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1104704

registered interest
date	25/03/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	STEM Subjects: Skilled Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the skills gap in STEM subjects.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	236376
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>To address the shortage of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills, the Department is encouraging more students into STEM education and training, at all stages from primary school to higher education. As part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government has committed substantial spending on mathematics, digital and technical education to increase the take-up and better teaching of STEM subjects in schools. For example, the Department is funding a new £84 million programme to improve computing teaching and participation, and the Advanced Maths Premium which aims to support schools and colleges in tackling some of the financial barriers to increase participation in post-16 maths.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to tackling the gender imbalance in STEM subjects, and has invested in programmes to address female participation, particularly in subjects like computing and physics. This includes the Stimulating Physics Network which has a specific strand focusing on increasing the number of girls’ in physics A level. A Gender Balance in Computing pilot programme will also be launched this year to identify practical interventions that schools (at all stages, excluding post-16) can implement to improve girls’ participation in computing.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is improving careers advice in schools so that young people are aware of the high quality options available for both technical and academic routes into STEM and that they have access to information about the variety of careers that STEM pathways have to offer. STEM activities, including employer talks and work visits, are built into school career programmes and the Careers &amp; Enterprise Company funds opportunities for young people to meet a wide range of STEM employers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 02/04/2019 16:54:44 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1091204

registered interest
date	19/03/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied for universal credit; and how many of those claimants received an advance payment.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	234135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The latest available information on the number of Universal Credit claims is published and can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: <a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Internal data shows that for February 2019, around 60% of eligible new claims to Universal Credit Full Service received an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/03/2019 14:59:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1091207

registered interest
date	19/03/2019
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	Asthma: Prescriptions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the clinical rationale is to charge people with asthma for their prescription charges when people with many other long-term conditions are exempt from paying.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	234138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department has made no assessment on the effect of prescription charges on the young people with asthma and on the incidence of asthma attacks in England. The Department has made no estimate of the number of people with asthma who have missed their medication due to the cost of a prescription. Extensive arrangements are in place to help people afford NHS prescriptions. These include a broad range of prescription charge exemptions, for which someone with asthma may qualify.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has no current plans to amend these exemptions, including the list of medical conditions that provides exemption from prescription charges. Children under 16, and students under the age of 19 and in qualifying full-time education are also exempt from prescription charges. People on a low income, who do not qualify for an exemption, may be eligible for full or partial help with prescription charges through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>To support those with greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption or the NHS Low Income Scheme, prescription prepayment certificates are available. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 234139 234140 234141 question first answered 27/03/2019 12:44:24 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1091403

registered interest
date	19/03/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Business: Exports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to help export businesses prepare for the UK leaving the EU.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	234188
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2019 answer text <p>Our priority is securing a deal with the European Union as this will avoid disruption to our global trading relationships. Until that deal is in place, we must prepare for all eventualities. The Government has set out what issues business, including exporting businesses, need to consider in a no-deal scenario and the Public Information Campaign directs business to that information on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for International Trade’s frontline International Trade Advisers are regularly updated with the latest GOV.UK updates and information to help SMEs across England prepare for leaving the EU. International Trade Advisers are using this information to ensure SMEs are promptly referred to the latest available EU Exit business readiness information, including the HMRC Partnership Pack. My Department is also working closely with our counterparts in the Devolved Administrations to ensure that similar guidance is available to SMEs in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>In addition my Department continues to work closely with BEIS and HMRC to ensure that the published Public Information Campaign guidance is widely circulated. My Department has briefed Business Representative Organisations, including the BCC and CBI, on the support available to help companies prepare for the UK leaving the EU. Other Government Departments are also supporting this cross-Government effort to help SMEs as they prepare for leaving the EU. This includes a BEIS business readiness bulletin for trade associations, business representative bodies and business intermediaries and HMRC webinars for SMEs.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 234190 question first answered 28/03/2019 14:05:20 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1091405

registered interest
date	19/03/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Exports: Small Businesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support his Department is putting in place for small and medium export businesses to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	234190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2019 answer text <p>Our priority is securing a deal with the European Union as this will avoid disruption to our global trading relationships. Until that deal is in place, we must prepare for all eventualities. The Government has set out what issues business, including exporting businesses, need to consider in a no-deal scenario and the Public Information Campaign directs business to that information on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for International Trade’s frontline International Trade Advisers are regularly updated with the latest GOV.UK updates and information to help SMEs across England prepare for leaving the EU. International Trade Advisers are using this information to ensure SMEs are promptly referred to the latest available EU Exit business readiness information, including the HMRC Partnership Pack. My Department is also working closely with our counterparts in the Devolved Administrations to ensure that similar guidance is available to SMEs in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>In addition my Department continues to work closely with BEIS and HMRC to ensure that the published Public Information Campaign guidance is widely circulated. My Department has briefed Business Representative Organisations, including the BCC and CBI, on the support available to help companies prepare for the UK leaving the EU. Other Government Departments are also supporting this cross-Government effort to help SMEs as they prepare for leaving the EU. This includes a BEIS business readiness bulletin for trade associations, business representative bodies and business intermediaries and HMRC webinars for SMEs.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 234188 question first answered 28/03/2019 14:05:20 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1088821

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Parental Leave
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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on additional paid leave for (a) parents of premature babies and (b) multiple birth parents.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	232569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department is conducting a short, focussed internal review of the provisions for parents of premature babies and sick babies and those that experience multiple births.</p><p> </p><p>Preliminary work on this has now completed and my officials have identified potential areas for further work and options for taking this forward, including opportunities to work with other Government Departments.</p><p> </p><p>I expect to be in a position to say more about this in due course.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 22/03/2019 11:44:09 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1087091

registered interest
date	12/03/2019
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	Hospitals: Infectious Diseases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government has made on reducing infection rates in hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	231466
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2019 answer text <p>Public Health England (PHE) collects data on the number of healthcare associated infections as part of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance, available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-surveillance-programme-antimicrobial-utilisation-and-resistance-espaur-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-surveillance-programme-antimicrobial-utilisation-and-resistance-espaur-report</a></p><p>The latest data show cases of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection decreased by 18% from 1,149 in October-December 2017 to 938 in the same period in 2018. Hospital-onset Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli bloodstream infections remained stable over the last five years although hospital-onset Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) cases have increased slightly. This data can be found in the Epidemiological Commentary on mandatory surveillance and is available to view at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739910/Quarterley_Epidemiology_Commentary_September_18.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739910/Quarterley_Epidemiology_Commentary_September_18.pdf</a></p><p>PHE supports NHS Improvement by making local data on rates of healthcare-associated infections available to hospitals and clinical commissioning groups via its Fingertips web portal available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/amr-local-indicators" target="_blank">https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/amr-local-indicators</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 20/03/2019 16:36:29 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1086472

registered interest
date	11/03/2019
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Testicular Cancer
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been diagnosed with testicular cancer in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	230728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 14/03/2019 16:07:44 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith attachment 1 file name PQ230728.pdf title UKSA Response
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1082283

registered interest
date	05/03/2019
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	Business: Government Assistance
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 support he plans to provide to businesses to help with the UK leaving the EU.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	228730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government provides a range of business finance measures aimed at supporting SMEs to do business in the UK. Through our industrial strategy, we are currently taking action to reduce the costs of doing business, including cutting corporation tax to 19%, linking business rate increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2 years earlier than planned, and exempting micro businesses from regulations where possible.</p><p>The British Business Bank is also currently delivering more than £5.9 billion of finance to over 82,000 smaller businesses in the UK, and since 2012, the Start-Up Loans programme has lent over £468m to nearly 61,000 entrepreneurs. At Budget 2018, the Start-up Loans programme was extended by one year to April 2021 meaning that another 10,000 loans will be made to entrepreneurs.</p><p>Further, the British Business Bank is increasing deployment of its Enterprise Finance Guarantee loan-guarantee scheme, which has headroom to double commitments from current levels (around £200-220m this year) without further funding and through existing and new delivery partners under existing approvals, subject to demand.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 13/03/2019 17:33:53 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1077730

registered interest
date	28/02/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Zimbabwe: Food
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of trends in the level of food production in Zimbabwe.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	226112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2019 answer text <p>According to Government of Zimbabwe figures, the Zimbabwean average national cereal production for 2013-17 was 1,356,000 tonnes. In 2017 2,535,000 tonnes were produced, in an unusually good agricultural season. In 2018, this dropped to 1,937,000 tonnes. The current season has been negatively affected by economic crisis and poor rainfall. A significant shortfall in cereal requirements is forecast.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 05/03/2019 16:56:55 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon