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997133

registered interest
date	29/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people who were eligible for 30 hours of free childcare in one term did not apply for an eligibility code for the next term.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	185086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>The specific data requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>To access 30 hours free childcare for their child a parent must apply via the Childcare Service and receive an eligibility code. Once they have received this code they are required to reconfirm their circumstances every three months but they do not need to apply for a new code each term.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 01/11/2018 16:45:21 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

997154

registered interest
date	29/10/2018
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: Construction
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 the reasons are for the continued development of new buildings which are not carbon neutral.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	185090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2018 answer text <p>New buildings have to meet high energy performance standards, which help saves energy bills as well as carbon. The Clean Growth Strategy said that the Government would consult in 2019 on an uplift to the Building Regulations energy efficiency standards where safe, practical, cost-effective, and affordable.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 05/11/2018 17:47:39 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

997312

registered interest
date	29/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of families that have a child eligible for 30 hours of free childcare but mistakenly do not apply for an eligibility code on such families' (a) financial situation and (b) ability to work.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	185127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring parents who want it have access to high-quality childcare to support them financially and to enable them to work, or work more hours. We have invested in strong and clear communications on the 30 hours offer, including on the cross government website, Childcare Choices (<a href="http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.childcarechoices.gov.uk</a>), which clearly sets out how and when a parent can access a place.</p><p>Parents who are eligible for 30 hours but do not apply for any reason are eligible for the universal 15 hour per week early education entitlement. They can also take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare which was introduced earlier this year.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 01/11/2018 17:00:30 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

995532

registered interest
date	26/10/2018
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	Tidal Power: Cardiff Bay
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 the scientific reasons are for not continuing the Cardiff Bay Tidal Power scheme.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	184404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2018 answer text <p>In his statement on Monday 25<sup>th</sup> June 2015, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy informed Parliament that a value for money assessment if the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and the subsequent programme of lagoons (including the proposed Cardiff Bay lagoon) did not represent value for money for the tax payer and consumer.</p><p> </p><p>The summary value for money statement can be read at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swansea-bay-tidal-lagoon-value-for-money-assessment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/11/2018 10:48:17 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

994086

registered interest
date	24/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) financial situation and (b) ability to work of families that have a child eligible for 30 hours of free childcare of not applying for an eligibility code for that childcare.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	183399
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2018 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring parents who want it have access to high-quality childcare to support them financially and to enable them to work, or work more hours. We do not expect all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours offer to take up a place for their child - parents may choose to use other childcare arrangements, for example, family members.</p><p>Parents who are eligible for 30 hours but do not apply are eligible for the universal 15 hour per week early education entitlement. They can also take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare which was introduced earlier this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 29/10/2018 14:07:26 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

993584

registered interest
date	23/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department has made available for families that have a child eligible for 30 hours of free childcare but mistakenly do not apply for an eligibility code.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	182820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring parents have access to high-quality affordable childcare. The termly deadline for the 30 hours offer has been made clear to local authorities, providers and parents, and the department expects parents to adhere to these deadlines to ensure they are able to access a 30 hours place for their child.</p><p> </p><p>The government has invested in strong and clear communications on the 30 hours offer, including a cross government website, Childcare Choices, which clearly sets out how and when a parent can access a place: <a href="http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.childcarechoices.gov.uk</a>. The department recognises that some applications may be delayed in the childcare service, that is why we have put in place a 14-day discretionary period for those parents who applied in time but received a code after the deadline, through no fault of their own.</p><p> </p><p>Parents who are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare but miss the termly deadline will continue to remain eligible for the universal 15 hour per week early education entitlement before they can access a 30 hours place the following term. They can also take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare which was introduced earlier this year.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 26/10/2018 13:21:44 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

992701

registered interest
date	22/10/2018
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	Carer's Allowance: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions for fraud of Carers Allowance there has been as a result of earnings exceeding the threshold by (a) less than 10 per cent, (b) less than 20 percent, (c) less than 10 per cent after deductions and (d) less than 20 per cent after deductions in each of the last ten years.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	182242
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.</p><p> </p><p>DWP does not routinely publish prosecution statistics and the specific information requested is not available at a granular level. This could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Carers Allowance claimants would only be deemed to have been overpaid if their earnings exceeded the earnings threshold after allowable deductions have been taken into account.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/10/2018 09:11:33 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

992805

registered interest
date	22/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing local authorities with a discretionary fund to support families that have a child eligible for 30 hours of free childcare but mistakenly do not apply for an eligibility code.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	182290
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2018 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring parents have access to high-quality affordable childcare. The termly deadline for the 30 hours offer has been made clear to local authorities, providers and parents, and the department expects parents to adhere to these deadlines in order to ensure they are able to access a 30 hours place for their child.</p><p> </p><p>The government has invested in strong and clear communications on the 30 hours offer, including a cross government website, Childcare Choices, which clearly sets out how and when a parent can access a place: <a href="http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.childcarechoices.gov.uk</a>. The department recognises that some applications may be delayed in the Childcare Service and we have put in place a 14 day discretionary period for those parents who applied in time but received a code after the deadline, through no fault of their own.</p><p> </p><p>During the first year of delivery, over 379,000 codes were successfully generated by parents applying through the HM Revenue and Customs Childcare Service, with around 340,000 places being taken up by working parents across the country, taking huge pressures off family lives and budgets.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 25/10/2018 16:31:11 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

992841

registered interest
date	22/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people have applied for an eligibility code for 30 hours of free childcare after the deadline in each of the terms to date.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	182301
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2018 answer text <p>During the first year of delivery, over 379,000 eligibility codes were successfully generated by parents applying through HM Revenue and Customs Childcare Service.</p><p>This breaks down across each of the terms as follows:</p><ul><li>Autumn term 2017 – 224,885 codes</li><li>Spring term 2018 – 329,195 codes</li><li>Summer term 2018 – 379,662 codes</li><li>Autumn term 2018 – 254,136 codes</li></ul><p>We publish termly management information releases showing the number of codes generated each term. The full publication, which shows local authority and regional level breakdowns, is available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility-codes-issued-and-validated" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility-codes-issued-and-validated</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The government has invested in strong and clear communications on the 30 hours offer, including a cross government website, Childcare Choices, which clearly sets out how and when a parent can access a place – <a href="http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.childcarechoices.gov.uk</a>. The department recognises that some applications may be delayed in the Childcare Service, that is why we have put in place a 14 day discretionary period for those parents who applied in time but received a code after the deadline, through no fault of their own.</p><p>Although the department holds data on the number of eligibility codes and when they were issued, we are unable to determine in which term a parent intends to take up a place, as this is dependent on circumstances and choices of the individual parent.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 25/10/2018 15:55:37 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

990317

registered interest
date	18/10/2018
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	Carer's Allowance: Overpayments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of overpayment of carers allowance her Department has sought to collect in each of the last 10 years; and what the average amount of overpayment recovered in each of those years was.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	181304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by informal carers who provide invaluable support for relatives, partners, friends and neighbours who may be ill, frail or disabled. We also recognise and value the work that carer’s organisations undertake for and on behalf of carers.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £64.60 a week, meaning an additional £550 a year for carers. By 2022/23 we are forecast to spend around £3.7 billion a year on CA, a real terms increase of more than a third since 2016/17.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that, overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2018 DWP introduced the Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) system for use in Carers Allowance. The VEP service presents earnings and employment data to users, with an automated alerts service generating notifications of earnings or pensions related changes. This allows benefit awards to be updated far more quickly.</p><p> </p><p>Where there are discrepancies DWP will contact the claimant for further information. This activity is part of the normal claims handling and maintenance process.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has a Carers Allowance (CA) Fraud and Error Framework which addresses potential fraud and error losses in CA. Activity is based on CA overpayment data. This data shows that the main causes of errors are earnings and to a lesser extent, change of entitlement and hospitalisation. Individual benefit strategies have been developed in order to target these risks types</p><p> </p><p>Data is only available from 2011/12. Table 1 below shows the volume and value of CA new debt overpayments deemed recoverable for the period available up to 2017/18. Table 2 shows the monetary value of CA overpayment recoveries in each year. Please note, recoveries in a financial year won’t necessarily correspond to the new debts raised within that year.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has different deduction rates to be applied in different circumstances and these rates can vary dependent upon a claimant’s particular circumstances. Because of this it would not be possible to provide a meaningful average recovery amount.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Table 1</em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Count of New CA Debts</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Value of New CA Debts Raised in Year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p>30.7k</p></td><td><p>£39.32m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>22.4k</p></td><td><p>£28.27m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>19.1k</p></td><td><p>£25.86m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p>14.4k</p></td><td><p>£18.01m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p>14.5k</p></td><td><p>£16.74m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p>21.4k</p></td><td><p>£19.01m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p>18.1k</p></td><td><p>£18.18m</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Table 2</em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Value of CA Debt Recovered in Year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p>£18.02m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>£18.65m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>£19.28m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p>£19.60m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p>£19.01m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p>£21.12m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p>£20.91m</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government keeps the CA earnings limit under regular review. In April 2018, the CA earnings limit increased from £116 to £120 a week. This 3.4% increase was higher than average earnings growth (Sep 17). In the Economic and fiscal outlook (March 2017) the OBR forecast that average earnings would increase by around 7.5% between 2015 and 2018, whereas we will have increased the CA earnings limit by around 9%.</p><p> </p><p>Table 3 below shows a breakdown of the recoverable CA overpayment volumes by reason for the same period available. It should be noted that not all debts will be cleared in the year in which they have been raised.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>Table 3</em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Count of CA Debts</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Reason for CA Overpayment</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p>5.5k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>9.0k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.3k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>5.0k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>8.0k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.3k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>5.1k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>9.2k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.4k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p>4.2k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>6.7k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.3k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p>4.6k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>6.5k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.2k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p>7.5k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>8.7k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.4k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p>4.9k</p></td><td><p>Ceased to Care 35hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>9.3k</p></td><td><p>Earnings over CA Limit</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>0.2k</p></td><td><p>Full Time Education</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Data on specific earnings thresholds as requested is not recorded.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 181306 181308 question first answered 23/10/2018 16:28:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George