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1354057

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
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 assessment she has been made of the impact of ending the £20 universal credit uplift on children living in households in receipt of that benefit.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	45145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>No impact assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22.</p><p> </p><p>The latest poverty figures (2019/20) demonstrate that absolute poverty rates (both before and after housing costs) for working-age adults in working families have fallen since 2009/10. In 2019/20, 8% of working age adults in working families were in absolute poverty (before housing costs), compared to 9% in 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work.</p><p> </p><p>Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work. These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements for UC claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; Restart, which provides 12 months’ intensive employment support to UC claimants who are unemployed for a year; and JETS, which provides light touch employment support for people who are claiming either Universal Credit or New Style Jobseekers Allowance, for up to 6 months, helping participants effectively re-engage with the labour market and focus their job search. We have also recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find a job. In total, our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 16/09/2021 15:05:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1354063

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Travel: USA
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made by the US-UK taskforce to reopen travel between the two nations.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	45148
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>Prime Minister Johnson and President Biden made clear the importance of bringing about the return of safe trans-Atlantic travel as soon as possible. The Government continues to work closely through the joint UK-US Experts’ Working Group to develop meaningful options to ensure the return of safe and sustainable international travel.</p><p> </p><p>The US maintains the executive order 212f limiting travel from a number of countries, including the United Kingdom. The reopening of transatlantic travel to fully vaccinated US passengers travelling to the UK from amber countries reflects the government’s clear ambition to work closely together to share best practice and influence reforms to empower trans-Atlantic recovery.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 13/09/2021 14:15:04 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1354064

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
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	Toys and Games: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what repercussions overseas third-party toy sellers face when they sell unsafe toys to children in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	45149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe consumer products can be sold in the UK. Product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors and this includes overseas online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.</p><p> </p><p>Where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take action and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale. This has recently included action to ensure that a number of non-compliant products, including toys, being sold by third-party sellers have been removed from sale, delisted, recalled or destroyed.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 16/09/2021 13:37:55 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1354065

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
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	Toys and Games: Internet
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that third-party toy sellers are traceable and accountable for products sold via online marketplaces to children in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	45150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe consumer products can be sold in the UK. Product safety legislation places obligations on manufacturers, importers and distributors and this includes overseas online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.</p><p> </p><p>Under the UK Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, a toy must be marked with the name of the UK-based manufacturer or UK-based importer, and the address at which they can be contacted. Where this is not possible on the toy, the relevant information must be present on the toy’s packaging or in an accompanying document.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is taking forward a programme of work to ensure that major online marketplaces are playing their part to protect UK consumers from unsafe goods sold via third parties. OPSS works with colleagues in local Trading Standards to take action where products are identified online that do not meet the UK’s product safety requirements and expects online platforms to act quickly to remove them from sale. This has recently included action taken to ensure that a number of non-compliant products, including toys, being sold by third-party sellers have been removed from sale, delisted, recalled or destroyed. In addition, we are developing a new voluntary commitment for online marketplaces to agree further actions they will take to reduce the risks from unsafe products being sold online.</p><p> </p><p>OPSS is also currently conducting a review of the UK’s product safety framework, including in relation to e-commerce, to ensure it remains fit for purpose, protects consumers, and enables businesses to innovate and grow. The Government issued a public Call for Evidence to support the review which closed on 17 June. Officials are currently reviewing the evidence received and we will publish a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 16/09/2021 13:36:44 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1354066

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
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	Toys and Games: Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of legislation on ensuring that toys manufactured overseas carry the address of a UK entity responsible for product safety compliance.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	45151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text <p>Where toys manufactured overseas are placed on the UK market, a UK-based importer must ensure that their name or trade name and address are marked on the product.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government recognises the challenge of third-party sales, where the retailer is based overseas. OPSS is currently conducting a review of the UK’s product safety framework, including in relation to e-commerce and supply chain responsibility, to ensure it remains fit for purpose, protects consumers, and enables businesses to innovate and grow. The Government issued a public Call for Evidence to support the review which closed on 17 June. Officials are currently reviewing the evidence received and we will publish a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 16/09/2021 13:35:42 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1352701

registered interest
date	03/09/2021
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	Veterinary Medicine: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support veterinary vaccine research.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	41890
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK recognises the complex interdependencies between the health of people, animals, plants and the natural environment, and the need to address threats holistically – through a ‘One Health’ approach. There is close collaboration between animal and human health sectors to prepare and respond to disease threats, for example through the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group (<a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fgroups%2Fhuman-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=bcVWUbeFfT3SREG8WK%2B4Dpp9tZL6LGKpzgGjcJJz30s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/human-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The development and application of veterinary vaccines are a crucial instrument in support of disease control and such R&amp;D forms a fundamental part of our <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests-2021%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=gdVu5sD1hTgY9N3mXA8hn%2FYunml4eZmJsrOLipc7pXk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">biosecurity research priorities</a>. Over the past five years, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has invested £177.2 million in veterinary vaccinology research and innovation including the Global Challenges Research Fund Networks in Vaccine R&amp;D call, led by the Medical Research Council and supported by BBSRC, committing £9.6 million to support global, multisector research communities tackle key challenges facing human and veterinary vaccine R&amp;D. The Networks foster and support an interdisciplinary One Health agenda through pump-prime funding and networking and knowledge exchange activities. BBSRC and Defra also work with European and International partners though Horizon 2020 programmes as well as through a Global Coronavirus research and innovation network jointly funded by BBSRC and Defra.</p><p> </p><p>In June investment was announced for a new <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirbright.ac.uk%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2Fnew-animal-vaccine-manufacturing-and-innovation-centre-be-established-pirbright&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623374698%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Vu38WttMcZEi0WWMKhEadaCmwV4vHylG3LrH%2Bull%2Bgk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Animal Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre</a> to be established at The Pirbright Institute (TPI), a strategically funded BBSRC institute, with contributions from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Gates Foundation. The Centre will develop and improve the use of veterinary vaccines for control of a number of diseases, both in the UK and Developing Countries, and will enable improvements to animal and public health directly and provide wider benefits including combating antimicrobial resistance.</p><p> </p><p>The BBSRC Bioscience for Health Strategic Framework also outlines One Health as a key strategic challenge area with a vision of collaborative and coordinated approaches to combat zoonotic with a focus on prediction, prevention, response and recovery principles to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and people in their environments.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 41891 41892 question first answered 13/09/2021 15:58:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1352702

registered interest
date	03/09/2021
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	Vaccination: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce a one health approach between (a) veterinary and (b) human vaccine research.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	41891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK recognises the complex interdependencies between the health of people, animals, plants and the natural environment, and the need to address threats holistically – through a ‘One Health’ approach. There is close collaboration between animal and human health sectors to prepare and respond to disease threats, for example through the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group (<a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fgroups%2Fhuman-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=bcVWUbeFfT3SREG8WK%2B4Dpp9tZL6LGKpzgGjcJJz30s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/human-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The development and application of veterinary vaccines are a crucial instrument in support of disease control and such R&amp;D forms a fundamental part of our <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests-2021%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=gdVu5sD1hTgY9N3mXA8hn%2FYunml4eZmJsrOLipc7pXk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">biosecurity research priorities</a>. Over the past five years, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has invested £177.2 million in veterinary vaccinology research and innovation including the Global Challenges Research Fund Networks in Vaccine R&amp;D call, led by the Medical Research Council and supported by BBSRC, committing £9.6 million to support global, multisector research communities tackle key challenges facing human and veterinary vaccine R&amp;D. The Networks foster and support an interdisciplinary One Health agenda through pump-prime funding and networking and knowledge exchange activities. BBSRC and Defra also work with European and International partners though Horizon 2020 programmes as well as through a Global Coronavirus research and innovation network jointly funded by BBSRC and Defra.</p><p> </p><p>In June investment was announced for a new <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirbright.ac.uk%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2Fnew-animal-vaccine-manufacturing-and-innovation-centre-be-established-pirbright&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623374698%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Vu38WttMcZEi0WWMKhEadaCmwV4vHylG3LrH%2Bull%2Bgk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Animal Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre</a> to be established at The Pirbright Institute (TPI), a strategically funded BBSRC institute, with contributions from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Gates Foundation. The Centre will develop and improve the use of veterinary vaccines for control of a number of diseases, both in the UK and Developing Countries, and will enable improvements to animal and public health directly and provide wider benefits including combating antimicrobial resistance.</p><p> </p><p>The BBSRC Bioscience for Health Strategic Framework also outlines One Health as a key strategic challenge area with a vision of collaborative and coordinated approaches to combat zoonotic with a focus on prediction, prevention, response and recovery principles to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and people in their environments.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 41890 41892 question first answered 13/09/2021 15:58:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1352703

registered interest
date	03/09/2021
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	Animals: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to increase the UK’s veterinary vaccine manufacturing capacity.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	41892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK recognises the complex interdependencies between the health of people, animals, plants and the natural environment, and the need to address threats holistically – through a ‘One Health’ approach. There is close collaboration between animal and human health sectors to prepare and respond to disease threats, for example through the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group (<a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fgroups%2Fhuman-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=bcVWUbeFfT3SREG8WK%2B4Dpp9tZL6LGKpzgGjcJJz30s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/human-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group</a>).</p><p> </p><p>The development and application of veterinary vaccines are a crucial instrument in support of disease control and such R&amp;D forms a fundamental part of our <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests-2021%2Fdefra-group-research-and-innovation-interests&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623364748%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=gdVu5sD1hTgY9N3mXA8hn%2FYunml4eZmJsrOLipc7pXk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">biosecurity research priorities</a>. Over the past five years, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has invested £177.2 million in veterinary vaccinology research and innovation including the Global Challenges Research Fund Networks in Vaccine R&amp;D call, led by the Medical Research Council and supported by BBSRC, committing £9.6 million to support global, multisector research communities tackle key challenges facing human and veterinary vaccine R&amp;D. The Networks foster and support an interdisciplinary One Health agenda through pump-prime funding and networking and knowledge exchange activities. BBSRC and Defra also work with European and International partners though Horizon 2020 programmes as well as through a Global Coronavirus research and innovation network jointly funded by BBSRC and Defra.</p><p> </p><p>In June investment was announced for a new <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pirbright.ac.uk%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2Fnew-animal-vaccine-manufacturing-and-innovation-centre-be-established-pirbright&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSRIHub%40beis.gov.uk%7C8d8afb11a1e54c2720b608d971fb1d55%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637666145623374698%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Vu38WttMcZEi0WWMKhEadaCmwV4vHylG3LrH%2Bull%2Bgk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Animal Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre</a> to be established at The Pirbright Institute (TPI), a strategically funded BBSRC institute, with contributions from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Gates Foundation. The Centre will develop and improve the use of veterinary vaccines for control of a number of diseases, both in the UK and Developing Countries, and will enable improvements to animal and public health directly and provide wider benefits including combating antimicrobial resistance.</p><p> </p><p>The BBSRC Bioscience for Health Strategic Framework also outlines One Health as a key strategic challenge area with a vision of collaborative and coordinated approaches to combat zoonotic with a focus on prediction, prevention, response and recovery principles to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and people in their environments.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 41890 41891 question first answered 13/09/2021 15:58:39 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1351215

registered interest
date	18/08/2021
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	Post Office Card Account
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of security and fraud risks posed by Post Office Card Account (POca) voucher alternatives offered in £100 denominations.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	40937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2021 answer text <p>The new Payment Exception Service has been designed as a simple service to ensure customers have access to cash. Vouchers will be uploaded to a card or sent electronically via SMS text or email. Customers will need to cash the full amount of the voucher (vouchers are maximum £100) but do not have to cash all of their vouchers at the same time. This is a similar process to when customers used to be issued with Order Books and Girocheques.</p><p> </p><p>PayPoint retailers and the Post Office will ask for customer ID when someone cashes a voucher. Customers are provided with the list of acceptable ID in their welcome letter from the new PES supplier.</p><p> </p><p>In designing the new service, the same levels of security have been applied as they were to HMG PES. Fraud will be treated as a business as usual process in line with existing DWP Policy.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/09/2021 13:05:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1351216

registered interest
date	18/08/2021
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	Post Office Card Account
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 he has made of the potential merits of introducing a secure alternative to the Post Office Card Account (POca) card for those without a bank account, which offers face-to-face support for those requiring assistance.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	40938
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2021 answer text <p>We recognise that not all of our customers are able to open and operate standard accounts, which is why we offer an alternative for those customers.</p><p> </p><p>The Post Office card account (POca) contract is due to end and the Department plans to start moving customers to the replacement Payment Exception Service (PES) during the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>The new PES is similar to Her Majesty’s Government Payment Exception Service (HMG PES) which has been in place since 2018 and is due to end in September 2021. The HMG PES service has successfully served our most vulnerable customers by the issue of vouchers which are uploaded to a card or sent electronically via SMS or email.</p><p> </p><p>The replacement PES has also been designed for customers who cannot open or manage a basic bank or standard account. We have ensured that the new service enables users to continue to obtain cash payments in their local area (including suburban and rural locations) following the end of the Post Office card account contract.</p><p> </p><p>Customers identified as at risk of harm will receive additional support before being migrated to the new service. This includes outbound calls to make contact with the customer or their nominated representative and referral to the DWP visiting service to make face-to-face contact where a call is unsuccessful or identifies that a visit is required. Post migration we will track the encashment of vouchers by all customers to ensure that they are accessing the payments they receive at the level we would expect. This post migration support is significantly stronger than currently exists for POca.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/09/2021 13:08:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier