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1170393

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Musicians: EEA Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the immigration arrangements for visiting musicians from EEA countries after the UK leaves the EU; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	2411
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced that, at the end of the transition period, EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or short-term trips, without needing a visa.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is currently engaging with other government departments, including DCMS, to ensure that the future immigration system continues to support the thriving cultural sector in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 2410 question first answered 03/02/2020 16:15:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1170395

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Orchestras
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support orchestras in the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	2412
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>In the past five years, Arts Council England (ACE) has invested over £107 million in orchestras and related classical music organisations in its National Portfolio. This figure does not include ACE investment in Opera companies, each of whom also support their own orchestra. As culture is a devolved matter, this figure excludes funding decisions taken by the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p><p>Orchestras have also benefited from the Government’s introduction of the Orchestras Tax Relief (OTR), which is helping to support the increase of productions, especially via touring. Since the introduction of the OTR in 2016, £23 million has been paid out relating to 170 claims and 770 productions.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 16/01/2020 14:52:44 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169682

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
answering dept id	203
answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
hansard heading	Brexit: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the potential effect of the Withdrawal Agreement on the Northern Ireland economy.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	900021
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>I regularly meet with my predecessor, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to discuss the deal, including the new Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, and will continue to do so.</p><p> </p><p>As the Prime Minister has said, beyond the changes introduced by the Protocol, there will be no changes to GB-NI trade. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK’s customs territory.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 14/01/2020 10:08:21 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169824

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she will make it her policy that all universal credit claimants making phone calls to her Department should be informed that staff can phone them back free of charge.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	1663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department takes seriously the need to support claimants, and wants Universal Credit to be easy to access. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system. This allows our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support through different channels.</p><p> </p><p>Since 29 November 2017 all Universal Credit telephone lines are Freephone ‘0800’ numbers. Once connected to this service, a virtual telephone network will route the call to the most appropriate agent available with required skills to support the caller. Should a claimant call a previous chargeable Universal Credit telephone number, they will be redirected to our current numbers and the call will terminate.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/01/2020 15:19:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169826

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of universal credit claimants who have been offered a free of charge call back by her Department have accepted that offer in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	1664
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not hold the data requested.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/01/2020 15:22:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169827

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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 and what proportion of job centres operate a universal credit full digital service.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	1665
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>Rollout of the Universal Credit Full Service was completed on 12 December 2018 and is available in every Jobcentre Plus.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows every claimant to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments through their account, notify us of changes and record notes on the online journal facility.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit has been designed to be as quick and easy as possible for the user, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system.</p><p> </p><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 and this can be accessed at:</p><p><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> </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 – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.</p><p> </p><p>Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated in an alternative format, which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/01/2020 17:54:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169829

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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, what proportion of universal credit applicants manage their claims primarily (a) online, (b) via telephone, (c) face-to-face, (d) in other ways; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	1666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>To provide this information would incur a disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p>Universal Credit is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/01/2020 17:48:21 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169830

registered interest
date	09/01/2020
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, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Universal Support in helping people who are not digitally literate to make an online claim for universal credit; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	1667
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, but we recognise there will be occasions when people are unable to make and/or maintain their Universal Credit claim online, and so telephone and face to face support is available. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances. The Help to Claim service, which replaced the previous “Universal Support” service was introduced on 1 April 2019 and is delivered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Help to Claim offers tailored, practical support to help people make their claim to Universal Credit and can work with claimants up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. It is available online, through a Freephone telephone number and face to face channels.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to ensuring that delivery of support services, such as Help to Claim, is carefully monitored and evaluated to provide effective support to our most vulnerable claimants, whilst ensuring value to taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 14/01/2020 17:45:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1169183

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
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	Social Security Benefits: Uprating
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to (a) end the benefits freeze and (b) uprate the value of (i) universal credit and (ii) other social security payments in the next twelve months.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2020 answer text <p>The freeze on working age benefits will end in April 2020.</p><p> </p><p>A table of benefit and pensions rates pending Parliamentary approval were deposited in the House Library on 29 November 2019 -</p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 13/01/2020 14:44:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1168940

registered interest
date	06/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Living Wage: Age
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when she plans to reduce the age of entitlement to the National Living Wage to 21; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced that in April 2020 the National Living Wage (NLW) will increase by 6.2 per cent to £8.72 for those aged 25 and over. The Government has also announced inflation-beating increases in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for younger workers and apprentices of between 4.6 per cent and 6.5 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>My rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has pledged that the National Living Wage will increase further, reaching two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, providing economic conditions allow. The Government also plans to expand the reach of the National Living Wage, bringing down the eligibility threshold first to age 23 in 2021 and then to 21 by 2024.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 09/01/2020 16:43:33 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms