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1187723

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide support businesses to encourage their employees to move towards part-time shift working during the outbreak of covid-19 through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	34964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not subsidise part-time work. It is designed to support individuals who would otherwise have been made redundant and it also protects public health by minimising the number of non-key workers outside of their homes on a regular basis. The Government has strengthened the welfare system to support those whose hours change, including through an increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and to the working tax credit basic element.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/04/2020 14:28:16 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1187060

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
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	Infant Foods: Food Banks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will enable food banks to distribute instant formula baby milk during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	33506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>Food banks are independent charitable organisations and, as such, are best placed to decide on the most appropriate arrangements for supporting people who use them.</p><p>Food banks already offer a wider range of goods depending on availability, which can include formula milk.</p><p>The Healthy Start scheme provides vouchers for lower-income families which can be exchanged for fruit, vegetables, milk, infant formula and free vitamins.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 21/04/2020 17:02:50 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 16438 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1187074

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
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	Coronavirus: Protective Clothing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Department is taking to make personal protective equipment available to private companies during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	33507
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Manufacturers have reported constraints on supply of new stocks of personal protective equipment and some clinical consumables due to an increase in global demand and the impact of COVID-19 on supply. The Government is constantly monitoring this and working to secure additional stocks to further enhance our preparedness. We have central stockpiles of a range of products and we are prioritising sectors which have a clinical need to receive these supplies.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 28/04/2020 16:27:00 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 16439 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1187098

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
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 support schools remaining open for vulnerable children and children whose parents are key workers during (a) the Easter holidays and (b) bank holidays.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	33509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>Schools will continue to receive their budgets for the coming year, as usual, regardless of any periods of partial or complete closure. This will ensure that they are able to continue to pay their staff and meet their other regular financial commitments, as we move through these extraordinary times.</p><p>The Department recognises that schools may face additional costs as a result of COVID-19. We have put in place a new process to reimburse schools for exceptional costs they may be facing. This includes support for pupils who are eligible for free school meals but cannot attend school and are not covered by the national voucher scheme, and additional premises costs for schools that remain open through the Easter holidays.</p><p>The scheme will give schools the reassurances they need to enable them to concentrate on their vital role in supporting the nation through this crisis. Details of the scheme were published on 7 April and are available here:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 21/04/2020 14:44:32 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186422

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
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	Zero Hours Contracts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing to people on zero-hours contracts whose employment has been terminated as a result of covid-19 and do not qualify for Statutory Sick Pay because they are not self-isolating.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	32138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances and we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government has been clear in its commitment to support those affected in these difficult times and we have made a number of changes to the welfare system in the past fortnight to ensure people are supported in doing this. These changes include:</ins><br /></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">making it easier to access benefits. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment. Both Universal Credit and Contributory ESA can now be claimed by phone or online;</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">increasing the standard allowance of Universal Credit and working tax credit for this year by around £1000 per year;</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">temporarily relaxing the application of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 to ensure that the self-employed can access UC at a more generous rate; and</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">increasing in the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial">Together, these measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Chancellor has also confirmed that, depending on their status, workers on zero hours contracts may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and we would urge people to explore this avenue too.</ins></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/03/2020 11:57:37 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:01:33 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 14226 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186427

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
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	Refuges: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to women's refuge centres and charities on the maintenance of services during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	32139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>My Department has been engaging with domestic abuse service providers on a daily basis to understand the additional challenges they are facing and the support needed to ensure essential provision is kept open and available to victims and their children.</p><p>Following these discussions, on 23 March we published guidance to assist domestic abuse service providers in service delivery at these unprecedented times. The guidance, in line with current Public Health England advice, sets out the advice for daily service operation within the context of domestic abuse safe accommodation provision</p><p><br>The guidance can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision/covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-settings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision/covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-settings</a></p><p><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/03/2020 16:39:19 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186428

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
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	Refuges: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding grants his Department is making available to women's refuge not-for-profit organisations during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	32140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p>My Department will do everything we can to support domestic abuse service providers to keep these vital services up and running during the Coronavirus outbreak.</p><p>My officials are in daily contact with the domestic abuse sector to understand the additional challenges they are facing and how best to respond to help support services in these unprecedented times.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 24/03/2020 16:27:39 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186205

registered interest
date	18/03/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Insurance Companies: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with insurance companies that will not pay out insurance monies to their customers on the basis that the covid-19 has not yet been put on their list of infectious diseases.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	31482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector about its contribution to handling this unprecedented situation. Most businesses have not purchased insurance policies that cover unspecified notifiable diseases, such as COVID-19. Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the FCA’s rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.</p><p>On Tuesday 17 March the Chancellor announced that the Government would do whatever it takes to get our nation through the impacts of COVID-19 and that he stands ready to announce further action wherever necessary.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/03/2020 14:25:56 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1186318

registered interest
date	18/03/2020
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	Food Banks: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with supermarket chains and suppliers on ensuring that the foodbanks can meet the increased demand as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	31483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p>Food banks are independent charitable organisations and, as such, are best placed to decide on the most appropriate arrangements for supporting people who use them. As both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>I also refer the honourable member to the response given by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in response to an oral question made on 19 March:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-19/debates/EBB8F3D7-F9F4-4C5C-B913-86FD27851B5D/VulnerablePeopleFoodSupplies" target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-19/debates/EBB8F3D7-F9F4-4C5C-B913-86FD27851B5D/VulnerablePeopleFoodSupplies</a>”</p><p /><p>[Additionally announcements were made at the Prime Minister’s daily briefings on 21 and 22 March in relation to food supply]</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/03/2020 18:29:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1185697

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
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	Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS professionals on prescribing longer courses of medication for people who have to self-isolate and require regular medication during the coronavirus outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	30743
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government has advised that the duration of prescriptions should not be increased as this would put strain on the supply chain and presents a potential risk to patient safety.</p><p>Steps have been taken to reduce the need for a longer course of medicine. Patients, who are required to shield during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a medical condition as identified by NHS England and NHS Improvement, may have any prescription medication that they require delivered to their homes if they do not have family members, friends or a carer who can collect medicines on their behalf. Pharmacies can advise the patient of the potential for a local volunteer to act on their behalf to collect their medicines or, if this is not possible, arrange for the delivery of the medicines either themselves or through another pharmacy.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 21/04/2020 20:21:56 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 14052 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon