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1194374

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
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	Leisure: Coronavirus
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 support his Department provides to Leisure Trusts that are not eligible for the covid-19 business support schemes introduced by the Government.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	45350
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text The Government is aware of the financial challenges that the leisure sector is facing and is in discussions with sector representatives and local authorities to explore what additional support is needed.<p> </p><p>As set out on 1 May, the Government is making a further £617m available through a Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund to support small businesses previously outside the scope of existing business grant funding schemes. Grants up to a maximum of £25,000 will be available and the allocation of funding will be at the discretion of local authorities.</p><p> </p>Through Sport England, DCMS has made available a £210m package of support to the sport and physical activity sector to support it through the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes a £35m Community Emergency Fund to support organisations suffering immediate financial hardship. answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 18/05/2020 08:35:32 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1193743

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
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	Travel Agents: Repayments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to prevent travel agents from withholding a proportion of refunds for holidays that have been cancelled as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	44005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>Package travel agencies are required to comply with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which protect consumers who have bought package holidays. Consumers are entitled to a refund if forced to cancel a package holiday due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which should be issued within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. BEIS officials have held regular discussions with travel and tourism sector representatives, travel businesses and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak. Further information on the rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses was published on 30 April by the Competition and Markets Authority who have also set up a covid-19 taskforce for consumers seeking refunds.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 12/05/2020 13:14:06 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1193813

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Guatemala: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to repatriate UK travellers stranded in Guatemala during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	44006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>The British Embassy in Guatemala City continues to explore all possible options for the safe return of UK nationals in Guatemala, working closely with the relevant authorities. We have worked with the German, Swiss, and Spanish Embassies in country to secure seats for UK nationals on planes chartered by them. In addition, our Embassy has worked successfully with Guatemalan authorities to transport British citizens to the Mexican border for onward travel to the UK via commercial means. We will continue to provide consular support to British nationals who remain in Guatemala and require assistance, as well as with our international partners to secure seats for British nationals on future flights, including to European countries where commercial routes to the UK are still available.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 14:56:56 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1193814

registered interest
date	06/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Spain: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to support the repatriation of vulnerable UK travellers in Spain during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	44007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2020 answer text <p>We have been working hard to help as many British Nationals (BNs) as possible return home, working with tour operators, airlines, local authorities and other diplomatic missions. Our efforts have enabled more than 200,000 BNs to fly home from Spain. The Spanish Government has ensured that some hotel accommodation remains available and although availability is very limited, commercial flights are still operating. Our Embassy continues to provide consular support to those remaining BNs who wish to return, including advice on medical support and financial assistance. The new loan scheme has made it easier for BNs to access financial support when booking onto flights.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 12/05/2020 16:47:18 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1191587

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South America: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the operational ability of South American drugs gangs.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	41623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The impacts of the Covid-19 response are already affecting how criminal networks operate across the globe, although it is too soon for us to understand fully how the picture is changing. We are monitoring the situation closely and our international law enforcement response continues. In the last month alone the NCA has contributed to the seizure of more than 1.7 tonnes of illicit drugs internationally.</p><p>It also seems likely that the pandemic and countries' responses to it, while leading to a reduction in some organised criminal activities, will be providing opportunities for new ones. It is too early to judge how long-term the consequences of this might be. The United Kingdom shares the concerns of our Latin American partners regarding ongoing activity by organised groups fighting for control of illicit economies, and the impact of this on peace and security in the region.</p><p>Our priority remains working alongside our international partners to resolve the health and economic risks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and to set the stage for a strong and sustainable economic recovery.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 04/05/2020 09:55:19 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1191623

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
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	Planning Permission: Coronavirus
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 guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on maintaining public involvement in the planning process during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	41560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has made clear that local planning authorities should continue to prioritise decision-making during these challenging times to ensure that the planning system continues to function, especially when this when this will support the local economy. This includes maintaining public involvement in the planning process, for instance through the use of virtual planning committees and innovative ways of publicising planning applications. We have recently issued further guidance to this effect.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 11/05/2020 13:23:40 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1191677

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Windrush Generation Compensation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has been made on the Windrush compensation scheme; and what further steps she plans to take to speed up the compensation process for claimants.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	41561
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>We publish information on the total number of claims submitted, claims paid and the overall amount paid out by the Windrush Compensation Scheme on a quarterly basis. The latest set of data can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-february-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-february-2020</a>.</p><p>We are processing claims as quickly as possible, but all claims are different, and the time taken will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the case. We are committed to working with the claimant to ensure all possible information is taken into account and this will have an impact on the length of time it takes to process the claim. Wherever possible, we will make interim payments on parts of the claim that are straightforward to determine, such as immigration fees, thereby speeding up the provision of compensation.</p><p>In recent months, we have made several announcements in relation to the Windrush Compensation Scheme to encourage more people to submit a claim, and to help those who already have. We have extended the length of the Scheme by two years, to April 2023, to give individuals more time to submit a claim for compensation. We have also amended the mitigation policy – the criteria by which financial settlements are made – to take a wider range of circumstances into account when deciding awards. This change may help some people qualify for higher awards, particularly relating to loss of employment.</p><p>We recently announced that we will launch a dedicated national communications campaign, targeting individuals affected by Windrush across the UK. Further to this, we will open a £500k fund for grassroots organisations to promote the schemes. The fund and communications campaign will help to raise awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and encourage eligible people to apply.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 04/05/2020 16:56:59 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1191228

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
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	Exercise Cygnus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of the participants of Exercise Cygnus.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	41129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Exercise Cygnus was a national level pandemic influenza exercise involving Ministers and officials from the Department; other Government departments; devolved administrations; NHS England; Public Health England and local agencies.</p><p>The lessons identified from the exercise have been considered across Government and shared with participants and local pandemic preparedness planners. Lessons identified from previous influenza pandemics, and exercises such as Exercise Cygnus, continue to inform the development of pandemic preparedness plans.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 04/05/2020 12:06:52 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1191229

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Cuba and Venezuela: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of US sanctions on (a) Venezuela and (b) Cuba on the ability of those countries to respond effectively to the covid-19 pandemic; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure essential medical supplies can reach those nations.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	41130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK remains deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and its long-term economic crisis. Venezuela's economy has shrunk 65% since 2013, and not as a result of economic sanctions imposed from 2017, but caused primarily by political and economic mismanagement and the gross misuse of power by the illegitimate Maduro regime and its predecessor. The collapse of the country's health system is one example of what has gone wrong, at such high cost to the Venezuelan people, and long predates the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through DFID, HMG has to date committed £44.5 million to support the humanitarian crisis, including ongoing work being delivered by key partners, such as the UN, to support the Covid-19 response and alleviate the humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Venezuela, including through the provision of medical supplies.</p><p>The UK Government does not support the US sanctions regime against Cuba. Our Ambassador to Havana regularly discusses with the Cuban authorities how we can develop our bilateral relationship, including how we might work together to deliver a robust global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were most appreciative of the Cuban authorities' support with the repatriation of passengers from the cruise ship <em>Braemar </em>in March after passengers on the ship were stricken by the Covid-19 virus.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 04/05/2020 10:48:41 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1190705

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	El Salvador: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his El Salvadorian counterpart on the treatment of prisoners in that country during the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	40717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The British Government is working with the Government of El Salvador to try and improve conditions in prisons, and prepare prisoners for reintegration into society. Our Embassy in San Salvador is in regular contact with the Salvadoran authorities.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 04/05/2020 09:52:59 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West