Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1290339

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
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	Bounce Back Loan Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will extend the bounce back interest free period on loans by an additional six months during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	159345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government launched the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) to ensure that the smallest businesses could access loans of up to £50,000 to help businesses through this difficult period. Under BBLS no repayments are due from the borrower for the first 12 months of the loan, giving businesses the breathing space they need during this difficult time. In addition, the Government covers the first 12 months of interest payments charged to the business by the lender.</p><p>We have always been clear that businesses are responsible for repaying any finance they take out. However, we recognise that some borrowers will benefit from flexibility for their repayments. That is why we announced the Pay As You Grow measures.</p><p>Pay As You Grow was designed to provide Bounce Back Loan borrowers more time and flexibility over their repayments by giving them the option to:</p><ul><li>Extend the length of the loan from six years to ten.</li><li>Make interest-only payments for six months, with the option to use this up to three times throughout the loan.</li><li>Once six payments have been made, have the option of a six-month repayment holiday.</li></ul><p>On 8th February, the Government announced that these options would be made more generous – removing the requirement to make six payments before accessing the six-month repayment holiday.</p><p>Businesses will be able to use these options either individually or in combination with each other. In addition, they have the option to fully repay their loan early and will face no early repayment charges for doing so.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 03/03/2021 15:06:04 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1290395

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: UK Relations with EU
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment he has made of the effect of the end of the transition period on (a) further and (b) higher education.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	912682
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The department has considered all aspects of how exiting the EU might affect further and higher education. This included consideration of participation in EU-funded programmes, future arrangements for migration and for access to student finance support. We have been committed to ensuring the country is prepared for every eventuality.</p><p>My officials also regularly engage with sector stakeholders on a range of issues, including EU exit and the transition period.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/03/2021 16:55:02 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1290396

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Coronavirus Catch-up Premium
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	If he will ensure covid-19 catch-up funding for 16 to 19 year olds is not limited to students with low prior attainment in GCSE English and maths.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	912684
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>Catch up funding for 16- to 19-year-olds is provided through the 16-19 Tuition Fund. This is focused on supporting those young people who are at significant disadvantage and whose learning has been impacted most severely by the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>We have targeted this funding among 16–19 -year-old students for those with low prior attainment because:</p><ul><li>We know that these young people are disproportionately likely to be from disadvantaged backgrounds.</li><li>Students who leave full-time education with low attainment are far more likely to become Not in Education, Employment or Training and far less likely to progress to higher level courses, including HE and apprenticeships. We also know that they earn significantly less over their lifetimes.</li><li>Students with low prior attainment are more likely to have fallen behind in lockdown, as they will have found it harder to ‘self-study’ at home and are more likely to disengage.</li></ul><p>Those without 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.</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 can consider whether any young people with a grade 4 also needs catch up support.</p><p>As further evidence emerges, we will consider if refinements to eligibility for future funding are needed to maximise its value and impact in providing catch-up support for 16-19 students.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 01/03/2021 17:28:40 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

1290397

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Department for Education: Regional Planning and Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department plans to take to implement the Government's levelling up agenda.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Dr Jamie Wallis
uin	912686
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>We are implementing an exciting and ambitious reform programme to level up the further education sector, ensuring it becomes a powerhouse that supplies the skills employers need, and equips young people and adults to have productive and fulfilling careers.</p><p>On 21 January 2021 we published the Skills for Jobs white paper focused on giving people the skills they need, in a way that suits them, so they can get great jobs in sectors the economy needs and boost this country’s productivity. Area based planning is a key focus; Local Skills Improvement Plans will be introduced to help providers to better serve the needs of their local area.</p><p>We are also ensuring people have opportunities to upskill and reskill at different points in their life by delivering my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. This includes introducing a Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025, funding people for their first level 3 (A level equivalent) course, and short, flexible ways to train through employer-led bootcamps. These measures will be a key enabler in levelling-up for those who do not have university level education.</p><p>We have put in place a number of programmes and policies to address the long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the COVID-19 catch-up premium and the Skills Recovery Package, which is focused on supporting young people. This includes incentives for employers to take on new apprentices, tripling the number of traineeships, and a new high-value course offer for school leavers.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 01/03/2021 17:39:44 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
tabling member	4766 label Biography information for Dr Jamie Wallis

1290398

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Higher Education: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps his Department is taking to maintain levels of funding for universities and higher education institutes based in London.
tabling member constituency	Wimbledon
tabling member printed	Stephen Hammond
uin	912687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The London Weighting element of the Strategic Priorities Grant accounts for a small proportion of London-based providers’ income. Providers in London received around £64 million London Weighting in academic year 2020-21, which was less than 1% of their estimated total income.</p><p>The Strategic Priorities Grant, formerly referred to as the Teaching Grant, plays an important role in supporting providers and students to develop the skills and knowledge needed locally, regionally and nationally to support the economy.</p><p>The grant is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support higher education (HE) providers’ ongoing teaching and related activities. In the financial year 2020-21, the Department for Education provided £1,253 million in recurrent Teaching Grant funding. In financial year 2021-22, the department will maintain this level of funding and is providing £1,253 million in recurrent Strategic Priorities Grant funding.</p><p>We have asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the grant for the 2021-22 financial year to ensure that more of taxpayers’ money is spent on supporting HE provision which aligns with national priorities, such as healthcare, science, technology, engineering and mathematics and subjects meeting specific labour market needs.</p><p>We have also asked the OfS for a £10 million increase to the specialist provider allocation, to support these institutions which are particularly reliant on Strategic Priorities Grant funding, many of whom are London-based. We want to ensure that our small and specialist providers, including some of our top music and arts providers, receive additional support, and that grant funding is used to effectively support students.</p><p>Even with the removal of the London Weighting, the reforms mean that around 1 in 6 London providers are estimated to see an increase in their Strategic Priorities Grant funding. These are HE providers offering courses aligned with the government’s strategic priorities.</p><p>The OfS will consult on these changes, before final allocations for the 2021-22 financial year are confirmed, and carefully consider the impact of any changes on providers.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 01/03/2021 16:55:12 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond

1290399

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupil Premium
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What funding he plans to allocate to schools to cover the costs of families who sign up for pupil premium later in the school year.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
tabling member printed	Janet Daby
uin	912690
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2021 answer text <p>Pupil premium funding for the financial year 2021-22 will be based on the October 2020 census data. Pupils who become eligible later in the year will be provided for in the following year.</p><p>The move to using the October census for pupil premium funding will provide both schools and the Department with greater certainty around future funding levels earlier in the year. This will bring the pupil premium in line with the great majority of schools’ funding, which is already calculated by using data from the October census.</p><p>Pupil premium will continue to be based on “Ever6 free school meals”, whereby all pupils eligible for free school meals at the time of the October census, or at any point in the previous six years, will attract pupil premium funding. Per pupil funding rates for the pupil premium in 2021-22 will be the same as in 2020-21. As a result, we expect a typical school to see an increase in pupil premium funding from 2020-21 to 2021-22 as more children have become eligible for free school meals as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>In addition to the £2.5 billion in pupil premium funding for 2021-22, on 24 February 2021 the Government announced a further £300 million for a one-off Recovery Premium which will be allocated to schools based on the same methodology as the pupil premium. In this way, schools with more disadvantaged pupils will receive larger amounts.</p><p>Schools are best placed to decide how to use their pupil premium funding, and they can spend the funding on pupils who do not meet the eligibility criteria. As such, pupils that become eligible for free school meals after October 2020 can still benefit from the pupil premium.</p><p>Further information on this change can be found on gov.uk under “allocation changes from 2021 to 2022” at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 09/03/2021 13:18:02 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby

1290400

registered interest
date	01/03/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to help make up for teaching time lost as a result of the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Jamie Stone
uin	912709
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to helping children and young people make up learning lost as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is why we have invested £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.</p><p>We have appointed Sir Kevan Collins as an Education Recovery Commissioner to advise on our recovery plan and academic and non-academic factors in supporting attainment will form a part of this work.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 09/03/2021 13:03:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4612 label Biography information for Jamie Stone

1290214

registered interest
date	26/02/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of an educational recovery plan to support all pupils that have had their education disrupted as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	159325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to helping all children and young people make up learning lost as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, committed to work with parents, teachers and pupils to develop a long-term plan to help pupils make up their learning over the course of this Parliament. As an immediate step to support early years settings, schools and colleges, on 24 February, we committed an additional £700 million to support summer schools, tutoring, early language interventions and additional support to schools to help pupils make up their learning. This builds on the £1 billion from last year and brings the total available to £1.7 billion.</p><p>We have also appointed Sir Kevan Collins as the Education Recovery Commissioner to advise on this broader plan. The objectives of the Education Recovery Commissioner as outlined in the terms of reference are to advise on the design and implementation of potential interventions that will help students catch up learning lost due to the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>The terms of reference for the Education Recovery Commissioner is published here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960070/Terms_of_reference.pdf#:~:text=Education%20Recovery%20Commissioner%3A%20role%20specification%20and%20terms%20of,approach%20for%20education%20recovery%2C%20with%20a%20particular%20focus" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960070/Terms_of_reference.pdf#:~:text=Education%20Recovery%20Commissioner%3A%20role%20specification%20and%20terms%20of,approach%20for%20education%20recovery%2C%20with%20a%20particular%20focus</a>.</p><p>The Department will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on pupils and their catch-up needs to help target support across the system effectively.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 10/03/2021 09:28:06 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1290215

registered interest
date	26/02/2021
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	Surgical Mesh Implants: Hormone Replacement Therapy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the NHS has for the use of Ovestin cream in preference to mesh removal surgery for the future treatment of victims of the vaginal mesh scandal; whether advocates of that alternative method of treatment include surgeons who previously supported the implantation of vaginal mesh; what evidence base there is for the use of Ovestin cream to diminish symptoms arising from mesh implantation; and what assessment has been made of possible harmful side-effects of using cream as a substitute for mesh removal surgery.
tabling member constituency	New Forest East
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Lewis
uin	159238
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2021 answer text <p>NHS England has not considered Ovestin cream as an alternative to mesh removal surgery, nor the evidence behind its use to diminish symptoms arising from mesh implantation. However, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines NG123 recommend that non-surgical treatment options for mesh removal can include the use of vaginal oestrogen cream, including Ovestin cream, for patients who have a single area of vaginal mesh exposure that is smaller than 1 cm<sup>2</sup>.</p><p>Side-effects relating to Ovestin cream can be found in the accompanying leaflet to the medicine which is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5384/pil" target="_blank">https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5384/pil</a></p><p>No assessment made of whether advocates for the use of Ovestin cream include surgeons who previously supported the implantation of vaginal mesh.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 12/03/2021 16:02:29 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries previous answer version 87171 answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries
tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1290217

registered interest
date	26/02/2021
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	European Social Fund: Northern Ireland
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 assessment he has made of the opportunities within the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland to help shape the successor programme to the European Social Fund.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	159302
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2021 answer text <p>The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will help to level up and create opportunity across the UK for places most in need, such as ex-industrial areas, deprived towns and rural and coastal communities, and for people who face labour market barriers. The Government will publish a UK-wide investment framework in Spring 2021 and confirm multi-year funding profiles at the next Spending Review.</p><p>The Government has been engaging with key stakeholders on the design and priorities of the UKSPF since 2016, including holding a series of engagement events.  Over 500 stakeholders attended these events across a variety of sectors, including businesses, public bodies (such as Local Enterprise Partnerships, Mayoral Combined Authorities, local governments), higher education institutions, voluntary and charity sector and rural partnership groups. Our engagement events have taken place across the UK including in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. We will continue to work closely with interested parties as we develop the Fund.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 08/03/2021 12:26:31 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon