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1121821

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Livestock Worrying
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional steps his Department will take to reduce the number of incidents of sheep worrying.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245756
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government abhors irresponsible ownership which leads to dogs becoming dangerously out of control and causing injuries to people or animals. There are a number of laws and measures which police and local authorities can take to tackle dog attacks on livestock.</p><p> </p><p>The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 includes provisions to prosecute owners whose dogs kill, attack or chase livestock, and to seize the dogs if they are out of control. This can lead to a prison sentence of up to six months, an unlimited fine or a disqualification order which prevents the owner from keeping dogs for a certain period of time. The police can also take action under the Dogs Act 1871. This is a useful measure to help police and local authorities to deal with dogs that are out of control and dangerous, which includes being dangerous to other animals. Section 2 of the 1871 Act allows a complaint to be made by any individual, or the police, local authorities, etc., to a Magistrates’ court that a dog is “…dangerous and not kept under proper control”.</p><p> </p><p>As well as these Acts there are anti-social behaviour measures, in particular the Community Protection Notice (CPN) which can be issued as a preventative measure. This means that the owner or keeper of an out of control dog could be prevented from walking it on a farmer's land. This will restrict access to when livestock is not out and ensure that the dog is kept on a lead when in fields with livestock. To breach a CPN is a criminal offence and attracts a maximum penalty of £2,500, or the option to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. It is worth noting that there are also seizure powers under the legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2016, we have required all dogs to be identified by a microchip. This is quick and easy to do and provides a failsafe method of connecting dogs with their owners and has encouraged more responsible dog ownership.</p><p> </p><p>Defra continues to work with the National Police Chiefs’ Council Livestock Working Group which is looking at ways to reduce livestock attacks. The NFU is represented at this group and we are encouraging others in the farming and countryside community. This includes supporting the work of SheepWatch, which has produced leaflets to encourage the reporting and recording of incidents and to follow the guidance that is available on what to do when there is a dog attack.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 25/04/2019 14:54:23 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121931

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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	Pension 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 take steps to simplify the process of claiming pension credit.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 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.</p><p> </p><p>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, which removes the need for claimants to complete lengthy application forms. However, paper forms are also available for those who prefer. The DWP is required by law to ask a number of questions in order to establish eligibility and ensure accurate assessment and subsequent award.</p><p> </p><p>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. There are no plans to change the existing process of claims to Pension Credit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 13:54:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121996

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to establish separate legal aid funds for (a) increasing access to justice for people in civil, criminal and legal aid cases and (b) political and human rights cases.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245758
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>Access to justice is a fundamental right and last year the government spent £1.6bn on legal aid.</p><p> </p><p>Legal aid is available in a wide range of cases across different jurisdictions. This includes crime, family, housing, immigration, and areas where human rights may have been breached. In most of these areas, applicants have to satisfy statutory means and merits tests.</p><p> </p><p>The legal aid fund is administered by the independent Legal Aid Agency, acting according to their statutory duty under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Decisions on legal aid funding are made by the Director of Legal Aid Casework, who acts independently of Ministers.</p><p> </p><p>We recently published the post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). Alongside this we published the Legal Support Action Plan which outlines the steps the Government will be taking over the next two years to enhance the breadth of support to people experiencing legal problems. This includes delivering £5m in innovation funding to drive change across the sector, and doubling our funding to support litigants in person to £3m for each of the next two years.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 30/04/2019 16:36:09 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121998

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Rape: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been for administering date rape drugs in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The number of offenders found guilty of “administering a substance with intent” in England and Wales, from 2013 to 2017 can be found in the Experimental statistics: Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence data tool in the annual criminal justice statistics publication, linked below.</p><p> </p><p>From the detailed offence drop down box, select ‘Administer substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to engage in sexual activity’:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/738814/HO-Code-Tool-2017.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>The total number of prosecutions and convictions may be higher as the data only shows the principle offence.</p><p> </p><p>Court proceedings data, including findings of guilt for this offence, for 2018 are planned for publication on 16 May 2019.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 29/04/2019 11:14:00 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1122000

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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	Digital Technology
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what his priorities are for the digital economy in the next five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>We have a number of priorities for the digital economy in the next five years, in line with both our Digital Strategy and Industrial Strategy. Firstly, we will ensure that the UK remains the best place to start and grow a digital business. We will do this by fostering a supportive business environment, encouraging support to scale-ups, and by means of access to talent. Secondly, we want to ensure that the UK is well positioned to develop and adopt emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive productivity. This will be achieved by means of the AI sector deal, funding for research posts, and by meeting our target of public and private sector investment in R&amp;D to reach 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Thirdly, we will ensure that the benefits and opportunities of technology, including digital connectivity, are felt by all and are spread across the UK. A key priority is to achieve Government plans to have 15 million premises connected to full fibre (so-called 'outside-in') by 2025, and nationwide coverage by 2033. We will continue to deliver the Digital Skills Partnership to improve digital capability across the whole skills spectrum. Importantly, we will continue to emphasise the importance of diversity within the tech sector, as this is an area I feel strongly about.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Harms White Paper sets out the Government’s plans for world leading laws to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. These will make companies more responsible for their users’ safety online, especially children and other vulnerable groups. A new statutory duty of care is being introduced, to make companies take responsibility for the safety of their users and to tackle harm caused by content or activity on their services. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen and enforced by an independent regulator. The establishment of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), to investigate and advise on how we maximise the benefits of data-enabled technologies, including AI, is also an important step forward.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 30/04/2019 17:39:51 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1122001

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Productivity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of increased productivity in the economy.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245761
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>In the long run, the only way to ensure sustainable growth, higher wages and increases in living standards is through raising productivity. The latest data showing an increase in the level of productivity is welcome, however productivity growth remains a key challenge.</p><p> </p><p>The government is tackling this challenge head on; investing over half a trillion pounds in capital investment, cutting taxes for businesses, improving access to finance, increasing the National Productivity Investment Fund to £37bn at Budget 2018 and committing to reform technical education, such as the introduction of T-levels.</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 30/04/2019 07:46:33 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord