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1204023

registered interest
date	16/06/2020
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	Airlines: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on retaining jobs in the airline industry.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	903290
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government continues to work closely with the airline industry. We have put unprecedented levels of support in place to help industry, including airlines, who have drawn down £1.8billion of loan support through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) to help them continue activities.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, is leading an International Aviation Task Force, to help put measures in place to kickstart the sector – helping to restore jobs, trade, and opportunities for travel.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 16/06/2020 16:07:09 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1201212

registered interest
date	08/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	British Airways
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times he has (a) spoken to and (b) requested to speak to (i) Willie Walsh, chief executive of the International Airlines Group and (ii) Alex Cruz, chief executive of British Airways since the start of the 2020.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	55929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2020 answer text <p>It would not be appropriate to comment on individual engagements or their frequency. The Department for Transport has historically maintained regular engagement with British Airways/International Airlines Group as an important industry stakeholder. In recognition of the challenging times that the aviation sector continues to face due to Covid-19, we have kept an open dialogue with UK airlines, including British Airways/International Airlines Group, through regular structured and bilateral engagements at both Ministerial and official levels.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 11/06/2020 15:04:36 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1201213

registered interest
date	08/06/2020
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	International Airlines Group
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many times he has (a) spoken to or (b) requested to speak to (i) Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airlines Group and (ii) Alex Cruz, chief executive of British Airways since the start of the 2020.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	55930
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2020 answer text <p>The Department has undertaken extensive engagement with businesses across a range of sectors since the start of 2020, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Department for Transport has historically maintained regular engagement with British Airways and the International Airlines Group as important industry stakeholders.</p><p> </p><p>In recognition of the challenging times that the aviation sector continues to face due to Covid-19, the Government has kept an open dialogue with UK airlines, including British Airways and the International Airlines Group.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 11/06/2020 16:44:48 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1199567

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Transport: Schools
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an estimate of the cost to local authorities of providing free home to school transport in (a) Ealing, (b) west London, (c) inner London boroughs, (d) outer London boroughs and (e) all of London; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	53357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The £1.6bn provided to TfL to maintain services included conditions which were agreed to by TfL. These conditions included temporarily suspending free bus travel for under-18s as part of wider travel demand management measures. Any child eligible for free home to school travel under the Education Act 1996 will still be given free travel to and from school. It is for local education authorities to liaise with local transport providers on how they can fulfil their obligations for eligible children. The cost of providing travel for eligible children on TfL services will not fall on London boroughs.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 08/06/2020 14:45:58 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198415

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
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	Pensions: Fraud
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 protect people from pension scams and fraud.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51791
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>In these unprecedented times we are committed to protecting people from pension scams and fraud. DWP is working with other Government Departments, the Pension Regulator, Financial Conduct Authority and other industry bodies to raise awareness and to monitor for evidence of an increase in pension related fraudster activity. We will continue to use evidence available, to identify what specific and proportionate measures may be necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Government has introduced measures to tackle pension scams following the December 2016 Pension Scams: Consultation <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pension-scams/pensions-scams-consultation" target="_blank">link</a>. These include making it harder to open fraudulent schemes from 2018, and legislating to introduce a ban on cold calling in relation to pensions in January 2019.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is also bringing forward legislation, through the Pension Schemes Bill which is currently passing through Parliament. These measures will give trustees’ assurance they will not be required to make statutory transfer, unless specified conditions are met.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The PPF, in collaboration with regulators and pensions bodies, recently published a guide,’COVID-19 and your pension: where to get help’, which answers common pension concerns and helps individuals find the right support. This includes guidance for individuals who are concerned about pension scams.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.ppf.co.uk/covid-19-pensions" target="_blank">https://www.ppf.co.uk/covid-19-pensions</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/06/2020 14:45:51 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 25867 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198416

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
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	Pensions: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the number of pension scams and fraud in each quarter of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51792
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting people from pension scams and fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The quarterly data on pension scams and fraud does not exist.</p><p> </p><p>Pensioners who suspect they have been a victim of a pension scam or fraud can report to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime. The DWP works with Action Fraud and other members of the police led organisation Project Bloom, which is cross-government and works with industry to monitor and respond to pension frauds, update prevention and respond to these changes.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/06/2020 14:51:08 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 25869 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198433

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding in-country switching for visa applicants unable to return to their home country due to lock-down constraints.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51793
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by measures connected to Covid-19 (Coronavirus). Those measures include a provision for switching in-country by visa applicants. Full details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.</p><p> </p><p>These are unprecedented times and we may make further adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate, to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 08/06/2020 13:26:20 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198681

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Foster Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has taken steps to monitor the potential effect of care proceedings on children who have had their contact with their birth family suspended.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>The potential effect of care proceedings on children who have had their contact with their birth family suspended will continue to be considered by judges as part of individual care proceedings.</p><p>The department has published guidance on children in care and contact with their families while the government’s social distancing guidance remains in force. The guidance makes clear that contact between looked-after children and their birth parents must continue but may be more appropriate to take place virtually at this time: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-authorities-on-childrens-social-care" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-authorities-on-childrens-social-care</a>.</p><p>We are also aware that the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory commissioned an urgent new research project, Understanding how children’s connections to birth families are being managed during social isolation. This showed that those taking part in our study reported widespread use of video calls by and for children in residential, foster and kinship care.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 04/06/2020 14:31:28 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198683

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to tackle unequal access to education as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>Schools are continuing to receive additional funding in the form of the pupil premium – worth around £2.4 billion annually – to help them support their disadvantaged pupils. This includes those who have been in receipt of free school meals at any point in the last six years, and looked after and previously looked after children.</p><p>The government has also committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers. The department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets for vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examination in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver.</p><p>We are providing over 50,000 4G wireless routers to disadvantaged children with a social worker in secondary school, care leavers and children in Year 10 who do not have access to a suitable internet connection through other means. We are also working with the country’s major telecommunications providers to make it easier for children in vulnerable and disadvantaged families, who are relying on mobile data, to access online educational resources.</p><p>To support the hard work of schools in delivering remote education, 40 teachers have come together to develop the brand-new Oak National Academy, launched at the start of the summer term. The Oak Academy provides 180 video lessons for free each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10. Education resources are also available offline. Children will be able to draw on support from the BBC, which is broadcasting lessons on television, and may choose to access the many hard copy resources offers which have been produced by publishers across the country.</p><p>We recognise that, for some children, there will be a need for additional support where they have not been able to learn in the same way that we would have expected this term. We are working with a range of partners, including the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), to establish how schools can best help their pupils – including those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to make up lost ground. In particular, we are very supportive of the work being taken forward by the EEF and other organisations to pilot online tutoring for disadvantaged pupils during the summer term.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 08/06/2020 14:38:42 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1198684

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Assessments: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to take steps to weight the exam results of children from less affluent households that have not had access to IT equipment during the covid-19 outbreak and whose parents have not attended higher education to reflect those disadvantages.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	51796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>We recognise that students who are studying GCSE, A level or equivalent courses, and are due to take exams and assessments in 2021, will have experienced disruption to their education. We are working with Ofqual and the awarding organisations to develop our approach to next year’s exams and assessments in light of this.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 51918 52593 question first answered 09/06/2020 16:55:22 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma