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1190753

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	Social Services: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which local authorities have introduced Care Act easements; on what date those local authorities did so; and what level of easements have been applied by those local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
uin	40504
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>As of 30 April 2020, the Department has received notification from Sunderland City Council on 31 March, Derbyshire County Council on 9 April, Birmingham City Council on 14 April, Warwickshire County Council on 16 April, Staffordshire County Council on 17 April, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on 18 April and Coventry City Council on 28 April. Middlesbrough Council introduced easements on 14 April but has since notified the Department that they ceased to operate under easements on 22 April.</p><p>Local authorities must notify the Department when they decide to operate under easements, but are not required to notify the Department of what level of easements have been applied.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 11/05/2020 12:35:41 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately previous answer version 18668 answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1190799

registered interest
date	27/04/2020
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	Pets: Animal Welfare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to introduce parity of treatment under the law for people found guilty of harming or injuring a domestic pet to bring them in line with the penalties imposed if a service dog used by the police or an assistance dog used by a visually impaired person is attacked or injured.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	40708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government remains fully committed to animal welfare and supports increasing the maximum custodial sentences for animal cruelty offences from six months to five years. This will enable courts to take a firmer approach to cases such as dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, or gross neglect of farm animals. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 5 February by Chris Loder MP and is due to have its Second Reading on 10 July. The Government will continue to support the Bill as it makes its way through Parliament. The proposed new maximum sentence of five years would apply to all animals under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and hence would provide parity of treatment under the law for domestic pets, for service dogs used by the police, and for assistance dogs used by visually impaired people.</p><p> </p><p>The new maximum penalty of five years is in line with campaigns by key stakeholders such as Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA. This is a positive step forward in improving animal welfare and will act as a serious deterrent against animal cruelty. The increase to five years' imprisonment will provide one of the toughest sanctions in Europe, strengthening the UK's position as a global leader on animal welfare and will apply where anyone is convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 05/05/2020 16:42:07 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1190307

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Protective Clothing: 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 steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to (a) respond to and (b) process offers to supply personal protective equipment from (i) British and (ii) foreign suppliers.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	39490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>All offers receive an immediate automated response and follow up contact once the team have assessed the offer.</p><p>We are identifying new sources of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) from overseas markets, diversifying the United Kingdom’s sources of supply and strengthening the UK’s supply chains for the long term.</p><p>Department for International Trade and Foreign and Commonwealth Office teams around the world are seeking new supplies, lobbying governments to lift export restrictions and helping get crucial deliveries back to the UK.</p><p>The Government has processed over 23,000 cases from over 15,000 suppliers and has contracted with 150 of them. In addition, we are in contact with over 350 potential manufacturers and have signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers. More new manufacturers are expected to commit to producing PPE in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 39492 question first answered 25/06/2020 11:17:01 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1190309

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Protective Clothing: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of offers to supply personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak have been responded to within (a) 24 hours and (b) a week in the lastest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	39492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>All offers receive an immediate automated response and follow up contact once the team have assessed the offer.</p><p>We are identifying new sources of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) from overseas markets, diversifying the United Kingdom’s sources of supply and strengthening the UK’s supply chains for the long term.</p><p>Department for International Trade and Foreign and Commonwealth Office teams around the world are seeking new supplies, lobbying governments to lift export restrictions and helping get crucial deliveries back to the UK.</p><p>The Government has processed over 23,000 cases from over 15,000 suppliers and has contracted with 150 of them. In addition, we are in contact with over 350 potential manufacturers and have signed contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through UK-based manufacturers. More new manufacturers are expected to commit to producing PPE in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 39490 question first answered 25/06/2020 11:17:01 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1190080

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses have accessed the business interruption loan scheme; and what the value is of loans made to date.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	39583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>As of 29 April, in total over £4.1 billion worth of loans have been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to over 25,262 businesses.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 10:04:49 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1190128

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Small Business Grants Fund: Tourism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will extend the covid-19 grant scheme for tourism and hospitality firms to small bed and breakfast businesses that are currently ineligible because they pay council tax and not business rates.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Scott Benton
uin	39740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>On 1 May 2020 the Business Secretary announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities. This additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. We are asking local authorities to prioritise businesses in shared workspaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would otherwise meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. Local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 10:19:26 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4793 label Biography information for Scott Benton

1190196

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Veterinary Services: Coronavirus
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 steps his Department is taking to support (a) small and (b) independent veterinary practices during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	39767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The veterinary profession is vital in maintaining high standards of animal health and welfare in UK, particularly at this very challenging time.</p><p> </p><p>Working alongside HM Treasury, Defra is in regular contact with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other key stakeholders to ensure we understand the economic impacts to small independent veterinary practices and the wider industry over the Covid-19 outbreak.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Prime Minister’s statement of 23 March bringing in the lockdown measures, the veterinary professional bodies produced guidance focussing on the provision of essential services only. This was updated from 13 April, reducing the restrictions. Under this guidance it is for individual vets to make decisions about what work can and should be undertaken and how to do this in line with social distancing guidelines including remote consultations, if practical.</p><p> </p><p>Veterinary practices should be able to access Bounce Back loans, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) or the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), subject to eligibility criteria for each scheme. Many vets and locums are self-employed and there is also a range of support available where they can demonstrate the financial impact of the Coronavirus outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 38666 question first answered 05/05/2020 15:41:19 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1190198

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Remote Working: Pregnancy
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 steps are being taken to protect pregnant women who are unable to work from home.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	39769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Government advice is clear. If at all possible, people should work at home and where they cannot, employers should ensure that the work environment is a safe one and follow all relevant public health guidance. This advice applies equally to pregnant women.</p><p>Government is determined to ensure that pregnant women do not suffer detriment at work in any circumstances, including where they have followed public heath guidance.</p><p>The Coronavirus outbreak has not changed the law on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. There is no place for it under any circumstances. If a pregnant woman is dismissed or made redundant on the grounds of her pregnancy, this is automatically unfair dismissal.</p><p>Under Health and Safety at Work legislation, it remains the employer’s responsibility to put in place arrangements to control health and safety risks. There are already specific requirements in place for pregnant workers and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out the expectations around risk assessments, finding alternative work and medical suspension. HSE will consider taking a range of actions to improve control of workplace risks where it is clear an employer is not following PHE guidance properly.</p><p>In terms of new specific coronavirus interventions, Government guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme makes it clear that pregnant women can be furloughed if they and their employer agree, and provided they meet the normal eligibility requirements.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 10:07:30 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1189373

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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	Protective Clothing: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of, on average, how many items of each type of personal protection equipment are required on a daily basis by (1) the National Health Service, (2) the social care sector, (3) the prison service, (4) the police, and (5) other sectors; and how this compares with the shipment of equipment that was ordered from Turkey on 17 April. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Harris of Haringey
uin	HL3016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2020 answer text <p>Demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) is currently exceptionally high across these sectors, and the Government is working hard to source new supply to meet that need. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have delivered over one billion items of PPE to ensure our frontline is protected. We have also extended our PPE supply route to local resilience forums to help local government distribute stock to social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.</p><p>We are not reliant on Turkey for gowns and many more orders are lined up and expected from suppliers in the United Kingdom and overseas.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 14/05/2020 11:18:11 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	2671 label Biography information for Lord Harris of Haringey

1189981

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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	Small Business Grants Fund: Coronavirus
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 steps he is taking to ensure that small businesses who pay business rates as part of their rental agreement with their landlord are able to access the Small Business Grants Fund for covid-19 support on the same basis as those small businesses who are directly registered for business rates payments.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
tabling member printed	Scott Benton
uin	39682
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Only businesses with their own assessment for business rates and which are eligible for either Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief (RRR) will be eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund. Businesses which are not ratepayers in their own right are not eligible.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands that for some shared spaces and service offices, individual users may not have their own rating assessment and may not therefore be eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund.</p><p> </p><p>Therefore, on 1 May 2020 the Business Secretary announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities. This additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. We are asking local authorities to prioritise businesses in shared work spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would otherwise meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. Local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 05/05/2020 10:20:42 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4793 label Biography information for Scott Benton