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1134562

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Internet: Safety
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 assessment he has made of the implications for the aims of the Online Harms White Paper of the adoption of new technical standards to bypass the blocking of online content; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	268954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Online Harms White Paper, the Government will establish a new statutory duty of care to make companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen and enforced by an independent regulator. We are currently consulting on which enforcement powers the regulator should have at its disposal to ensure it can take effective action against companies that breach their legal duty. Alongside this consultation, we continue to work with industry to understand the implications of the changing technologies and to promote approaches that work for the good of all.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 01/07/2019 14:00:51 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1134563

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Temporary Accommodation
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 plans he has to reduce the number of households living temporarily in bed and breakfasts, private hostels, short-stay houses of multiple occupancy and guesthouses.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	268955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Tackling homelessness is a priority for this Government. We are already undertaking a significant programme of work backed by £1.2 billion in funding, to tackle homelessness. This includes supporting local authorities with implementing the landmark Homelessness Reduction Act, increasing access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation and supporting London boroughs to procure more efficiently.</p><p>The Government has targeted funding streams focused on reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation. For example, we recently launched the £20 million Private Rented Sector (PRS) Access Fund which funds schemes targeting families who are or at risk of homelessness and supporting them to access and sustain PRS accommodation.</p><p>This Government has been clear that the long term use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families with children is both inappropriate and unlawful and we are determined to stop this practice. Our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, drawn from local authorities and the homelessness sector, have provided support to help local authorities to end the placement of families in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than 6 weeks.</p><p>We are working with other government departments to assess what more can be done to address the number of people in temporary accommodation. This work is being overseen by the Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Ministerial Taskforce.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 01/07/2019 15:13:41 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1134565

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Temporary Accommodation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people living temporarily on license agreements in privately-owned (a) bed and breakfast accommodation, (b) hostels, (c) short-stay house in multiple occupation and (d) guesthouses were placed by local authorities in discharge of a statutory homelessness duty.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	268956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>In October to December 2018 there were a) 6,980 households in bed and breakfast hotels (including shared annexes), of which 2,420 households contained children and b) 5,740 households in hostels (including reception centres, emergency units and refuges) in England.</p><p>The figures provided are for all people who are owed a statutory homelessness duty by a local authority. They include people in temporary accommodation under assessment, who are owed the main rehousing duty, and who are accommodated for a short period to allow them to source alternative accommodation</p><p><br>These figures are taken from an experimental statistical release and caution should be taken when using the data. Further information is provided in the release available at this link <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-october-to-december-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-october-to-december-2018</a>.</p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 01/07/2019 15:05:29 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1134009

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
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	Universal Credit
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 the effect on a universal credit claimant’s health and well-being of the ability to repay hardship payments.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	268345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>Hardship payments are available as a safeguard if a claimant demonstrates that they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs (including accommodation, heating, food and hygiene) as a result of a benefit sanction.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches ensure they consider the claimant’s circumstances, including issues relating to their health and well-being, at the point of the new claim to Universal Credit, to tailor the service accordingly. This also includes when claimants are repaying any hardship payments.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 27/06/2019 14:23:18 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1134010

registered interest
date	24/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether out-of-country appeals are appropriate for students to challenge visa revocations as a result of allegations of cheating in the TOEIC English language test.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	268346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>In 2017, the Court of Appeal in the case of Ahsan found that an out of country appeal was not effective where the person was refused on the basis of alleged cheating in a TOEIC English language test, because there was no mechanism to give oral evidence in place at that time.</p><p>There is a small cohort of people who did leave the UK and have lodged an appeal from overseas and we have been working with HM Courts and Tribunals Service to ensure that they can have an effective appeal, including providing video links where appropriate. These appellants can apply to the tribunal hearing their case to indicate if they want to give live evidence. It is then for the tribunal to decide whether the arrangements the Home Office is able to put in place are sufficient or whether it is necessary for the individu-al to return to the UK for their appeal. There have been a number of hear-ings held abroad using video link and the courts have found that this enabled the appellant to give evidence effectively.</p><p>Following the changes to the appeals system made in the Immigration Act 2014, appeals can only be brought where claims raising asylum, humanitarian protection or human rights claims are refused; where protection status is revoked; in EEA cases and for deprivation of citizenship. Some of those refused on the basis of alleged cheating have made human rights claims and will have an in country right of appeal if refused (unless the claim is clearly unfounded).</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 27/06/2019 15:24:07 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1133377

registered interest
date	19/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many criminal investigations have been undertaken into (a) students and (b) other people who were alleged to have cheated in the TOEIC English language test.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	266614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The focus of our criminal investigations was on the organised criminal groups operating at a number of colleges or test centres where intelligence supported widespread criminal abuse of the TOEIC test.</p><p>Inevitably this led to investigators interviewing students and other people who had allegedly cheated the TOEIC test. Of these 3 have been charged with offences relating to the cheating of the TOEIC test and await trial. One other person is due to be charged but that person’s whereabouts is currently unknown. In addition, 5 other test takers admitted cheating the TOEIC test and were deemed suitable for, and accepted, a criminal caution.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 25/06/2019 12:50:26 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1133378

registered interest
date	19/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the 22,694 individuals that the Home Office has identified ETS has limited confidence in the validity of their TOEIC test due to administrative irregularity, how many re-applied for their visas with a new secure English language test.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	266615
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>Whilst ETS notified the Home Office of 22,694 questionable UK test certificates, the actual number where it was relevant to require a fresh test and an interview with a Home Office official was much smaller.</p><p>The exact information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 15:55:06 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1133379

registered interest
date	19/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students received a section 10 notice as a result of being accused of cheating in the TOEIC English language test.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	266616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The exact information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office. UKVI transparency data provides details of refusal, curtailments and removal decisions on those linked to the abuse of secure English language testing. A link to the most recent available data is provided here;<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-february-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-february-2017</a></p><p>The table in SELT_02 is the closest match to the information requested</p><p>The data was last published in February 2017 and only contains data to the last quarter (December 2016). ETS data is no longer published after this date.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 16:00:09 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1132808

registered interest
date	18/06/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Educational Testing Service: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department made of the reliability of ETS’s validation systems before awarding that company a licence to deliver the TOEIC English language test in 2011.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	266059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The licence which allowed TOEIC English language testing to be used for immigration purposes was awarded following a tendering process. As part of this process the Home Office assessed both the equivalence of each tester's English test to a recognised European Standard and security arrangements around testing.</p><p>Details of the security requirements which ETS Global BV were bound to adhere to were provided to the HASC in August 2016. A copy of these requirements can be found at Annex C of <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/home-affairs-committee/english-language-testing/written/36543.pdf%20" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/home-affairs-committee/english-language-testing/written/36543.pdf </a></p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 15:13:29 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1132828

registered interest
date	18/06/2019
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	Hospices: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of children’s hospices.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	266060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>No recent assessment has been made. The vast majority of hospices were established from charitable and philanthropic donations and are therefore primarily charity-funded and independently run. However, they receive some statutory funding from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Government for providing local services. The amount of funding is a local matter.</p><p><br> On average, adult hospices received approximately 30% of their overall funding from National Health Service sources. Proportionally less public funding is received by children’s hospices than adult hospices, and this amounts to around 15%, and this is largely due to differences in their development and non-clinical care they provide.</p><p> </p><p>To compensate for the lower levels of statutory funding children’s hospices receive, NHS England manages the Children’s Hospice Grant, which is awarded and administered annually. The Children’s Hospice Grant will provide a contribution of £12 million in 2019/20.</p><p><br> As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England committed to increase its contribution to children’s palliative care over the next five years by match funding CCGs who commit to increase their investment in local children’s palliative and end of life care services including children’s hospices. Subject to CCGs increasing investment, NHS England will match this by up to £7 million a year by 2023/24. This increase is in addition to the Children’s Hospice Grant. We would expect hospices to be significant beneficiaries of the additional funding, and in many areas, children’s hospices are the main providers of children’s palliative and end of life care services.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 24/06/2019 15:26:44 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms