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1126748

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
	answering dept id	203
	answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
	answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Subsidies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on support for farmers after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Clacton
	tabling member printed	Giles Watling
	uin	910928
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State continues to have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across Government on all aspects of exiting the EU.</p><p>To provide certainty to farmers and landowners, the Government has pledged to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this Parliament. This commitment applies to the whole UK.</p><p>The Agriculture Bill will allow us to break from the Common Agricultural Policy and help our farming sector become more profitable whilst sustaining our precious natural environment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 16/05/2019 14:21:24 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4677 label Biography information for Giles Watling

1126750

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Origin Marking: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment the Government has made of the economic effect on producers of protected geographical indications for Welsh products.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	910824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I recognise the economic and cultural importance of geographical indications to all parts of the United Kingdom. There are 16 current Welsh products covered by the scheme, ranging from Halen Môn sea salt to Welsh lamb.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 15/05/2019 12:39:20 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1126751

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Tourism and Foreign Investment in UK
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent steps the Government has taken to promote (a) inward tourism and (b) foreign direct investment in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	910826
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Last year, over 3000 jobs came to Wales through Foreign Direct Investment, through 57 projects of which 93% were supported by both my department and the Department for International Trade.</p><p>Between 2015 and 2018, the UK attracted more foreign direct investment in capital investment than France and Germany combined.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/05/2019 12:38:15 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1126752

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Origin Marking: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment the Government has made of the economic effect on producers of protected geographical indications for Welsh products.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North West
	tabling member printed	Carol Monaghan
	uin	910829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I recognise the economic and cultural importance of geographical indications to all parts of the United Kingdom. There are 16 current Welsh products covered by the scheme, ranging from Halen Môn sea salt to Welsh lamb.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 15/05/2019 12:39:46 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
	tabling member	4443 label Biography information for Carol Monaghan

1126802

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children's Centres
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to (a) reverse the closure of children's centres and (b) publish a strategy for the long-term expansion of the provision of children's centres.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	254727
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the government response to recommendation 13 of the Education Select Committee report on tackling disadvantage in the early years, published on 4 April 2019, we are clear that children’s centres have an important role to play in achieving my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s social mobility ambition, but it is right for local authorities to decide how to use them as part of the wider system of local services. The government response can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/Education/Correspondence/Government-response-to-committee-9th-report-tackling-disadvantage-in-the-early-years-CP-68.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/Education/Correspondence/Government-response-to-committee-9th-report-tackling-disadvantage-in-the-early-years-CP-68.pdf</a>, the select committee report can be accessed here: <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmeduc/1006/1006.pdf" target="_blank">https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmeduc/1006/1006.pdf</a>.</p><p>The government’s role is to engage with the sector, find out what works and support local areas to make the right decisions for their communities, which is why we have commissioned the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) to examine research and practice evidence with the aim of developing tools to help local authorities make informed choices about their children’s centre provision. The EIF project is part of the Department for Education’s £8.5 million local government programme, which will inform the next steps, including considering any future consultation, on children’s centres. Funding for the local government programme runs until March 2020, with evidence and learning emerging by its conclusion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 22/05/2019 13:11:22 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1126803

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Loans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money has been repaid to the Student Loans Company in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Statistics covering student loans, debt and repayment are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The statistics are published separately for each government administration. Information on repayments by financial year can be found in table 1 of each of the publications:</p><p><a href="https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment.aspx</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The next release in the student loans, debt and repayment series is confirmed for 13 June 2019, which will include repayment statistics for the financial year 2018-19.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 21/05/2019 16:30:13 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126804

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2018 to Question 196233 and with reference to page 14 of the Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and the Home Office on the EU Settlement Scheme, what is defined as a genuine business need to access data.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	254812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>A genuine business need means only staff at the Home Office and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs who require access to the data to carry out their duties will be granted access.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 22/05/2019 13:09:40 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1126805

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	South Eastern Rail Franchise
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has withheld consent for Govia to vary the (a) pay and (b) conditions of Southeastern staff under schedule 15.2 of the franchise agreement in relation to the last twelve or thirteen months of the franchise.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Teresa Pearce
	uin	254801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Southeastern and the trade unions have agreed pay deals in the last 12 months. Specific details of pay are confidential however Southeastern staff have received an increase of around the level of the Retail Price Index which reflects a real terms increase when compared to the Consumer Price Index and cost of living increases. These pay deals were approved by the Department.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has made clear that the rail industry should be moving towards using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the inflation measure for pay agreements.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 22/05/2019 10:45:09 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4003 label Biography information for Teresa Pearce

1126806

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Department for Transport: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the distribution of local recognition awards in the last financial year was by (a) protected characteristic and (b) grades in his core Department.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	254798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 20/05/2019 13:34:31 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1126807

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of visa applications that have been delayed as a result of his Department's investigations into Life in the United Kingdom testing centres in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol South
	tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
	uin	254840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Providing the information requested would require a manual check of individual records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 22/05/2019 13:07:39 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1126808

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: Detainees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information contained in medical records from an individual in immigration detention can be shared with National Referral Mechanism Competent Authorities for purposes other than law enforcement.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	254813
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Home Office Immigration Removal Centre staff have a duty to refer potential victims of modern slavery into the National Referral Mechanism.</p><p>Only data that is required to enable the Single Competent Authority to make a reasonable grounds decision may be shared. All data, including that held within medical records, can only be shared with an individual’s consent.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 254814 question first answered 20/05/2019 16:05:51 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1126809

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: Detainees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data collected by Immigration Removal Centre staff on an individual in immigration detention can be shared with National Referral Mechanism Competent Authorities for purposes other than law enforcement.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	254814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Home Office Immigration Removal Centre staff have a duty to refer potential victims of modern slavery into the National Referral Mechanism.</p><p>Only data that is required to enable the Single Competent Authority to make a reasonable grounds decision may be shared. All data, including that held within medical records, can only be shared with an individual’s consent.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 254813 question first answered 20/05/2019 16:05:51 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1126810

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) the public purse of a change in the level of national insurance receipts from seafarers, (b) the level of seafarers' take home pay and (c) seafarers' pensions as a result of P&O’s decision to move six cross-channel ferries from the UK Ship Register to the Cypriot maritime register.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull East
	tabling member printed	Karl Turner
	uin	254802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The decision for P&amp;O to reflag its vessels was a commercial matter as are contracts of employment. However in regard the legislative position;</p><ul><li>Pension rights remain in place.</li><li>Subject to EU social security coordinating regulations, usually an employee would pay social security contributions to the country they are working in.</li><li>Unless the seafarer is in receipt of Seafarer Earning Deductions or for other reasons is not considered a resident of the UK then income tax will also continue to be paid to the UK on earnings from their employment as a seafarer.</li></ul><p>Therefore unless there has been a change in the employment contract it is not expected that the take home pay will differ.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 22/05/2019 12:53:39 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
	tabling member	4030 label Biography information for Karl Turner

1126811

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Fares
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the cost of rail fares to the EU from the UK will be affected by the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254788
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Fares for international passenger services between the UK and the EU are set by the relevant train operator on a commercial basis. Any potential change in fares is therefore a commercial matter for the operators concerned.</p> answering member constituency Epsom and Ewell answering member printed Chris Grayling question first answered 21/05/2019 14:35:53 answering member 1413 label Biography information for Lord Grayling
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126812

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Port of Dover: Large Goods Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion of lorries going to the port of Dover after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254789
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government remains focused on ensuring the UK’s smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible. As a responsible government, we’ve been preparing to minimise any disruption in the event of no deal for over two years.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport has worked closely with the Kent Resilience Forum on developing plans, also known as Operation Brock, to be used as a contingency in the event of cross-Channel travel disruption at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, whatever the cause.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Operation Brock has been designed to ensure that the M20 will be kept open and traffic will continue to flow in both directions. It consists of three phases: a contraflow queuing system on the M20, between Junctions 8 and 9; temporary holding areas at Manston Airfield for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) heading to Europe via the Port of Dover; and, if necessary, temporary holding areas on the M26 (Brock M26) for HGVs heading to Europe via Eurotunnel. The M20 contraflow element will allow non-port traffic to continue to use the M20 in both directions when HGVs are stored on the coast-bound carriageway.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also been taking steps to minimise the number of hauliers and other vehicles arriving at Dover and Eurotunnel without the essential documentation for EU border controls in a no deal scenario. This should help to reduce the risk of significant disruption at ports and on the Kent road network from the introduction of new EU customs processes.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Epsom and Ewell answering member printed Chris Grayling question first answered 21/05/2019 13:29:52 answering member 1413 label Biography information for Lord Grayling
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126813

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Weapons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking to help ensure that weapons used by British armed forces are (a) fit for purpose and (b) modern.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	David Simpson
	uin	254790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>As explained in the report on the Modernising Defence Programme published in December 2018, we plan to modernise and transform our Armed Forces by embracing new and innovative technologies to ensure we retain military advantage over potential adversaries and by investing to improve the readiness and availability of defence equipment. We will spend over £186 billion on equipment and support over the decade from April 2018 to March 2028 to ensure that our Armed Forces are fit for the defence and security challenges of the future.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 21/05/2019 15:01:17 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1126814

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Multinational Companies: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Answer of 29 April 2019 to Question 247155 on Multinational Companies: Taxation; for what reason Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man were not included in the list of countries with a full tax treaty with the UK; and whether these jurisdictions will be covered by the offshore receipts in respect of intangible property rule.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	254875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The scope of the legislation “Offshore Receipts in respect of Intangible Property” is limited to territories with which the UK does not have a full tax treaty. A “full treaty territory” is defined in the legislation as a treaty containing a non-discrimination provision. A non-discrimination provision is defined by reference to nationals of a state. Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are not “states”, they are territories for which the UK is responsible and so cannot meet that condition.</p><p> </p><p>It follows that the Crown Dependencies are within scope of the legislation. The government has committed to respecting its international obligations in respect of this measure. As such the provisions of the relevant treaties will apply to any arrangements involving the Crown Dependencies that are subject to the legislation, and the UK will provide for treaty relief where applicable.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 20/05/2019 14:38:35 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1126815

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Novartis: North East Lincolnshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people affected by the potential closure of the Novartis plant in North East Lincolnshire.
	tabling member constituency	Great Grimsby
	tabling member printed	Melanie Onn
	uin	254841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>DWP offer a Rapid Response Service (RRS). This is a redundancy service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with the prospect of redundancy. It is coordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) and is managed by Jobcentre Plus. Each Jobcentre Plus district deploy resources according to the situation and the requirements of the workforce. This service is available to be deployed in Grimsby and surrounding area should Novartis require support from Jobcentre Plus. The RRS is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers.</p><p> </p><p>The range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners may include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Information advice and guidance.</li><li>Connecting people to jobs in the labour market.</li><li>Help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and<br> how to apply for them.</li><li>Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour<br> market).</li><li>Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised<br> certification that will improve employability.</li><li>Help to overcome barriers to attending training or securing a job or <br> self-employment such as child care costs, necessary tools, work clothes, travel<br> costs etc.</li><li>On-site presentations to those affected.</li><li>Jobs Fairs and Job Clubs where appropriate.</li></ul> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/05/2019 16:58:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma previous answer version 119072 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	4464 label Biography information for Melanie Onn

1126816

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of whether there is a need for transitional protection for mixed-age couples that will see eligibility for pension credit and housing benefit affected by transferring to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Preseli Pembrokeshire
	tabling member printed	Stephen Crabb
	uin	254779
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couples change will not apply to couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners on 14 May for as long as they remain entitled to either benefit. DWP wrote earlier this year to those mixed age couples already receiving Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners to ensure they know about the change and how they could be affected if their circumstances change on or after 15 May.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would be eligible for the pension age benefits under the previous rules but have not claimed before 15 May will have up to 13 August to make a backdated claim to 14 May and we encourage them to do so.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/05/2019 15:54:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1554 label Biography information for Stephen Crabb

1126817

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve his Department's ability to assess asylum applications made on the grounds of religious or belief-based persecution.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	254745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has been working closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Asylum Advocacy Group (AAG) for many years, to help improve their approach to religious based claims and have recently worked with them recently to develop and produce a specialist training package.</p><p>The Asylum Learning and Development Team started to deliver the specialist training package on religious claims on Monday 8 April 2019, which will be mandatory for all asylum decision-makers.</p><p>The aim of this course is to ensure that where religion or belief is raised in an asylum claim, decision makers appropriately consider all the available evidence in accordance International, European &amp; Domestic law and Home Office policy, when interviewing asylum seekers and making decisions on their claims.</p><p>In order to alleviate any concerns about the way in which vulnerable claims are dealt with, a review has been commissioned to investigate the way claims based on religious grounds and LGBT+ are assessed. The aim and approach of the Review will be to ensure that empathy and religious literacy is considered by Decision Makers when assessing these highly complex claims, acknowledging the impact of their decision whilst ensuring appropriate rigour is applied as these routes can be open to fraudulent claims.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 254746 254747 question first answered 22/05/2019 13:03:17 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

1126818

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Humanism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve his Department's ability to assess asylum applications made on the grounds of humanist beliefs.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	254746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has been working closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Asylum Advocacy Group (AAG) for many years, to help improve their approach to religious based claims and have recently worked with them recently to develop and produce a specialist training package.</p><p>The Asylum Learning and Development Team started to deliver the specialist training package on religious claims on Monday 8 April 2019, which will be mandatory for all asylum decision-makers.</p><p>The aim of this course is to ensure that where religion or belief is raised in an asylum claim, decision makers appropriately consider all the available evidence in accordance International, European &amp; Domestic law and Home Office policy, when interviewing asylum seekers and making decisions on their claims.</p><p>In order to alleviate any concerns about the way in which vulnerable claims are dealt with, a review has been commissioned to investigate the way claims based on religious grounds and LGBT+ are assessed. The aim and approach of the Review will be to ensure that empathy and religious literacy is considered by Decision Makers when assessing these highly complex claims, acknowledging the impact of their decision whilst ensuring appropriate rigour is applied as these routes can be open to fraudulent claims.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 254745 254747 question first answered 22/05/2019 13:03:17 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

1126819

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is provided to all asylum decision-makers on how to assess religious and belief-based persecution claims.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Mr Ivan Lewis
	uin	254747
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has been working closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Asylum Advocacy Group (AAG) for many years, to help improve their approach to religious based claims and have recently worked with them recently to develop and produce a specialist training package.</p><p>The Asylum Learning and Development Team started to deliver the specialist training package on religious claims on Monday 8 April 2019, which will be mandatory for all asylum decision-makers.</p><p>The aim of this course is to ensure that where religion or belief is raised in an asylum claim, decision makers appropriately consider all the available evidence in accordance International, European &amp; Domestic law and Home Office policy, when interviewing asylum seekers and making decisions on their claims.</p><p>In order to alleviate any concerns about the way in which vulnerable claims are dealt with, a review has been commissioned to investigate the way claims based on religious grounds and LGBT+ are assessed. The aim and approach of the Review will be to ensure that empathy and religious literacy is considered by Decision Makers when assessing these highly complex claims, acknowledging the impact of their decision whilst ensuring appropriate rigour is applied as these routes can be open to fraudulent claims.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 254745 254746 question first answered 22/05/2019 13:03:17 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	441 label Biography information for Mr Ivan Lewis

1126820

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249833, how many students who have taken the TOEIC English language test since 2016 sat the exam in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member to my previous answer. ETS were removed from the list of approved test providers for immigration purposes on 1 July 2014. TOEIC has not been accepted for immigration purposes since that date.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 22/05/2019 13:04:25 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

1126821

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249833, what proportion of students (a) passed and (b) failed the English language test with each approved provider in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office.</p><p>Individuals may be required to take an English language test for a number of reasons. It is not limited to student applications.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/05/2019 13:16:42 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

1126822

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Educational Testing Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249832 on Educational Testing Service, what the settlement was of the legal action his Department took against ETS.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester East
	tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
	uin	254743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>I can confirm that a financial settlement was reached with ETS Global BV in early 2018. The terms of this settlement prevent release of further details at this time.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/05/2019 13:15:24 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz