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1149073

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Food Supply
	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 effect on food supplies of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2019 answer text <p>We would prefer to leave with a deal and we will work in an energetic and determined way to deliver that better deal.</p><p>The UK food and drink supply chain contributes £121 billion to the economy and employs four million people (12% of UK employment). Food and drink manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, while food and drink retail is the largest service sector employer.</p><p>Consumers have access to a wide range of food products when they shop and this will continue once we leave the EU. However, if key trade routes are temporarily disrupted, there would be reduced availability and choice of certain food products, including some of the fresh produce we import from the EU. If we have to leave with no deal, there will not be an overall shortage of food in the UK.</p><p>While we are reliant on imports of certain fresh products at this time of year, our market profiles clearly demonstrate strong UK winter production of many root vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, swedes, turnips, parsnips and leeks.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 23/10/2019 16:25:07 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361286

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for universal free school meals for infants in the next Spending Review.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	58769
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58770 58774 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1254889

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the support available under the Covid Winter Grant Scheme that will be granted to families with children who are eligible for Free School Meals.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	119990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2020 answer text <p>The primary focus of the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic, including, but not restricted to, families who are eligible for free school meals. As local authorities have flexibility to decide how best to identify and support those most in need in their local area, within the grant conditions, no such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>Detailed guidance for local authorities was published on gov.uk on 24 November.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/12/2020 14:12:13 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1237908

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2020
	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: North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families with children received the £20 per week uplift in universal credit standard allowance payment in the North East in each month since that uplift was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	95603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>The available information on the number of households with children with Universal Credit in payment, by parliamentary constituency and by region, is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 95605 question first answered 29/09/2020 13:17:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1237913

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2020
	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: Washington and Sunderland West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families with children received the £20 per week uplift in universal credit standard allowance payments in Washington and Sunderland West constituency in each month since that uplift was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	95605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>The available information on the number of households with children with Universal Credit in payment, by parliamentary constituency and by region, is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 95603 question first answered 29/09/2020 13:17:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1254885

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps families of children who are eligible for Free School Meals will need to take to access support from the Covid Winter Grant Scheme during the Christmas holidays.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	119987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2020 answer text <p>The Covid Winter Support Grant is a new £170m fund which will enable local authorities in England to support vulnerable households this winter with food and key utilities. To ensure those most in need benefit from this funding, grants to local authorities are being made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 and carry conditions to ensure the primary focus of the scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic, including but not restricted to households who are eligible for free school meals. Local authorities will develop their own criteria.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided these grants to upper tier authorities, recognising they have the statutory responsibility regarding children and are well placed to identify and respond to local need. A wide range of data is already available to them to help target their support, including access to the benefits system, social services, health visitors and relationships with schools. Local authorities already have local welfare assistance responsibility and many have support programmes already in place. Jobcentres will share information with claimants about the support available in their local area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Detailed guidance has been shared with local authorities and was published on gov.uk on 24 November: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 119315 119988 119989 119991 question first answered 01/12/2020 18:06:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1254887

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme and Free School Meals
	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 that families of children who are eligible for Free School Meals are aware of the need to access the Covid Winter Grant Scheme to receive food provision support over the Christmas holidays.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	119988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2020 answer text <p>The Covid Winter Support Grant is a new £170m fund which will enable local authorities in England to support vulnerable households this winter with food and key utilities. To ensure those most in need benefit from this funding, grants to local authorities are being made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 and carry conditions to ensure the primary focus of the scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic, including but not restricted to households who are eligible for free school meals. Local authorities will develop their own criteria.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided these grants to upper tier authorities, recognising they have the statutory responsibility regarding children and are well placed to identify and respond to local need. A wide range of data is already available to them to help target their support, including access to the benefits system, social services, health visitors and relationships with schools. Local authorities already have local welfare assistance responsibility and many have support programmes already in place. Jobcentres will share information with claimants about the support available in their local area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Detailed guidance has been shared with local authorities and was published on gov.uk on 24 November: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 119315 119987 119989 119991 question first answered 01/12/2020 18:06:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1254888

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme and Free School Meals
	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 (a) inform families of children who are eligible for Free School Meals how to access support under the Covid Winter Grant Scheme and (b) support those families to access that scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	119989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2020 answer text <p>The Covid Winter Support Grant is a new £170m fund which will enable local authorities in England to support vulnerable households this winter with food and key utilities. To ensure those most in need benefit from this funding, grants to local authorities are being made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 and carry conditions to ensure the primary focus of the scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic, including but not restricted to households who are eligible for free school meals. Local authorities will develop their own criteria.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided these grants to upper tier authorities, recognising they have the statutory responsibility regarding children and are well placed to identify and respond to local need. A wide range of data is already available to them to help target their support, including access to the benefits system, social services, health visitors and relationships with schools. Local authorities already have local welfare assistance responsibility and many have support programmes already in place. Jobcentres will share information with claimants about the support available in their local area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Detailed guidance has been shared with local authorities and was published on gov.uk on 24 November: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 119315 119987 119988 119991 question first answered 01/12/2020 18:06:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1254890

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme
	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 will take to ensure families with children who are eligible for Free School Meals access support under the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	119991
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2020 answer text <p>The Covid Winter Support Grant is a new £170m fund which will enable local authorities in England to support vulnerable households this winter with food and key utilities. To ensure those most in need benefit from this funding, grants to local authorities are being made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 and carry conditions to ensure the primary focus of the scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic, including but not restricted to households who are eligible for free school meals. Local authorities will develop their own criteria.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided these grants to upper tier authorities, recognising they have the statutory responsibility regarding children and are well placed to identify and respond to local need. A wide range of data is already available to them to help target their support, including access to the benefits system, social services, health visitors and relationships with schools. Local authorities already have local welfare assistance responsibility and many have support programmes already in place. Jobcentres will share information with claimants about the support available in their local area.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Detailed guidance has been shared with local authorities and was published on gov.uk on 24 November: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 119315 119987 119988 119989 question first answered 01/12/2020 18:06:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1256037

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2020
	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	Covid Winter Grant Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanism was used to determine how much each local authority will receive from the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	121201
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>The Covid Winter Grant Scheme is a new £170m fund which will enable local authorities to support vulnerable households this winter with food and key utilities. Grants to local authorities will be made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 and will carry conditions to ensure the primary focus of the scheme is on supporting vulnerable families with children affected by the pandemic. Within the conditions, local authorities will have flexibility to decide how best to identify and support those most in need in their local area.</p><p> </p><p>In line with the £63m grant fund made available to local authorities earlier in the year, funding will be dispersed according to an authority’s population, weighted by a function of the English Index of Multiple Deprivation.</p><p> </p><p>Funding allocations for each upper tier Local Authority were published on gov.uk on 24 November: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme/indicative-funding-levels-per-county-council-or-unitary-authority" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-winter-grant-scheme/indicative-funding-levels-per-county-council-or-unitary-authority</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/12/2020 15:16:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson