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1696969

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Skilled Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Migration Advisory Committee’s Rapid review of the Immigration Salary List, published on 23 February 2024, for what reason his Department has not implemented the recommendation on the use of the Immigration Salary List beyond the skilled worker route for asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	19383
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2024 answer text <p>Replacing the Shortage Occupation List with the new Immigration Salary List will maintain the important principles that underpin our approach to permission to work and is in line with wider changes to the Immigration Rules.</p><p> </p><p>Unrestricted access to employment could act as an incentive for more migrants to choose to come here illegally, with many making dangerous journeys across the Channel and supporting the business model of evil people smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.</p><p> </p><p>The Government considers it important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Aligning asylum seekers’ permission to work with the Skilled Worker route could undermine the legal routes for those seeking to work in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 27/03/2024 16:03:44 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1696700

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of replacing the Shortage Occupation List with the Immigration Salary List on employment opportunities for asylum seekers who are eligible to work.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	19083
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The Home Secretary commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a rapid review of the new Immigration Salary List (ISL) ahead of the Spring Immigration Rules. Appendix Immigration Salary List can be found in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-590-14-march-2024" target="_blank">Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 590,</a> published on 14 March 2024. We will keep the list under review and the MAC will carry out a fuller review later in the year.</p><p> </p><p>Replacing the new ISL will maintain the important principles that underpin our approach to permission to work by an individual’s asylum claim still being outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. This includes the need to avoid creating perverse incentives for people to make dangerous journeys to the UK and to not undercut the resident labour market.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 26/03/2024 15:29:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1696756

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ethnic Groups and Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41, and the report by the Migration Observatory entitled Family fortunes: The UK’s new income requirement for partner visas, published on 1 February 2024, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the increased Minimum Income Requirement on (a) women and (b) people belonging to specific ethnicities.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	19084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>Any discussions that take place between Cabinet Ministers are confidential.</p><p>A full regulatory Impact Assessment will be developed, and the Government will publish an Equality Impact Assessment on this change, and both will be published in due course. We will continue to monitor the policy throughout its implementation.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 19085 question first answered 25/03/2024 17:01:49 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1696757

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increase to the minimum income requirement on (a) equality of opportunity and (b) reducing negative disparities.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	19085
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>Any discussions that take place between Cabinet Ministers are confidential.</p><p>A full regulatory Impact Assessment will be developed, and the Government will publish an Equality Impact Assessment on this change, and both will be published in due course. We will continue to monitor the policy throughout its implementation.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 19084 question first answered 25/03/2024 17:01:49 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1695418

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 17113 on Universal Credit and with reference to the National Audit Office's report entitled Progress in implementing Universal Credit, published on 27 February 2024, whether he has taken steps in response to the finding on the proportion of people claiming legacy benefits who (a) have not transferred to universal credit after receiving notice to switch and (b) have had their legacy benefits stopped.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	18181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>Our priority is the ensure that everyone who wishes to make a claim to Universal Credit is able to do so. The Department undertook research to better understand why some tax credit only households were not making a claim to Universal Credit and our findings were published on 29 February 2024, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/move-to-universal-credit-insight-on-tax-credit-migrations-and-initial-discovery-activity-for-wider-benefit-cohorts" target="_blank">Move to Universal Credit – insight on Tax Credit migrations and initial Discovery activity for wider benefit cohorts</a>. The Department will be undertaking further surveys with IPSOS, which are due to commence in April 2024. Once this is complete, we are committed to publishing all our findings.</p><p> </p><p>It is the customers responsibility to choose whether to make an application for Universal Credit. There is no evidence to suggest any actions the Department has taken or should have taken are influencing that choice.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 19/03/2024 15:31:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1693826

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason people on Ukraine visa schemes did not have visas automatically extended.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	17110
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2024 answer text <p>Although given consideration, it is not feasible to extend Ukraine scheme visas automatically. Automatic extension would require Ukrainians to confirm their residence in the UK and their willingness to have a visa extended, and so the possible customer benefits, and savings in process time, would be limited. Without requiring a registration process there would be a risk of not being able to contact all the eligible individuals which could lead to some Ukrainians being left without legal status.</p><p>The Home Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have had numerous discussions with the Ukrainian community, and there is currently an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement in place.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 17111 question first answered 13/03/2024 17:54:53 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1693827

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has had discussions with the Ukrainian community on changes to Ukraine visa schemes.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	17111
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2024 answer text <p>Although given consideration, it is not feasible to extend Ukraine scheme visas automatically. Automatic extension would require Ukrainians to confirm their residence in the UK and their willingness to have a visa extended, and so the possible customer benefits, and savings in process time, would be limited. Without requiring a registration process there would be a risk of not being able to contact all the eligible individuals which could lead to some Ukrainians being left without legal status.</p><p>The Home Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have had numerous discussions with the Ukrainian community, and there is currently an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement in place.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 17110 question first answered 13/03/2024 17:54:53 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1693828

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure timely processing of Ukraine Extension Scheme applications.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	17112
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2024 answer text <p>Applications made under the Ukraine Extension Scheme are not subject to a Customer Service Standard and therefore are processed as soon as possible. The Ukraine Extension Scheme route will close in May 2024.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 13/03/2024 17:54:39 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1693829

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the National Audit Office report entitled Progress in implementing Universal Credit, published on 27 February 2024, HC 552.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	17113
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>The Department welcomes the National Audit Office report which reflects the positive progress made by the programme implementing Universal Credit (UC).</p><p>The Department is assured that the recommendations made by the National Audit Office reflect the activities already in place within the UC Programme to effectively deliver Move to UC.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 12/03/2024 12:24:45 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1693830

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report entitled Beneath the trends: A detailed look at the issues facing claimants going through managed migration, published by the Child Poverty Action Group on 13 February 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	17114
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>There is no evidence to suggest slowing down Move to UC is necessary. We have recently published our latest findings<em>; </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/move-to-universal-credit-insight-on-tax-credit-migrations-and-initial-discovery-activity-for-wider-benefit-cohorts" target="_blank">Move to Universal Credit – insight on Tax Credit migrations and initial Discovery activity for wider benefit cohorts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a><em>, </em>further research is planned to improve our understanding of the service we deliver, to better support those transitioning to UC under managed migration.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 12/03/2024 16:59:38 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690023

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what factors determined the timing of his Department's announcement on the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry on 18 December 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14602
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14603 14604 14605 14606 14607 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690024

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the decision was taken to set up an the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14604 14605 14606 14607 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690025

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what consultative appointment process he used to select the (a) chair and (b) members of the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14605 14606 14607 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690026

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the terms of reference of the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry include those of the (a) report entitled Compensation and redress for the victims of infected blood: recommendations for a framework, published in June 2022 and (b) Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published in April 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14606 14607 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:35 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690027

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish the membership of the expert group on compensation for infected blood products.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14605 14607 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690028

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry has met; and if he will publish the (a) agendas and (b) minutes of the meetings of that group.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14605 14606 14608 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690029

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry will include (a) a representative of the infected blood community and (b) an expert nominated by that community.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14608
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14605 14606 14607 14609 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690030

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry has been given a deadline for their advice; and if his Department will make compensation payments immediately on receipt of that advice.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14609
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14605 14606 14607 14608 14610 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1690031

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to publish the (a) advice of and (b) (i) evidence and (ii) methodologies used by the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14610
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair. The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 14602 14603 14604 14605 14606 14607 14608 14609 question first answered 27/02/2024 10:41:36 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1689234

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Graduates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Migration Advisory Committee will begin work on the Graduate visa review.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14160
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The Migration Advisory Committee have not yet been commissioned to review the Graduate route.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 26/02/2024 17:17:39 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1689235

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Married People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to announce the start date of the new minimum income threshold for spouse visas of £34,500.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>From 11 April 2024, we will raise the minimum income threshold for family visas to £29,000, that is the 25<sup>th</sup> percentile of earnings for jobs which are eligible for Skilled Worker visas. We will incrementally increase the threshold, moving to the 40<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £34,500), and finally to the 50<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £38,700, and the level at which the General Skilled Worker threshold is set) by early 2025. The dates of these changes will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We have reviewed the Reunite Families Report published on 18 December 2023. We will add the findings to our evidence base when formulating future reviews into family immigration policies, including the Minimum Income Requirement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 14173 question first answered 26/02/2024 17:17:25 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1689247

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Families
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Reunite Families UK's report entitled UK family migration rules: spouse / partner migration rules: an initial findings report examining the mental health impact of the rules on children and families, published on 18 December 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	14173
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>From 11 April 2024, we will raise the minimum income threshold for family visas to £29,000, that is the 25<sup>th</sup> percentile of earnings for jobs which are eligible for Skilled Worker visas. We will incrementally increase the threshold, moving to the 40<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £34,500), and finally to the 50<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £38,700, and the level at which the General Skilled Worker threshold is set) by early 2025. The dates of these changes will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We have reviewed the Reunite Families Report published on 18 December 2023. We will add the findings to our evidence base when formulating future reviews into family immigration policies, including the Minimum Income Requirement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 14161 question first answered 26/02/2024 17:17:25 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1687420

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of replacing the Shortage Occupation List with the Immigration Salary List on the number of asylum seekers who are eligible to work who are in employment.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	13049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2024 answer text <p>The Home Secretary has commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a rapid review of the new Immigration Salary List (ISL) in time for its implementation in the Spring Immigration Rules. The MAC is due to report on 23 February, at which point the Government will consider its recommendations carefully. We will keep the list under regular review and the MAC will carry out a fuller review later in the year.</p><p> </p><p>The introduction of the ISL will not undermine our policy that asylum claims by an individual applying for permission to work must still be outstanding for 12 months or more and any resulting changes to the policy will be announced in due course.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 13/02/2024 15:00:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1686837

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an asylum right to work pilot on asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	12606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2024 answer text <p>Asylum seekers cannot work unless they have had their asylum claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those who apply and are granted permission to work after 12 months are restricted to applying for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.</p><p>Our current policy approach on permission to work is longstanding and there are no plans to make changes, other than aligning it with the upcoming Immigration Salary List, which replaces the SOL. It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. The Government has always been clear that asylum seekers do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek employment in the UK.</p><p>Unrestricted access to employment could act as an incentive for more migrants to choose to come here illegally; leading to further dangerous journeys across the Channel and supporting the business model of evil people smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 09/02/2024 16:15:22 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1685551

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2024
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Scotland Office: Publicity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on public information campaigns promoting Government policies in the (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23 financial years; and how much it has spent on such campaigns in the 2023-24 financial year as of 29 January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	11807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2024 answer text <p>The Office has spent the following on social media platforms to support UK Government policies and information campaigns in Scotland:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Amount (£)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>23-24 (to date)</strong></p></td><td><p>17,725</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>22-23</strong></p></td><td><p>49,893</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>21-22</strong></p></td><td><p>39,818</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 05/02/2024 14:49:37 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1685579

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2024
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Scotland Office: Information Officers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on communications staff in the (a) 2022-23 financial year and (b) 2023-24 financial year as of 29 January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	11808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2024 answer text <p>Expenditure on communications staffing costs, including employer’s pensions and national insurance contributions, but excluding any VAT where applicable, was:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Amount (£)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>23-24 (to end Dec 23)</strong></p></td><td><p>1,081,263</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>22-23</strong></p></td><td><p>1,166,270</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 05/02/2024 14:50:31 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1685583

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2024
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Scotland Office: Special Advisers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on special advisers in the (a) 2022-23 financial year and (b) 2023-24 financial year as of 29 January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	11809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2024 answer text <p>The information requested can be found in the Scotland Office and Office for the Advocate General annual report and accounts for financial year 2022-23. This can be accessed using the following link <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1170084/SO_Report_2022-23_-_web_version.pdf" target="_blank">Scotland Office Annual Report 2022-23</a>. The figures for the current financial year 2023-24 will be published in the department’s next annual report and accounts for financial year 2023-24 and laid in parliament by the set deadlines later this calendar year.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to any salary costs, the department has incurred the following travel and subsistence costs in relation to Special Advisors during financial year 2022-23.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Travel &amp; Subsistence (£)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2022-23</strong></p></td><td><p>61,857</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 01/02/2024 15:10:37 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1682487

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Tigray: Famine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is providing emergency humanitarian assistance to help avert famine in Tigray.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	9858
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>Internal conflict, drought, and economic challenges are exacerbating humanitarian crises across Ethiopia. Famine risk in Tigray and elsewhere in Ethiopia increases as these factors are prolonged and if the international community does not expand humanitarian and development assistance. The UK recently increased our health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection programming across northern Ethiopia, including in Tigray. Since 2019, the UK has allocated more than £400 million to tackle humanitarian crises in Ethiopia.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 24/01/2024 11:23:45 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1682491

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Tigray: Internally Displaced People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if his Department will make representations to the Ethiopian Government to allow internally displaced Tigrayans to return.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	9859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The former Foreign Secretary welcomed the November 2022 peace agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, when he visited Ethiopia in December 2022. There are no formal restrictions on internally displaced persons returning, however some areas of Tigray are under the control of regional militias or Eritrean forces. Ministers and the British Embassy Addis Ababa repeatedly raise the need for withdrawal of militias and foreign forces, including through a public statement in August 2023.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 24/01/2024 11:52:03 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1682496

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Ethiopia: Politics and Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to his counterpart in the Ethiopian Government on fully implementing the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	9860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The former Foreign Secretary welcomed the November 2022 peace agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, when he visited Ethiopia in December 2022. Since then, the UK has welcomed progress on implementation such as the handing over of heavy weapons, the establishment of a Tigray Interim Regional Administration, and the development of a comprehensive transitional justice policy. We continue to offer the UK's support, including for the successful implementation of the transitional justice policy. HM Ambassador to Ethiopia last year announced funding for the African Union's monitoring, verification and compliance mechanism to support the implementation of the Pretoria peace deal. Ministers and the British Embassy Addis Ababa continue to raise the importance of this issue with interlocutors in the Ethiopian Government.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 24/01/2024 11:51:21 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1684674

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Scotland Office
	answering dept id	2
	answering dept short name	Scotland
	answering dept sort name	Scotland
	hansard heading	Public Finance: Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the financial settlement for Scotland.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	901061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>Despite what we hear from the SNP, the Scottish Government is well-funded.</p><p>As a consequence of the decisions made by this UK Government, the Block Grant is now at record levels, with an additional £2.4 billion across three fiscal events.</p><p>Scotland receives around 25% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in other parts of the United Kingdom.</p><p>That translates into around £8.5 billion more per year on average.</p> answering member constituency Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk answering member printed John Lamont grouped question UIN 901060 question first answered 24/01/2024 14:18:03 answering member 4608 label Biography information for John Lamont
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1682003

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research Discussion Paper No. 549 entitled The Economic and Social Impacts of Lifting Work Restrictions on People Seeking Asylum, published on 25 June 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing asylum seekers to work.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	9538
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, are allowed to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List. This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware that the National Institute of Economic and Social Research published analysis on 25 June 2023, which set out the estimated fiscal impact to the UK should there be a relaxation of the policy. It is the Home Office assessment that any analysis in this area is dependent on making assumptions from limited evidence and will therefore produce uncertain results.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no immediate plans to change the existing policy. It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. The Government has always been clear that asylum seekers do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek employment in the UK. Those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.</p><p> </p><p>Unrestricted access to employment could act as an incentive for more migrants to choose to come here illegally; leading to further dangerous journeys across the Channel and supporting the business model of people smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. This could also undermine the legal routes for those seeking to work in the UK under the Points Based System. These routes include Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and Health and Care routes, which are supporting UK businesses to recruit workers with the skills and talent they need from around the world.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 22/01/2024 15:45:55 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1680496

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Queen Elizabeth House
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff were employed at Queen Elizabeth House in each UK Government department or arms-length body (a) full time, (b) part time, (c) on a consultancy basis and (d) as civil servants as of 8 January 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	8470
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2024 answer text <p>The number of civil servants reported in post by government departments and executive agencies as at 31 March 2023 based in Queen Elizabeth House is presented in the table below. The postcode for Queen Elizabeth House, 1 Sibbald, Edinburgh is EH8 8FT.</p><p> </p><p>Information on consultants based or employed at Queen Elizabeth House is not centrally available.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1: Civil Servants whose postcode of government establishment or other workplace where employed or based is EH8 8FT, by civil service organisation and working pattern, as at 31 March 2023</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Civil Service Organisation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount of all civil servants in full-time role</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Headcount of all civil servants working in a part-time role</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total headcount of all civil servants</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Building Digital UK</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cabinet Office (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central Civil Service Fast Stream</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Competition and Markets Authority</p></td><td><p>55</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>85</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for International Trade</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Transport (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department of Health and Social Care (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Government Actuary’s Department</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Government Commercial Organisation</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Health and Safety Executive</p></td><td><p>50</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>55</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HM Revenue and Customs (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>1,825</p></td><td><p>395</p></td><td><p>2,220</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Home Office</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ministry of Justice (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (incl. Office of the Advocate General for Scotland)</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del> <ins class="ministerial">80</ins><del class="ministerial"><br /></del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scottish Government (excl. agencies)</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>[s]</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Valuation Office Agency</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2,220</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>440</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2,655</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Statistics (ACSES), Cabinet Office<strong><br /></strong></p><p>[s] = confidential and suppressed due to small numbers of between 1 and 4.</p><p>Numbers are rounded to the nearest five.</p><p>Additional departments and their civil servants may be based/employed at Queen Elizabeth House but may not show in the data due to non-reporting of postcode information when reporting their locations information to Cabinet Office through ACSES.</p><p>The data in the table refers to civil service organisations and civil servants only. Data for non-civil service organisations are not available centrally.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 16/01/2024 12:03:26 question first ministerially corrected 16/01/2024 15:32:11 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen previous answer version 11377 answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1678657

	registered interest
	date	18/12/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 27 March 2023 to Question168058 on Visas: Ukraine, whether he plans to make an announcement on the extension of visas under the (a) Homes for Ukraine scheme, (b) Ukrainian Family Scheme and (c) Ukraine Extension Scheme beyond the initial three-year period.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	7347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2024 answer text <p>We are mindful that permission will start to expire, for the first arrivals under our Ukrainian schemes, from March 2025, and their need for certainty beyond that point to help them to plan ahead, for example if remaining in the UK, entering into rental agreements and living here independently. As a result, we actively keep the Ukraine schemes under consistent review.</p><p /><p>The UK Government stands with Ukraine and firmly believes that Ukraine will be safe again. When it’s safe to do so, Ukraine will need the repatriation of its citizens to help recover and rebuild their economy and infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 11/01/2024 11:21:56 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1678328

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Personal Income
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has sought legal advice on the compatibility of the planned increase to the minimum income requirement with Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	7200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>Full legal advice has been sought on the compatibility of the proposed increase to the Minimum Income Requirement element of the family immigration rules with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as enshrined in domestic legislation in the Human Rights Act 1998.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 20/12/2023 12:57:58 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1677932

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Personal Savings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will issue further guidance on how what level of savings will be required to meet the Minimum Income Requirement for those below the salary threshold.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	6828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2023 answer text <p>The revised minimum income requirement (MIR) will be implemented in spring 2024</p><p> </p><p>The Government will set out any transitional provisions associated with the increase in the MIR, and further policy details, in due course. <br></p><p>Any applications already submitted will be considered in line with the existing policy.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 18/12/2023 18:03:42 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1677057

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Israel: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the Government has had discussions with Israeli counterparts on the (a) detention of children in Israeli military prisons and (b) allegations of potential human rights abuses against prisoners.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	6265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK is committed to working with Israel to secure improvements in detention practices in Israel. We have made plain our concern about the continued reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli military detention, particularly of children. The UK repeatedly calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and we have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 20/12/2023 17:45:00 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1675059

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Gaza
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to help ensure that the child dependants of UK residents who are in Gaza are able to apply for the UK visas to which they are entitled in the context of the closure of visa application centres.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	5031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately.</p><p>British citizens and their foreign national dependants (spouse, unmarried/civil partner, child under 18), may come to the UK provided they have valid travel documents and existing permission to enter or remain in the UK; or are non-visa nationals.</p><p>Individuals including child dependents of UK residents who do not meet these criteria will have to make a visa application, and enrol their biometrics at a visa application centre(VAC) / biometric enrolment location in a nearby country. VACs in nearby countries are operating as normal but applicants should only travel if it is safe to do so.</p><p>Specific locations and operating hours can be found at the following website for UK Visa Application Centre | TLScontact (<a href="https://pos.tlscontact.com/default/palestine" target="_blank">https://pos.tlscontact.com/default/palestine</a>)</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 12/12/2023 11:23:13 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1662978

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Sudan: Ceasefires
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) African Union, (b) United Nations and (c) other countries on reaching a sustained ceasefire in Sudan.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	200832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The UK is working with a range of partners, including Quad (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, US, UK), African and European countries, as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the United Nations, to bring warring parties together and secure a permanent ceasefire. As a member of the African Union-convened Core Group on Sudan, the UK is working with regional and international partners to end hostilities and secure a peace process. UK Ministers attended the UN General Assembly in September, hosting a Ministerial-level Quad meeting reaffirming our shared interests in resolving the Sudan conflict. Ministers also raised Sudan in bilateral meetings with Egypt and South Sudan, paying tribute to their generosity in accepting refugees and calling for urgent action and the coordination of regional initiatives. UK leadership with 'Sudan Core Group' partners at the UN Human Rights Council led to a robust resolution on Sudan being passed. This resolution establishes an independent, international, Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for Sudan so that those responsible can be held to account and to deter perpetrators from further crime.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 23/10/2023 14:55:08 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1662979

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Sudan: Humanitarian Situation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking as penholder for Sudan on the UN Security Council to (a) tackle the humanitarian situation in Sudan and (b) help ensure that human rights abuses are properly investigated.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	200833
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>We are working with international partners and humanitarian agencies to scale-up aid delivery in Sudan and neighbouring countries if and when the access situation improves, and through our ongoing work in the neighbouring countries and the UN. On 2 June the UK secured unanimous Security Council support for the renewal of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) which is leading coordination of international humanitarian efforts. We will look to renew its mandate further by 3 December. As Chair of the 'Sudan Core Group' (US, Norway, Germany, UK), we led on a UN Human Rights Council resolution, adopted on 11 October, which established an independent, international, Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to investigate atrocities committed by all sides.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 23/10/2023 14:51:18 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1663124

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people receiving the Disability Element of Working Tax Credits are not disadvantaged in the transition to Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	200978
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>All individuals issued with a migration notice informing them that they must make a claim to Universal Credit will be assessed for transitional protection at the point of making a claim to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Transitional protection, by way of a transitional element, will be then awarded to eligible claimants to ensure their entitlement to Universal Credit is not lower than the entitlement they received as part of their legacy benefits.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/10/2023 10:35:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1661297

	registered interest
	date	18/09/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting refugee status to the female medical students who are represented by the Linda Norgrove Foundation.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	200002
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2023 answer text <p>As has been the practice under successive Governments the Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.</p><p>We remain committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan and so far have brought around 24,600 people impacted by the situation back to the UK.</p><p>We continue to work with likeminded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan on resettlement issues, and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans. We also continue to welcome individuals to the UK through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).</p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 20/10/2023 13:01:10 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1657894

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure protections for people with disabled worker status are maintained in the managed migration to Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	197527
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>People who are being moved to Universal Credit (UC) from Employment and Support Allowance take with them their Work Capability Assessment decision. They are not required to have another assessment to get the disability element they are entitled to on Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>At the point of moving over to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process, all claimants will be assessed for transitional protection and paid where appropriate. Transitional protection is designed so that eligible claimants will not have a lower entitlement to Universal Credit than they had entitlement to legacy benefits, at the point they move to the new benefit system.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2023 10:51:14 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1657898

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that legacy benefit claimants do not have their support terminated before moving to Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	197530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>It is a fundamental principle of social security in the United Kingdom that people need to make a claim for benefits. For those already in receipt of benefits, Parliament made it clear, though its passage of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, that entitlement to those benefits would cease as Universal Credit (UC) was implemented.</p><p> </p><p>The Department provides a range of support to individuals, to assist them during migration including a dedicated DWP telephone line and signposting to independent support through the Help to Claim service.  Help to Claim is an independent service and is available to those moving from legacy benefits because of managed migration, voluntary moves, or a change of circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Migration Notice is the key way in which we initially communicate with legacy benefit claimants to inform them of the requirement to migrate to UC within 3 months. However, we also provide a reminder after 7 weeks and at week 10. If claimants haven’t made a claim for UC and after the 3 month period, on a case by case basis, there is a grace period of 1 month within which a tax credit claimant can make a claim for UC without losing eligibility for transitional protection.</p><p> </p><p>Terminating benefits is our last resort. If a claimant does not claim by their extended deadline, they will be notified that their current benefit(s) will be terminated, unless they have significant support needs requiring a further extension. For those claimants who require significant support, we hold case conferences with Advanced Customer Support Senior Leaders who provide local expertise, working with different organisations to take a multi-agency approach. Where a claimant’s legacy benefit(s) has been terminated and they make a claim to UC within one month, their claim can be backdated to their deadline date and still be awarded Transitional Protection where applicable.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2023 10:54:58 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1657899

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has issued guidance on the circumstances in which the deadline for an application for Universal Credit could be extended.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	197531
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department has issued guidance on the circumstances in which the deadline for an application for Universal Credit could be extended. This guidance is regularly reviewed and updated.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/09/2023 10:55:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1657900

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Overpayments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how existing overpayments will be handled in the managed migration from Working Tax Credits to Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	197532
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>When a claimant’s tax credit claim is closed, for whatever reason, including a move to Universal Credit, the debt is transferred to the Department’s Debt Management team.</p><p> </p><p>Once Universal Credit is in payment, the overpayment will be recovered in line with the Universal Credit regulations.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/09/2023 10:44:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1656475

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) Committee
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Department provides secretariat support for the Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) committee.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	196324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The Cabinet Secretariat in the Cabinet Office exists to support the Prime Minister and the chairs of Cabinet committees in ensuring that government business is conducted in an effective and timely way and that proper collective consideration takes place. This includes providing secretariat support for the Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) Cabinet committee.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 11/09/2023 17:00:21 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1654894

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff support the Cabinet's Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) committee (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) on flexible working arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	195540
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>Within the Cabinet Office there are 1.5 full time equivalent members of staff who support the operation of the Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) Committee, working with policy teams across government departments, as is typical for Cabinet committees.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This reflects one full time member of staff supporting the Committee alongside other members of staff, which equates to 50% of a full time member of staff.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 08/09/2023 13:41:21 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1654896

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cabinet Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the budget is of the Cabinet's Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) committee.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	195542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>There is no individual budget for the Domestic and Economic Affairs (Union) committee, as it sits within the broader Cabinet Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 08/09/2023 13:42:50 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1654897

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department will next publish an up-to-date organogram.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	195543
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2023 answer text <p>The most recent Cabinet Office organogram of staff roles and salaries for the period ending 31 March 2023 is published at:</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-of-staff-roles-salaries/datafile/33e688f4-2903-44d1-817a-332b399549d6/preview#organogram" target="_blank">https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-of-staff-roles-salaries/datafile/33e688f4-2903-44d1-817a-332b399549d6/preview#organogram</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 08/09/2023 13:37:02 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock