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1121337

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Asthma: Prescriptions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that prescription charges do not have an impact on health inequalities in people with asthma, following Asthma UK’s recent report Paying to Breathe: Why unfair asthma prescription charges must be stopped?.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	244090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people afford National Health Service prescriptions. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions, for which someone with asthma may qualify.</p><p>To support those with greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, prescription prepayment certificates are available. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 24/04/2019 12:31:38 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1121339

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Age
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether apprenticeships are age restricted; and whether they are designed to entice any particular demographic.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	244092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Education is responsible for the apprenticeship programme in England.</p><p>Individuals in England can apply for an apprenticeship whilst they are still at school but must be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start an apprenticeship. There is no upper age limit. Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to earn whilst they learn.</p><p>We are encouraging participation from under-represented groups, including people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with a learning disability or learning difficulty, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, so that everyone can benefit from the increased wage returns and employment prospects that apprenticeships offer. We are also working to improve gender representation in sectors where it is needed, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 24/04/2019 09:48:02 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1121342

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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: Brexit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department received notice to be on standby for redeployment to support essential work related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and in which countries do those staff work.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	243999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>DFID has undertaken prioritisation work and has reviewed delivery plans with these principles in mind to allow the department to successfully deliver EU Exit whilst protecting essential business. Staff deemed as deployable were then matched provisionally to roles, therefore placed on standby to deploy, should they be required.</p><p> </p><p>As a result of recent developments, DFID is working closely with other government departments and the Cabinet Office to plan for the return of staff deployed onto no deal planning. All 48 DFID staff who were on standby to be deployed have now been stood down.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 24/04/2019 13:47:59 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1121343

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of reducing the current £16,000 savings threshold for entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	244145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to change the capital rule on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>Entitlement to contributory ESA is not affected by the amount of capital a person has.</p><p> </p><p>The current upper capital limit strikes a balance between protecting less well-off people and protecting the taxpayer, whilst at the same time recognising the conscientious efforts of people who have built up capital. This limit ensures that the help which comes from taxpayers, many of whom are themselves on low incomes and have limited capital, is directed to people who need it most.</p><p>The effect of reducing the savings threshold would be that fewer claimants would be entitled to ESA.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/04/2019 10:27:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121345

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that older people claim the benefits they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	244156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 244000 question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121349

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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: Multiple Sclerosis
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in reference to research published by the MS Society in March 2019, whether her Department has plans to undertake a review the effect of the introduction of the 20-metre rule for personal independence payment on costs to other Departments.
tabling member constituency	South Cambridgeshire
tabling member printed	Heidi Allen
uin	244173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The enhanced rate of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Mobility component was always intended to be for those &quot;unable&quot; or &quot;virtually unable&quot; to walk.</p><p>We believe the current PIP assessment criteria, including the 20 metres distance, are the best way of identifying those whose physical mobility is most limited.</p><p>Senior Officials are in contact with the MS Society and will be meeting them in the coming weeks to discuss the latest research.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/04/2019 14:33:16 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4516 label Biography information for Heidi Allen

1121351

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Vacancies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which sectors are facing labour shortages; and what steps he plans to take with cabinet colleagues to support future recruitment and training for those sectors.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	244062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Education’s (DfE) Employer Skills Survey provides a comprehensive picture of labour and skills shortages by sector, occupation and region across the UK. DfE is running the survey later this year, with publication expected in Spring 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is already working to support recruitment and training across the UK for different sectors through the Industrial Strategy. This sets out a long-term plan to boost productivity and earning power across the country, including through the four Grand Challenges, which position the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Industrial Strategy, we committed £406m investment in education and skills. In addition, through this year’s Autumn Budget the Government has invested over £1bn to support students throughout their education and give people the tools they need to succeed in the new economy.</p><p> </p><p>Our reforms to the skills system place employers at the centre, making the system more responsive to deliver the skills employers need and which the economy demands.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1121353

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Local Enterprise Partnerships: Coastal Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his department has taken to support Local Enterprise Partnerships in (a) coastal communities and (b) Portsmouth.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	244176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government wants to ensure that communities, including those across Portsmouth and the wider Hampshire area, benefit from new investment and economic growth and strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships help deliver this vision of prosperous communities across England. Through the Local Growth Fund the Government has awarded over £9 billion to LEPs between 2015 and 2021.</p><p> </p><p>Across Portsmouth and the wider Hampshire area Government has committed £182.92m of Local Growth Deal funding through the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership. The LEP estimate that the Growth Deal will deliver 15,000 jobs; 1,000 new apprenticeships; 7,250 new homes; and 527,000 m2 of employment land. Projects are already achieving positive outcomes, such as the opening of The Hard Interchange a £4.9m investment to provide improved connectivity and provide an impressive new gateway to the City of Portsmouth.</p><p> </p><p>The UK coastline plays a vital role in the economy, history and culture of our country and Government is helping coastal communities flourish and strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit, through dedicated investment of over £200m.</p><p> </p><p>In Portsmouth, this includes £1.75 million to regenerate the Victorian Arches at Point Battery, Old Portsmouth, to create a centrally located &quot;creative hub&quot; with affordable work and exhibition space with leisure and catering facilities, £50,000 towards the restoration of South Parade Pier, Southsea and £50,000 towards the Southsea Lighthouse restoration project.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 23/04/2019 16:30:05 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1121357

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people in financial hardship are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	244000
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 244156 question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121358

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Rented Housing: Older People
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 is taking to help local authorities improve security of tenure for older renters.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	244001
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>We know that security of tenure is a concern for many in the private rented sector. That is why we have announced that the government will end so-called ‘no fault’ evictions by abolishing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. The government will shortly launch a new consultation on proposals to remove the ability of landlords to use ‘no fault’ evictions under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.</p><p>The government’s proposed measures will provide greater certainty for tenants and make the housing market fit for the 21st century. This will provide support to all tenants, including older renters, giving them the security and stability they need to make a place truly feel like home without the fear of being evicted at a moments’ notice.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 23/04/2019 15:06:43 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms