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1608636

registered interest
date	30/03/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Vehicle Number Plates: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on tackling the cloning of vehicle number plates for use in criminal activity; and if he will take steps to require the relevant authorities issuing motoring penalties to provide (a) photographic evidence and (b) contact information.
tabling member constituency	Don Valley
tabling member printed	Nick Fletcher
uin	176755
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is currently working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council, Trading Standards, local authorities and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.</p><p> </p><p>The police are responsible for on-road enforcement of vehicle offences, including cloned plates. Local authorities have procedures in place to deal with number plate cloning and registered keepers are advised to return any fines they receive to the issuing authorities along with any evidence to show that their vehicle was not in the area at the time. Registered keepers may also request photographic evidence and other information from the relevant authorities who have issued the penalty.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North West Durham answering member printed Mr Richard Holden question first answered 17/04/2023 09:28:53 answering member 4813 label Biography information for Mr Richard Holden
tabling member	4832 label Biography information for Nick Fletcher

1608669

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward the date at which parents of one and two year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	176667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2023 answer text <p>The government announced in the Spring Budget 2023 that there will be a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This announcement represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England.</p><p>Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From September 2024, this will be extended to parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds, and from September 2025, working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds will be able to access 30 free hours per week, over 38 weeks a year.</p><p>This is a large expansion in the 30 hours offer and will take some time to implement and rollout. The department wants to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used efficiently, and the new offer is delivered in the best way. The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity, and we are working closely with the sector on the implementation of these reforms.</p><p>The department has already spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare. In the last decade, we have doubled the free childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to 30 hours and introduced 15 free hours a week for disadvantaged 2-year-olds.</p><p>The reforms announced build on our current early education entitlements which continue to support parents, including a universal 15-hour offer for all 3 and 4-year-olds, the 15-hour offer for the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds, and the existing 30 hours offer, as well as Tax Free Childcare and Universal Childcare.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho grouped question UIN 177792 question first answered 20/04/2023 11:01:19 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1608717

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Flexible Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, published on 15 March 2023, when and in what way the Government plans to introduce the right to request flexible working from the first day of employment.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	176680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government response to the “making flexible working the default” consultation was published on 5 December 2022. It sets out that the Government will make the right to request flexible working a ‘day one’ entitlement, by removing the existing 26-week qualifying period. This change will be delivered through secondary legislation, using existing powers in the Employment Rights Act 1996.</p><p>We are committed to introducing this change alongside the measures included in the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 17/04/2023 11:58:56 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1608727

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of withdrawing £1.6 billion for research for antimicrobial resistance on the UK’s ability to lead the world in that area.
tabling member constituency	Erewash
tabling member printed	Maggie Throup
uin	176685
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2023 answer text <p>The £1.6bn returned to HM Treasury, was part of funding put aside in the Spending Review for association to Horizon Europe. As we have been unable to associate in the financial year 2022/23, the departmental underspend was returned to the Exchequer. Any funding required for association in future years will be made available once there is clarity on UK association to EU programmes.</p><p> </p><p>Regardless of whether we reach an agreement with the EU on association, or launch our proposed alternative, the Government will ensure that UK researchers and businesses continue to benefit from world-leading collaboration opportunities in Europe and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 21/04/2023 10:13:03 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	4447 label Biography information for Maggie Throup

1608842

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Civil Liberties
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bellamy on 8 March (HL5707), what assessment they have made of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory report What do we know about children and young people deprived of their liberty in England and Wales?, published on 9 February 2022; and what steps they plan to take in response to the recommendations for collecting and publishing data made in that report.
tabling member printed	Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede
uin	HL6970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2023 answer text <p>The department welcomes the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory’s report ‘What do we know about children and young people deprived of their liberty in England and Wales’, and recognises the growing concerns regarding deprivation of liberty (DoL) cases. Children and young people deprived of their liberty are some of the most vulnerable children in society.</p><p>The newly launched National DoLs Court has helped the judiciary and the government gain more robust data and a greater understanding of this cohort of children who are often the subject of DoL proceedings, which requires a cross-system response.</p><p>The department accepts that there is a need for more robust data and will be meeting with the Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Services, and Nuffield to discuss their recommendations. Officials are meeting with Nuffield on 19 April. As data collection continues, we will be able to better understand the number of children placed in different settings, their characteristics, experiences and outcomes.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 14/04/2023 12:22:23 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	3154 label Biography information for Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

1608902

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Visas: British National (Overseas)
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are offering to people from Hong Kong who have come to the UK under the British National Overseas (BNO) visa to help them take up teaching positions.
tabling member printed	Lord Leong
uin	HL7002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2023 answer text <p>From 1 February 2023, teachers who are already qualified and recognised as teachers in Hong Kong are able to apply to have their qualification recognised with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England, without additional training. This means that they can apply for teaching roles that require QTS.</p><p>For those looking to train to teach in physics and languages, bursaries worth up to £27,000 and scholarships worth up to £29,000 are available, including to those with a British National (Overseas) visa.</p><p>For those who are considering coming to England, we have introduced an international relocation payment worth up to £10,000 to help overseas physics and language teachers and trainees, including those from Hong Kong, to relocate.</p><p>Schools looking to complete safeguarding checks in order to employ teachers from Hong Kong can currently provide assistance to these individuals with a letter which can be used to apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction from the Hong Kong authorities. Our statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, also sets out alternative safeguarding processes that schools can follow. This can be found attached.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 11/04/2023 13:39:28 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2022.pdf title HL7002_pdf
tabling member	4959 label Biography information for Lord Leong

1607748

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Children: Custody
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take to support parents who do not live with their children to maintain contact where that contact is hindered by the resident parent or guardian.
tabling member constituency	Halifax
tabling member printed	Holly Lynch
uin	174368
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the difficulties that parents can face in continuing a relationship with their child following parental separation or divorce.</p><p> </p><p>Under the current legal framework, a parent can apply for a child arrangements order for the child to live with or spend time with them. The welfare of the child is paramount in any decision regarding child arrangements, including decisions about the nature and extent of parental involvement.</p><p>We are committed to supporting families to resolve private family law matters outside of court where appropriate to ensure that matters are resolved earlier, before conflict becomes entrenched.</p><p> </p><p>The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides families with up to £500 towards mediation with a trained, authorised professional to help resolve child arrangement issues in a less adversarial way. As of 26 March 2023, over 16,100 families have now benefitted from the scheme. Analysis of the first 7,200 users shows 69% wholly or partially resolve their issues and don’t need to go on to court, other than for a consent order to formalise their agreement. The government announced on 23 March that an additional £15m would be provided to continue the scheme for up to a further two years. This will allow it to help around a further 28,500 families over the period.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 03/04/2023 09:42:59 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4472 label Biography information for Holly Lynch

1608118

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
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	Isotretinoin: Side Effects
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 review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Isotretinoin: an expert review of suspected psychiatric and sexual side effects, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing redress for people who have experienced severe side effects from isotretinoin.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Andrew Western
uin	175659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) obtains independent advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM). The Isotretinoin Expert Working Group was convened by CHM to evaluate the latest data on risk of psychiatric adverse reactions and sexual dysfunction suspected to be associated with the use of isotretinoin and to consider whether regulatory action is required to minimise risks or raise awareness of the risks. The report of this review will be published shortly, and more information on the working group is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/isotretinoin-an-expert-review-of-suspected-psychiatric-and-sexual-side-effects" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/isotretinoin-an-expert-review-of-suspected-psychiatric-and-sexual-side-effects</a></p><p> </p><p>The matter of redress sat outside the scope of the expert review and is also outside the remit of MHRA. Our primary focus currently is on improving future medicines and medical devices safety.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/04/2023 08:16:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western

1608119

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
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: Armed Forces
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 104134 on Universal Credit: Armed Forces, how many Universal Credit claimants have been identified as (a) serving and (b) having served in the armed forces for the assessment periods ending on 1 March 2023.
tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
tabling member printed	John Healey
uin	175486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) started collecting data on the Armed Forces status of Universal Credit (UC) claimants in Great Britain (GB) in April 2021. At first only new claimants were asked about their Armed Forces status. From June 2021 onwards, other UC claimants reporting changes in their work and earnings have also been able to report their status. From July 2021 onwards, UC agents have also been able to record claimants’ Armed Forces status if they are told about this via other means such as journal messages, face-to-face meetings or by telephone.</p><p> </p><p>Data coverage continues to improve over time and by February 2023 data was held on the armed forces status of approximately 61% of the GB UC caseload (see table below). It should be noted that Armed forces status is self-reported by claimants and is not verified by the Ministry of Defence or Office for Veterans’ Affairs. A claimant’s status can be recorded as “currently serving”, “served in the past”, “not served” or “prefer not to say”. Data is not collected on the specific branch of the Armed Forces that claimants are serving in or have served in in the past.</p><p> </p><p>Data is not held on the total number of UC claimants who are currently serving in the Armed Forces or who have served in the past, but data is held on those who have identified themselves so far.</p><p> </p><p>The way the data is collected means the claimants for whom an Armed Forces status is recorded are not representative of the UC caseload as a whole. This means it is not yet possible to produce reliable estimates of the overall number or proportion of UC claimants who are currently serving in the Armed Forces or who have served in the past.</p><p> </p><p>Increases in the numbers of claimants with a recorded status of “currently serving” or “served in the past” do not necessarily mean the overall numbers of claimants who are currently serving or have served in the past have increased and may reflect increases in the number of claimants for whom data is held as data coverage improves over time.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows how the proportion of the GB UC caseload with a recorded Armed Forces status has changed over time. It also shows how many claimants on the caseload had a recorded status of each type.</p><p> </p><p>GB UC caseload by recorded Armed Forces status</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>UC caseload month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion of caseload with a recorded status</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Currently serving</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Served in the past</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Not served</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Prefer not to say</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>No recorded status</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2022</p></td><td><p>51%</p></td><td><p>3,000</p></td><td><p>38,600</p></td><td><p>2,804,200</p></td><td><p>21,000</p></td><td><p>2,753,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2022</p></td><td><p>53%</p></td><td><p>3,200</p></td><td><p>40,100</p></td><td><p>2,912,500</p></td><td><p>21,800</p></td><td><p>2,683,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2022</p></td><td><p>54%</p></td><td><p>3,200</p></td><td><p>41,400</p></td><td><p>3,002,500</p></td><td><p>22,400</p></td><td><p>2,614,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2022</p></td><td><p>56%</p></td><td><p>3,300</p></td><td><p>42,800</p></td><td><p>3,131,700</p></td><td><p>23,400</p></td><td><p>2,530,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2022</p></td><td><p>57%</p></td><td><p>3,300</p></td><td><p>44,000</p></td><td><p>3,218,300</p></td><td><p>24,000</p></td><td><p>2,467,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2022</p></td><td><p>58%</p></td><td><p>3,400</p></td><td><p>45,100</p></td><td><p>3,299,400</p></td><td><p>24,600</p></td><td><p>2,407,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2023</p></td><td><p>59%</p></td><td><p>3,500</p></td><td><p>46,200</p></td><td><p>3,375,000</p></td><td><p>25,400</p></td><td><p>2,349,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2023 (provisional)</p></td><td><p>61%</p></td><td><p>3,600</p></td><td><p>48,300</p></td><td><p>3,508,300</p></td><td><p>26,500</p></td><td><p>2,306,900</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><p>1. Data is not collected on the Armed Forces status of UC claimants in Northern Ireland. The figures provided only relate to Great Britain.</p><p>2. Percentages are rounded to the nearest percent and numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.</p><p>3. Figures may be subject to retrospective changes as more up-to-date data becomes available or if methodological improvements are made. Figures relating to February 2023 are provisional and may be subject to revision.</p><p>4. Due to methodological improvements, these figures are based on the Official Statistics UC caseload definition. Some previous figures have used an alternative caseload definition based on assessment period end dates.</p><p>5. Further information on the caseload definition used for the UC official statistics can be found on Stat-Xplore: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 17/04/2023 13:28:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1608224

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Telecommunications: Contracts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of telecoms customers who had mid-contract price increases above inflation in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	175520
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor consumer trends in the telecoms sector, and it most recently reported on this in its <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/248546/pricing-trends-in-UK-Communications-services-report.pdf" target="_blank">Pricing Trends Report</a> 2022. While not all providers have implemented price rises, the majority of consumers are likely to have been subject to in-contract price increases in the last 12 months. However, it is not possible to more accurately estimate this due to many households having multiple, bundled contracts across different suppliers.</p><p>This is clearly a difficult time for families up and down the country who are struggling to pay their bills as a result of the global rise in the cost of living. To support people to stay connected, leaders from broadband and mobile operators agreed on a set of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments</a>. These include allowing households, who may be mid-contract but struggling with their bills, to switch to cheaper packages without penalty.</p><p>On 23 January, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology met with chief executives from major broadband providers and made clear her concerns about the impact price rises may have on those who are struggling due to the rise in the cost of living. On 9 February 2023, Ofcom launched a <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2023/review-of-inflation-linked-telecoms-price-rises" target="_blank">review</a> into the transparency of in-contract price rises. We will review Ofcom’s findings once this work has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 04/04/2023 09:46:09 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown