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1134217

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Homelessness
	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 accuracy of the finding, reported in the Guardian on 17 June 2019, that the number of homeless camps forcibly removed by local authorities across the UK has risen from 72 in 2014 to 254 in 2018; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	268596
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Housing, Commnunities and Local Government does not collect any statistics on the number of homeless camps who have been forcibly removed by local authorities.</p><p>The Guardian article on 17 June 2019 says the estimate is based on a Freedom of Information request to all councils in the UK about how many homeless encampments they had cleared since 2014, how many complaints about encampments they had received and details on charges for confiscated tents and possessions. The article says ‘an encampment was defined as a location where one or more homeless people were living in the area in private or public land’. 336 local authorities out of total of 408 in the UK provided a response. No further details about the overall quality and robustness of these statistics is provided so we are unable to make an assessment of the accuracy of these findings.</p><p>The Guardian article is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/17/removal-of-homeless-camps-trebles-as-charities-warn-of-out-of-control-crisis" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/17/removal-of-homeless-camps-trebles-as-charities-warn-of-out-of-control-crisis</a></p><p>These statistics do not adhere to same rigour as government statistics. The Rough Sleeping Statistics, published on 31 January 2019, which are produced in compliance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics, include people sleeping rough in makeshift camps but no separate figures about the types of sites where people are sleeping rough are recorded or whether they have been forcibly removed by local authorities.</p><p>These statistics show the total number of people counted or estimated to be sleeping rough in each local authority area in England, on a single night in Autumn 2018 was 4,677. This was down by 74 people or 2 per cent from the 2017 total of 4,751 and was up 2,909 people or 165 per cent from the 2010 total of 1,768. Local authorities use a specific definition to identify people sleeping rough. This includes people sleeping or who are about to bed down in open air locations and other places including tents, cars, and makeshift shelters. The full definition of people sleeping rough is as follows:</p><p><em>People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or “bashes” which are makeshift shelters, often comprised of cardboard boxes). The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protest, squatters or travellers. Bedded down is taken to mean either lying down or sleeping. About to bed down includes those who are sitting in/on or near a sleeping bag or other bedding.</em></p><p><br>These statistics are available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2018</a>.</p><p>This 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 which 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. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. This year, Rough Sleeping Initiative investment totals £46 million and has been allocated to 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 750 additional staff and over 2,600 bed spaces.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 01/07/2019 14:56:03 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134218

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Homelessness
	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 guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the forcible removal of camps containing homeless people.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	268597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not issue guidance on the removal of tents containing homeless people. Each local authority, together with the police, will make their own plans and decisions about how to best support rough sleepers and ensure their safety in their own area, based on local circumstances. This can include the removal of encampments, alongside support. Encampments can present serious safety risks for the people living in encampments and it is right that local authorities, who know their area best, have the powers they need to respond. A summary of the powers that public bodies have to help them deal with illegal and unauthorised sites, published in 2015, is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments</a></p><p>Where local areas are taking action to remove encampments, we are clear that this needs to go hand-in-hand with considering how to support the people residing in them away from rough sleeping. Safeguards are in place to ensure powers are used appropriately. For example, for Public Space Protection Orders councils must consult with the police and relevant community representatives before making the order, and before the order is made councils must also publish the draft order. The Government guidance on Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-social-behaviour-crime-and-policing-bill-anti-social-behaviour" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-social-behaviour-crime-and-policing-bill-anti-social-behaviour</a></p><p>This 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 which 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. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. This year, Rough Sleeping Initiative investment totals £46 million and has been allocated to 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 750 additional staff and over 2,600 bed spaces.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 01/07/2019 14:49:39 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134220

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local authorities charge homeless people for the return of confiscated items.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	268599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>MHCLG does not collect any statistics about which local authorities charge homeless people for the return of confiscated items. This is for local authorities to determine, subject to section 211 of the Housing Act 1996.</p><p>However, the Government is working to support better practise through the implementation of the Rough Sleeping Initiative. This year, Rough Sleeping Initiative investment totals £46 million and has been allocated to 246 areas – providing funding for an estimated 750 additional staff and over 2,600 bed spaces. MHCLG are working closely with local authorities through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to support people off the street.</p><p>This 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 which 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. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 02/07/2019 13:30:43 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1134291

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Palestinian Authority: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 265408 on Palestinian Authority: Pay, whether his Department's disbursements to the Palestinian Authority (PA) been reduced to reflect the PA's partial salary payments.
	tabling member constituency	Enfield North
	tabling member printed	Joan Ryan
	uin	268347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>DFID has not reduced its funding to the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) health and education sectors for financial year 2019/20. While PA salaries have recently been reduced, our contribution still comprises only a proportion of the PA’s total health and education sector wage bill. UK aid to the PA’s health and education sectors is used exclusively to pay the salaries of vetted health and education public servants, including teachers, doctors and nurses, in the West Bank. The PA’s decision to make partial salary payments to public sector officials does not affect the robust financial safeguards that ensure UK financial aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 27/06/2019 16:14:35 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	166 label Biography information for Joan Ryan

1132411

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Cremation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average length of time between death and cremation by region in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19; and what steps he is taking to reduce that time.
	tabling member constituency	Colne Valley
	tabling member printed	Thelma Walker
	uin	265571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not held centrally. This is a matter for individual cremation authorities.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 25/06/2019 11:42:53 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4649 label Biography information for Thelma Walker

1133993

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a salary sacrifice car scheme for teachers in state schools.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	268486
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>There is a statutory process for revising the pay and conditions of teachers and any change must first be referred by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The demands on the STRB’s time and resources mean that the Government has to make hard decisions on prioritising the issues it refers. The Government is committed to making the teaching profession an attractive and competitive career but is not currently considering proposing an extension to the current salary sacrifice schemes for teachers to cover cars.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 02/07/2019 11:35:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

1133994

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Driving Tests
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the DVSA's Theory Test for cars and motorcycles, which ten questions within that Test candidates most frequently answered (a) correctly and (b) incorrectly in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	268487
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>In order to protect the integrity of the theory test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency cannot disclose the ten questions candidates most frequently answer (a) correctly and (b) incorrectly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 01/07/2019 13:45:27 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1133995

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to change the qualifying criteria for the enhanced mobility component of personal independence payment to allow claimants with dwarfism to access specially adapted mobility vehicles.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	268488
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition or disability.</p><p>Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.</p><p>We consulted extensively while developing the mobility component of the assessment, notably undertaking a second consultation exercise following feedback that the moving around activity was difficult to understand.</p><p>We carefully considered all the responses, including the suggestions for alternative approaches and the final consultation response was published on 21 October 2013.</p><p>The enhanced rate of the PIP Mobility component was always intended to be for those &quot;unable&quot; or &quot;virtually unable&quot; to walk and we believe the current assessment criteria are the best way of identifying those whose physical mobility is most limited.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 02/07/2019 12:15:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

1133996

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Aston Hall Hospital: Abuse
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made in compensating victims of historical abuse at Aston Hall, Derbyshire.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	268489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>NHS Resolution is managing compensation claims related to Aston Hall on behalf of the Secretary of State. As the management of these claims is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 02/07/2019 16:39:56 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

1133997

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	London Capital & Finance: Insolvency
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department taking following the collapse of London Capital & Finance to ensure that mini-bond holders in Crewe and Nantwich will be properly compensated.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	268490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The administrators for London Capital &amp; Finance (LCF) are currently estimating recoveries for investors affected by LCF’s failure.</p><p>The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), as the compensation scheme of last resort, can only provide compensation for claims connected with certain types of regulated activities. They are working closely with LCF’s administrators and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to understand more about LCF’s activities and whether there are grounds for compensation.</p><p> </p><p>The FSCS is an independent non-governmental body. The FSCS carries out its compensation function within rules set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the FCA, who are also independent of Government.</p><p>If there are circumstances that give rise to potentially valid claims, the FSCS will communicate this on their website. They have invited LCF investors to register for updates on their website. More information on this can be found at https://www.fscs.org.uk/failed-firms/lcf/.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 02/07/2019 14:21:12 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith