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1140518

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the merits of a Global Plan of Action for Education as called for by UNESCO in its report of July 2019 entitled meeting commitments: are countries on track to achieve SDG 4; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Stephen Twigg
	uin	279358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>The recommendations in UNESCO’s report of July 2019: <em>Meeting commitments: are countries on track to achieve SDG 4</em> align well with DFID’s education policy: <em>Get Children Learning </em>and the work the UK is supporting in such areas as learning measurement, education financing, research and policy dialogue. We welcome UNESCO’s report and look forward to hearing more about suggestions for a Global Plan of Action for Education.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 05/08/2019 16:23:53 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	167 label Biography information for Stephen Twigg

1140534

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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, if she will make it her policy to extend the eligibility for budgeting loans to all families in receipt of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	279419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>This Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need it and continues to spend over ￡95 billion a year on working age welfare benefits. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans for those who need extra support. The Government also provides a range of additional financial support to families and this includes free school meals, Healthy Start vouchers and help with health costs.</p><p>Budgeting Advances have replaced Budgeting Loans for those in receipt of Universal Credit helping to provide additional assistance for emergency household costs, such as replacing a broken cooker, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs. Eligibility for a Budgeting Advance is explained on GOV.UK and can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/09/2019 14:24:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1140555

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Post Offices: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2019 to Question 244157 on Post Offices: Pay, for what reasons exceptional payments are made by Post Office Ltd; and how (a) many payments were made and (b) much was paid under each category of reason in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland, and (iv) each region of England, in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	279440
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business.</p><p>This is an operational matter for Post Office Limited with no BEIS involvement in the decision-making process. I understand that Alisdair Cameron, the Group interim Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, wrote to the hon Member on this matter on 16 May, providing information on the level of exceptional payments made to Post Offices over the last five years. I have asked him to respond to the hon Member’s further questions. A copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/09/2019 15:15:03 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1140570

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Hong Kong: Police
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) training, (b) capacity building and (c) assistance (i) the UK Government and (ii) Scotland Yard provides to the Hong Kong Police Force.
	tabling member constituency	Orkney and Shetland
	tabling member printed	Mr Alistair Carmichael
	uin	279392
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/08/2019 answer text <p>In recent years, UK law enforcement agencies have provided training and assistance to the Hong Kong Police Force in a number of areas, including illicit finance and traffic policing. UK law enforcement agencies maintain regular engagement with the Hong Kong Police Force in the course of information exchange and joint investigations of serious and organised crime – as they do with counterparts throughout the world. All cooperation with overseas partners – including those in Hong Kong – is conducted under the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) risk management system, which is used across Government to assess human rights risks.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 09/08/2019 13:47:54 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler previous answer version 132240 answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
	tabling member	1442 label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael

1140572

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Credit Unions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2019 to Question 271326, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	279362
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>I can confirm the department currently does not have the facility to allow staff to join a credit union through payroll deductions. Staff can still make arrangements to contribute to a credit union via direct debit.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 02/09/2019 09:31:40 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1140575

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Department for International Development: Credit Unions
	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 9 July 2019 to Question 271330, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	279365
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>DFID will assess the potential merits of enabling departmental staff to contribute to a credit union through payroll if at any time we receive a request from our employees to provide such a facility. DFID can find no record of a request being made.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 05/08/2019 16:24:19 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1140578

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Credit Unions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2019 to Question 271335, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	279368
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office does not have a facility to allow staff to join a credit union through payroll deductions, however staff can still make arrangements to contribute to a credit union via direct debit.</p><p>Financial wellbeing is a key part of pay and benefits package, and we offer a range of services to help staff build financial capability so they can make informed decisions about their finances.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 06/08/2019 13:41:27 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1140591

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of mental heath training for teachers and lecturers at universities.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	279378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/08/2019 answer text <p>Higher education providers have legal responsibilities under the Equality Act (2010) to support students, including those with mental health conditions. As independent and autonomous institutions it is for providers to determine the precise nature of any mental health training they offer to staff.</p><p> </p><p>Mental health service provision is a priority for the government, which is why the former Prime Minister (Theresa May), my right. Hon friend for Maidenhead recently announced measures on 17 June which overhaul the government’s approach to preventing mental illness. These measures included providing £1 million to the Office of Students (OfS) for a competition to find innovative new ways to support mental health at universities and colleges. The OfS is currently working with students, sector representatives, experts and relevant government departments to develop priorities. They aim to publish further details by the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>The department is also working closely with Universities UK on embedding the Step Change programme. This calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health service provision as a strategic priority and take a whole-institution approach to embed a culture of good mental health practice.</p><p> </p><p>The University Mental Health Charter, which was announced in June 2018, is also expected to drive up standards in promoting mental health and wellbeing, positive working environments and excellent support for both students and staff.</p><p> </p><p>The former Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore), my hon. Friend for Kingswood gave a speech on 7 May 2019 that focused on early career researcher contracts and employment conditions. The Independent Review of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, led by Professor Julia Buckingham, has recognised issues of wellbeing and poor mental health as a significant challenge faced by early career academics and researchers. Recommendations to address these challenges are currently under review and a revised concordat is expected in September.</p><p> </p><p>We hope future joint work by the OfS and Research England into the mental health and wellbeing of doctoral researchers can identify good practice to take forward in this area.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 08/08/2019 12:57:08 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone previous answer version 131141 answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore answering member 4021
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1140594

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) longest response time was to answer universal credit freephone numbers; and how many complaints about telephone response times for those numbers have been made in the last six months for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account, claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.</p><p> </p><p>For June 2019 the average speed of answer for a call to the Universal Credit helpline was 2 minutes 39 seconds. The longest response time was 55 minutes 33 seconds. In June we answered 1.2 million calls. The longest response time refers to a single caller and is not reflective of the experience of the majority of our customers.</p><p> </p><p>The average speed of answer measure is the average customer wait time from the point of entering a queue to connection to an agent. This excludes any time spent in pre-queue messaging and any wait time for calls ultimately abandoned by callers prior to answer.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about telephony complaints is not available in the format requested and doing so could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We do not capture data specifically on complaints about response times for answering the Universal Credit helpline.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:18:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1140598

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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, when she plans to start the universal credit managed migration pilot.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department commenced the Move to Universal Credit pilot in the area served by Harrogate Jobcentre on 24 July 2019. Following the pilot, we will report back to Parliament on our progress and findings, and at that point, will determine the process for bringing forward further legislation to move claimants beyond the pilot phase.</p><p> </p><p>The regulations also allowed for people potentially eligible for Severe Disability Premium transitional awards to start receiving payments. Statistics published on 2 September 2019 show over 6,300 claims worth over £16 million have been paid.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State delivered an Oral Statement to the House on 22 July 2019 to announce the commencement of the Universal Credit managed migration pilot (also known as the Move to Universal Credit pilot), which can be viewed here - <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration" target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 15:41:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden