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1133373

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Biometric Residence Permits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments his Department carried out in determining that £800 was an appropriate fee for the super priority service for a replacement biometric residence permit.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	266841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>An application fee for the replacement of a biometric residence permit (BRP) is £56 and uptake of the super premium service in addition to this is completely optional.</p><p>The super premium service is an optional service to expedite the application process if an applicant needs a decision within one working day and is available to various types of immigration applications for a fixed fee. As such, £800 was set to reflect the benefits of the service offered, alongside the need to run an effective BIC System. As an optional service applying to a variety of immigration applications it has not had a separate Impact Assessment.</p><p>Fees are usually reviewed on an annual basis, with a view to providing resources necessary to running the Border Immigration and Citizenship system.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/06/2019 15:18:21 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1132223

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	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 Answers of 8 and 29 April 2019 to Questions 239928 and 245887, what progress she has made on revision of form ESA65B and whether that revision will make clear to doctors that they should continue to provide fit notes for claimants if they are appealing a decision or their condition worsens.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	264779
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The revised version of the ESA65B letter went live from 3<sup>rd</sup> June 2019. The revised letter states clearly the circumstances in which fit notes are required including to support Employment and Support Allowance appeals, where a claimant’s condition has worsened or if the claimant has developed a new health condition or disability.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/06/2019 14:30:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1131069

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	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	British Indian Ocean Territory
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of the statement by the Prime Minister of Mauritius at the UN general Assembly on 22 May 2019 that the eviction of the population of the Chagos Islands by the UK Government was akin to a crime against humanity.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	262406
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK does not accept this characterisation of events. Mauritius has not previously described matters in this way. Nor has this description been used by either the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its Advisory Opinion, or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Tribunal members in the Award in respect of the circumstances of the removal of Chagossians.</p><p>The UK has expressed sincere regret about the manner in which Chagossians were removed from British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) in the 1960s and 1970s.</p><p>The Government has committed £40 million for Chagossians who are now living elsewhere – to provide employment support, English language training and projects to help preserve their heritage.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 13/06/2019 14:10:47 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1130710

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Driving: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many D4 medical examination reports have been completed during (a) each of the five years prior to December 2014 and (b) each year since December 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	261517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>As not all applications need to be supported by a D4 medical examination report, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the number of applications processed from applicants for entitlement to drive lorries and buses. However, examples of group 2 licence applications that do not include a D4 medical examination report, include but are not limited to, the renewal of a driving licence before the age of 45 and when adding an additional driving entitlement within 12 months of submitting a D4 (e.g. adding a bus provisional when holding HGV entitlement).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Group 2 licence applications</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>245,486</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>230,129</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>244,482</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>259,966</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>256,248</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>263,535</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>282,751</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>288,654</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>289,202</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>389,741</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019 (until the end of May)</p></td><td><p>175,221</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 12/06/2019 11:03:57 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1130711

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Driving: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many D4 medical examination applications have been refused during (a) each of the five years prior to December 2014 and (b) each year since December 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	261518
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>The table below shows the number of lorry or bus driving licence applications that have been refused or revoked for medical reasons over the last 10 years. However, not all these applications will have been supported by a D4 medical examination report.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Group 2 licence applications </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>Not held</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>4,583</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>5,539</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>6,122</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>7,464</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>7,494</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>8,095</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>10,665</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>11,213</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>12,242</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019 (until the end of May)</p></td><td><p>4,639</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 12/06/2019 11:06:56 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1130712

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Driving: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many DVLA centres are licensed to complete D4 medical examination reports.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	261519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not license centres or doctors to complete D4 medical examination reports. The D4 medical examination and report must be conducted by a qualified medical practitioner who is registered with the General Medical Council and licensed to practice in the UK, or registered within the EU (if the form is completed outside the UK). The examining practitioner must carry out the examination in accordance with requirements outlined in DVLA guidance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 12/06/2019 11:18:37 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1128922

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a response to EDM 2425 entitled UN Condemnation of UK occupation of the Chagos Islands.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	259287
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>As set out in Written Ministerial Statement - HCWS1528 of 30 April and in the statement by the UK Permanent Representative at UNGA on 23 May, we were disappointed that this matter was referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and UN General Assembly. An Advisory Opinion of the ICJ is advice provided to the United Nations General Assembly at its request; it is not a legally binding judgment. The Government has considered the content of the Opinion carefully, but we do not share the Court's approach. The basic principle that the ICJ should not consider bilateral sovereignty disputes without the consent of both states concerned has been circumvented and this could have wide-reaching implications for all UN member states.</p><p>With regard to Chagossians we are continuing our work to design a support package worth approximately £40m, to improve Chagossian livelihoods in the communities in Mauritius, the Seychelles and the UK where they now live.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 06/06/2019 15:34:05 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1129162

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Kenya: Refugees
	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 Kenyan counterpart on the recent decision of a court in that country to repatriate 22 women refugees to Eritrea.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	259288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>​Neither the Foreign Secretary nor I have discussed with the Kenyan government reports that a Kenyan court has ruled to repatriate 22 women refugees to Eritrea. Our High Commission in Nairobi will work to establish the full facts in the coming days.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 06/06/2019 15:38:40 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1127787

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Water
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the publication entitled, Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019–2024: The UK’s five-year national action plan, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the implementation of the Government’s commitment to support greater access to water and sanitation; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	257066
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK’s national action plan on tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) sets out challenging five-year ambitions that begin to fulfil the UK’s vision for a world in which AMR is contained and controlled by 2040. DFID and the Department for Health and Social Care are working closely together on tackling AMR and senior officials have met on this issue.</p><p> </p><p>As part of tackling AMR, DFID continues to support health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes which emphasise the importance of improving infection control, and WASH in health facilities, which is key for the prevention of infections and antimicrobial resistance. The UK is committed to supporting countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 target of universal access to water and sanitation by 2030.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 04/06/2019 16:33:15 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1127788

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Malawi: Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the adequacy of access to (a) water, (b) sanitation and (c) hygiene facilities in Health Care Facilities in Malawi.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	257067
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2019 answer text <p>Approximately 40% of health facilities in Malawi do not have adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.</p><p>DFID’s £110m Malawi Health Service Support Programme funds regular supply of piped water to health facilities in 28 districts and the construction of new health facilities that meet water, sanitation and hygiene standards. An estimated 400,000 Malawians will benefit from these facilities.</p><p>DFID Malawi has funded UNICEF to improve hygiene facilities in 13 Cholera-prone districts. The NGO WaterAid has received £2m from DFID through UK Aid Match to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services in marginalised districts of Malawi.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 04/06/2019 13:22:02 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1127962

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Elections: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will issue a response to the recommendations published by FullFact on 12 April 2019 on reform of electoral laws governing online campaigning.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	257144
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to increasing transparency in digital campaigning. On 5 May 2019, the Government announced that candidates, political parties and non-party campaigners will be required to brand or ‘imprint’ their digital election materials, so the public is clear who is targeting them. The Government will bring forward the technical proposal for this regime later on this year.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst there are no current plans for a database of online political adverts, we are encouraging action to increase transparency of wider political advertising online. Several social media companies have already implemented tools to enhance transparency about the origins of political and electoral adverts on their platforms, including political advert libraries. However, these efforts have been inconsistent and the Government is clear that more could be done. As such, the Online Harms White Paper, published on 8 April 2019, proposes that under the new online safety regulatory framework platforms could be required to improve transparency of political advertising, as part of their duty of care to protect their users from disinformation.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 05/06/2019 10:37:34 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1126482

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Debts: Developing Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 158 on Transparency of developing country debts.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	254221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>I thank the honourable member for Glasgow North for his question, and refer him to my answer of 14 November to PQ UIN 189731.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 20/05/2019 15:52:43 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1126008

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Energy: Meters
	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 much the Government has spent on TV and radio advertising to promote smart meters.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	253634
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>Smart Energy GB is responsible for the national consumer awareness campaign for smart meters in Great Britain. Smart Energy GB is an independent, not for profit organisation funded by energy suppliers. Details of Smart Energy GB’s budget can be found at: <a href="https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/about-us/essential-documents" target="_blank">https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/about-us/essential-documents</a>.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/05/2019 13:38:31 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1126009

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Energy: Meters
	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 extent to which the Data Communications Company will install upgraded communication software to SMETS1 smart meters by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	253635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Data Communications Company (DCC) and energy suppliers have obligations to upgrade their systems and operate SMETS1 smart meters within the DCC’s national communications network by the end of 2020.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/05/2019 13:38:38 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1126010

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Energy: Meters
	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 potential merits of conducting a new cost-benefit analysis of the smart meter roll-out over the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	253636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to publishing a new Cost Benefit Analysis for the Smart Meter Implementation Programme this year.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 16/05/2019 13:38:43 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1124958

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ministers of Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion (a) 2358 on Changes to visa requirements for religious workers and (b) 2362 on Tier 5 visas for ministers of religion.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	251347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government very much values the importance of religious and cultural expression to our communities in the UK and we continue to welcome Ministers of Religion from all faiths who wish to come to the UK in accordance with our Immigration Rules.</p><p>There are two routes for Religious Workers in the current immigration system.</p><p>Tier 2 Ministers of Religion is for those playing a leading role as faith leaders in our religious institutions. This category requires those coming to have a strong command of the English language in order to ensure Ministers of Religion can lead their congregations effectively and can interact with the wider communities they serve.</p><p>The second route, Tier 5 Religious Workers, is for those undertaking non-pastoral roles supporting the activities of these institutions. In line with our other temporary work categories, Tier 5 Religious Workers are not required to demonstrate their English language skills when applying for a visa.</p><p>We have taken steps to prevent our temporary work categories being used as a means to live in the UK for longer periods. Tier 5 is designed to facilitate short periods of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange and yet we have identified evidence of migrants using our Tier 5 Religious Worker and Charity Worker routes to facilitate near continuous residence in the UK.</p><p>We made changes to the Immigration Rules in October 2018 to preclude the use of Tier 5 by minister of Religion and to introduce a ‘cooling off period’, preventing Tier 5 Religious worker and Tier 5 Charity Worker visa holders from returning to the UK, via these immigration routes, for 12 months after their visa expires. This approach underpins the Government’s intention that these are temporary routes.</p><p>Bona fide Ministers of Religion are still welcome to come to the UK and that there remains a route for them in the immigration system through Tier 2.</p><p><br>The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail and explaining the rationale for the changes. Officials remain in regular contact with stakeholders and we are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 13/05/2019 11:07:14 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1123144

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish a response to EDM 2296 on providing financial restitution to born in the 1950s women.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	247728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The approach of Labour, Conservative and the Coalition governments for the last 24 years since the 1995 pensions Act is the same. This Government’s position on the changes to State Pension age (SPa) remains clear and consistent.</p><p> </p><p>The legislative changes to women’s SPa address the longstanding inequalities that had previously existed between men and women’s SPa. If State Pension age had not been equalised, women would be spending over 40 per cent of their adult life in retirement and this proportion would be continuing to increase. Even after equalising women's State Pension age with men's, women will spend on average around two years more in receipt of their State Pension because of their longer life expectancy.</p><p> </p><p>The overall trend in the percentage of pensioners living in poverty is a dramatic fall over several decades. We are forecast to spend over £120 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £99 billion on the State Pension (2019/2020). In 2019/20 we are spending £3.1 billion to increase benefit and pension rates for pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare system continues to provide a safety-net for those experiencing hardship, including that caused by unemployment, disability, and coping with caring responsibilities which affect those unable to work and therefore most in need in the run up to their State Pension age. Women who have had their State Pension age increased have the same eligibility to working age in-work, out-of-work and disability benefits as a man with the same date of birth.</p><p> </p><p>This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament, and any amendment to the current legislation which creates a new inequality between men and women would be highly dubious as a matter of law. The Government does not respond to individual EDMs.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/04/2019 12:18:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1122082

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	Epilepsy: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2019 to Question 237706 on Epilepsy: Drugs, and with reference to the publication entitled, Epilepsy Society Calls For Urgent Review Of Medicines Supply Chain, published by the Epilepsy Society on 8 April 2019, if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of people with epilepsy that are unable to obtain epilepsy medication.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	245842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department fully understands that maintaining access to epilepsy medications is vitally important to many people in this country.</p><p>The production of medicines is complex and must meet rigorous quality and safety standards. Disruption to the medicines supply chain is rare, but can occur due to manufacturing issues, supply of raw materials or batch failures.</p><p>The Department has well established processes to monitor the medicines supply chain, and to manage and mitigate the small number of supply problems that may arise at any one time. In addition, from January this year, it became a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to report this information to us in a timely manner. The new requirements aim to address the ongoing concerns about medicine supply issues and to ensure that the Department has relevant information at the earliest point possible to help manage supply shortages and mitigate any potential impacts on patients.</p><p>The Department responded to concerns over medicines used in epilepsy by seeking specialist advice to develop a clinical management plan. The clinical management plan aims to ensure treatment for affected patients can be managed appropriately in the unlikely event of any disruption to supply. We communicated information about the supply issue and clinical management plan to the National Health Service and affected patients via patient groups.</p><p>We continue to work closely with industry and partners in the health system to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when supply issues do arise.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy grouped question UIN 245843 question first answered 25/04/2019 14:14:30 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1122083

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	Epilepsy: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will respond to the request from the Epilepsy Society for an urgent review of the medicines supply chain.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	245843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department fully understands that maintaining access to epilepsy medications is vitally important to many people in this country.</p><p>The production of medicines is complex and must meet rigorous quality and safety standards. Disruption to the medicines supply chain is rare, but can occur due to manufacturing issues, supply of raw materials or batch failures.</p><p>The Department has well established processes to monitor the medicines supply chain, and to manage and mitigate the small number of supply problems that may arise at any one time. In addition, from January this year, it became a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to report this information to us in a timely manner. The new requirements aim to address the ongoing concerns about medicine supply issues and to ensure that the Department has relevant information at the earliest point possible to help manage supply shortages and mitigate any potential impacts on patients.</p><p>The Department responded to concerns over medicines used in epilepsy by seeking specialist advice to develop a clinical management plan. The clinical management plan aims to ensure treatment for affected patients can be managed appropriately in the unlikely event of any disruption to supply. We communicated information about the supply issue and clinical management plan to the National Health Service and affected patients via patient groups.</p><p>We continue to work closely with industry and partners in the health system to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when supply issues do arise.</p> answering member constituency South Ribble answering member printed Seema Kennedy grouped question UIN 245842 question first answered 25/04/2019 14:14:30 answering member 4455 label Biography information for Seema Kennedy
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121343

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of reducing the current £16,000 savings threshold for entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	244145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to change the capital rule on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>Entitlement to contributory ESA is not affected by the amount of capital a person has.</p><p> </p><p>The current upper capital limit strikes a balance between protecting less well-off people and protecting the taxpayer, whilst at the same time recognising the conscientious efforts of people who have built up capital. This limit ensures that the help which comes from taxpayers, many of whom are themselves on low incomes and have limited capital, is directed to people who need it most.</p><p>The effect of reducing the savings threshold would be that fewer claimants would be entitled to ESA.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/04/2019 10:27:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121347

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the planned timeframe for the publication of a report on the second phase of its investigation into the Royal Bank of Scotland's Global Restructuring Group.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	244146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>On 31 July 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced it would publish a fuller account of its findings following the conclusion of its investigation into the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Global Restructuring Group.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA is an independent non-governmental body. In view of this independence, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on the timeframe for the publication of the FCA’s findings.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/04/2019 13:04:47 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121488

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much time the online EU Settlement Scheme platform has spent undergoing maintenance which prevents the completion of applications since that service was launched.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	244147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The EUSS fully launched on 30 March following almost 5 months of successful beta testing. The Scheme will remain open until 2021 so there is no rush to apply.</p><p>The Home Office is committed to continuously improving the application process based on applicant feedback. To this end, we have and will continue to make frequent upgrades to the service to ensure that the EU Settlement Scheme remains as user friendly and performant as possible.</p><p>We try to minimise the disruption to applicants by keeping maintenance windows as short as possible and by making changes during quiet periods, often during the night or early morning where there is little or no applicant activity. So far, Applications to EUSS have been unavailable to applicants due to maintenance for less than 2 hours in total since EUSS fully launched on 30 March.</p><p>Customers impacted by any disruption to their applications will be directed to the Settlement Resolution Centre to help resolve these issues</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 24/04/2019 12:07:37 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121554

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	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	Greenhouse Gas Emissions
	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 viability of the Implementation Plans for the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions published by Climate Mobilization.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	244148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>No assessment has been made. The Government recognises that climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges we face, and our Clean Growth Strategy sets out our plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through to 2032, including ambitious policies and proposals on housing, business, transport, the natural environment and green finance.</p><p> </p><p>The Strategy builds on the strong progress we have made towards our legally binding targets established in the world-leading Climate Change Act. Between 1990 and 2017, the UK reduced its emissions by over 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the need to go further, which is why we have commissioned the Committee on Climate Change to provide advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets, including on setting a net zero target. They have been asked to include evidence on how carbon emission reductions in line with their recommendations might be delivered in key sectors of the economy. This advice is due on the 2 May and we will consider it carefully when it is received.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 24/04/2019 15:30:39 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1110542

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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	Energy
	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 potential benefits of the policies in the Green Alliance's Community Energy Manifesto.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	242966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>Community energy has many benefits not only for the energy system but also for wider community resilience as set out in the Green Alliance’s Community Energy Manifesto.</p><p> </p><p>The Government already does value communities in the energy system. The Rural Community Energy Fund, which will reopen shortly, allows communities to identify and develop schemes in which they can invest and from which they can derive significant local benefits. This programme will now include community officers in each of the five local energy hubs in England.</p><p> </p><p>I am also proud of the way communities support and adopt innovation not just in technology but in business planning, in financing of projects and in engaging with the local communities they represent. As a Government we support this approach and as part of our ‘Prospering from the Energy Revolution’ programme, £40m has been allocated to 4 local future systems demonstrators and I am pleased that communities like the Low Carbon Hub in Oxford at the heart of those schemes.</p><p> </p><p>As the Manifesto itself points out, 5 out of 6 current BEIS Local Retrofit Supply Chain pilot projects are led by community groups. We are also supporting Community Energy England with the essential work they do to share best practice and celebrate success, and I attended their conference in Bristol in October, as part of Green Great Britain Week, to see this work in action.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 23/04/2019 11:08:10 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1110842

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the viability of an ID scanning location in Glasgow for applicants to the EU Settlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	242867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme is straightforward and user-friendly, and it is accessible on any smartphone, tablet or computer using internet browsers.</p><p>There are multiple ways to have identity documents checked, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office. We have also opened 50 locations nationwide where applicants can have their passport scanned and verified.</p><p>The ID document scanning service is provided at the discretion of each local authority. The Home Office would encourage as many local authorities as possible to offer the service, and we continue to work with local government bodies across the UK to increase the provision of this service by local authorities.</p><p>The viability and cost of offering the ID document scanning service in each location is a matter for each local authority. Charges for using the service, payable directly to the local authority, can be set to cover the costs of providing the service.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 242868 question first answered 15/04/2019 11:47:28 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady