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166611

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2014
	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	Public Health Funerals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of pauper's funerals in each of the last three years; and what steps his Department is taking to support families on low incomes with the costs of funerals.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	216270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>My department does not collect data on the number of Local Authority funerals.</p><p> </p><p>The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral and in 2013/14, over 33,000 awards were made worth £44.7 million, with an average award of £1,347.</p><p> </p><p>Social Fund Budgeting Loans are also available to those on income related benefits to cover costs relating to funeral expenses.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 11:44:12 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

155535

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the number of prisoners declaring themselves to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered.
	tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
	tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
	uin	214231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The number of prisoners in England and Wales broken down by sexual orientation as at 26 September 2014 is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table: Headcount of prisoners by Sexual Orientation as at 26 September 2014</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Sexual Orientation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other</p></td><td><p>1779</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Heterosexual / Straight</p></td><td><p>63738</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Not Asked/Refused to State</p></td><td><p>20117</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grand Total</p></td><td><p>85634</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Transgender Prisoners with a Gender Recognition Certificate are recorded on administrative systems as their legal gender. In accordance with the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 and the Equality Act 2010, transgender individuals are not identified as being transgender on administrative systems.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:20:51 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

164526

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2014
	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	Immigration: Poland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 20 November (HL2693), whether the Department for Work and Pensions has made an assessment of the contribution of Polish immigrants to the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Patten
	uin	HL3119
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>DWP has made no such assessment, nor would it be within the remit of the Department to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 02/12/2014 12:26:32 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	1137 label Biography information for Lord Patten

166453

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2014
	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	Catering
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on catering and hospitality since May 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	216193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Departmental expenditure on Hospitality from the start of the 2010 financial year up to 31<sup>st</sup> October 2014, the latest date for which information is available, is shown in the graph attached. Expenditure on catering is not specifically identified but expenditure on Working Lunches and Refreshments is held and this information is also included in the graph.</p><p> </p><p>Expenditure should be seen in the context of the number of staff employed by the Department, Currently 79,514 (as at 31 October 2014), which works out at a cost per head of £1.45 per year.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 13:10:57 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb attachment 1 file name Catering & Hospitality May 2010-31 Oct 2014.PDF title Catering & Hospitality May 2010-31 Oct 2014
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

155537

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will ensure that as much of the construction and fitting-out work as possible at the new North Wales prison is carried out by locally-based contractors.
	tabling member constituency	Clwyd West
	tabling member printed	Mr David Jones
	uin	214292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Lend Lease has committed to spending £30 million with local businesses and that at least 50% of the entire workforce will be recruited from within a 50 mile radius, with a target of 70%. Under the contractual arrangements in place, Lend Lease are required to report to the MoJ how much of the contract is being spent with companies within a 25 and 50 mile radius of the prison site.</p><p> </p><p>A number of supplier engagement events have been held where local businesses were able to meet constructors. Opportunities have been advertised on Business Wales and Sell2Wales using a dedicated North Wales project page.</p><p> </p><p>The North Wales Prison Employment, Skills and Engagement Committee is being created to focus on enabling the delivery of apprenticeships, training and local employment and work placement days. A Learning and Development Academy for supply chain, SME’s and local businesses and local people is also being set up to improve skills and secure tenders.</p><p> </p><p>To date over £1.1m has been spent with local businesses as part of the early works at the prison site.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:59:08 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1502 label Biography information for Mr David Jones

166216

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2014
	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	Housing Benefit (Habitual Residence) Amendment Regulations 2014
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made following the conclusions of the Social Security Advisory Committee that the Housing Benefit (Habitual Residence) Amendment Regulations 2014 will lead to an increase in homelessness and rough sleeping.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Suttie
	uin	HL3200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Committee suggests there is a direct link between the policy change and an increase in rough sleeping which we do not agree the evidence supports. The causes of rough sleeping are multiple and difficult to disentangle. The Government wishes to deter EEA migrants from coming to the UK if they do not have a firm offer of or realistic chance of securing work and those who come to the UK to look for work should ensure that they have sufficient resources to pay for their accommodation needs, as well as other support that they or their family may need while here.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 02/12/2014 12:25:57 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	4298 label Biography information for Baroness Suttie

155546

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Open Prisons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners serving what sentence length are being held in open prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	214197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The below table provides the number of prisoners serving sentences currently and residing in open prisons, by sentence length.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="8"><p><strong>Prisoners serving an immediate custodial sentence in open prisons, 30 September 2014, England and Wales</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sentence length</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>30-Sep-14</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Less than or equal to 6 months</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than 6 months to less than 12 months</p></td><td><p>53</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>12 months to less than 4 years</p></td><td><p>820</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4 years or more (excluding indeterminate)</p></td><td><p>2,167</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Indeterminate sentences</p></td><td><p>1,038</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Recall</p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>All sentenced prisoners</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>4,147</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4" rowspan="2"><p>The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>This data does not include untried, convicted unsentenced, fine defaulter or non-criminal prisoners.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There are two means by which indeterminate sentenced prisoners (ISPs – both those serving life and indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs)) – are considered for transfer to open conditions. The principal means is by way of a positive recommendation from the independent Parole Board, which falls to officials either to accept or reject on behalf of the Secretary of State, under agreed delegated authority. However, ISPs may also apply to progress to open conditions without Parole Board involvement, where they can show exceptional progress in reducing their risk. Each application is determined on its merits under agreed delegated authority from the Secretary of State by officials in the Offender Management and Public Protection Group in the Ministry of Justice.</p><p> </p><p>Determinate sentenced prisoners are assessed for their suitability for open conditions by experienced prison staff with relevant input from offender managers and other professionals within the prison. The assessment will consider the extent to which the prisoner has reduced identified risks and any intelligence or other information that provides evidence of the prisoner’s trustworthiness for conditions of very low security. Determinate sentence prisoners should not generally be moved to open prison if they have more than two years to serve to their earliest release date, unless assessment of a prisoner’s individual risks and needs support earlier categorisation to open conditions. Such cases must have the reasons for their categorisation fully documented and confirmed in writing by the Governing Governor.</p><p> </p><p>All offenders located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and their risks have been deemed manageable in open conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The public have understandable concerns about the failure of some prisoners to return from temporary release from open prison. Keeping the public safe is our priority and we will not allow the actions of a small minority of offenders to undermine public confidence in the prison system. The number of temporary release failures remains very low; less that one failure in every 1,000 releases and about five in every 100,000 releases involving alleged offending, but we take each and every incident seriously. The Government has already ordered immediate changes to tighten up the system as a matter of urgency. Prisoners are now no longer eligible for transfer to open conditions if they have previously absconded from open prisons; or if they have failed to return or reoffended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 10:35:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

165960

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	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	Marriage Guidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to support husbands and wives with relationship problems to enable families to stay together.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	215885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>This Government attaches a high priority to supporting couple relationships and committed a dedicated fund of £30 million for relationship support over the Spending Review period (2011-2015).</p><p> </p><p>We are funding a range of services through a number of expert providers to deliver relationship support provision, including preventative support targeted at couples at risk of family breakdown; activities to encourage the take-up of relationship support; and counselling for couples who may be experiencing difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>We have also introduced a Family Test which will mean that all new relevant domestic policies will need to be assessed for their impact on the family.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/12/2014 11:49:44 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

166048

	registered interest
	date	25/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Closures
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of savings to the public purse which will accrue from the closure of prisons in the UK in the next three years.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
	uin	215918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>We will always have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts and will aim to deal with the prison population in a way that gives taxpayers the best possible value for money. Unless there is an unexpected and significant drop in the prison population there are no plans to close further prison capacity in England and Wales in the next 3 years.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/12/2014 16:01:59 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

156479

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Health: Weather
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place internally within the Department of Health regarding the impact of cold homes on the health of older people.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Greengross
	uin	HL2921
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>The impact of cold homes on the health of older people has been discussed internally within the Department (DH) during the development of policy initiatives to prevent major avoidable effects on health during periods of cold weather. These initiatives include the <em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365756/CWP_2014.pdf" target="_blank">The Cold Weather Plan for England</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-warm-keep-well-leaflet-gives-advice-on-staying-healthy-in-cold-weather" target="_blank">Keep Warm Keep Well</a> </em>leaflet and the <em><a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/get-ready-for-winter" target="_blank">Get Ready For Winter</a></em> campaign hosted by the Met Office.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>Further discussions were held at the Annual Cold Weather Plan seminar<strong> – </strong>this stakeholder event brings together colleagues from the DH, Local Government Association, NHS England, Public Health England, academia and the voluntary and community sector to discuss issues around the cold weather plan and how to best support local action. In addition, discussions were held at the Health officials working group – this is a regular meeting attended by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, DH and Public Health England. The aim of this group is to share information on cold weather, fuel poverty and health impacts with a view to ensure the fuel poverty strategy is aligned with health policy.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 02/12/2014 14:11:48 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	2518 label Biography information for Baroness Greengross