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 grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1138047

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2019
	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	Research: Finance
	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 account he has taken of his Department's report entitled What is the relationship between public and private investment in R&D published July 2015 which stated that an extra £1 of public funding would give rise to an increase in private funding of between £1.13 and £1.60 in setting policy on the relationship between public and private investment in R&D.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	275748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 9 July 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-07-04/273388/" target="_blank">273388</a>.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 15/07/2019 13:30:26 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1136880

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2019
	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	Research: Finance
	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 account he has taken of his Department's report entitled What is the relationship between public and private investment in science, research and innovation published in July 2015, in determining future funding for science.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	273388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>The 2015 report by Economic Insight was considered during the 2015 Spending Review, and before more recent announcements related to the National Productivity Investment Fund, together with other evidence and analysis.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a long term plan for Science, Research and Innovation. As a first step to reaching the 2.4% target, public R&amp;D spending has been raised from around £9.5bn in 2016-17 to around £12.5bn in 2021-22. This is a total increase of £7bn over 5 years, and the biggest increase in public funding of R&amp;D on record.</p><p> </p><p>Public spending in R&amp;D for years beyond current budgets will be considered in the next Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 09/07/2019 14:53:08 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1134082

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Research: Finance
	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 discussions he has had with (a) Ofcom, (b) Ofwat and (c) Ofgem on incentives for innovation and research and development in their sectors and how that relates to the 2.4 per cent GDP spend on R&D target.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	268539
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2019 answer text <p>In October 2018 we launched a consultation to build our understanding of whether there are opportunities to further encourage new innovative methods and technologies in the utilities sectors to improve outcomes for consumers. This sought views on the barriers to innovation in the utilities sectors, and how we could improve the regulatory framework to further encourage innovation. We are analysing the responses to this consultation and plan to publish a response in due course.</p><p> </p><p>In June 2019 we announced measures in our White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to support regulators to enable innovation in their sectors, as part of our approach to increasing R&amp;D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. We have invested in projects by both Ofcom and Ofgem to support innovation through the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 27/06/2019 08:10:00 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1133854

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Aviation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his (a) Dutch and (b) Russian counterparts on supporting the enforcement of the warrants issued for those charged with shooting down flight MH17.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	267745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2019 answer text <p>​As envisaged by UN Security Council Resolution 2166, HMG and UK law enforcement officials are in close contact with their Dutch counterparts and the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the shooting down of flight MH17.</p><p>The execution of any individual warrants is a matter for the UK's independent police services.</p><p>On 19 June the MH17 JIT and the Dutch National Prosecutor announced they were charging four suspects with the murder of 298 people and causing the crash of a Malaysian Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine. In his statement that day, the Foreign Secretary, called on Russia to cooperate fully in the investigation. This would include assisting with the arrest of the suspects, facilitating their questioning by Dutch investigators and the JIT, facilitating their presence at trial, and if necessary, enforcing any sentences.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 26/06/2019 09:52:30 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1133856

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Aviation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support he is providing to the families of the victims of the shooting down of flight MH17 now that suspects have been charged.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	267746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2019 answer text <p>​All families of British nationals who died in the MH17 crash were provided with consular assistance. This assistance included referrals to victim support organisations, advice on repatriation, updates on the investigation, and the deployment of a Family Liaison Officer (for those based in the UK). We recognise that the upcoming trial process may be distressing for the bereaved families and we have contacted them either via the UK Police or directly to offer further assistance at this time.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 26/06/2019 09:54:48 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132965

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Africa
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries in Africa do not have a UK visa application centre.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	266256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>UK Visa &amp; Immigration can confirm 23 countries do not have a UK Visa application and customers are advised to apply in an alternative location:</p><p><br>Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tome &amp; Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 14:55:56 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132966

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Africa
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries in Africa have a UK visa application centre which is not open each working day.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	266257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>Opening times of Visa Application Centres are determined by volumes of applications. The vast majority of Visa Application Centres are open every working day with the exception of the following; Gambia, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 15:00:08 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132058

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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	Energy: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2019 to PQ 259210 on Energy: North East, which organisations registered in the North East have been allocated the funding referred to in the Answer.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	264393
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>The following organisations registered in the North East are involved in current active projects within the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund challenge <em>Prospering from the Energy Revolution</em>:</p><ul><li>Newcastle University</li><li>Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Development Service Limited</li><li>Engie Services Holding UK Limited.</li></ul> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 18/06/2019 16:49:04 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132171

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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	Overseas Aid: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how his Department has allocated its allocation of Official Development Assistance research and innovation funding.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	264394
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>As per its funding settlement with HM Treasury, BEIS has allocated its research and innovation Official Development Assistance budget to two discrete funds: the Newton Fund, and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).</p><p> </p><p>The Newton Fund has a total budget of £735 million (2014/15 – 2020/21) and supports science and innovation collaborations with 17 partner countries. The fund aims to promote the economic development and social welfare of either the partner countries or, through working with the partner country, to address the wellbeing of communities.</p><p> </p><p>The GCRF is a funding stream that supports cutting edge research on global issues affecting developing countries. From 2016/17 to 2020/21, the GCRF will invest £1.5 billion in funding that harnesses the expertise of the UK’s world-leading researchers.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 18/06/2019 14:09:15 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132172

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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	Scientists: Migrant Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many overseas scientists from outside the EU are funded by his Department through Official Development Assistance funding.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	264395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>BEIS has two research and innovation Official Development Funds: the Newton Fund and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). The funds are distributed through the UK’s main public bodies for the allocation of government research funds including UK Research and Innovation and the four National Academies.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS does not hold a record of the number of individuals supported across all funding bodies. However, since 2014, UK Research and Innovation (and its predecessor bodies) has supported over 2000 researchers based outside of the EU through Global Challenges Research Fund and Newton Fund programmes.</p><p> </p><p>A Newton funded research collaboration between experts from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Recife (Fiocruz) and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research played a major role in Brazil’s response to the Zika epidemic. The first in the world to focus on Zika virus epidemiology, the project informed policy and resulted in basic understanding of the virus, paving the way for more advanced research to take place.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 18/06/2019 16:25:28 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132173

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 252105, whether all universal credit claimants who work during working hours and who have been required to have an interview to verify evidence have been able to arrange a date and time for that interview outside DWP working hours.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	264396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>We are aware that some claimants who are working may find it difficult to access our Jobcentre Plus Service due to their work commitments. We have recently started a pilot to test the demand for Jobcentre Plus Services on a Saturday. The pilot which is aimed at working claimants, including those who are self-employed, offers a limited range of services, usually via a pre-booked appointment.</p><p> </p><p>The pilot is being delivered in seven different Jobcentre Plus Offices, spread across the country and with different geographical and demographic features - for example large inner city (such as Poplar) small rural offices such as Wick and Todmorden, and urban such as Dudley, York.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, we are in the early stages of testing the demand for appointments in the early evening, again to meet the needs of our employed and self-employed claimants.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 18/06/2019 15:00:33 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1132174

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Sudan: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Sudanese military rapid support forces receive any funding from the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	264397
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>​The UK does not provide any support or funding to the Rapid Support Forces.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 18/06/2019 14:32:15 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1130945

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	UK Research and Innovation: Grants
	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 he has made of the diversity of UK Research and Innovation grant recipients by (a) gender, (b) ethnicity, (c) disability and (d) socio-economic group.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	262366
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) believes that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) – of people and ideas – is crucial for delivering excellence in research and innovation. It has made EDI a priority – as a national research and innovation funder, as an employer, and as an influential voice in wider research and innovation sectors.</p><p> </p><p>The seven Research Councils have historically collected information on applicants for and recipients of funding regarding age, gender, ethnicity, and disability. The councils do not collect information on social-economic group. Neither Innovate UK nor Research England collect diversity data of applicants or those in receipt of funding or loans.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Successive UK Governments have supported the principle that funding for basic research should be awarded through competitive processes on the basis of excellence and likely impact - as assessed through peer review. This is widely considered to be a underpinning factor in the success of UK research, and a key enabler of value for money for tax payers money. Consequently, HM Government takes an arms length approach to research funding, in line with the Haldane Principle.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, initial analysis of 2018-19 funding data from the seven research councils by gender shows that:</p><ul><li>71% of funding from research council grants and fellowships in 18/19 were awarded to bids led by men and 27% of funds were allocated to bids led by women. The remainder are bids where gender is undisclosed or not known.</li><li>42% of the funding for Fellowships went to female Fellows, 52% of the funds went to male Fellows and 6% of the funds went to Fellows with undisclosed or unknown gender.</li><li>73% of the funding for research grants were awarded to projects led by male Principle Investigators (PIs), 25% of the funds were awarded to projects led by female PIs and 2% of the funds were awarded to projects with PIs of undisclosed or unknown gender.</li></ul><p><br> UKRI has appointed Professor Jennifer Rubin, Executive Chair, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as the UKRI Champion for EDI, and established an External Advisory Group for EDI. The group is working with UKRI to identify and prioritise areas.</p><p> </p><p>UKRI aims to publish a UKRI-wide EDI Strategic Framework in Autumn 2019, which will help UKRI to bring together and scrutinise evidence on what works, develop and prioritise actions, and ensure that EDI is considered and supported in all that UKRI does.</p><p> </p><p>Work is currently underway to improve data collection and analysis capabilities about the people UKRI funds. A detailed cross-UKRI analysis of funding data will be published in Autumn 2019.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 13/06/2019 13:05:02 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1130868

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Educational Exchanges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department provides to EU universities wanting to send non-EU students to UK universities on exchange programmes.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	262364
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>The terms of international exchanges are the responsibility of individual higher education institutions. The main exchange programme supported through public funding in the UK is Erasmus+, a European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport, which provides funding for both EU and non-EU students to come to UK universities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 13/06/2019 16:03:57 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1130871

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	GCE A-level and GCSE
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number schools teaching GCSEs over three years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this practice on A level subject choices.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	262365
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>In the Department’s Winter 2017 School Snapshot Survey, responses from secondary schools that teach Year 9 pupils were as follows: 35% of respondents stated that all their Year 9 pupils would start studying for Key Stage 4 for all subjects, 28% stated that all their Year 9 pupils would start studying for Key Stage 4 for some subjects, 9% stated that some of their Year 9 pupils would start studying for Key Stage 4 for some subjects, 27% stated that none of their Year 9 pupils would start studying for Key Stage 4.</p><p>The snapshot survey report can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-snapshot-survey-winter-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-snapshot-survey-winter-2017</a>.</p><p>The information requested is not held centrally regarding administrative data of when individual schools start teaching Key Stage 4. The Department has made no assessment of the effect of this practice on A level choices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 13/06/2019 15:16:49 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129164

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Chief Scientific Advisers
	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 the timetable is for the appointment of a Chief Scientific Adviser; and what steps he is taking to ensure effective scientific advice until that appointment is made.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259206
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Following a recent recruitment campaign, one candidate has been offered the role and we will make an announcement in due-course. In the interim period, we have been drawing on the knowledge and experience of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 06/06/2019 15:28:05 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129246

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Universities: Research
	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 he is taking to support the future engagement of UK universities with CESAER, LERU, EUA, the Guild, and other European University Associations, in order to maintain levels of collaboration in research, teaching and best practice after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>As Chair of the High-Level Stakeholder Working Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation, I regularly engage with senior representatives from UK universities, academies and businesses to discuss issues of common interest regarding the UK’s exit from the EU.</p><p> </p><p>I continue to support positive discussions with representatives of these organisations on how best to maintain UK collaboration, including with a wide range of European umbrella organisations.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 259208 question first answered 11/06/2019 15:55:24 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129253

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Universities: Research
	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 he is taking to support the future engagement of UK universities with European University Associations such as CESAER, LERU, EUA, the Guild, in order to maintain levels of collaboration in research, teaching and best practice.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>As Chair of the High-Level Stakeholder Working Group on EU Exit, Universities, Research and Innovation, I regularly engage with senior representatives from UK universities, academies and businesses to discuss issues of common interest regarding the UK’s exit from the EU.</p><p> </p><p>I continue to support positive discussions with representatives of these organisations on how best to maintain UK collaboration, including with a wide range of European umbrella organisations.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 259207 question first answered 11/06/2019 15:55:24 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129347

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Civil Servants: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream entrants were privately educated in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong>Fast Stream and Early Talent are committed to removing barriers to the success of diverse talent at the entry stage and beyond. The programmes are crucial pipelines for leadership roles, and our aim is to expand representation to match the relevant eligible populations and ensure we deliver on making Civil Service leadership reflective of the society it serves.</p><p>Below is the information we hold from the years 2013-2018 on the proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream entrants that were privately educated.</p><p> </p><p>This data shows the proportion of successful candidates who were privately educated where the data is available.</p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"><p>Independently educated, UK</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>23.50%</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td><td><p>25.20%</p></td><td><p>28.60%</p></td><td><p>n/a*</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></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"><p>Independently educated, UK and overseas</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30.4%**</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>*Data from 2017 is missing due to information being stored on two different systems in that year which we cannot access.</p><p>** In 2018 school type was classified differently with overseas figures included.</p> answering member constituency Hertsmere answering member printed Oliver Dowden question first answered 11/06/2019 11:28:02 answering member 4441 label Biography information for Oliver Dowden
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129348

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Energy: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Prospering from the energy revolution: An overview of government’s challenge to industry and research to create more efficient energy systems and benefit the UK economy from the global uptake published by UK Research and Innovation, what percentage of (a) bids received to date were made by organisations based in the North East and (b) funds allocated to date have been to organisations based in the North East.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259210
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), the Government is investing in strategic innovation challenges that will create transformative opportunities for businesses and sectors across the UK. So far £1.7bn has been allocated to ISCF challenges over two waves of investment. This includes £102.5m for the Prospering from the Energy Revolution Challenge, which will develop world-leading local smart energy systems that deliver cheap and clean energy across power, heating and transport, while creating high value jobs for the future.</p><p> </p><p>To date 5.9% of bids to the Prospering from the Energy Revolution Challenge have been from organisations registered in the North East and 6.0% of allocated funding has been to organisations registered in the North East. The recently launched Offshore Wind Sector Deal will also benefit the UK economy including that of the North East.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 06/06/2019 16:35:14 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129359

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the current minimum requirements is for provision of mental health services in schools.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259211
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>It is up to schools to decide what support to put in place based on the individual circumstances of their pupils. The statutory Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice sets out the approach that schools should take when a member of staff identifies emerging concerns such as mental health issues. This approach informs the decision as to whether a child needs special education provision, and so applies to children regardless of whether they have a need or disability. The Code is clear that support should not require a specific diagnosis, and should be provided from an early stage, including the involvement of external professionals where appropriate.</p><p>To ensure schools have access to specialist mental health support, the Department is working closely with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to provide new mental health support teams. These will provide a range of support and interventions for groups of schools and colleges. The aim is for the new teams to be established in 20-25% of England by 2023. This will start with 25 trailblazer areas which will be fully operational by the end of this year.</p><p>The Department is also incentivising schools to identify and train a senior mental health lead, who will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of a whole school approach to promoting better mental health and wellbeing.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 06/06/2019 16:24:17 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129398

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Research: Finance
	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 his Department's time frame is for the allocation of funding to (a) UK Research and Innovation, (b) the research councils and (c) Research England for 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259212
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We are increasing spending on R&amp;D by £7 billion over 5 years by 2021-22. This will be the largest increase ever.</p><p> </p><p>The allocation of research and innovation funding for 2017-2021 was published in August 2018 and can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021</a>.</p><p>UKRI and its councils published their Delivery Plans on 10 June as part of their UKRI 2019 event (<a href="http://www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans" target="_blank">www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans</a>). These plans include the information about allocations for 2019-20, with a total UKRI annual budget of £7.5billion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 259213 259214 question first answered 17/06/2019 10:27:03 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129399

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	UK Research and Innovation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce the allocations for UK Research and Innovation for 2019-20; and what steps he is taking to ensure that those allocations are made as soon as possible.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We are increasing spending on R&amp;D by £7 billion over 5 years by 2021-22. This will be the largest increase ever.</p><p> </p><p>The allocation of research and innovation funding for 2017-2021 was published in August 2018 and can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021</a>.</p><p>UKRI and its councils published their Delivery Plans on 10 June as part of their UKRI 2019 event (<a href="http://www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans" target="_blank">www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans</a>). These plans include the information about allocations for 2019-20, with a total UKRI annual budget of £7.5billion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 259212 259214 question first answered 17/06/2019 10:27:04 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1129400

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Research: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when UK Research and Innovation plans to announce its funding allocations to (a) Research England and (b) the research councils for 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	259214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>We are increasing spending on R&amp;D by £7 billion over 5 years by 2021-22. This will be the largest increase ever.</p><p> </p><p>The allocation of research and innovation funding for 2017-2021 was published in August 2018 and can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-and-innovation-funding-allocation-2017-to-2021</a>.</p><p>UKRI and its councils published their Delivery Plans on 10 June as part of their UKRI 2019 event (<a href="http://www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans" target="_blank">www.UKRI.org/deliveryplans</a>). These plans include the information about allocations for 2019-20, with a total UKRI annual budget of £7.5billion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 259212 259213 question first answered 17/06/2019 10:27:04 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127181

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Prisons: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the assessment and treatment of prisoner mental health.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>NHS England is working with partners across the criminal justice and immigration removal system to improve services for offenders and detainees with mental health difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>National Health Service England specialised commissioners and NHS England health and justice (H&amp;J) Commissioners have also been working collaboratively alongside the mental health team in NHS England to develop work to improve mental health of prisoners and to develop and improve the system for transfers and remissions of adult prisoners to mental health hospitals</p><p> </p><p>Mental health summits are being delivered regionally to develop the whole offender mental health pathway, identifying local anomalies, and gaps as well as good practice, and producing locally owned action plans to improve services.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, new service specifications have been published for both low and medium secure hospitals as well as prison mental health services. The prison mental health specification embeds the ‘Standards for Prison Mental Health Services’, developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to ensure high quality care for all.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 24/05/2019 12:46:11 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127183

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prison officers have received training on when to refer a person for mental health support.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Over 14,000 staff have already received the new suicide and self-harm reduction training which includes a module on Mental Health Awareness, in addition to the safer custody training already provided across the estate.</p><p> </p><p>Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) is a mandatory 12 week programme for all new entrant officers to give them the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their role. There are a number of sessions on Mental Health within this training, including: ‘Introduction to Mental Health’, ‘Introduction to Suicide and Self Harm (SASH) Prevention’ and ‘Personality Disorders.’ This training will enable staff to identify any concerns and submit the appropriate referral to healthcare professionals.</p><p> </p><p>The following e-learning training is also available on Civil Service Learning for all staff working in Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service:</p><ul><li>Mental Health Conditions and Dementia: Support for Customers</li><li>Mental Health at Work</li><li>Wellbeing, Resilience and Stress</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 15:40:38 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127184

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Death and Self-harm
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of self-harm and deaths in custody among the prison population.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Prisons should be places of safety and reform. We recognise that the current level of suicide and self-harm is too high. With this in mind, the Government is taking unprecedented action, including:</p><ul><li>investing in over 4,700 additional staff since October 2015;</li><li>introducing new suicide and self-harm prevention training, which has already reached over 24,000 staff;</li><li>improving support for prisoners in their early days and weeks and rolling out a ‘key worker’ scheme which ensures each prisoner has dedicated support from a particular prison officer;</li><li>funding the Samaritans to provide their valuable Listeners Scheme for a further three years; and</li><li>improving the ACCT case management process for those identified as at risk of self-harm or suicide.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We are also committed to taking action to improve prisoners’ health. Since April 2018, a new National Partnership Agreement has been in place, marking an even stronger level of co-operation and cohesiveness between agencies that influence the policy, commissioning and delivery of prison health services. The agreement sets out how the partnership (DHSC, NHS England, MoJ, HMPPS and Public Health England) will work together to deliver its three core objectives. It agrees ten key priority areas for 2018-2021, including reducing incidents of self-harm and self-inflicted deaths in the adult secure estate.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, NHS England has published a new Service Specification for Integrated Substance Misuse Treatment Services in Prisons in England, which brings greater focus to the treatment of users of psychoactive substances and makes stronger links to mental health.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 21/05/2019 16:11:36 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127186

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Mental Health Services: Prisons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps have been taken to tackle delays in transferring people with mental health problems from prison to hospital.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>NHS England is the commissioning body responsible for ensuring high quality low, medium and high secure hospital accommodation.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this role, NHS England has developed a national approach to ensuring close partnership working with local NHS England health and justice teams to review patients’ needs and expedite access to secure mental health beds. This also includes a more detailed understanding of challenges in the system in relation to remissions from hospital to prison, so that access, progress and throughput is improved.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England commissioned a repeat of the 2017 National Health Service benchmarking audit on transfers and remissions in early 2019, and a full analysis of this data is currently taking place. This information will help to ensure that challenges and delays in the system are addressed to ensure timely and appropriate transfers of care.</p><p> </p><p>The current ‘Prison Transfer and Remission Best Practice Guidance’, published by the Department in 2011, is being reviewed and two separate documents are being developed to replace it: one for immigration removal centres and another for prisons.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 21/05/2019 16:31:41 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127193

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	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	Telecommunications and Utilities: Regulation
	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 he has made of the effectiveness of the regulation of the (a) water, (b) energy and (c) telecoms sectors in promoting sustainability.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>We keep the effectiveness of our regulatory regimes under review. The National Audit Office also assesses regulation and regulatory outcomes. The Government has asked the National Infrastructure Commission to assess what changes might be necessary to the existing regulatory framework to facilitate future investment needs, promote greater competition and increase innovation, and meet the needs of both current and future consumers.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/05/2019 14:55:07 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1127194

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Erasmus+ Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to negotiate association to the next Erasmus programme starting in 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	255329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The government firmly believes that the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world-leading universities following our exit from the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>The next generation of EU programmes are currently being discussed in the EU. This includes the proposed regulation for the 2021-27 Erasmus+ programme, which has reached a partial general approach in the Council of the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to participate in discussions on the draft regulation while we remain an EU Member State. Of course, the text of the regulation has not been finalised, including important aspects such as the terms of third-country participation, and we will need to consider the regulation as a whole.</p><p> </p><p>Ultimately, any decisions about our participation in the next Erasmus+ programme will also be a matter for wider negotiations about our future relationship with the EU.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 21/05/2019 15:14:57 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1126280

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent comparative assessment he has made of the job densities of (a) Newcastle Central, (b) the North East, (c) London and (d) the UK; and what period that assessment covers.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	253569
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 16/05/2019 14:35:47 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster attachment 1 file name PQ253569.pdf title UKSA Response
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1126281

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Educational Exchanges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to promote international programmes of exchange in higher education after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	253570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The government has made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of our vision for a global Britain. We are committed to the UK remaining open to the world, and becoming even more global and internationalist in outlook. That is why the Department for Education supports a number of outward mobility and exchange programmes which broaden access to international opportunities, schemes such as Fulbright scholarships and Generation UK China.</p><p>Irrespective of the outcome of Article 50 negotiations, the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world-leading universities following our exit from the European Union. In addition, the UK is an Erasmus+ programme country and the Withdrawal Agreement ensures that UK entities' and students’ rights to participate in the current programme will remain unaffected for the remainder of the current EU budget cycle. Following ratification of the Agreement, UK-based organisations and people will be able to bid for funding, participate in and lead consortia, for the duration of the current programmes.</p><p>In addition to this, the UK is open to exploring participation in the Erasmus+ successor scheme for 2021-27, which is currently being discussed in the EU. We will continue to participate in discussions on the draft regulation while we remain an EU Member State and are considering options for future participation in the next Erasmus+ programme. However, a decision on UK participation in the next programme is ultimately a matter for wider negotiations about our future relationship with the EU.</p><p>As is the duty of a responsible government, we are also preparing for a range of potential outcomes and this includes promoting international mobility through a domestic alternative to Erasmus+.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 16/05/2019 15:13:20 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1126286

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Knives: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help ensure that there is no increase in knife crime in Newcastle.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	253571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is determined to do everything it can to tackle knife crime and break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of victims, families and communities. The latest statistics published by the Office for National Statistics on 25 April for the year ending December 2018 show an increase of 6 per cent in police recorded knife crime across England and Wales, including a 4 per cent increase in the Northumbria police area.</p><p>We are taking action to address these increases on a number of fronts in support of our Serious Violence Strategy. This includes providing the police with the powers and resources they need to take effective action in all areas of the country. Through the Offensive Weapons Act we are tightening the law in relation to knives, including making it an offence to possess certain offensive weapons in private, and stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after they are bought online unless the seller has arrangements with a delivery company to verify age. We are also introducing new Knife Crime Prevention Orders, requested by the police to help them to tackle young people who are on the cusp of serious violence, to help them make more positive lifestyle choices. We also continue to support the police national weeks of action against knife crime under Operation Sceptre.</p><p>The police funding settlement provides the police with the biggest increase in funding since 2010, and in addition we are providing the additional £100 million to tackle serious violence announced in the Spring Statement on 13 March, which includes £80m of new funding from the Treasury. The majority of the investment will go towards supporting the police forces most affected by the violence we are seeing, but the funding will also support Violence Reduction Units, bringing together a range of agencies, including health, education, social services and others, to develop a multi-agency approach to preventing serious violence. £63.4 million of this funding has already been allocated to 18 police forces most affected by serious violence to pay for surge operational activity, including increased patrols, and £1.6 million to help improve the quality of data on serious violence, particularly knife crime, to support planning and operations. Northumbria has been allocated £2.32m from this fund.</p><p>We are also raising awareness among young people of the dangers of carrying a knife through our national media campaign - #knifefree – and supporting early intervention through the £22 million Early Intervention Youth Fund, which is already supporting 29 local projects, including £371,632 allocated to the Police and Crime Commissioner in Northumbria to target young people on the periphery of involvement with the criminal justice system, as a result of their escalating offending behaviour.</p><p>We have also introduced the £200 million Youth Endowment Fund, which will be delivered over the next 10 years to support interventions with children and young people at risk of involvement in crime and violence, focusing on those most at risk. The charity Impetus, working in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation and Social Investment Business, is now operating the Fund</p><p>A full list of the forces and the funding they have received from the serious violence fund is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/police-granted-funding-boost-for-action-on-serious-violence." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/police-granted-funding-boost-for-action-on-serious-violence.</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 16/05/2019 16:05:52 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125786

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Mobile Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the findings of the report by Mobile UK on why there is little interoperability between vendors in 4G and 5G, what assessment he has made of whether Ofcom should promote the standarisation necessary for vendor interopability.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252675
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government supports the global standardisation system and works with major standards bodies to understand and assist their work, as does Ofcom. The major elements for 4G and 5G are generated through well respected standards organisations with good industry and regulator involvement. Industry stakeholders use these bodies to agree relevant interoperability definitions between all major elements.</p><p> </p><p>My Department is leading a cross-Government review into the supply chain arrangements for the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. The Review is considering both the technology and economic aspects of the supply chain &amp; the development and adoption of technology standards are relevant factors. The decisions of the Review will be announced in due course.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 14/05/2019 16:43:36 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125338

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: Homophobia and Racial Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department has issued to UK citizens on the prevalence of (a) racism and (b) homophobia when travelling abroad.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>​We advise British people travelling abroad on LGBT+ issues in the Local laws and customs section of the travel advice. This includes a dedicated guidance page on travel advice for LGBT+. For countries where we have evidence to suggest racial discrimination may occur, we include information in the Safety and security section of the travel advice.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 14/05/2019 14:41:06 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125437

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a training budget is available to teachers.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252097
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department knows that continuing professional development (CPD) is integral to improving the quality of teaching. Effective, evidence-based CPD strengthens practice, builds confidence and, crucially, improves outcomes for pupils.</p><p>For CPD to be effective, however, it must be tailored to the needs of the individual. That is why decisions relating to CPD, including budgets, rightly rest with schools, headteachers and teachers.</p><p>The Department recognises that more can be done to improve the take-up of high quality evidence-based CPD in schools. That is why the CPD Expert Group has re-convened to develop recommendations that ensure that all teachers have access to high quality, meaningful support and CPD, drawing on the Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development (published in July 2016) and the accompanying implementation guide.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 13/05/2019 16:31:55 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125438

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Educational Exchanges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Minister in his Department has responsibility for promoting international exchange in British schools and at national, regional and local level.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252098
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department works closely with the British Council, who play an important role in promoting exchange opportunities to schools and helping them to find partners.</p><p>In January, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a new £2.5 million programme to provide more opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to take part in an international school exchange. More information about the programme is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-to-boost-international-exchanges-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-million-to-boost-international-exchanges-for-schools</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 13/05/2019 16:24:44 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125439

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many university courses have a mandatory international semester.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p><p>Universities are autonomous institutions and responsible for deciding their own course structures and content, including whether periods of international study are required.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 13/05/2019 16:07:00 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125441

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Degrees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to promote double degrees.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Higher education providers are autonomous bodies and decide what courses to deliver.</p><p>Dual Degree programmes, sometimes known as double degree programmes, can attract student support if the course is an eligible course, as defined in the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011. Designated courses must be substantially provided in the UK, which means that at least half the teaching and supervision is provided in the UK. Authority Funded institutions should also comply with maximum fee limits set out in the Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2016 and the Higher Education (Higher Amount) (England) Regulations 2016.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 15/05/2019 16:34:33 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125443

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: EU Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the number of UK students studying in the EU and the number of EU students studying in the UK in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes information on international students in Higher Education Institutions in England, by country of domicile (based on the student’s permanent home address prior to entry to the course). Using HESA, the latest data available shows that in academic year 2017/18, there were approximately 139,000 EU domiciled students studying in UK Higher Education Institutions.</p><p>Similarly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) publish data on international tertiary education enrolments for countries across the world. The latest data available from UNESCO shows that in the calendar year 2016, there were 16,000 UK students studying a full course in EU countries.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 15/05/2019 16:18:17 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125444

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Wind Power: Seas and Oceans
	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 guidance is available to wind farm developers and operatives to help minimise impact on marine life of off shore wind farms.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252104
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) set out how the developers of offshore wind farms should consider their impacts on marine life in any applications for development consent for them. Issue specific guidance on minimising the potential impacts of offshore wind farms on marine life is available from the relevant statutory nature conservation bodies [Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee] throughout the planning and development cycles of an offshore wind farm. The potential impacts of proposed projects on marine life and on other relevant issues will be considered in a public examination of any development consent application that is made.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 13/05/2019 13:28:34 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125447

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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 steps her Department has taken to ensure provision of out of working hours appointments to universal credit claimants who work during working hours.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252105
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware that some claimants who are working may find it difficult to access our Jobcentre Plus Service due to their work commitments, however, not all Universal Credit claimants are required to attend interviews at their local Jobcentre. This will depend on their individual personal circumstances. For claimants whose earnings are above the individual or household Conditionality Earnings Threshold or the Administrative Earnings Threshold there is no conditionality requirement to attend interviews with a Work Coach.</p><p> </p><p>Where a voluntary interview is necessary to verify evidence, claimants are able to arrange the most convenient date and time with their Work Coach or Case Manager.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/05/2019 16:31:29 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1125448

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Married People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure continuity of receipt of benefits when the claimant gets married or experiences another change in circumstances.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	252106
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>DWP administer a wide range of benefits, all of which have different processes in place to deal with the vast range of potential changes to a claimant’s circumstances. How the change affects a claimant’s payments depends on the type of change, which benefit they are receiving, the claim’s status before the change occurs and whether the change was self-reported by the claimant or by a third party.</p><p> </p><p>In all cases the Department works with the claimant to ensure payment continuity wherever possible. There are processes in place to ensure that when a benefit recipient reports a change in circumstances, they continue to receive the correct award of that benefit, or are informed of what appropriate action they should take where the change effects continued entitlement.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 16/05/2019 16:19:36 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124170

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that reductions in the interchange rate do not result in free ATMs becoming pay ATMs.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249934
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Last year, Government launched a Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. One part of the wide range of evidence collected detailed the changing levels of cash usage. Responses showed that, although the proportion of cash transactions is expected to fall over the next 10 years, cash remains important in the lives of many people and businesses across the UK. That’s why the Government is committed to supporting digital payments, whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on poor households of free-to-use ATMs becoming pay-to-use. However, the Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR has set out requirements of LINK, including that any cuts to interchange fees (the fees which fund free-to-use ATMs) must be incremental, with action taken by LINK where the impact is not as expected. Having implemented two of the four planned incremental reductions to the interchange fee, LINK has cancelled the third reduction and put on hold the fourth. The PSR welcomed these adjustments, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions. These adjustments gave the PSR further assurances that LINK is committed to making sure communities do not lose their free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK and undertaken new financial support for ATMs in remote and deprived areas.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 249935 249936 249937 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:29:23 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124172

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on poorer households of recent increases in the number of free ATMs becoming pay ATMs; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Last year, Government launched a Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. One part of the wide range of evidence collected detailed the changing levels of cash usage. Responses showed that, although the proportion of cash transactions is expected to fall over the next 10 years, cash remains important in the lives of many people and businesses across the UK. That’s why the Government is committed to supporting digital payments, whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on poor households of free-to-use ATMs becoming pay-to-use. However, the Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR has set out requirements of LINK, including that any cuts to interchange fees (the fees which fund free-to-use ATMs) must be incremental, with action taken by LINK where the impact is not as expected. Having implemented two of the four planned incremental reductions to the interchange fee, LINK has cancelled the third reduction and put on hold the fourth. The PSR welcomed these adjustments, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions. These adjustments gave the PSR further assurances that LINK is committed to making sure communities do not lose their free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK and undertaken new financial support for ATMs in remote and deprived areas.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 249934 249936 249937 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:29:23 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124174

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Payment Services Regulator on the effect of changes to LINK rates; and whether he plans to re-impose interchange rates at LINK cost study levels.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Last year, Government launched a Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. One part of the wide range of evidence collected detailed the changing levels of cash usage. Responses showed that, although the proportion of cash transactions is expected to fall over the next 10 years, cash remains important in the lives of many people and businesses across the UK. That’s why the Government is committed to supporting digital payments, whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on poor households of free-to-use ATMs becoming pay-to-use. However, the Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR has set out requirements of LINK, including that any cuts to interchange fees (the fees which fund free-to-use ATMs) must be incremental, with action taken by LINK where the impact is not as expected. Having implemented two of the four planned incremental reductions to the interchange fee, LINK has cancelled the third reduction and put on hold the fourth. The PSR welcomed these adjustments, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions. These adjustments gave the PSR further assurances that LINK is committed to making sure communities do not lose their free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK and undertaken new financial support for ATMs in remote and deprived areas.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 249934 249935 249937 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:29:24 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124176

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Personal Income
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of household income spent as cash in the last 12 months; and what projection his Department has made of changes in the level of income and spending with cash in the next 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Last year, Government launched a Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in the New Economy. One part of the wide range of evidence collected detailed the changing levels of cash usage. Responses showed that, although the proportion of cash transactions is expected to fall over the next 10 years, cash remains important in the lives of many people and businesses across the UK. That’s why the Government is committed to supporting digital payments, whilst safeguarding access to cash for those who need it. The Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on poor households of free-to-use ATMs becoming pay-to-use. However, the Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision, including those that are free-to-use. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network.</p><p> </p><p>The PSR has set out requirements of LINK, including that any cuts to interchange fees (the fees which fund free-to-use ATMs) must be incremental, with action taken by LINK where the impact is not as expected. Having implemented two of the four planned incremental reductions to the interchange fee, LINK has cancelled the third reduction and put on hold the fourth. The PSR welcomed these adjustments, having stated that LINK must carefully review its decisions on interchange fees to reflect changing market conditions. These adjustments gave the PSR further assurances that LINK is committed to making sure communities do not lose their free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. LINK has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme by tripling the funding available to ATMs in the most deprived areas of the UK and undertaken new financial support for ATMs in remote and deprived areas.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 249934 249935 249936 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:29:24 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124001

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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	Horizon 2020
	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 discussions the Government has had with the EU Commission on facilitating the UK’s future association with the Horizon Europe programme.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>In May 2018, the UK met with the EU Commission to discuss the future UK-EU relationship on science, research and innovation. During this discussion, and throughout our ongoing engagement since that initial meeting, we have made clear that we would like the option to fully associate to the Horizon Europe Programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Minister attended Competitiveness Council in February 2019, and hopes to attend the next Competitiveness Council in May 2019 for further constructive discussions about research and innovation with his EU counterparts.</p><p> </p><p>Although the UK cannot associate to the future Programme until it has been negotiated and adopted, and only after we have exited the EU, during this period as an EU Member State we are actively engaging in the development of the Horizon Europe proposal at all levels, including through the EU Institutions, in line with UK interests.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 13/05/2019 14:06:27 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124002

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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	Health: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and the Industrial Strategy, whether local health profiles influence the allocation of public investment in health research.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Health and Social Care funds health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). NIHR funds ‘needs-led’ applied research – it aims to address issues that matter to the NHS and public health by identifying gaps in knowledge, and funding research that provides high-quality evidence to fill such gaps.</p><p> </p><p>In order to achieve this, NIHR undertakes activities to identify needs, working closely with users of research evidence – those responsible for establishing policy, commissioning services and delivering care.</p><p> </p><p>The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme funds regionally derived applied research projects in health services and social care. The main purpose of the programme is to realise, through evidence, the huge potential for improving, expanding and strengthening the way that healthcare is delivered for patients, the public and the NHS through locally generated priorities.</p><p> </p><p>In deciding which projects to support, we take care to involve not only scientific reviewers and experienced researchers, but also practitioners and service users. We also appoint public members to our Regional Advisory Panels.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>UK Research and Innovation, a partner organisation of BEIS, funds medical research primarily through the Medical Research Council (MRC). MRC welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and is committed to funding excellence. MRC recognises the value of information such as local health profiles for identifying future research areas, but there is the need to balance this against wider opportunities and allow for investigator-led proposals to inform our priorities too.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 09/05/2019 16:52:32 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore previous answer version 116723 answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1124003

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Mortgages
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to address the loyalty penalty in the mortgage market.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	249284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>HMT notes that consumer engagement in the mortgage market is high, with over three quarters of borrowers switching within 6 months of the end of an introductory deal.</p><p> </p><p>HMT has worked closely with the FCA to consider how to remove the regulatory barriers that prevent some customers from accessing better deals. HMT welcomes the FCA’s plans to move the affordability assessment from an absolute test to a relative one. This change removes the regulatory barrier that prevented some customers, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new mortgage products.</p><p> </p><p>HMT will continue to support the work the FCA is currently undertaking to improve switching and consumer engagement in the mortgage market.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 07/05/2019 13:36:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah