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1141688

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Safety and Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) the safety of prisoners and (b) the levels of staffing in prisons in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	281562
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>In common with all Government Departments, the Ministry of Justice has considered the impact of a No Deal Brexit on its institutions, including prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Preparations are underway to ensure we are ready to leave the European Union on 31 October, with or without a deal. This includes working closely with the Department of Health to make sure that the supply of health products to prisoners is not disrupted; ensuring that our food and retail contracts have alternative arrangements in case of disruption through ports; and co-operating with other government departments to prepare for contingencies such as potential traffic disruption in the South East.</p><p> </p><p>At a local level, all prisons have reviewed their contingency plans and are engaged with their Local Resilience Forums to put in place actions to mitigate against any potential impacts as necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Separately, over the past 3 years, we have invested £100m to provide additional Prison Officers to improve frontline safety, security and rehabilitation. The benefits of this are already being felt with 4675 on landings and a commitment to recruit more in line with business needs.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 03/09/2019 14:26:52 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1141827

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
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: Fraud
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 22 July 2019 to Question 278344, on Universal Credit: Fraud, over what period of time the 52 pages were shut down.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	281564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>As a result of internal work within the Department and pre-work with social media companies to identify accounts and determine their fraudulent nature, the first Social Media account was closed on the 9<sup>th</sup> July. We continue to work with social media sites to ensure any pages promoting benefit fraud are closed and have closed down 71 sites to date.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2019 11:32:00 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1141838

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
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	Private Rented Housing: Pensioners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2019 to Question 278349 on Private Rented Housing: Pensioners, what assessment he has made of the effect of the ban on letting fees on monthly rental prices.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	281565
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Government published an impact assessment for the Tenant Fees Bill on 1 May 2018, which is available here <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Ftenant-fees-bill-impact-assessment&amp;data=02%7C01%7CGuy.Skelton%40communities.gov.uk%7C87f26b879ed5434a552908d711b69a59%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C636997348272907837&amp;sdata=a6JxLhm9O3zkqqMCaLRfC9J7rYkDXVmYK1ZoG%2FRWwg0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-bill-impact-assessment</a>. The Tenant Fees Act came into force for new tenancies on 1 June 2019, with a transitional period until 1 June 2020 (at which point it will also apply to pre-existing tenancies). <br> <br> The Government will continue to work with the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team and the wider sector to monitor the effects of the ban.</p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 03/09/2019 14:49:38 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1141842

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2019 to Question 278350 on Children: Day Care, what additional support his Department provides to low income households that require childcare during the summer holidays.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	281567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>In addition to the support that the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families (Nadhim Zahawi), my hon. Friend for Stratford-on-Avon referred to in the Answer of 23 July to Question 278350, my department’s Holiday Activities and Food programme is exploring ways to help disadvantaged children access free holiday club provision over the summer holidays, in 11 local authority areas, including Birmingham.</p><p>This summer, we have awarded £9.1 million to 11 organisations to explore how the funding and coordination of free holiday club provision at a local level can help more disadvantaged children access provision for free, and support providers to improve their offer. With this money, around 50,000 disadvantaged children and their parents will be able to access free holiday club provision, including a healthy meal and enriching activities.</p><p>The government provides a significant package of childcare support to parents and carers. All 3 and 4 year olds and the most disadvantaged 2 year olds are entitled to receive 15 hours a week of early education for 38 weeks a year. Since 2017, working parents of 3 year olds and 4 year olds have been able to access an additional 15 hours of early education a week, bringing their total to 30 hours a week. The 30 hours policy is worth up to £5,000 a year to families and, since its introduction, around 600,000 children have benefitted. Childcare providers can offer these entitlements stretched across the whole year so that they cover the school holidays.</p><p>In addition, tax-free childcare was introduced in 2017 to support families with the costs of childcare for 0 to 12 year olds. For every £8 that parents pay into an online account, the government will pay £2 - up to a maximum contribution of £2,000 per child each year - for children aged up to 12. Working parents in receipt of Universal Credit can also claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs through Universal Credit for children up to the age of 16, subject to a monthly limit of £646 for one child or £1108 for 2 or more children. This will make sure that work pays for families on a low income.</p><p>The government also recently announced an extra £2.5 million next year to help schools open up their facilities at weekends and over the holidays as part of the School Sport Action Plan.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Mrs Kemi Badenoch question first answered 03/09/2019 16:12:51 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1141843

registered interest
date	24/07/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2019 to Question 278350 on Children: Day Care, what support is available for parents of a child with (a) special educational needs and (b) a disability whose childcare costs exceed £4,000 each year.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	281568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Nationally, high needs funding for those with complex additional needs aged 0 – 25 has risen from £5 billion in 2013 to £6.3 billion this year. This includes an additional £250 million allocated in recognition of cost pressures being faced by local authorities.</p><p>To support parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability with childcare, we have made 2-year-old children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and/or an Education Health and Care plan eligible for the 15 hours entitlement.</p><p>To further support children with special educational needs and disabilities we have:</p><p>• introduced a Disability Access Fund worth £615 to settings that provide places for any 3 or 4-year olds who receive disability living allowance;</p><p>• required local authorities to have a SEN Inclusion Fund to support early years providers to address the needs of individual children with SEN; and</p><p>• introduced the Early Years National Funding Formula, which contains an additional needs element to take account of the number of children with additional needs in an area.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Mrs Kemi Badenoch question first answered 03/09/2019 16:49:17 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1140850

registered interest
date	22/07/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps in the forthcoming spending review to ensure that funding levels for childcare keep pace with the rising cost of living.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	280124
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/07/2019 answer text <p>The government recognizes how important an issue childcare is to families with young children and we’re taking action to help people with the cost of living. That is why we will be spending almost £6 billion a year on childcare support in 2019/20 – a record amount. Spending decisions beyond 2019/20 will be considered in full at the Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 24/07/2019 10:33:16 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1139894

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
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, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 275662, what provision her Department makes for claimants who do not have access to the internet and are unable to check how their award is calculated and a breakdown of what deductions are being made.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	278343
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey</a></p><p>All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p><p>The Work Coach or Case Manager supporting the claimant can inform them of how their award is calculated and the breakdown of their deductions and, where needed, can provide this in writing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/09/2019 14:45:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1139898

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
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: Fraud
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 15 July 2019 to Question 275665 on universal credit: fraud, what recourse is available to people who without their full knowledge have had their information used to make a fraudulent claim.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	278344
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes benefit fraud very seriously and ensures that all cases are investigated thoroughly.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant has been the victim of fraud, and has not benefitted financially in any way, they will not be asked to repay the money. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p> </p><p>The Department remains committed to tackling the issue of fraudulent Universal Credit advance claims. We have set up a dedicated team of investigators to work on advances fraud cases, released a campaign on social media to raise awareness and remind people of the importance of safeguarding their identity and have been working with Social Media sites to shut down pages which promote this fraud, having shut down 52 so far.</p><p /><p>If any claimant has concerns about the safety of their personal information, they should speak to a member of Jobcentre staff or get help from Action Fraud.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/07/2019 14:46:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1139900

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
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: Fraud
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 15 July 2019 to Question 275665 on universal credit: fraud, what steps her Department is taking to close a loophole in the online application process which enables people to make an application and claim an advance using another person’s information.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	278345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes the prevention of fraud extremely seriously. Part of its strategy includes ensuring Universal Credit transactions are secure, including tackling loopholes fraudsters may seek to exploit, which sadly can target some of our most vulnerable claimants.</p><p>It is, however, important to recognise that the vast majority of advances on Universal Credit are legitimate and ensure those in need of financial support get the help they need during their transition to Universal Credit.</p><p>All claims where fraud may have been committed are investigated. We are committed to the use of penalties such as prosecutions and tough financial penalties, where appropriate, to discourage this fraudulent behaviour. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p>Additionally, we have a dedicated team of investigators to address this issue, and are working with Social Media sites to shut down posts which promote this fraud. The Department also operates a policy of explicit consent to help reduce the risk of fraud by ensuring that our claimants’ data is kept safe from unscrupulous organisations and individuals.</p><p>The Department is also raising awareness of this issue through a campaign being run on social media to remind people of the importance of safeguarding their identity. We have also been working to further improve knowledge and awareness of advances fraud amongst Jobcentre and Service Centre staff and guidance has been issued to ensure that staff are aware how to refer cases of suspected fraud to the Department’s Counter-fraud team.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2019 10:48:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1139908

registered interest
date	17/07/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners: Special Educational Needs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2019 to Question 231895, whether prison governors have assessed all new prisoners for learning difficulties and/or disabilities on reception since April 2019; and what proportion of the new prison population has been identified as having learning difficulties or disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	278346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) introduced a Management Information System alongside the new education contracts in April this year to help collect a range of data for prison education including information on all new prisoners screened for learning difficulties and/or disabilities on reception to prison. Following this, for those who go into learning and where screening indicates an issue, education suppliers will assess them to ensure the right adaptations and support arrangements are put in place (including for maths and English delivery).</p><p> </p><p>The new system is still being embedded across the prison estate. I will therefore write to the Hon</p><p>Member with the information once the data requested is verified and becomes available. A copy</p><p>of my letter will also be placed in the Library.</p><p> </p><p>I can assure the Hon Member that prisoners continue to be screened for learning difficulties and/or disabilities on reception into prison using existing paper-based systems.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 22/07/2019 15:50:29 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe