Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1059376

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Compensation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department is making on the introduction of an automated delay repay compensation scheme that is interoperable across train operating companies.
tabling member constituency	North East Hampshire
tabling member printed	Mr Ranil Jayawardena
uin	909230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>As announced by the Secretary of State in October, the Government will mandate new franchises to introduce simple “one-click” automated claims systems, available via smartphones and smartcard registration. This will make it easier for passengers to claim compensation when they have suffered delays.</p><p> </p><p>We are also encouraging “one-click” compensation to be introduced across all DfT train operators.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 14/02/2019 15:06:37 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4498 label Biography information for Mr Ranil Jayawardena

1059727

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	NHS: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) restrictions and (b) prohibitions are in place on (i) engaging with and (ii) selling to the NHS for senior staff who leave NHS England and move to work for private companies.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	220225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The standard contract of employment that NHS England Executive and Senior Manager staff are issued with includes the following:</p><p> </p><p>“20. Post-termination restrictions</p><p> </p><p>20.1 You agree that, following the termination of your employment for any reason you will not directly or indirectly, either alone or jointly with or on behalf of any person, firm or company and whether on your own account or as principal, shareholder, partner, employee, agent or otherwise:</p><p> </p><p>20.1.1 for a period of six months lobby the UK government in relation to any aspect of national or regional health policy with a view to promoting or advancing your own business interests or those of any third party</p><p> </p><p>20.1.2 for a period of six months solicit the employment or engagement of any person who immediately prior to termination of your employment was a senior employee in a managerial, executive or technical capacity of NHS England with whom you worked or with whom you had contact or whose work you were aware of in the 12 months prior to such termination.”</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 18/02/2019 12:26:36 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1059730

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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: Housing
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 effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of rent arrears among claimants.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	220052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Safeguards are in place for Universal Credit claimants, including Advances, budgeting support and Alternative Payment Arrangements and claimants already receiving Housing Benefit are paid an additional two weeks of Housing Benefit to support them whilst they transition to monthly payments on Universal Credit. Our work coaches gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview and can refer them to more specialist support for debt advice if required.</p><p> </p><p>According to latest figures (August 2018), only about 7% of social rented households were claiming Universal Credit. Many tenants have pre-existing rent arrears at the start of their claim; indications at this stage are that Universal Credit actually helps to clear these arrears over time.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/02/2019 16:27:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1059732

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Southwark
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reduce flight path concentration over the London borough of Southwark.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	220049
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>Airports are responsible for the specific arrangements for low-level flightpaths. All proposals to alter these arrangements must follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) airspace change process which was revised in 2018, following the publication by the Department of revised air navigation guidance.</p><p> </p><p>This guidance requires airports who are seeking to make alterations to their flightpath arrangements to consult with those communities who may be affected by the proposed changes.</p><p> </p><p>A key requirement set out in the guidance is the need for airspace change sponsors to consider the use of multiple flightpaths to disperse air traffic, as well as undertaking a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to encourage airports to work with their local communities to identify possible options that may reduce the overall adverse health impacts arising from aircraft noise.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 18/02/2019 14:56:18 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1059733

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Noise
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, whether he plans to take steps to meet the World Health Organisation Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region 2018.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	220050
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We are working across Government to consider the guidelines and their relevance to future guidance and policy. An officials group is assessing the evidence base as well as other relevant recent research carried out in the UK and abroad, to inform our thinking on this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/02/2019 15:59:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1059735

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to delay the loan charge settlement day until after the conclusion of the review of that charge.
tabling member constituency	Welwyn Hatfield
tabling member printed	Grant Shapps
uin	220152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government chose to accept section 95 during the passage of the Finance Bill introduced by a cross party group. As set out by section 95, the Government will lay a report no later than 30 March 2019. The report will review the effect of changes made to the time limits for assessment where tax loss arises in relation to offshore tax, and compare these with other legislation including the charge on disguised remuneration loans.</p><p>The charge on disguised remuneration loans remains unchanged as a result of the requirement for a report, and will apply to disguised remuneration loan balances on 5 April 2019.</p><p>The charge on disguised remuneration (DR) loans will apply to outstanding DR loan balances on 5 April 2019. It is targeted at artificial tax avoidance schemes where earnings were paid in the form of non-repayable loans made by a third party. The loans are provided on terms that mean they are not repaid in practice, so they are no different to normal income and are, and always have been, taxable.</p><p> </p><p>The Government estimates that up to 50,000 individuals will be affected by the 2019 loan charge. Information is not held at constituency, borough or regional level.</p><p> </p><p>Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) liabilities fall on the employer in the first instance. The charge on DR loans does not change this principle and the employee will only be liable where the amount cannot reasonably be collected from the employer, such as where the employer is offshore or no longer exists. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals. HMRC will never force somebody to sell their main home to pay for their DR debt, or the loan charge.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC is working hard to help individuals get out of avoidance for good and offer manageable and sustainable payment plans wherever possible. It carefully considers each case and there is no maximum limit on how long a customer can be given to pay what they owe. HMRC considers a customer’s ability to pay on a case by case basis and decisions are based on each individual’s personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC has simplified the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can automatically agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to 7 years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>Anybody who is worried about being able to pay what they owe should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible. They have a number of ways to help those who are genuinely unable to make a full payment of tax on time, for example, by arranging payments by instalments.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 18/02/2019 17:20:20 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
tabling member	1582 label Biography information for Grant Shapps

1059736

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Secure Psychiatric Units: Autism and Learning disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on closing secure health care units for people with autism and learning difficulties of the proposed opening by Elysium Healthcare of five new such units in England.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	220278
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>We have made no such assessment.</p><p> </p><p>We remain committed to reducing the number of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are inpatients in hospital, reducing the length of time those admitted spend there, and enhancing the quality of both hospital and community settings.</p><p> </p><p>Some people will continue to need access to time limited inpatient services for assessment of their needs and treatment where this is appropriate. In such circumstances, it is for National Health Service commissioners to take decisions on which providers to commission services from. Our position is that patients should receive the best possible service and outcomes irrespective of which organisation provides it.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 18/02/2019 17:56:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1059740

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with police forces on reforming recruitment procedures to increase the recruitment, retention and promotion of people from BAME backgrounds.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
uin	220233
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>There is a greater proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) officers than ever before, however the Government has been clear that there is more for forces to do.</p><p>The Government established the College of Policing as the professional body for policing. The College has delivered a major programme of work to address the recruitment, retention and progression of officers from BAME and other underrepresented groups in policing including: capturing what works; publishing positive action advice; and reviewing the initial recruitment processes. A pilot of a new assessment centre for police officer recruits is now underway, led by the Metropolitan Police, and an evaluation is expected to be published by the College of Policing in autumn 2019.</p><p>Building on the foundations laid by the College, the National Police Chief’s Council published its first Diversity, Equality and Inclusion strategy in October 2018.</p><p>Ministers are in regular dialogue with policing partners about increasing police workforce diversity. The Home Secretary chaired a Race Diversity Roundtable with policing leaders in October 2018, following which he wrote to Police and Crime Commissioners, the College of Policing, Her Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and chief constables, urging a whole system approach to driving improvements in diversity.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 18/02/2019 15:49:26 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty

1059741

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Cocoa
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) West African and (b) South and Latin American cocoa producers supplying (i) the UK and (ii) other EU countries while earning less than the living income.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
uin	220234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/02/2019 answer text <p>DFID has not made an estimate of the number of cocoa producers in West Africa and South and Latin America supplying the UK and the EU while earning less than the living income.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>DFID is committed to driving inclusive and sustainable growth that lifts people out of poverty. More than 8 million people have benefited from DFID’s current agriculture programmes since 2010. In West Africa we are supporting the Cocoa and Forest Initiative to promote a sustainable cocoa sector which benefits smallholder farmers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 18/02/2019 18:02:07 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty

1059742

registered interest
date	12/02/2019
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	Post Offices: Closures
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 effect of (a) Post Office and (b) Crown Post Office closures on the local economy in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
uin	220235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK. This is why the Government committed to safeguard the post office network and protect existing rural services. The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The management of the Post Office network is an operational matter for the Post Office Limited who are responsible for maintaining the network of branches and achieving the accessibility criteria set by Government. The Post Office does not have a branch closure programme, rather they are franchising branches to ensure services remain in communities and are actively looking for areas of the country where there is a demand for Post Office services, with over 350 local branches opened since April 2017 in new locations. Branches can sometimes close for reasons beyond the Post Office’s control and when this happens the Post Office seeks to restore services for the communities affected.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 19/02/2019 16:13:19 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 102489 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty