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1134983

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference the June 2019 report of the Children’s Commissioner, We need to talk: access to speech and language therapy, if he will meet with the Local Government Association to discuss the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of that report.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	269599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring more effective support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Ministers from the Department for Education (DfE) regularly meet with local government to discuss issues relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 May 2019, we held the first SEND ministerial roundtable meeting between ministers from the DfE, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and key SEND stakeholders to help inform future SEND policy. We will also be using these meetings to help inform the SEND System Leadership Board which aims to improve joint working and strategic commissioning for all children and young people with SEND, including those with SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 June 2019, the government issued a letter to I CAN and The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. That letter responded to the Bercow One Year Anniversary update report, and was co-signed by ministers from the DfE, DHSC and the Ministry of Justice. The letter reaffirms our commitment to supporting children and young people with SLCN, and sets out the key action the government is taking to address SLCN. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 05/07/2019 09:36:56 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1135699

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Xylella
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific measures they are taking to prevent the introduction to the UK of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa via the import of infected host plants.
tabling member printed	Baroness D'Souza
uin	HL16792
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p><em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> is currently not present in the UK but we are taking a lead in the EU to tighten import and movement controls to protect the country against its introduction.</p><p>We supplement EU measures with national legislation requiring notification of certain imports, allowing the Animal and Plant Health Agency to build intelligence about such trades and carry out targeted inspections. The notification requirements were strengthened in 2018 through the inclusion of olive trees, following an interception in Belgium of <em>Xylella</em> on olive trees imported from Spain.</p><p>We have also successfully pressed the case for stronger requirements at an EU level against certain high risk hosts for this disease, with supplementary measures also now in place against <em>Polygala myrtifolia</em>. Under the leadership of Defra’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Nicola Spence, we are continuously reviewing new developments to determine whether additional measures are required.</p><p>We have a surveillance programme in place targeting imports and businesses trading in hosts from within the EU, as well as inspections in the wider environment.</p><p>We are also taking action with UK industry to raise awareness, resulting in nurseries and garden centres committing not to bring <em>Xylella</em> host plants into the UK from EU regions where the disease is present, and employing careful sourcing, traceability and good hygiene measures.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/07/2019 11:43:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3709 label Biography information for Baroness D'Souza

1135725

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that people over the age of 75 who cannot afford to pay for a TV licence from June 2020 will be able to (1) access content, and (2) be kept informed of current affairs, to support their continued democratic engagement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is the responsibility of the BBC. In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government and the BBC agreed that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government has expressed its disappointment with the BBC’s decision for taking the most narrowly focused review option. The Secretary of State has met with the Chairman of the BBC Board and the Director-General of the BBC and asked them to do more to help the most vulnerable groups affected by the decision.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:10 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135726

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that people over the age of 75 who do not use the internet will be able to apply, and pay, for a TV licence from June 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will write to all those all those affected, and will use suitable measures such as face to face visits and phone calls to make it as easy as possible for those transitioning to apply for and pay the licence fee.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:34 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135727

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they intend to offer to people who are just above the threshold of eligibility for pension credit to afford the additional £154.54 per year to pay for a TV licence from June 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will be publicising the link between the concession and pension credit. It also says it will be introducing an easy payment system to help those affected spread the cost of the licence fee.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment with the BBC decision to restrict the concession to the most narrowly defined review option. He has asked the BBC to do more for the most vulnerable pensioners, including considering measures around the margins of eligibility and those which further promote the take up of Pension Credit.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:59 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135728

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the BBC's decision to change the TV licence concession for people over the age of 75 from June 2020 with the Government's strategy to combat loneliness.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is a matter for the BBC. Parliament transferred responsibility in passing the Digital Economy Act in 2017. On loneliness, the Government is taking steps to address the effects of isolation and loneliness on the elderly. These include appointing a minister to lead work on tackling loneliness; publishing the world’s first government strategy on loneliness; and securing £20 million of new grant-funding for projects run by charities and community groups to bring people together.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 14:02:06 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135768

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	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 he is taking to support the construction of specialist housing for elderly people.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	271450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>There is a clear link between ageing and the need for more accessible housing. The National Planning Policy Framework expects planning authorities to have specific policies to address the housing needs of older people and we have recently published new guidance to help councils implement these policies.</p><p>The Framework expects local planning authorities to use the Government’s standards for accessible and adaptable housing when preparing their plans, where this would address an identified need. In addition, the Government has also recently announced that it will consult on mandating higher accessibility standards for new housing.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 08/07/2019 14:24:42 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1135773

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	International Planned Parenthood Federation: Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking in response to the recent allegations of institutional and sexual abuse of young people in the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
tabling member constituency	Stone
tabling member printed	Sir William Cash
uin	271337
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK government take issues of fraud and sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment extremely seriously. As set out in DFID funding agreements with all partners, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has a clear obligation to report incidents to us.</p><p>Over the past year, IPPF’s Director General and IPPF’s Safeguarding Unit have taken significant steps to strengthen their internal systems and to shift culture at the organisation so that people feel safer and more able to report wrongdoing. Action taken by IPPF includes a Safeguarding Taskforce to review and improve overall processes; IPPF’s first employee engagement survey; a set of best-practice safeguarding policies and procedures, including an Independent Complaints Panel; an IPPF SafeReport, which provides a safe space for anyone – including staff, clients, volunteers or member of the public – to raise concerns.</p><p>We continue to regularly review IPPF against our high standards for safeguarding, whistleblowing, risk, governance and code of conduct, and we conduct regular assessments of their safeguarding procedures. In addition to recent safeguarding reforms, IPPF is currently conducting a review of its governance system and structures, which IPPF anticipate will take around six months. During this time DFID will monitor IPPF’s governance reforms closely and regularly.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 269626 question first answered 04/07/2019 16:06:38 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
tabling member	288 label Biography information for Sir William Cash

1135780

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Tourism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England has taken to promote tourism to its churches and cathedrals.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	271461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England welcomes the Government’s new Tourism Sector Deal, which encompasses all our churches and cathedrals and will give a significant boost to our cultural heritage. Cathedrals in England attract over 10 million visitors a year, the majority as tourists.</p><p>The Church supports the work of the Churches Visitor and Tourism Association on several initiatives that help the public learn more about their local churches:</p><ul><li>The<a href="https://www.explorechurches.org/" target="_blank"> Explore Churches</a> website run by the National Churches Trust provides a single online gateway for anyone wanting to visit churches, whether as a tourist or a pilgrim.</li><li>The <a href="https://facultyonline.churchofengland.org/churches" target="_blank">Church Heritage Record</a> provides geo-located data on every Church of England church, including information on the history of the building where it is available. Local congregations are encouraged to add details of their church to this and to <a href="https://www.achurchnearyou.com/" target="_blank">A Church Near You</a>, to help people planning visits.</li></ul><p>The Church of England also supports the Cathedrals Marketing and Communications Network to share best practice and coordinate national campaigns. Individual cathedrals encourage visitors through hosting special exhibitions, such as Luke Jerram’s <em>Gaia</em>, currently at Liverpool Cathedral, and Tim Peake’s space capsule, which was visited by over 170,000 people when on display at Peterborough Cathedral as part of a national tour.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/07/2019 15:43:20 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1135781

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church of England: Community Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to encourage parishioners to support the local economy.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	271462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>A recent study of the economic impact of cathedrals in England in 2014 showed that they generated around £220 million annually for the national economy. The report also showed that over 7,300 jobs depend on cathedrals, either through direct employment or the local economy.</p><p> </p><p>Tourists and visitors to English cathedrals generate an additional £125m for the local economy through visitor-related spend, which takes place directly in the towns and cities where cathedrals are based.</p><p> </p><p>No formal assessment has been made of the direct or indirect contribution of churches to the local economy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/07/2019 15:45:25 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon