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1020584

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Early Intervention Youth Fund
	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 effectiveness of the Early Intervention Youth Fund; and what accomplishments that fund has achieved.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	199932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2019 answer text <p>Our Early Intervention Youth Fund of £22 million is already supporting 29 projects in England and Wales. Over £17 million has already been allocated to projects delivering interventions to young people at risk of criminal involvement, gang exploitation and county lines.</p><p>The successful bids were announced in November 2018 and so it is too early to make an assessment of the Fund’s effectiveness and any accomplishments.</p><p>We will be appointing an independent evaluation partner who will support local partnerships with monitoring arrangements and will gather qualitative and quantitative data over the course of the project. This work will contribute to a programme wide evaluation, including an overview of what we have learnt about good practice. The projects will also be required to provide regular updates on their progress.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 26/02/2019 15:04:23 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1020585

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Disclosure and Barring Service
	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 make meaningful progress on the Disclosure and Barring Service modernisation programme.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	199933
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2019 answer text <p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has taken full account of the findings and recommendations of the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee reports earlier this year on its modernisation programme. The DBS will be procuring a new supplier to deliver IT services and has agreed a short contract extension with the current provider to enable a smooth transition so that all operational services are protected.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/02/2019 13:15:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045632

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with sector representatives on the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210616
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>My Department is having a number of ongoing discussions with sector representatives on the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; over the last 3 months my officials have met with over 250 sector representatives. We are engaging with representatives from all of Defra’s sectors including food and drink, farming, fishing, the chemicals industry and vets to ensure our sectors understand the potential implications of no deal, what actions they would need to take and that they are prepared for these. These discussions are a two-way dialogue, allowing us to work together with sector representatives to make sure any concerns they have are addressed.</p><p> </p><p>Extensive work to prepare for a no deal scenario has been under way for over two years and this is one of the many steps we are taking to ensure the country continues to operate smoothly from the day we leave.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:34:42 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045634

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to enhance animal welfare standards as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210617
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Whilst the UK already has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, we are considering what more can be done in the context of our future agricultural policy. We will maintain our existing standards and look to raise standards sustainably over time as new research and evidence emerges.</p><p> </p><p>In England, we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond regulatory requirements that are not sufficiently rewarded by the market and want to provide greater transparency and certainty for consumers and for farmers. We are also looking to control exports of live animals for slaughter.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this work related to our departure from the EU, we are planning to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty to five years. We are also introducing a ban on the ivory trade which is the toughest in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:32:51 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045640

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Environment Protection: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what new initiatives his Department plans to bring forward to tackle environmental crimes.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	210620
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State commissioned an independent review into serious and organised crime in the waste industry which was published in November last year. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our new strategic approach to tackling crime and poor performance in the waste sector and actions in response to the recommendations of the review. We will:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>consult on a fundamental reform of the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system to ensure that the supply of waste to criminals is curtailed;</p></li><li><p>consult on mandatory digital tracking of waste movements; and</p></li><li><p>work with the Environment Agency to create a Joint Unit for Waste Crime to deal with the threat of serious and organised criminal gangs.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>These actions will build on the strong action we have already taken, including by:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>legislating to enable local authorities and the Environment Agency to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who breach their duty of care to only pass their waste to authorised operators who can dispose of it legally and safely. The penalties came into force on 7 January this year;</p></li><li><p>enhancing local authorities’ and the Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and introducing new powers for the Environment Agency to block access to problem waste sites.</p></li><li><p>increasing the fixed penalties for littering offence, and introducing new powers to tackle littering from vehicles. From April this year, the minimum fixed penalty for littering will rise from £50 to £65; and</p></li><li><p>consulting on improved guidance to litter authorities on the proportionate and effective use of their enforcement powers. The new guidance will be published shortly.</p><p> </p></li></ul> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/01/2019 13:10:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045976

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Video Games
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what safeguards his Department has put in place to prevent vulnerable people being exploited by the gaming industry.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	211244
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Gambling Act 2005 sets out licensing objectives which underpin the regulation of gambling in Great Britain. They include the protection of vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.</p><p>All operators providing gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission and comply with licence conditions. These include requirements to prevent underage gambling, to intervene when a customer shows signs of being at risk of harm and to offer the facility to self-exclude. Operators may also be required to make tools available to help players manage their gambling, such as setting time or spend limits.</p><p>In May last year the Government published its <em>Review of Proposed Changes to Gaming Machines and Responsibility Measures,</em> which set out a package to strengthen protections further. The response can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures</a></p><p> </p><p>As promised in the Review, the Government has passed legislation to reduce the maximum stake limit on B2 machines from £100 to £2. This will come into effect on 1 April 2019. Alongside this we announced action to strengthen safeguards online, including the rollout of GAMSTOP, the online multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. The Gambling Commission has consulted on tightening age and identity verification requirements and will publish a response shortly. It will also launch a call for evidence on gambling on credit and a consultation on customer interaction.</p><p> </p><p>The Review also announced measures to strengthen protections on gambling advertising, including significant new guidance from the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) on protecting vulnerable people, tougher sanctions for operators in breach of advertising codes, and a major advertising campaign aimed at raising awareness of risks around gambling.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 29/01/2019 18:00:42 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052182

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Water
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress his Department's Estates Directorate has made in analysing water usage and associated costs on the prison estate.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice undertook a review of water use, and associated costs, on the prison estate, in 2018. This has informed the development and application of good, typical and poor water efficiency benchmarks for prisons; and water reduction targets have now been set for all prisons. In addition, more detailed consumption data is being provided to prison Governors to facilitate improved water management at site level.</p><p>In-depth audits of the ten highest water consuming prisons will be carried out in February 2019; and the Department has developed a Water Strategy which it intends to publish in Spring 2019.</p><p>The Department is also re-procuring water services contract this year. This contract will provide for the installation of automatic meter reading (‘smart meters’) to enable improved monitoring and targeting of excessive water consumption.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 05/02/2019 18:45:09 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052284

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Iraq: Politics and Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in Iraq.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>​The UK supports the consolidation of democracy in Iraq through both diplomatic engagement and programme support. During my visit to Baghdad and Erbil in January, I welcomed the recent national elections and those in the Kurdistan region and encouraged swift completion of the formation of the Iraqi cabinet and Kurdistan Regional Government. We recently welcomed the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament and a delegation of Iraqi MPs to the UK where they were able to witness British parliamentary processes and exchange experiences. As part of our programme assistance, the UK is helping the Government of Iraq in newly liberated areas and in Basra to make governance and the delivery of services more effective and responsive, so strengthening relations between local communities and the Iraqi authorities.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 08/02/2019 13:46:38 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052295

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Internet: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of reported online abuse towards people with disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215165
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>In October 2018 the Government published data on online hate crime, which shows an increase in online disability hate crime recorded by the police between 2016/17 and 2017/18 (from 140 to 225). It is likely that the figures under represent levels of online hate crime towards people with disabilities and do not cover online abuse that does not meet the criminal threshold.</p><p> </p><p>The forthcoming Online Harms White Paper will set out legislative measures to tackle the full range of online harms, including online abuse. We will continue to engage with the disabled community and other stakeholders as we develop our proposals.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 08/02/2019 14:37:06 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1052297

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on establishing a nationwide, full-fibre broadband network.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	215166
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2019 answer text <p>In July 2018, the government published the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), setting out a commitment to deliver nationwide full fibre coverage by 2033. This would be achieved through encouraging market competition and commercial investment, whilst intervening in uncommercial areas through an Outside-In approach.</p><p> </p><p>Over £1.7bn of public money has been invested in the BDUK superfast programme, which met our target to extend superfast coverage to 95% of UK premises by December 2017. Further investment through BDUK to reach 97% superfast coverage will be solely through full fibre deployment</p><p> </p><p>Starting in April 2019, the £200m Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme announced in the 2018 budget will also deliver full fibre connections to local hubs in rural areas, starting with primary schools, alongside vouchers for connectivity to nearby premises.</p><p> </p><p>Government is also supporting competitive commercial investment through the £400m Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which is expected to unlock over £1bn investment in full fibre. Since Summer 2017, the £294m Local Full Fibre Networks programme is also stimulating commercial investment in full fibre networks. This includes our £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, available to homes and businesses across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government is continuing to address barriers to deployment. We published two consultations on policy options to reform existing access arrangements to provide a right of entry for communication providers in cases of absentee landlords, and to ensure full fibre connections to new build developments. These consultations are now closed and the Government will publish responses shortly.</p><p> </p><p>Industry have continued to respond with commitments to full fibre rollout. CityFibre recently announced a £2.5bn investment plan to expand its full fibre network to 5 million homes in partnership with Vodafone, and Hyperoptic have secured funding to target up to 5 million homes by 2024, whilst Openreach have expanded the reach of its Fibre First rollout to 25 towns, cities or boroughs. According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report 2018, commercial and public rollout has delivered upwards of a million full fibre connections over the last 12 months.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 08/02/2019 14:39:58 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord