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1203617

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Buses: Electric Vehicles
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 49803 on hydrogen buses, what funding his Department has provided to increase the use of battery electric buses; and how many battery electric buses have been purchased through that funding.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	59546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>The Department has provided funding to assist the purchase of low emission buses. Funding to date has been technology neutral, including, the ultra-low emission bus scheme (ULEBS) and the low emission bus scheme (LEBS). These provided successful bidders with £43,517,720 which was used to purchase 341 fully electric buses.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the Department is currently considering its response to expressions of interest in a £50 million All-Electric Bus Town competition.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 23/06/2020 16:39:01 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1202419

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	Intestacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, whether she has made a recent assessment of levels of compliance among local authorities with the guidance issued by the Government Legal Department on the referral to the Bona Vacantia Division of estates of people who have died without (a) known entitled relatives and (b) leaving a will and instead passing the details directly to a single heir hunting firm.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	58045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the Government Legal Department (GLD) deals with the estates of people domiciled in England &amp; Wales who appear to have died without leaving a valid will or relatives entitled to share in their estates in priority to the Crown. Estates which potentially fall to be dealt with as bona vacantia may be referred to BVD by a variety of routes, for example, banks, other financial institutions, solicitors or members of the public.</p><p> </p><p>There is no statutory obligation to refer estates to BVD but guidance on the referral process and the circumstances in which a referral will be accepted are published on BVD’s website (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/bona-vacantia</a>). It is for local authorities to determine whether an estate should be referred to BVD.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017-2018, 2768 estates were referred to BVD of which 909 were referred by local authorities. In 2018-2019, 1971 estates were referred to BVD of which 575 were referred by local authorities.</p><p>In 2019-2020, 2336 estates were referred to BVD of which 561 were referred by local authorities</p><p> </p><p>GLD has no responsibility for overseeing local authorities or their compliance with guidance issued by GLD about the handling of estates. Such information – including whether an estate has been referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of GLD, or whether the local authority has instructed an heir hunter – will be held by the particular local authority concerned.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 24/06/2020 16:20:38 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1201295

registered interest
date	08/06/2020
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	Housing: Solar Power
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 potential merits of requiring that solar PV be installed on all new homes.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	56106
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Mandating a particular renewable technology, such as solar panels, may not be appropriate for all dwellings in all areas. Building regulations and national planning policy encourage the use of renewables without requiring any particular technology. Building regulations are deliberately couched in performance terms, allowing builders, local councils and architects the flexibility to select from a range of renewable energy technologies to suit the potentially unique circumstances of a particular development.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 16/06/2020 15:03:05 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1199592

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
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: Disease Control
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 his Department has to publish the covid-19 reproduction (R) number (R) for each local authority area.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	53558
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. At the time of writing the current range is estimated to be 0.7-0.9 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates. We do not calculate the R rate in different regions or local authority areas.</p><p>R is an average number and so can be highly uncertain if based on small quantities of data, for example, the R value for Northern Ireland will be more uncertain than England as the population is smaller and there have been fewer COVID-19 cases to date from which R can be calculated. R is not usually a useful measure on its own and needs to be considered alongside the number of new cases. Because of this uncertainty, The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ view is that it is unhelpful to use estimates of R rates to monitor the epidemic in different regions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 53424 53425 53580 question first answered 08/06/2020 15:30:44 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1198391

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Animal Products: Trade
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	52320
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow on 19 May 2020, PQ UIN 46697, which remains the current situation.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-13/46697" target="_blank">[www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-05-13/46697</a>]</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 09/06/2020 10:38:09 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1197499

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
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	Vitamin C: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the efficacy of Vitamin C in boosting immunity to covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	49802
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of vitamin C in relation to COVID-19. However, Public Health England (PHE) is not aware of any robust evidence that vitamin C can “boost” the immune system to prevent us from catching COVID-19 or mitigate its effects.</p><p>PHE is monitoring emerging evidence on nutrition and COVID-19 and assessing its quality, involving the Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition as appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 05/06/2020 11:33:17 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1197538

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Buses: Hydrogen
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the use of hydrogen buses.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	49803
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has supported the use of a range of low carbon bus technologies, including hydrogen, through funds including the Low Emission and Ultra Low Emission Bus Schemes. These schemes have provided funding for the purchase of 62 hydrogen buses.</p><p> </p><p>The Prime Minster announced £5 billion of new funding to boost bus and cycling links on 10 February, including at least 4,000 new zero emission buses to make greener travel the convenient option, driving forward the UK’s progress on its net zero ambitions. The details of these programmes will be announced in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 08/06/2020 14:57:32 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1196120

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Barristers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make available financial support for Barristers' chambers carrying out publicly-funded work where barristers are not eligible to apply for support through the Self-employment Income Support Scheme during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	47406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is available for those with trading profits of no more than £50,000, with the requirement to have submitted a Self-Assessment tax return for the 2018/2019 tax year. Recipients of the SEISS have must submitted a tax return for 2018/19 to allow HMRC to mitigate the risk of fraudulent applications.</p><p> </p><p>Chambers and individual barristers may be eligible for other Government support, such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, and income tax and VAT deferrals. Chambers can also use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to reduce staffing costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will continue to listen to feedback on the support available.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 20/05/2020 15:09:56 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1194628

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
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 discussions he has had with school leaders on the timeline for reopening schools in England during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	45362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department has worked closely with the sector throughout the period of school closures in preparation for reopening. There continues to be extensive engagement with teaching unions and other school stakeholder organisations both at a ministerial and official level.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/05/2020 16:08:19 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1194641

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason children in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will be the first to return to school in response to the easing of the covid-19 lockdown measures.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	45363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups. The rationale for identifying these year groups is included in guidance for schools and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020/actions-for-education-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020/actions-for-education-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The three year groups within mainstream primary have been prioritised because they are key transition years – children in reception and year 1 are at the very beginning of their school career and are mastering the essential basics, including counting and the fundamentals of reading and writing, and learning to socialise with their peers. Year 6 children are finishing Key Stage 2 and are preparing for the transition to secondary school, and will benefit immensely from time with their friends and teachers to ensure they are ready.</p><p>We will prioritise younger children in the first phases of wider opening, for several reasons. Firstly, because there is moderately high scientific confidence in evidence suggesting younger children are less likely to become unwell if infected with COVID-19; and secondly because evidence shows the particularly detrimental impact which time spent out of education can have upon them. In addition, older children are more likely to have higher numbers of contacts outside of school so pose a greater transmission risk, and they are typically better able to learn at home.</p><p>Our approach is in line with other countries across Europe, who have begun to bring pre-school and school-age children back in a phased way and are focusing on primary schools and younger children.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/05/2020 16:12:28 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse