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428154

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on charging carers for the support they receive in their caring role of an increase in the number of councils charging carers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2015 to Question <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-10-22/13008/" target="_blank">13008</a>.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt grouped question UIN 16238 question first answered 23/11/2015 16:28:58 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428152

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to monitor the number of local authorities charging carers for the support they receive to help them in their caring role.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16238
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2015 to Question <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-10-22/13008/" target="_blank">13008</a>.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt grouped question UIN 16237 question first answered 23/11/2015 16:28:58 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

422265

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to assess whether unpaid carers are receiving their new rights to support as introduced by the Care Act 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	12327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends.</p><br /><p>That is why we continue to support implementation of the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16, which include an extended right to assessment and, for the first time, a duty on local authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.</p><br /><p>To support implementation of the reform programme, we have established a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS). This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach. This approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and should be adopted by other programmes.</p><br /><p>The programme includes a series of stocktakes of Local Authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation:</p><br /><p>- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.</p><p>- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.</p><br /><p>We have also produced a suite of implementation support documents around the new carers’ rights, one of which is <em>The Economic Case for Investment in Carers</em>, a short factsheet for local authorities to use in considering whether to put in place a policy of charging carers, setting out the evidence that charging would be a false economy. This expands on the position set out in the Care Act statutory guidance, which at paragraph 8.50 states that:</p><br /><p>“Local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so. When deciding whether to charge, and in determining what an appropriate charge is, a local authority should consider how it wishes to express the way it values carers within its local community as partners in care, and recognise the significant contribution carers make.”</p><br /><p>The Care Act replicates the previous position where charging carers was permissible. It would not have been appropriate to impose a blanket ban on charging for carers services, because in some cases small charges are necessary to the viability of services. However, the Care Act provides additional protection to carers by making it clear that local authorities cannot charge carers for services provided to the person being cared for. This means that carers may only be charged for services provided directly to them.</p><br /><p>Most local authorities do not routinely charge carers in recognition of the valuable contribution carers make to their local communities, and the Carers Trust report confirms that this is still the case. We will continue to make the case against routine charging of carers and to monitor the situation closely through the implementation monitoring process set out above.</p><br /><p>We have no plans to create a new duty around NHS identification of carers. The Care Act requires NHS bodies and local authorities to co-operate with each other in the exercise of their respective functions relevant to care and support, including those relating to carers, so we would expect local authorities and NHS bodies to cooperate in identifying and signposting carers. The Department is working with ADASS and NHS England to produce a “local pathway” for carer identification and support that will set this out in more detail.</p><br /><p>The Department has also provided over £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as Carers UK and the Carers Trust, to develop initiatives to raise awareness of carers among healthcare professionals and to help identify and support carers.</p><br /><p>The Department is also leading on the development of a new National Carers’ Strategy that will be looking at the best of international practice and examine what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt grouped question UIN 12328 12329 question first answered 27/10/2015 13:04:03 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

422263

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policy of the Carers Trust report on local authority support for carers, published on 16 September 2015; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	12329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends.</p><br /><p>That is why we continue to support implementation of the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16, which include an extended right to assessment and, for the first time, a duty on local authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.</p><br /><p>To support implementation of the reform programme, we have established a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS). This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach. This approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and should be adopted by other programmes.</p><br /><p>The programme includes a series of stocktakes of Local Authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation:</p><br /><p>- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.</p><p>- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.</p><br /><p>We have also produced a suite of implementation support documents around the new carers’ rights, one of which is <em>The Economic Case for Investment in Carers</em>, a short factsheet for local authorities to use in considering whether to put in place a policy of charging carers, setting out the evidence that charging would be a false economy. This expands on the position set out in the Care Act statutory guidance, which at paragraph 8.50 states that:</p><br /><p>“Local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so. When deciding whether to charge, and in determining what an appropriate charge is, a local authority should consider how it wishes to express the way it values carers within its local community as partners in care, and recognise the significant contribution carers make.”</p><br /><p>The Care Act replicates the previous position where charging carers was permissible. It would not have been appropriate to impose a blanket ban on charging for carers services, because in some cases small charges are necessary to the viability of services. However, the Care Act provides additional protection to carers by making it clear that local authorities cannot charge carers for services provided to the person being cared for. This means that carers may only be charged for services provided directly to them.</p><br /><p>Most local authorities do not routinely charge carers in recognition of the valuable contribution carers make to their local communities, and the Carers Trust report confirms that this is still the case. We will continue to make the case against routine charging of carers and to monitor the situation closely through the implementation monitoring process set out above.</p><br /><p>We have no plans to create a new duty around NHS identification of carers. The Care Act requires NHS bodies and local authorities to co-operate with each other in the exercise of their respective functions relevant to care and support, including those relating to carers, so we would expect local authorities and NHS bodies to cooperate in identifying and signposting carers. The Department is working with ADASS and NHS England to produce a “local pathway” for carer identification and support that will set this out in more detail.</p><br /><p>The Department has also provided over £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as Carers UK and the Carers Trust, to develop initiatives to raise awareness of carers among healthcare professionals and to help identify and support carers.</p><br /><p>The Department is also leading on the development of a new National Carers’ Strategy that will be looking at the best of international practice and examine what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt grouped question UIN 12327 12328 question first answered 27/10/2015 13:04:03 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

422266

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will create a new duty on NHS primary care providers to identify unpaid carers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	12328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends.</p><br /><p>That is why we continue to support implementation of the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16, which include an extended right to assessment and, for the first time, a duty on local authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.</p><br /><p>To support implementation of the reform programme, we have established a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS). This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach. This approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and should be adopted by other programmes.</p><br /><p>The programme includes a series of stocktakes of Local Authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation:</p><br /><p>- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.</p><p>- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.</p><br /><p>We have also produced a suite of implementation support documents around the new carers’ rights, one of which is <em>The Economic Case for Investment in Carers</em>, a short factsheet for local authorities to use in considering whether to put in place a policy of charging carers, setting out the evidence that charging would be a false economy. This expands on the position set out in the Care Act statutory guidance, which at paragraph 8.50 states that:</p><br /><p>“Local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so. When deciding whether to charge, and in determining what an appropriate charge is, a local authority should consider how it wishes to express the way it values carers within its local community as partners in care, and recognise the significant contribution carers make.”</p><br /><p>The Care Act replicates the previous position where charging carers was permissible. It would not have been appropriate to impose a blanket ban on charging for carers services, because in some cases small charges are necessary to the viability of services. However, the Care Act provides additional protection to carers by making it clear that local authorities cannot charge carers for services provided to the person being cared for. This means that carers may only be charged for services provided directly to them.</p><br /><p>Most local authorities do not routinely charge carers in recognition of the valuable contribution carers make to their local communities, and the Carers Trust report confirms that this is still the case. We will continue to make the case against routine charging of carers and to monitor the situation closely through the implementation monitoring process set out above.</p><br /><p>We have no plans to create a new duty around NHS identification of carers. The Care Act requires NHS bodies and local authorities to co-operate with each other in the exercise of their respective functions relevant to care and support, including those relating to carers, so we would expect local authorities and NHS bodies to cooperate in identifying and signposting carers. The Department is working with ADASS and NHS England to produce a “local pathway” for carer identification and support that will set this out in more detail.</p><br /><p>The Department has also provided over £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as Carers UK and the Carers Trust, to develop initiatives to raise awareness of carers among healthcare professionals and to help identify and support carers.</p><br /><p>The Department is also leading on the development of a new National Carers’ Strategy that will be looking at the best of international practice and examine what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt grouped question UIN 12327 12329 question first answered 27/10/2015 13:04:03 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

349269

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Children: Day Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to ensure that looked after children have access to specialist mental health support.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	1610
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2015 answer text <p>The Department of Health and the Department for Education jointly published <em>Promoting the health and well-being of looked-after children: Statutory guidance for local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and NHS England</em> on 17 March 2015. This includes guidance for clinical commissioning groups, local authorities and NHS England to ensure that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and other services provide targeted and dedicated support to looked-after children according to need.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/06/2015 14:23:04 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

423348

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the Carers Trust report published on 16 September 2015, Analysis of the UK and Impact of Charges by Councils Providing Support to Unpaid Carers; and if he will make an assessment of the effect of local authority charges on carers for the support they receive to help them in their caring role.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	13008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2015 answer text <p>The Department has been clear that local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so.</p><br /><p>We have produced a suite of implementation support documents around the new carers’ rights, one of which is <em>The Economic Case for Investment in Carers</em>, a short factsheet for local authorities to use in considering whether to put in place a policy of charging carers, setting out the evidence that charging would be a false economy. This expands on the position set out in the Care Act statutory guidance, which at paragraph 8.50 states that:</p><p /> <p>“Local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so. When deciding whether to charge, and in determining what an appropriate charge is, a local authority should consider how it wishes to express the way it values carers within its local community as partners in care, and recognise the significant contribution carers make.”</p><p /> <p>The Care Act replicates the previous position where charging carers was permissible. It would not have been appropriate to impose a blanket ban on charging for carers services, because in some cases small charges are necessary to the viability of services. However, the Care Act provides additional protection to carers by making it clear that local authorities cannot charge carers for services provided to the person being cared for. This means that carers may only be charged for services provided directly to them.</p><br /><p>Most local authorities do not routinely charge carers in recognition of the valuable contribution carers make to their local communities, and the Carers Trust report confirms that this is still the case. We will continue to make the case against routine charging of carers and to monitor the situation closely through the implementation monitoring process set out below.</p><br /><p>To support implementation of the reform programme, we have established a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adults Social Services. This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach. This approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and should be adopted by other programmes.</p><br /><p>The programme includes a series of stocktakes of local authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation:</p><p>- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.</p><p>- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 30/10/2015 11:57:03 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

423775

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Social Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the additional financial resources needed by local authorities to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	13257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2015 answer text <p>The Department’s estimate of the additional financial resources needed by local authorities to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 is set out in the Care Act impact assessment, which can be found here:</p><br /><p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/impacts" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/impacts</a></p><br /><p>Page five of the impact assessment has a summary of all estimated costs related to Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 over 10 years from 2015/16. The impact assessment sets out the basis for the estimates in each case.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 02/11/2015 17:41:39 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

423776

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the report by Carers Trust entitled A Charge on Caring?, published on 16 September 2015, if he will take steps to prohibit local authorities from charging unpaid carers for support.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	13255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends.</p><br /><p>The Care Act guidance is clear about policy on charging carers. The Care Act statutory guidance, at paragraph 8.50 states that:</p><br /><p>“Local authorities are not required to charge a carer for support and indeed in many cases it would be a false economy to do so. When deciding whether to charge, and in determining what an appropriate charge is, a local authority should consider how it wishes to express the way it values carers within its local community as partners in care, and recognise the significant contribution carers make.”</p><br /><p>The Care Act replicates the previous position where charging carers was permissible and the Government has no plans to change this. It would not have been appropriate to impose a blanket ban on charging for carers services, because in some cases small charges are necessary to the viability of services. However, the Care Act provides additional protection to carers by making it clear that local authorities cannot charge carers for services provided to the person being cared for. This means that carers may only be charged for services provided directly to them.</p><br /><p>Most local authorities do not routinely charge carers in recognition of the valuable contribution carers make to their local communities, and the Carers Trust report confirms that this is still the case. We will continue to make the case against routine charging of carers and to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 03/11/2015 16:20:25 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428151

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will carry out an assessment after the November Spending Review of local authorities' capacity to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 following changes to local authority funding.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16245
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <br /><p>Funding decisions for 2016/17 onwards, including on adult social care, are subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.</p><br /><p>Officials in the Department and across government are working hard to understand pressures on the care system and will consider adult social care expenditure and the future demand as part of this process. This includes ongoing Care Act pressures.</p><p><br>We will continue to review and monitor implementation of the Care Act which includes a series of stocktakes of local authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation. It details:</p><p><br>- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.</p><p>- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.</p><br /><p>There are two further local authority stocktakes planned for the remainder of the financial year which will monitor the progress on implementing change. It is our intention to repeat the surveys next year to continue monitoring progress, subject to agreement with local government.</p><p><br>The Department will also commission a piece of research to evaluate and inform implementation of the Care Act 2014. The research will focus on knowing more about how the Act is being implemented locally and to see how effectively the Act is achieving its underlying aims.</p><br /> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/11/2015 16:24:13 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428155

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what decision his Department has made on the use of the £6 billion of funding allocated for the implementation of phase 2 of the Care Act 2014 now that the implementation of that phase has been postponed.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government recognises that social care is vital to enabling people to live healthy and independent lives.</p><br /><p>Funding decisions for 2016/17 onwards, including on adult social care, are subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.</p><br /><p>Officials in the Department and across government are working hard to understand pressures on the care system and will consider adult social care expenditure and future demand as part of this process.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/11/2015 16:31:15 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428156

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will create a database for local authorities on best practice in meeting their new duties under the Care Act 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>To support implementation of the Care Act, a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS) has been established. This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the care sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach across the country. Earlier this year this approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and recommended it should be adopted by other similar work programmes.</p><br /><p>As part of this programme of work the Department has provided £2.7 million to nine regional local government networks to enable them to commission tools, products and non-statutory guidance to help local authorities in implementing the Care Act. The care sector has been involved in developing these materials and making sure they meet required standards. The materials focus on areas of key risk and challenge identified by local authorities and support the development of best practice. The Department also provided £4 million in 2015-16 for the ADASS to give local authorities targeted support and to help share best practice. Information on good practice, research and innovation aimed at improving the social care infrastructure is available at the following website.</p><br /><p><a href="https://www.adass.org.uk/support-and-resources/" target="_blank">https://www.adass.org.uk/support-and-resources/</a></p><br /><p>In addition the LGA has included information on its website that details available learning and development resources, best practice guidance and practical tools to support the care sector. It also details the regional support available in each of the nine local government regions to help councils to implement the Care Act. The website is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.local.gov.uk/care-support-reform;jsessionid=B36A65C6DFFB6012739EB96FDBE5918B.tomcat2" target="_blank">http://www.local.gov.uk/care-support-reform;jsessionid=B36A65C6DFFB6012739EB96FDBE5918B.tomcat2</a></p><br /><p>The support work described above is part of a wider package of Sector-Led Improvement that the Department has funded the LGA and ADASS to deliver, under the umbrella of the Towards Excellence in Adult Social Care (TEASC) programme. The culture of Sector-Led Improvement, and the TEASC programme, are based on the principles that local authorities are responsible for their own performance, and are collectively responsible for the performance of the sector as a whole. This includes an ongoing commitment to share experience, advice and best practice at a regional and national level.</p><br /><p><strong></strong></p><br /> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/11/2015 15:25:08 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

381784

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Green Deal Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many measures of each type in each region have been installed under the Green Deal since it was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	2966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The attached table shows how many measures of each type have been installed by region using Green Deal Finance up to end March 2015, based on the number of Green Deal Plans that were ‘live’ by the end of April 2015. This was reported in Table 3a in the following National statistic release:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-may-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-may-2015</a>.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 23/06/2015 14:53:54 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

381785

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Green Deal Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the value of loans is made under the Green Deal in each region since that scheme was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	2965
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The Department reported there were 6,809 unique households that had taken out ‘live’ Green Deal Plans at the end of March 2015, (i.e. Plans with measures installed) as reported in Table 1.7 of the following National Statistics release:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-march-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-march-2015</a></p><p>The initial Green Deal finance loan values associated with these Plans at the end of March 2015 was estimated in the order of around £26.5m (excluding APR payments, i.e. the original loan amount). A breakdown by region is shown in the table below:</p><p><strong><em>Table A: The number of 'live' Green Deal Plans and initial loan amounts by Region, up to 31st March 2015</em></strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong><em>Number of Live Plans</em></strong></p></td><td><p><strong><em>Initial Loan Amount (£)*</em></strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Great Britain</p></td><td><p>6,809</p></td><td><p>26,460,000</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>3,362</p></td><td><p>11,390,000</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>692</p></td><td><p>2,460,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>718</p></td><td><p>2,510,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorkshire and The Humber</p></td><td><p>606</p></td><td><p>1,760,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>428</p></td><td><p>1,510,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands</p></td><td><p>250</p></td><td><p>800,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East</p></td><td><p>188</p></td><td><p>650,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p>170,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>108</p></td><td><p>240,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>301</p></td><td><p>1,300,000</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>328</p></td><td><p>1,300,000</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>3,119</p></td><td><p>13,780,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>*Rounded to nearest ten thousand.</em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 23/06/2015 14:52:51 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

381786

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Green Deal Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many loans have been made in each region under the Green Deal since it was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	2964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The Department reported on 18th June 2015, the number of 'live' Green Deal Plans (i.e. Plans with measures installed) by Region, up to 31st March 2015, in Table 1.7 of the following National Statistics release:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-march-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-march-2015</a>.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 23/06/2015 14:52:25 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388579

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Industrial Health and Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to paragraph 3.3.3 of the Oil and Gas UK health and safety report 2014, what discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) the Oil and Gas Authority, (d) trade unions and (e) Oil and Gas UK on the growth of the safety-critical maintenance backlog recorded in that report.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6156
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2015 answer text <p>At an official level, DECC has regular contact with DWP, the Health and Safety Executive, the Oil and Gas Authority and Oil and Gas UK on a range of issues relating to the oil and gas industry, including maintenance of offshore infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 13/07/2015 11:46:51 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

389810

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the time taken for safety-critical maintenance work to be completed on offshore oil and gas installations in the North Sea in 2014; and what criteria are used to prioritise such work.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2015 answer text <p>The regulation of the safety of offshore oil and gas installations is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and DECC has not carried out specific assessments in relation to safety-critical maintenance. However DECC and the Oil and Gas Authority are in regular contact with the HSE regarding offshore infrastructure issues and together, we aim to ensure that industry resources are directed to maximising safe, sustainable production.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 21/07/2015 15:29:11 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426082

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has assessed the necessary financial support required by local authorities to deliver a charging network for electric vehicles of the scale required to have an effect on local air quality.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14767
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government wants almost every car and van to be a zero emission vehicle by 2050 and is investing £500m between 2015 and 2020 to help deliver this. The long-term transition to ultra low emission vehicles can help improve local air quality, and will also lower UK greenhouse gas emissions and provide high value jobs and growth, but our modelling suggests that even very rapid uptake can have only a marginal impact on today’s air quality problems because of the time taken to turn over the vehicle fleet.</p><br /><p>We are aware that a number of local authorities have been assessing electric car charging point requirements in air quality management areas.</p><br /><p>The Government is considering future grid and chargepoint requirements as part of its planning for this transition. The UK already has the largest network of rapid chargepoints across Europe and over 6000 publically accessible chargepoints have been part-funded by the Government. We will continue to collaborate with industry to ensure that the UK’s infrastructure network meets the needs of electric vehicle drivers.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14855 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:30:02 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426080

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of electric charging points in air quality management areas, (b) number of such points needed to have an effect on air quality and (c) associated costs of upgrading the necessary grid infrastructure.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14855
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government wants almost every car and van to be a zero emission vehicle by 2050 and is investing £500m between 2015 and 2020 to help deliver this. The long-term transition to ultra low emission vehicles can help improve local air quality, and will also lower UK greenhouse gas emissions and provide high value jobs and growth, but our modelling suggests that even very rapid uptake can have only a marginal impact on today’s air quality problems because of the time taken to turn over the vehicle fleet.</p><br /><p>We are aware that a number of local authorities have been assessing electric car charging point requirements in air quality management areas.</p><br /><p>The Government is considering future grid and chargepoint requirements as part of its planning for this transition. The UK already has the largest network of rapid chargepoints across Europe and over 6000 publically accessible chargepoints have been part-funded by the Government. We will continue to collaborate with industry to ensure that the UK’s infrastructure network meets the needs of electric vehicle drivers.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14767 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:30:02 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426084

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Transport: Biofuels
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of biopropane for transport fuel.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>As part of a consultation in 2014 on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the department considered the potential benefits of biopropane in delivering GHG savings. In recognition of this, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation was subsequently amended to increase rewards for suppliers of that fuel from April 2015.</p><br /><p>The department, working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, have evaluated a range of options for tackling poor air quality; this formed the basis of the Government’s draft air quality plans that recently went to public consultation. Switching to LPG can provide air quality benefits but may not be easily deployed in all vehicle types.</p><br /><p>As part of the department’s 2014 Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF) grant scheme, Birmingham City Council were awarded £500,000 to enable the conversion of 80 older black cabs from diesel to LPG which will help improve air quality on some of the most polluted roads. There is a possibility of funding through the current CVTF grant scheme being used to support further LPG conversions in other areas.</p><br /><p>We are considering many competing priorities across Government as part of the Spending Review, including measures to tackle air quality pollutants and reduce other harmful emissions. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced later in the autumn.</p><br /><p>The department regularly meets with motor manufacturers and their representative body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Discussions on how manufacturers can act to tackle poor air quality cover a range of measures.</p><br /> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14693 14696 14766 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:45:45 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426083

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has assessed the potential of liquid petroleum gas as a replacement for diesel in (a) passenger cars, (b) taxis, (c) HGVs, (d) vans and (e) public sector fleets.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>As part of a consultation in 2014 on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the department considered the potential benefits of biopropane in delivering GHG savings. In recognition of this, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation was subsequently amended to increase rewards for suppliers of that fuel from April 2015.</p><br /><p>The department, working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, have evaluated a range of options for tackling poor air quality; this formed the basis of the Government’s draft air quality plans that recently went to public consultation. Switching to LPG can provide air quality benefits but may not be easily deployed in all vehicle types.</p><br /><p>As part of the department’s 2014 Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF) grant scheme, Birmingham City Council were awarded £500,000 to enable the conversion of 80 older black cabs from diesel to LPG which will help improve air quality on some of the most polluted roads. There is a possibility of funding through the current CVTF grant scheme being used to support further LPG conversions in other areas.</p><br /><p>We are considering many competing priorities across Government as part of the Spending Review, including measures to tackle air quality pollutants and reduce other harmful emissions. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced later in the autumn.</p><br /><p>The department regularly meets with motor manufacturers and their representative body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Discussions on how manufacturers can act to tackle poor air quality cover a range of measures.</p><br /> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14692 14693 14696 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:45:45 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426085

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has met vehicle manufacturers to discuss the availability of liquid petroleum gas vehicle models in the UK market and their potential effect on air quality.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>As part of a consultation in 2014 on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the department considered the potential benefits of biopropane in delivering GHG savings. In recognition of this, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation was subsequently amended to increase rewards for suppliers of that fuel from April 2015.</p><br /><p>The department, working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, have evaluated a range of options for tackling poor air quality; this formed the basis of the Government’s draft air quality plans that recently went to public consultation. Switching to LPG can provide air quality benefits but may not be easily deployed in all vehicle types.</p><br /><p>As part of the department’s 2014 Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF) grant scheme, Birmingham City Council were awarded £500,000 to enable the conversion of 80 older black cabs from diesel to LPG which will help improve air quality on some of the most polluted roads. There is a possibility of funding through the current CVTF grant scheme being used to support further LPG conversions in other areas.</p><br /><p>We are considering many competing priorities across Government as part of the Spending Review, including measures to tackle air quality pollutants and reduce other harmful emissions. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced later in the autumn.</p><br /><p>The department regularly meets with motor manufacturers and their representative body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Discussions on how manufacturers can act to tackle poor air quality cover a range of measures.</p><br /> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14692 14696 14766 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:45:45 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

426086

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Air Pollution: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department has provided to local authorities to improve air quality using liquid petroleum gas; and what further such support his Department has planned.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	14696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2015 answer text <p>As part of a consultation in 2014 on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the department considered the potential benefits of biopropane in delivering GHG savings. In recognition of this, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation was subsequently amended to increase rewards for suppliers of that fuel from April 2015.</p><br /><p>The department, working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, have evaluated a range of options for tackling poor air quality; this formed the basis of the Government’s draft air quality plans that recently went to public consultation. Switching to LPG can provide air quality benefits but may not be easily deployed in all vehicle types.</p><br /><p>As part of the department’s 2014 Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF) grant scheme, Birmingham City Council were awarded £500,000 to enable the conversion of 80 older black cabs from diesel to LPG which will help improve air quality on some of the most polluted roads. There is a possibility of funding through the current CVTF grant scheme being used to support further LPG conversions in other areas.</p><br /><p>We are considering many competing priorities across Government as part of the Spending Review, including measures to tackle air quality pollutants and reduce other harmful emissions. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced later in the autumn.</p><br /><p>The department regularly meets with motor manufacturers and their representative body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Discussions on how manufacturers can act to tackle poor air quality cover a range of measures.</p><br /> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 14692 14693 14766 question first answered 10/11/2015 17:45:45 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

427660

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Lighting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has allocated to reducing light pollution in the next five financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2015 answer text <p>When environmental impacts of new transport infrastructure projects are identified as part of the assessment and design process, appropriate mitigation is funded from within the budget for that project.</p><br /><p>As part of the Road Investment Strategy, Highways England also has a £300m environment fund to deliver environmental improvements on their network, both through retrofitting measures on the existing road network and maximizing opportunities offered by new road schemes. Where there is a strong case, some of this fund could support projects which reduce light pollution.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 16/11/2015 17:02:15 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

428221

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Excise Duties
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on the removal of the fuel duty escalator for liquefied petroleum gas as part of government proposals to reduce emissions from road transport.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16249
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>Ministers and officials meet regularly with HM Treasury on a wide range of issues.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 23/11/2015 13:59:11 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

178475

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are in receipt of a war disablement pension in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	223834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2015 answer text <p>The number of recipients of war disablement pensions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, can be found below:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Country</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>89,450</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>6,925</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>11,890</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northern Ireland</p></td><td><p>3,680</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other UK</p></td><td><p>340</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UK Unknown</p></td><td><p>345</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Not Known</p></td><td><p>135</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>112,765</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1. Other UK includes Isle of Man and Channel Islands.</p><p>2. In line with Defence Statistics’ Rounding Policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest 5. Due to rounding, the figures provided may not sum to totals.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry grouped question UIN 223822 question first answered 12/02/2015 17:09:13 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

78414

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost of running Phase 1 training at AFC Harrogate including trainee salaries and associated costs was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	206118
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Anna Soubry) gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Madeleine Moon) on 23 June 2014, (Official Report, column 88W). In addition, the annual salary for new entrants is £14,492 rising to £17,945 on completion of Phase 1 training in 2014-15. The number of trainees may vary each year.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry grouped question UIN 206119 question first answered 22/07/2014 13:57:04 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name HOC 206118 Hansard Extract 23 June 2014.doc title Hansard Extract 23 June 2014 previous answer version 11786 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

78415

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost of running the Combat Infantryman's Course (Phase 1 and 2 training) at ITC Catterick including trainee salaries and associated costs was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	206119
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Anna Soubry) gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Madeleine Moon) on 23 June 2014, (Official Report, column 88W). In addition, the annual salary for new entrants is £14,492 rising to £17,945 on completion of Phase 1 training in 2014-15. The number of trainees may vary each year.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry grouped question UIN 206118 question first answered 22/07/2014 13:57:04 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name HOC 206118 Hansard Extract 23 June 2014.doc title Hansard Extract 23 June 2014 previous answer version 11783 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

57811

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in preparing a cost-benefit analysis of the recruitment and training of minors; and when he expects to publish a report on that issue.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	198847
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The report has been submitted by the Army to Ministry of Defence (MOD) HQ, for consideration. It is not possible to provide a publication date for the report until the report's findings have been considered.<br><br>The terms of reference of the report are as follows:<br>Question - “What is the cost overhead to MOD of Phase 1 training for Junior Entry (JE) soldiers versus Standard Entry (SE) soldiers joining the Army?”</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry grouped question UIN 199067 question first answered 16/06/2014 14:43:58 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101543

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group receive (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The attached table shows the number of recipients of the Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation (ALSO) and the Unemployability Supplement (UnSupp) under the War Pension Scheme, by age group, as at 31 March 2014 (the latest date for which data are available).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Recipients of ALSO and UnSupp, by age group, as at 31 March 2014, numbers<sup>1</sup></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: War Pensions Computer System (WPCS), Defence Business Services</p><p>In line with Defence Statistics' Rounding Policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest 5 and figures fewer than five have been suppressed and marked ~.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:32:49 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name 20141106 - Table for answer 212425.doc title Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation previous answer version 26469 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101544

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cost his Department (a) has and (b) will incur for the (i) design and (ii) editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212451
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>None. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not incurred any cost in the design and editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource, which was produced and edited independently.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:47:30 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26470 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101629

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much in total is paid to claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group claiming (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide details of how much is paid in each age range to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and the Unemployability Supplement because details of such expenditure are not held in age groupings, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, for financial year 2013-14, a total of £33 million was paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and £37 million was paid to recipients of the Unemployability Supplement.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 10/11/2014 17:27:29 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26467 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101630

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	War Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much on average is received each week by claimants of the War Pensions Scheme in each age group who claim (a) the Allowance for a Lowered Standard or Occupation and (b) the Unemployability Supplement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide details of how much on average is paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and the Unemployability Supplement because details of such expenditure are not held in age groupings, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p><p>However, for financial year 2013-14, an average £60 per week was paid to recipients of the Allowance for a Lowered Standard of Occupation and an average £110 per week was paid to recipients of the Unemployability Supplement.</p><p><em>In line with Defence Statistics' Rounding Policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest 5.</em></p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 06/11/2014 17:45:50 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 26468 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

156064

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what costs (a) have been and (b) will be incurred by his Department for the (i) design and (ii) editing of the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	214777
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2014, Question 212451.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 24/11/2014 16:58:45 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name HOC214777.doc title Hansard Extract 6 November 2014.
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

156597

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2014 to Question 211635, what progress he has made on reviewing the cost-benefit analysis of the recruitment and training of minors; and when he plans to publish that report.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	215248
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2014 answer text <p>The figures used in my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary's letter of 1 August 2014 to the Defence Committee were taken from the final version of the cost-benefit analysis.</p><p>The report has been finalised and a copy is attached<ins class="ministerial">.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name AFC CO's Supervisory Care Directive dated Sep 14.doc title Army Foundation College Supervisory Care Directive 2 file name 20140514-Junior Entry_CostBenefitAnalysis_CITGvs 8_OS (3)[2].doc title Army Junior Entry Training Cost Benefit Alalysis previous answer version 30263 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry 30492 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name 20140514-Junior Entry_CostBenefitAnalysis_CITGvs 8_OS (3).doc title Army Junior Entry Training Cost Benefit Alaysis 2 file name AFC CO's Supervisory Care Directive dated Sep 14.doc title Army Foundation College Supervisory Care Directive answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry question first answered 27/11/2014 16:12:57 question first ministerially corrected 22/01/2015 10:42:29 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

164196

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the announcement of 2 September 2014 on armed forces learning, what the cost was to (a) the public purse and (b) 10 Downing Street of (i) commissioning and (ii) producing the British Armed Forces Learning Resource 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	215551
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2014 answer text <p>The Armed Forces Learning Resource aims to inform and educate schoolchildren and teachers about the work of the British Armed Forces. Although the Ministry of Defence (MOD) provided relevant information, the Resource was produced and edited independently. A small number of hard copies were printed for distribution to delegates at the NATO Summit, for which MOD incurred a cost of approximately £600.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 02/12/2014 16:09:10 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 30686 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

167713

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the regular Army trained strength requirement is for each year from 2014-15 to 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	217016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The trained strength requirement for the Army on 1 April 2014 was 94,100.</p><p>On current plans, the trained strength requirement for each year until April 2020 are approximately:</p><p>April 2015 - 86,500</p><p>April 2016 - 84,300</p><p>April 2017 - 83,800</p><p>April 2018 - 83,000</p><p>April 2019 - 82,400</p><p>April 2020 - 82,400</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/12/2014 17:34:15 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 32796 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

174378

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Army: Discharges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many early service leavers from the Infantry enlisted (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>The number of early service leavers from the Infantry is shown in the following table:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td colspan="5"><p>Calendar Year</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Age on Entry</p></td><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>1st Jan 14 to 30th Nov 14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Under 18</p></td><td><p>670</p></td><td><p>620</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>360</p></td><td><p>320</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18 and Over</p></td><td><p>1,110</p></td><td><p>1,410</p></td><td><p>1,160</p></td><td><p>920</p></td><td><p>700</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>The figures are for Trained and Untrained Regular Army Other Ranks and Officers and therefore excludes all Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves.</p><p> </p><p>The figures are for those individuals who left the Army with an Infantry Arm/Service recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA) at the point they left. It is possible that a small number of those contained within the figures above were assigned to a non-Infantry Arm/Service when joining the Army, and then subsequently at some point in their Army career transferred to the Infantry.</p><p> </p><p>Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in &quot;5&quot; have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 26/01/2015 17:03:37 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

174380

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Military Corrective Training Centre Colchester
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his policy to detain minors at the Military Correctional Training Centre (Colchester).
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221271
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>Yes, it is still our policy to detain minors at the Military Corrective Training Centre. The Centre has a safeguarding and child protection policy and is inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons.</p><p>Due regard is given to all the circumstances of the offence and, where detention is warranted, it must be for the shortest term commensurate with the seriousness of the offence or offences for which the offender is being sentenced.</p><p>In the last three years a total of five Service personnel under the age of 18 have been sentenced to detention in the Military Corrective Training Centre.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 26/01/2015 17:04:02 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

177130

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Qualifications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether military personnel are permitted to sit or re-sit GCSEs once their initial training has come to an end.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	222945
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>Members of the Armed Forces can sit, or re-sit, a GCSE at any point in their career, provided they do so through a recognised examination centre. Service Education centres are able to provide this facility free of charge in the UK and when serving overseas.</p><p>Where Service personnel choose to sit examinations at an external Examination Centre, for example where the examination is not offered by their Service Education Centre, financial support is provided through the Standard Learning Credit Scheme which allows Service personnel to claim 80% of course and examination fees (including GCSEs), up to a maximum of £175 per financial year. Standard Learning Credits are unable to be used for an examination resit only, as a course of instruction must be included.</p><p>Military personnel are also entitled to use Colleges of Further Education to attend a variety of education courses and to take examinations and resits, subject to payment of the appropriate fees.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 09/02/2015 17:40:46 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

177131

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Military Corrective Training Centre Colchester
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether detainees aged under 18 years are accommodated separately from adults at the Military Corrective Training Centre.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	222946
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>Detainees aged 16 years are always accommodated separately from adults.</p><p>Detainees aged 17 years may be accommodated with older detainees, but only if this is their stated wish. In that event, the decision is subject to a detailed risk assessment.</p><p>Over the 12 months to 31 December 2014, there were no detainees aged 16 years and two detainees aged 17 years held at the Military Corrective Training Centre.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 09/02/2015 17:45:35 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

178108

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provisions are in place to ensure that all military personnel aged under 18 can access higher education, as required by Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	223544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2015 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that all Serving personnel have opportunities to continue their personal development throughout their Service careers. A wide range of courses are available to all Serving personnel at different levels, from basic computer skills to distance-learning degrees.</p><p>The Armed Forces Learning Credits Scheme helps support development for Service personnel. Standard Learning Credits fund small-scale learning whilst Enhanced Learning Credits are designed to provide help towards the cost of gaining further or higher education qualifications. The New Employment Model programme is currently looking at ways to widen the scope of Standard Learning Credits for elective professional and personal development.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/02/2015 17:11:00 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

225881

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Qualifications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests were made by military personnel to study for GCSE exams in 2014; and how many such requests were granted.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Department offers Service personnel the opportunity to study for International (General Certificate of Secondary Education) (IGCSE) examinations as opposed to GCSE examinations, since these are better suited to the work and life of Service personnel. The IGCSE does not involve coursework, instead candidates sit an extra paper. The IGCSE qualification is recognised world-wide.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014, there were 1,763 applications from Armed Forces personnel for the IGCSE examinations. All applications were granted, although this does not mean that every candidate sat the exam.</p><p> </p><p>These figures represent only those applicants who planned to have IGCSEs through Cambridge International Examinations.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 16/03/2015 17:33:01 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

225882

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Trade Unions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether armed forces personnel have a right to have their interests collectively represented to the chain of command by a trades union.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226717
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>Throughout the Armed Forces’ history, personnel have not been permitted to participate in industrial action or in any form of political activity.</p><p> </p><p>Armed Forces personnel are free to join trade and professional associations. They may also join other organisations representing their interests such as the Forces Pension Society, the British Armed Forces Federation, the single Service Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender fora, and the Armed Forces Muslim Association.</p><p> </p><p>The chain of command is responsible for representing the interests of those under command, and all Service personnel have a statutory right to complain on any matter relating to their service. Broader interests are represented through the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the three Single Service Families’ Federations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 16/03/2015 17:36:07 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

225883

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Military Bases: Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to post armed forces personnel below the age of 18 on armed guard duty at military establishments.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>Service personnel must be past their 17th birthday and appropriately trained before being employed on armed guarding duties. Where Service personnel (whether trainees, irrespective of their age, or those in productive service under the age of 18) are used as armed guards, an assessment of the risk involved is always undertaken.</p><p> </p><p>Recruits in Phase 1 training are never used as armed guards.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 16/03/2015 17:33:57 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

225884

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Conflict: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all armed forces personnel are made aware of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict during their training.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226716
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>This Convention and Protocol are amongst the body of International Law which underpins operational legal training and pre-deployment training. Such training is provided as necessary to Service personnel.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Additionally; Personnel are made aware of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict through a Joint Publication, namely (JDP) 1-05. This publication sets out the Ministry of Defence’s policy with regard to the deployment on operations of U18s in the Armed Forces.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 26/03/2015 12:02:31 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 50571 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

229088

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Trade Unions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether armed forces personnel have the right to be represented by a trade union in relation to (a) changes to terms and conditions of employment and (b) collective complaints to their employer.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	228667
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 March 2015 (Question 226717).</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 26/03/2015 12:00:34 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry attachment 1 file name HOC 228667.doc title Hansard Extract 16 March 2015
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416249

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will conduct an assessment of the effect of online traders of second-hand cars on (a) the use of non-online second-hand car traders and (b) the second-hand car market.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	9012
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p /> <p>My Department currently has no plans to conduct such an assessment.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 14/09/2015 12:15:43 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

416250

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many car trading businesses have closed down in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	9013
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>The number of closures and total stock of businesses registered as being primarily involved in the sale of motor vehicles in the years 2009-2013 is listed in the table below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>“Sale of motor vehicles” businesses and businesses closures</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Closures</p></td><td><p>2,640</p></td><td><p>2,215</p></td><td><p>2,045</p></td><td><p>2,350</p></td><td><p>2,295</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Stock of active enterprises</p></td><td><p>24,165</p></td><td><p>23,630</p></td><td><p>23,445</p></td><td><p>23,520</p></td><td><p>23,130</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: Business Demography (ONS)</p><p> </p><p>Note that this excludes business primarily involved in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, the sale of motor vehicles parts or accessories and the sale, maintenance and repair of motorcycles. Figures for 2009 – 2013 are available from the ONS Business Demography report and figures for 2014 will be published in November 2015.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 14/09/2015 13:28:05 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

45645

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average career length is of a soldier in each regiment or unit who enlisted (a) aged under 18 and (b) aged 18 or above.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	194161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p>The average career length by Regiment or Corps is shown in the following table.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"><p><strong>Regiment/Corps</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Average Career Length</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Enlisted under 18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Enlisted 18 or over</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Household Cavalry &amp; Royal Armoured Corps</p></td><td><p>11 years,4 months</p></td><td><p>9 years,4 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Artillery</p></td><td><p>13 years,0 months</p></td><td><p>9 years,6 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Engineers</p></td><td><p>12 years,11 months</p></td><td><p>8 years,6 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Signals</p></td><td><p>14 years,5 months</p></td><td><p>10 years,1 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Infantry</p></td><td><p>11 years,0 months</p></td><td><p>7 years,9 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Army Air Corps</p></td><td><p>14 years,1 months</p></td><td><p>11 years,3 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Logistic Corps</p></td><td><p>13 years,5 months</p></td><td><p>10 years,2 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Army Medical Corps</p></td><td><p>12 years,1 months</p></td><td><p>9 years,10 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers</p></td><td><p>14 years,4 months</p></td><td><p>13 years,3 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Adjutant General's Corps (Provost)</p></td><td><p>19 years,7 months</p></td><td><p>13 years,6 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support)</p></td><td><p>18 years,10 months</p></td><td><p>14 years,4 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Army Veterinary Corps</p></td><td><p>12 years,10 months</p></td><td><p>9 years,6 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Small Arms School Corps</p></td><td><p>23 years,0 months</p></td><td><p>21 years,5 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Army Dental Corps</p></td><td><p>13 years,7 months</p></td><td><p>11 years,10 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Intelligence Corps</p></td><td><p>22 years,10 months</p></td><td><p>14 years,4 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Army Physical Training Corps</p></td><td><p>22 years,0 months</p></td><td><p>19 years,11 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps</p></td><td><p>14 years,5 months</p></td><td><p>11 years,4 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Corps of Army Music</p></td><td><p>22 years,2 months</p></td><td><p>13 years,3 months</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Senior Soldier Continuity Posts (Long Service)</p></td><td><p>34 years,11 months</p></td><td><p>30 years,4 months</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>Source: Defence Statistics (Army)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes/Caveats:</p><p>The figures are based on all trained regular other ranks who left the Army between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2013.</p><p> </p><p>Caution should be exercised with regards to interpretation of these statistics. They are based on Army personnel covering a number of contracts or types of engagements. They form a statistical average for the Army and do not relate to the terms and conditions associated with any particular contract.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham