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1136048

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Local Housing Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing local housing allowance to the 30th percentile point for current market rents in each size category of dwelling.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	271443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>There are no current plans to extend or maintain the Benefit Freeze after March 2020. Specific decisions on how to uprate the Local Housing Allowance from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support of fiscal events later this year.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 08/07/2019 16:40:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136405

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department has taken to increase public understanding of invisible disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272164
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>On Tuesday 25 June, the Government launched a new cross-government approach on disability which is guided by a vision that recognises the contributions that disabled people make and where disabled people can participate fully in society. To drive forward this approach, government will establish a new cross-departmental disability team in the Cabinet Office, and the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) will be incorporated into the team. This move recognises that disabled people, including those with hidden disabilities, face barriers across the life course and a wide range of aspects of their lives and coordinated cross-government action is therefore vital.</p><p>The British Standards Institution, and others involved in supporting the “Grace’s Sign” campaign, are currently exploring the potential for developing a symbol for hidden disabilities. The project is in an early scoping phase, but its intended aim is that the symbol would be recognised by the International Organization for Standardization. Achieving this involves a multi-stage process, which can take time, but if successful, greatly enhances the chances of its sustained future use in public signage. If successful, greater use and public acceptance of such a symbol would increase awareness of hidden disabilities, and help promote an understanding of the possible access and support needs of people with hidden disabilities.</p><p>Various Sector Champions appointed by the Minister for Disabled People are working within their sectors to support all disabled people, raise awareness of their needs and drive improvements in how these are met. Examples relating to hidden disabilities include: railway franchises thinking about supporting people with a wider range of disabilities, including through quiet areas at stations; a lanyard to identify those with hidden disabilities at airports, with staff trained to recognise this and offer help; and within the retail sector, many large stores holding quiet hours (no music and dimmed lighting) to improve the shopping experience for those with some hidden disabilities (such as autism or ADHD).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/07/2019 15:56:14 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136629

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Plastics: Bottles
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 recent discussions he has had with soft drinks manufacturers on phasing out single-use plastic bottles.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>We have not had discussions on phasing out single use plastic bottles. However, as part of our wider consultation on the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, we have been working closely with soft drinks manufacturers and other stakeholders on proposals aimed at boosting recycling rates, reducing littering and recovering high quality materials for reprocessing. The consultation closed on 13 May and we will issue a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/07/2019 11:19:48 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136940

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Social Rented 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 his Department is taking to (a) improve housing standards for older people living in the rental sector and (b) ensure the adequacy of that housing.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	273348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Safe and secure housing is a top priority for Government, and older tenants will benefit from recent legislation to bring about a new, fairer deal for both tenants and landlords as we strengthen all tenants' rights. This includes the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, which complements existing enforcement activity by empowering all tenants to hold their landlords to account if they fail to provide and maintain quality accommodation, and the extension to mandatory licensing of high-risk houses in multiple occupation, bringing more properties into scope than ever before, while also introducing minimum room sizes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 09/07/2019 09:47:12 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136948

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Older People: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that older people receive the financial support they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	273349
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 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 make a claim for State Pension or report a change in their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP uses a wide range of channels including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone to communicate information to potential customers about benefits, such as Pension Credit. Anyone wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234 and 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>Pension Credit is an important benefit specifically intended to help the poorest pensioners and there are over 1.6m pensioners already claiming over £5billion but we want to ensure that everyone eligible can claim what they are entitled to. 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>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 it.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, the Government’s commitment to the triple lock has meant that the full basic State Pension is now worth around £1600 a year more (in cash terms) than it was in 2010 and significantly, 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.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/07/2019 14:22:38 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1137022

registered interest
date	04/07/2019
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	Social Services: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by the Children's Commissioner entitled vulnerable children: time for action, published in July 2019, what steps his Department is taking to support children’s social care services to meet their statutory duties.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	273350
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is determined to improve the way local agencies work together to identify and protect people at risk. We are implementing reforms following the Children and Social Work Act 2017, placing a responsibility on health and other partners to work together to develop effective, multi-agency arrangements.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 09/07/2019 13:22:28 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136522

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
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	Heart Diseases: Health Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure equitable access to less invasive treatments for structural heart diseases throughout the regions of England.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The NHS England Specialised Cardiac Improvement Programme is working to streamline pathways for patients so they can access specialist teams able to offer advice on the full range of treatment options supported by evidence of effectiveness and long term patient outcomes.</p><p>NHS England Specialised Commissioning considers it is important that patients are aware of all treatment options and this includes access to less invasive treatments, where clinically appropriate. NHS England is currently considering less invasive interventions for structural heart disease as part of its 2019/20 clinical policy pipeline.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy question first answered 08/07/2019 16:15:57 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136578

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
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	Boilers: Hydrogen
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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that new gas boilers are hydrogen-ready.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government considers that hydrogen technologies have the potential to make an important contribution to decarbonising heating.</p><p>The Department commissioned Frazer Nash to prepare the report ‘Appraisal of Domestic Hydrogen Appliances’, published in 2018, which discusses the feasibility and merits of hydrogen-ready appliances as well as the adaption of existing natural gas appliances and new designated hydrogen fuelled appliances.</p><p>The Department is also currently delivering the Hy4Heat innovation programme; an ongoing programme assessing the feasibility of hydrogen heating applications in buildings. This programme supports the design, development and testing of domestic hydrogen appliances, including investigating the potential for products, such as hydrogen-ready boilers, to facilitate conversion:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appraisal-of-domestic-hydrogen-appliances" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appraisal-of-domestic-hydrogen-appliances</a>.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 08/07/2019 15:06:57 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136618

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Food
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce food waste in schools.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to tackling waste. The Waste Strategy, published in December 2018, sets out a new approach to address food waste from farm to fork which includes tackling food waste in schools.</p><p>Schools are responsible for their day-to-day running including their school meals service. We expect schools to work closely with their caterer(s) to make sure that all pupils can choose a healthy and balanced meal, with as little waste as possible.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 08/07/2019 13:42:13 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1136696

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
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	Affordable Housing: Rural Areas
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 his Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing in rural areas to meet the demand from (a) young people and (b) families.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	272775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>This Government believes that meeting the housing needs of rural communities is important and has provided nearly 140,000 affordable homes in rural local authorities in England since April 2010.</p><p>Our £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver 250,000 new affordable homes of a wide range of tenures, including social rent by March 2022. The expanded programme will help meet the housing needs of a wider range of people – those who are on a pathway to home ownership, and those who need support most.</p><p>Since 2015, over 10 per cent of additional Affordable Homes have been delivered in villages with a population of fewer than 3000, and we recognise the importance of these settlements for both economic and housing growth.</p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework makes it clear that in rural areas housing development that reflect local needs should be supported.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 08/07/2019 09:57:55 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly