and current figures show this rate is at 12.9 per cent in May 2019.</p><p>At Autumn budget we set out ‘Our Plan for the High Street’ to support the sustainable transformation of high streets, including a £675 million Future High Streets Fund, a High Streets Task Force and measures on business rates and planning. We also launched a pilot of our Open Doors project in November 2018, which brings empty properties back into use by linking landlords of vacant units with community groups looking for space.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 20/05/2019 14:35:33 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1126168

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Buildings: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2019 to Question 249214 on Buildings: Insulation, what assessment he has made of the nature of the risks to public safety.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	253506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>We believe there are public safety risks, including risks to residents, associated with releasing information that allows buildings with cladding which is likely to present a hazard to be easily identified.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 21/05/2019 13:16:53 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey