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1453262

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2022
	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	Youth Services: Harrow West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the claim by the YMCA that, adjusted to real terms, Harrow West has experienced a decrease in funding for youth services of 61 per cent in the last decade; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	144819
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>Local Authorities have a statutory duty to allocate funding to youth services in line with local need. This is funded from the Local Government settlement, which was over £12 billion this year.</p><p>The government recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving the life chances and wellbeing of young people. The government is investing £560 million over the next 3 years in a new National Youth Guarantee, so that by 2025 every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 30/03/2022 16:03:21 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1307239

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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	Youth Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department made of the effectiveness of the (a) National Citizen Service, (b) Scout Association and (c) cadets prior to deciding on funding allocations for those organisations; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	178777
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>NCS has been subject to multiple independent evaluations that have consistently demonstrated the positive impacts that NCS delivers to both its participants and the communities where they live. In the most recent evaluation, conducted by Kantar, analysis showed for every £1 spent on NCS there was a return on investment of £3.49. Including increased leadership skills, volunteering levels and wellbeing.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The last funding provided directly from DCMS to uniformed youth groups (including the Scouts) came in the £5m, 2018/19 Uniformed Youth Fund (UYF), administered by the Youth United Foundation (YUF) and resulted in the creation of 10,892 new places for young people in disadvantaged areas and 1,643 new adult volunteers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Ministry of Defence is responsible for any funding allocations made to cadet groups, therefore DCMS has made no such assessment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 19/04/2021 10:59:44 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1586500

	registered interest
	date	17/02/2023
	answering body	Department for Business and Trade
	answering dept id	214
	answering dept short name	Business and Trade
	answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
	hansard heading	Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Government plans to develop bilateral youth mobility schemes with EU member states; and if she will take steps to help secure such agreements.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	146761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2023 answer text <p>We remain open to negotiating Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories including EU Member States. As with previous agreements that we have concluded, Government's approach will be to ensure that the UK nationals benefit from any such new arrangements. Further details of additional YMS agreements will be announced once they are concluded.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 27/02/2023 12:33:06 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1549127

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	World Wine Trade Group
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of the UK joining the World Wine Trade Group; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	104092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2022 answer text <p>The Government has not completed an assessment of the benefits of joining the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG). However I can report that at the WWTG's request, a representative from the British Consulate in San Francisco attended this year's annual WWTG meeting in Santa Rosa, California. They gave a short address to the meeting covering various UK wine related topics including importer labelling, met with WWTG members and learned more about the various strands of work that are being progressed.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/12/2022 15:44:52 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1309511

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	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	Wembley Stadium: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what additional covid-19 testing capacity will be provided to support the return of fans to Wembley Stadium; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	181180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2021 answer text <p>The Events Research Programme aims to examine the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from attendance at events and explore ways to enable people to attend a range of events safely. To achieve this, the programme will explore how a combination of testing and non-pharmaceutical interventions (actions that people can take to mitigate the spread of coronavirus) can inform decisions on safely lifting restrictions at events.</p><p>As part of the Events Research Programme, there will be three events taking place at Wembley Stadium: an FA Cup Semi Final, the FA Cup Final and the Carabao Cup final.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>To test transmission of COVID-19 at the event itself and effectiveness of pre-event LFD testing in detecting those infected with COVID-19, participants will also be asked to provide a PCR test on the day of the event and a home PCR test five days after the event.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Testing will largely be delivered through the existing community testing network, with results validated by the event organisers before ticket-holders are admitted to the venue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 27/04/2021 16:44:24 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1309513

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	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	Wembley Stadium: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is planning to take to prevent the potential for fraudulent negative covid-19 test results being used by travelling football fans seeking to gain access to the Carabao cup final; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	181181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>All attendees will be asked to provide consent to enter the research programme, prior to being invited to attend the event. The consent will be specific to each event.</p><p>Our Science Board has agreed that testing will be required to take place both before and after the event in order to ensure event safety and to gather evidence on the pilots.</p><p>Attendees will take a LFD test at an assisted testing site within 24 hours before an event, as well as an at-home PCR test before the event which will be posted to attendees.</p><p>Participants will receive a text or email address from NHS Test and Trace which they will need to present to stewards upon entry to the stadium footprint. A negative test, taken within the timeframe specified, is required for entry. Results will be validated by the event organisers before ticket-holders are admitted to the venue.</p><p>Details of testing requirements <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-about-the-events-research-programme-erp-paving-the-way-for-larger-audiences-to-attend-sport-theatre-and-gigs-safely-this-summer/guidance-on-the-events-research-programme" target="_blank">have been published</a> and are included in the initial consent document, to ensure those invited to attend ERP pilots are informed of testing procedures.</p><p>The ERP delivery team is working closely with the event operators, local Directors of Public Health, local authorities and police to ensure each pilot is conducted safely.</p><p>All events will be supported by highly capable safety teams and have the full support and buy-in from the relevant local authorities, police and Directors for Public Health.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 23/04/2021 16:11:49 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1309514

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	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	Wembley Stadium: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the spread of covid-19 infections of thousands of football fans travelling to the Carabao cup final; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	181182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The Events Research Programme (ERP) aims to examine the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from attendance at events and explore ways to enable people to attend a range of events safely. To achieve this, the programme will explore how a combination of testing and non-pharmaceutical interventions (actions that people can take to mitigate the spread of coronavirus) can inform decisions on safely lifting restrictions at events</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Public safety is our main priority and decisions will be guided by a Science Board of relevant experts including senior PHE representation, who will take into account the latest public health data. All pilots will be designed in a scientifically controlled way, with special consideration to reduce risk of transmission.</p><p> </p><p>Entry will be subject to a negative test result. In practice this will work in much the same way that international travel has taken place in recent months - entry will be denied to those that cannot provide evidence of a negative test result.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of attendees who attend the ERP events will be local to the venue. However attendees with valid ERP tickets can travel to the event in line with HMG guidance. We have already published a public notice on ERP which includes HMG guidance <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-about-the-events-research-programme-erp-paving-the-way-for-larger-audiences-to-attend-sport-theatre-and-gigs-safely-this-summer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 21/04/2021 15:28:02 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1256231

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to prevent tax credit claimants incurring overpayments in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	121795
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>HMRC have built on existing measures to address the risk of tax credits claimants incurring overpayments. This activity incorporates improvements to education and guidance, including to identify and address error and fraud at an earlier stage.</p><p>HMRC have delivered an ambitious training programme in 2019-20 to equip frontline staff with a wider range of tools and skills to help claimants maintain their correct entitlements. This includes continuing development of prompts to support conversations with claimants to keep their awards on the right footing.</p><p>HMRC have extended the range of their education and reminder campaigns to promote the correct reporting of the various factors that affect a claimant’s entitlement: for example, targeted letters to increase understanding of the criteria for single or joint claims or how to declare self-assessed income.</p><p>HMRC have also put measures in place to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on claimants’ lives. In recognition that many claimants are not able to work their normal hours (including because they have been furloughed) the Government has legislated to suspend the eligibility criteria on “hours worked” in Working Tax Credit for claimants temporarily affected by the pandemic. This eliminates a potential source of overpayments.</p><p>For overpayments resulting from error and fraud, in five of the last six years for which results are available, HMRC have met the target set by ministers to restrict outturn levels to below five per cent of total expenditure. This includes 4.9% in 2018-19, the latest year for which HMRC have published Official Statistics; details of these can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/920091/child_and_working_tax_credits_EF_2018-19_first_release.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/920091/child_and_working_tax_credits_EF_2018-19_first_release.pdf</a></p><p>HMRC continue to develop options to challenge losses from error and fraud, including working with their counterparts across Government and the wider public sector.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 07/12/2020 15:14:58 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1138521

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will establish a nationally funded local welfare assistance scheme similar to the former Discretionary Social Fund; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	276140
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2019 answer text <p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no further plans to review this provision.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/07/2019 12:38:18 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1178358

	registered interest
	date	13/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Water Companies: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage water companies to become carbon neutral by 2030.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	1851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to protecting and enhancing our natural environment and reducing carbon emissions plays an important part in this commitment. The UK is the first major economy in the world to set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the economy by 2050. The Government is leading the way and engaging with industry, including the water industry, local government and the public to meet our targets.</p><p> </p><p>Last year, English water companies became the first industry to make a collective commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, as part of the Public Interest Commitment by the industry body, Water UK. The Government welcomes the industry’s ambitious target and will be working closely with them to provide support to deliver on it.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next five years, many water companies have made commitments in their business plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy. For example, Yorkshire Water will increase the amount of renewable energy it generates from biogas by 15%, and South East Water will reduce its carbon emissions by 68%.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat, the independent water regulator, has also challenged the industry to be more innovative and made available up to £200 million through an innovation competition. This is to incentivise water companies to collaborate with each other and with other companies in their supply chains to effectively address the challenges facing the sector in a cost-effective and sustainable way, such as reducing emissions and reaching net zero targets.</p><p> </p><p>We hope the progress made by the water industry, as an energy-intensive infrastructure industry, will lead the way for other sectors to develop their own commitments through cross-sector collaboration and mutual learning.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/02/2020 17:08:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas