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1289980
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-25more like thismore than 2021-02-25
answering body
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy more like this
answering dept id 201 more like this
answering dept short name Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy more like this
answering dept sort name Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy more like this
hansard heading Consumer Goods: Electrical Safety more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that electrical goods offered for sale by third party sellers on online marketplaces are safe for use in the UK. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 158909 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe electrical goods can be sold in the UK. All distributors have a duty to act with due care to ensure products they are selling are safe, this includes online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is engaging proactively with major online marketplaces to ensure that they are playing their part in protecting UK consumers from unsafe products. The OPSS has recently taken action to ensure that a number of non-compliant products being sold by overseas third-party sellers have been removed from sale, including electrical appliances.</p><p> </p><p>The OPSS is also developing a new voluntary commitment for online marketplaces to agree actions they will take to reduce the risks from unsafe products being sold online. This will enable online marketplaces to demonstrate their commitment to the safety of their consumers in the UK by publicly promising to work with UK regulators.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure that the UK’s Product Safety framework is flexible and fit for the future, the OPSS is conducting a review. This will ensure we have a framework that delivers safety for consumers while supporting businesses to innovate and grow and will consider the impact on product safety (including electrical goods) of new business models such as third-party sales through online marketplaces.</p>
answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam more like this
answering member printed Paul Scully more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T17:03:20.373Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T17:03:20.373Z
answering member
4414
label Biography information for Paul Scully more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1290007
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-25more like thismore than 2021-02-25
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Telephone Services: Fraud more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle fraudulent calling. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 158910 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>Fraudulent calls can be particularly stressful and damaging for the most vulnerable in society. Nuisance calls and cold calling can be a gateway to scams, with opportunistic criminals targeting potential victims.</p><p>The Government has taken a range of actions to reduce the number of these calls - it has banned cold calls from personal injury firms and pensions providers unless the consumer has explicitly agreed to be contacted. It has introduced director liability for nuisance calls and has supported the National Trading Standards Scams Team to roll out call blocking devices to vulnerable people. DCMS have provided over £1 million in the last 3 years to National Trading Standards for distribution of call blocking devices to vulnerable people. This funding has helped protect some of the most vulnerable in society from nuisance calls and scams, including those originating from overseas.</p><p>However, the Government recognises there is more to do and is working closely with industry, regulators and consumer groups to consider further legislative and non-legislative solutions.</p><p>The Government is also aware that criminals are exploiting the pandemic to commit opportunistic crimes such as fraud. Although Covid-19 related fraud represents a small proportion of overall fraud reporting, we understand the devastating impact it can have on individuals. Along with partners, we have been implementing measures to ensure the public has the protection and advice needed to shield themselves from these crimes.</p><p>We have published guidance for the public to spot potential frauds and the steps they can take to avoid them. This advice can currently be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime</a></p>
answering member constituency Torbay more like this
answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
grouped question UIN
158911 more like this
158912 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T17:06:52.677Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T17:06:52.677Z
answering member
4451
label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1290008
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-25more like thismore than 2021-02-25
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office more like this
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Telephone Services: Fraud more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to strengthen measures to prevent fraudulent calling. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 158911 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>Fraudulent calls can be particularly stressful and damaging for the most vulnerable in society. Nuisance calls and cold calling can be a gateway to scams, with opportunistic criminals targeting potential victims.</p><p>The Government has taken a range of actions to reduce the number of these calls - it has banned cold calls from personal injury firms and pensions providers unless the consumer has explicitly agreed to be contacted. It has introduced director liability for nuisance calls and has supported the National Trading Standards Scams Team to roll out call blocking devices to vulnerable people. DCMS have provided over £1 million in the last 3 years to National Trading Standards for distribution of call blocking devices to vulnerable people. This funding has helped protect some of the most vulnerable in society from nuisance calls and scams, including those originating from overseas.</p><p>However, the Government recognises there is more to do and is working closely with industry, regulators and consumer groups to consider further legislative and non-legislative solutions.</p><p>The Government is also aware that criminals are exploiting the pandemic to commit opportunistic crimes such as fraud. Although Covid-19 related fraud represents a small proportion of overall fraud reporting, we understand the devastating impact it can have on individuals. Along with partners, we have been implementing measures to ensure the public has the protection and advice needed to shield themselves from these crimes.</p><p>We have published guidance for the public to spot potential frauds and the steps they can take to avoid them. This advice can currently be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime</a></p>
answering member constituency Torbay more like this
answering member printed Kevin Foster more like this
grouped question UIN
158910 more like this
158912 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T17:06:52.723Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T17:06:52.723Z
answering member
4451
label Biography information for Kevin Foster more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1288176
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-22more like thismore than 2021-02-22
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading 16 to 19 Tuition Fund more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that the 16 to 19 tuition funding is not limited to students with low prior attainment in GCSE English and Maths. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 156338 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>I regularly meet with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on education.</p><p>The 16-19 Tuition Fund is focused on supporting those young people who are at significant disadvantage and whose learning has been impacted most severely by the outbreak.</p><p>Low prior attainment in GCSE English and/or maths at the expected standard at age 16 is the agreed measure used for disadvantage in 16-19 education and an established part of the 16-19 funding formula. Agreement to any extension of tuition funding for 16-19 students will continue to be based on this measure.</p><p> </p><p>Funding is available to spend on those students without a grade 5 or above in English and/or maths GCSE, however providers are required to prioritise support for students who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or maths.  If providers have funding available within their allocations, they should consider whether any young people with a grade 4 also needed catch up support.</p><p> </p><p>As further evidence emerges, we will consider if refinements to eligibility for tuition funding are needed to maximise its value and impact in providing catch-up support for 16-19 students.</p>
answering member constituency Chichester more like this
answering member printed Gillian Keegan more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T12:07:54.11Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T12:07:54.11Z
answering member
4680
label Biography information for Gillian Keegan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1288177
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-22more like thismore than 2021-02-22
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Vocational Education: Qualifications more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress has been made on the Government's consultation on the future of newly-reformed Applied General Qualifications. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 156339 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>The Department has consulted in 2 stages on proposals for the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3, which includes Applied General qualifications. The second stage of consultation ran from 23 October 2020 to 31 January 2021 and asked for views on the range of qualifications that will sit alongside A levels and T Levels in future.</p><p>No decisions have been made yet. The responses to the consultation are informing our thinking and we intend to publish a full response in due course.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Chichester more like this
answering member printed Gillian Keegan more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T10:28:04.143Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T10:28:04.143Z
answering member
4680
label Biography information for Gillian Keegan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1288178
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-22more like thismore than 2021-02-22
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Sixth Form Education: Finance more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to sixth form students. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 156340 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-02more like thismore than 2021-03-02
answer text <p>The government is investing an additional £291 million in 16 to 19 education in 2021 to 2022. This is in addition to the £400 million awarded in the 2019 Spending Review, which was the biggest injection of new money into 16-19 education in a single year since 2010. This has allowed us to raise the base rate of funding for all providers of 16-19 education, including school sixth forms and sixth form colleges, for the first time since the current funding system was introduced in 2013 – from £4,000 in each academic year up to 2019/20, to £4,188 this year and next year – as well as to make further funding increases targeted on high value and high cost programmes.</p><p> </p><p><strong><br> <br> </strong></p> more like this
answering member constituency Chichester more like this
answering member printed Gillian Keegan more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-02T10:36:05.657Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-02T10:36:05.657Z
answering member
4680
label Biography information for Gillian Keegan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1286909
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-19more like thismore than 2021-02-19
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Remote Education: ICT more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to ensure that 16-19 year-olds receive adequate IT device support to continue their education remotely during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 154631 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-02-25more like thismore than 2021-02-25
answer text <p>The Get Help with Technology (GHWT) service has been extended to provide support with devices and connectivity for disadvantaged 16-19 year olds. This forms part of a £400 million investment to help children and young people continue their education at home and access online social care services.</p><p>Schools with sixth form provision and further education providers are eligible to receive devices where they have students that are aged 16-19 who are in receipt of free meals, and where they have students aged 19 and over with an Education, Health and Care Plan who are also in receipt of free meals. All eligible providers were invited to order devices in January 2021. Over a million devices have now been dispatched to schools, trusts, local authorities and further education institutions since the start of the scheme.</p><p>Through the GHWT service, providers eligible to receive devices are also able to access support for connectivity for financially disadvantaged students where they do not have access to the internet at home.</p><p>The mobile data network offer has to date been focused on providing connectivity support to pupils in years 3-11 who have experienced disruption to their face-to-face education. The amount of free data provided will vary by operator and uplifts will be in place until the end of July 2021. However, we are working with mobile network operators to make this offer available for disadvantaged 16-19 year olds until the end of July 2021.</p><p>Currently,16-19 providers eligible for help via the GHWT service can access 4G wireless routers to provide connectivity support for financially disadvantaged learners without access to broadband at home.</p>
answering member constituency Chichester more like this
answering member printed Gillian Keegan more like this
grouped question UIN 154970 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-02-25T12:23:48.277Zmore like thismore than 2021-02-25T12:23:48.277Z
answering member
4680
label Biography information for Gillian Keegan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1286910
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-19more like thismore than 2021-02-19
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Higher Education: ICT more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to ensure that university students receive adequate IT device support to continue their education remotely during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 154633 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-02-25more like thismore than 2021-02-25
answer text <p>The government is aware of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 outbreak will have on some students.</p><p>We are making available an additional £50 million of hardship funding this financial year. In total, we have made £70 million of funding available for student hardship, given the £20 million made available to higher education (HE) providers in December 2020.</p><p>HE providers will have flexibility in how they distribute the funding to students, in a way that will best prioritise those in greatest need. Support can include assistance to help students access teaching remotely. The funding can be distributed to a wide population of students, including postgraduates (whether taught or research) and international students.</p><p>This money is in addition to the £256 million of Student Premium funding that HE providers are able draw on this academic year towards student hardship funds, including the purchase of IT equipment.</p><p>We know that not all students will face financial hardship. The current measures aim to target support for students in greatest need and the government continues to monitor the situation going forward to look at what impact this funding is having.</p><p>The government has also invested over £400 million to help provide laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children and young people so they can access education and social care services remotely. As part of this, we have provided devices for care leavers, including those who may be studying at university.</p><p>On 13 January 2021, I wrote to the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator for HE providers in England. I outlined government expectations of the HE sector: universities should maintain the quality and quantity of tuition and seek to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have the resources to study remotely.</p><p>In June 2020, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, commissioned OfS chair Sir Michael Barber, to conduct a review of the shift toward digital teaching and learning in English HE since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. His report, published on 25 February 2021, is based on interviews, a call to evidence, roundtable discussions and surveys and includes ‘six actions’ university and college leaders can take for next academic year. Details of the ‘six actions’ can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/six-actions-for-2021-22/" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/six-actions-for-2021-22/</a>. The full report can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/</a>.</p><p>HE providers must also continue to comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, ensuring that education and learning is accessible to all students. When making changes to the delivery of their courses, providers need to consider how to support all students, particularly the most vulnerable, to achieve successful academic and professional outcomes.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Chippenham more like this
answering member printed Michelle Donelan more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-02-25T18:16:04.983Zmore like thismore than 2021-02-25T18:16:04.983Z
answering member
4530
label Biography information for Michelle Donelan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1286911
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-19more like thismore than 2021-02-19
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Pupils: Coronavirus more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take with the new Education Recovery Commissioner to address the non-academic factors to support children’s attainment. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 154635 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-10more like thismore than 2021-03-10
answer text <p>The Government is committed to helping children and young people make up for lost education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department has provided £1.7 billion to give early years, schools, and colleges support to help pupils get back on track, including additional funding for tutoring, early language support and summer schools. This support sits alongside the holiday activities and food programme available across the country.</p><p>The Department has appointed Sir Kevan Collins as Education Recovery Commissioner to advise on our recovery plan, with academic and non-academic factors in supporting attainment forming part of this work.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton more like this
answering member printed Nick Gibb more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-10T11:37:05.563Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-10T11:37:05.563Z
answering member
111
label Biography information for Nick Gibb more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter
1286924
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-19more like thismore than 2021-02-19
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Apprentices: Assessments more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on apprentices who have been unable to sit their functional skills tests in Maths and English due to covid-19 restrictions since Ofqual ended teacher assessments on 31 July 2020. more like this
tabling member constituency Harlow more like this
tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
uin 154657 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-03-01more like thismore than 2021-03-01
answer text <p>We are committed to supporting apprentices to safely continue with, and complete, their programmes during the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>We know that some providers and apprentices have not been able to make appropriate arrangements so that the apprentice can safely take their Functional Skills assessment. We have worked with providers and employers to understand the impact of delays to assessments, and why some apprentices may not be able to progress to their end-point assessment because of this.</p><p>Provisional figures show that in the first quarter of the 2020/21 academic year, 30,100 apprentices achieved their apprenticeships (frameworks and standards). Latest data shows that 15,900 apprentices who are yet to achieve their Functional Skills Qualification (FSQ) are past the planned end date of their apprenticeship. A delay in achieving their FSQ is one reason why an apprentice may be past their planned end date, but there are many other potential reasons, including apprentices being put on furlough or taking a break in their learning due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. For those apprentices who were expected to have completed their apprenticeship but have not done so yet, we do not have data on the reason for the delay.</p><p>Together with Ofqual, we have consulted on alternative assessment arrangements for all vocational and technical qualifications, including FSQs for apprentices. Active apprentices that are deemed ready to take their FSQ test should continue to be supported to access a regular FSQ assessment. This may be at their place of work, where it is safe and appropriate to do so, or through flexibilities offered by the awarding organisation, such as remote assessment and invigilation. Where this is not possible, we have confirmed that apprentices may be able to access a teacher assessed grade or take their end-point assessment before achieving their functional skills later, or both.</p>
answering member constituency Chichester more like this
answering member printed Gillian Keegan more like this
grouped question UIN 154971 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-03-01T12:04:25.27Zmore like thismore than 2021-03-01T12:04:25.27Z
answering member
4680
label Biography information for Gillian Keegan more like this
tabling member
3985
label Biography information for Robert Halfon remove filter