Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1179302

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Young People: Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that young carers and their families are (a) identified and (b) adequately supported so that those young people can be helped to achieve at school.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	18575
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2020 answer text <p>The government is committed to supporting young carers so that they are properly protected from excessive or inappropriate caring responsibilities and are supported to achieve their full potential. Consistent identification remains challenging, with many being ‘hidden’ and therefore unrecognised and/or unsupported.</p><p>Changes through the Children and Families Act 2014 simplified the legislation relating to young adult carers’ assessments, making rights and duties clearer to both young people and practitioners. This included promoting whole family approaches which triggers both and adult support services into action – assessing why a child is caring, what needs to change and what would help the family to prevent children or young people from taking on this responsibility in the first place.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education also provides schools with £2.4 billion each year in additional funding through the pupil premium to support disadvantaged pupils. We expect schools to make effective use of their pupil premium budgets. Schools know their pupils best and will spend the grant accordingly to meet pupil needs, which includes where needs are based on a parent’s health issues or disability.</p><p> </p><p>We published the Children in Need Review conclusion in 2019. This sets out our approach to helping schools and children’s social care improve the educational outcomes of children in need, including those young carers assessed as being in need of help and protection.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 28/02/2020 16:33:46 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

750189

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Young People: Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support through the NHS, social care and voluntary sector her Department provides for child and young person carers helping parents with chronic and terminal illness.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	3741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The government has changed the law to improve how young carers and their families are identified and supported. The Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to identify and assess the needs of all young carers, regardless of who they care for or what type of care they provide. These provisions work alongside those for assessing adults in the Care Act 2014 so that when a young carer is identified the needs of everyone in the family is considered, triggering action from both children’s and adults’ support services.</p><p> </p><p>We funded the Making a Step Change project, which sought to identify, champion and embed best practice around effective integrated whole family pathways between voluntary and statutory sector partners.</p><p> </p><p>In May 2014, NHS England published the ‘Commitment to Carers’ which set out commitments across a range of themes to improve recognition and support for carers, including young carers. As part of NHS England’s work to support young carers, the Young Carers Health Champion Programme was established in July 2016 to support improved health literacy, promote health and wellbeing and develop the capacity of young carers to participate in the planning and development of young carer-friendly services.</p><p> </p><p>There is a wealth of resources that enable local authorities, schools and voluntary sector partners to support young carers and their families, based on evidence of what works. Carers Trust host many of these materials on their websites which can be accessed at either: <a href="http://www.thecarershub.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.thecarershub.co.uk</a> or: <a href="http://www.makingastepchange.info/" target="_blank">www.makingastepchange.info/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 18/07/2017 14:31:14 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

63481

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	World War I: Anniversaries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a suitable commemoration of the First World War; and if he will support the Royal Sussex Regiment Association's efforts for a memorial to be erected in Priez, France.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	202113
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2014 answer text <p>The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with an appropriate programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects across 2014-18. It is fitting that organisations such as the Royal Sussex Regiment Association are seeking to commemorate the centenary in ways which are meaningful for them.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Maidstone and The Weald answering member printed Mrs Helen Grant question first answered 01/07/2014 16:50:26 answering member 4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1669518

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept id	216
	answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	hansard heading	World Radiocommunication Conference
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to (a) prepare for the World radiocommunication conference and (b) protect the UK's interests in space at that conference.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	1524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>I recognise the importance of the decisions of the World Radiocommunications Conference to UK industry, especially the space sector.</p><p> </p><p>Government and Ofcom have developed our negotiating positions since the last conference in 2019, balancing the interests of multiple operators, networks and services in both space and terrestrial environments. UK stakeholders have been given the opportunity to influence our approach and Ofcom consulted in 2022.</p><p> </p><p>At the conference, Ofcom will lead the UK delegation which will include officials from departments and agencies with spectrum interests. This includes DSIT, the Ministry of Defence, UK Space Agency, and the Met Office.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 21/11/2023 10:35:50 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1188601

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	World Health Organization: Development Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on how the World Health Organisation plans to spend funding granted to that organisation by the UK Government in the next 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	37585
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government provides funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) through a number of specific health programmes and through core funding. In the next 12 months, our core funding will support WHO deliver its 13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work that seeks to protect 1 billion people from health emergencies, provide 1 billion more people with access to universal health coverage, and enable 1 billion more people to live healthier lives. Our health programme support addresses specific UK priorities within the 13<sup>th</sup> General Programme of Work, for example, health systems strengthening, global health security and work to end the preventable deaths of mothers, children and new-borns.</p><p>The UK is the second largest Member State funder to WHO overall; this amount varies year upon year based on need – this was around 10% of WHO’s income over the last two years. The UK’s contribution to WHO for COVID-19 response is world-leading and will likely significantly increase UK’s share.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 27/04/2020 16:05:59 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1190805

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	World Health Organization: Development Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to Answer of 27 April 2020 to Question 37585 on World Health Organisation: Overseas Aid, what reforms to the World Health Organisation her Department is seeking as a result of that agency's response to the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	40582
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>DFID expects WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE), established in 2016, to continuously improve and develop its critical work.</p><p>As an example, in our annual reviews of performance, we have noted the need for WHE to continue to develop its capabilities around human resources – to ensure it can get the right people, in the right place at the right time.</p><p>Any review of WHE’s should come after the world has successfully addressed the COVID-19 pandemic and should consider the whole global response across countries and the international system, as well as WHO. The UK will engage on any review with a detailed position when this is forthcoming.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 04/05/2020 14:52:35 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

416364

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	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	Workplace Pensions: Private Sector
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of auto-enrolment on private sector pension saving.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	8900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Over 5.43 million workers have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension by their employer, many for the first time. This has reversed the downwards trend seen in workplace pension participation rates since 2003.</p><p> </p><p>So far opt out has been around 10 per cent, which is significantly lower than the original DWP estimate of around 30 per cent. This has seen the programme opt out assumption being adjusted to 15 per cent overall for the lifetime of the programme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Automatic Enrolment will give around 10 million people the opportunity to save into a workplace pension - we expect to see 8 to 9 million people newly saving or saving more, generating £11 billion a year more in workplace pension saving by 2020.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/09/2015 11:35:08 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

428969

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2015
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Witnesses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what steps the CPS has recently taken to improve its support for (a) child witnesses and (b) people with learning disabilities who give evidence in criminal proceedings.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	16813
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to improving the ‘at court’ experience for all witnesses. The CPS works closely with the police and the voluntary sector to ensure that vulnerable witnesses such as children and people with learning disabilities are well supported through the Criminal Justice System.</p><p>Special measures such as the use of intermediaries, using screens at court and video live links help vulnerable witnesses, including children and people with learning difficulties, to give their best evidence. Recently, the CPS assisted the MoJ in recruiting an additional 105 intermediaries, who play a vital role in facilitating coherent conversations during police interviews and at court. The use of pre-recorded cross-examination has also been successfully piloted and the Lord Chancellor has committed publically to a national roll-out.</p><p>In September, following public consultation, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced the launch of new guidance for prosecutors entitled ‘Speaking to Witnesses at Court’. The aim of this guidance is to set out the role played by prosecutors at or before court in ensuring that witnesses give their best evidence. This will benefit all prosecution witnesses and will help them understand what to expect. These enhanced arrangements will be piloted over the coming months and will be rolled out nationally during 2016.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 23/11/2015 14:27:50 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1195535

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2020
	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	Wildlife: Smuggling
	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 reports he has received on the increase in (a) the international trade in tigers and tiger body parts and (b) captive breeding of wild animals; and what steps he is taking to ban trophy imports to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	46605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which places strict controls on international trade in tigers. We are aware of concerns raised in relation to the illegal trade in tigers and tiger farms and remain fully committed to working with our international partners, including through CITES, to ensure strong protection is in place and to bring an end to the illegal trade in wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>A consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK was undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. The outcome of the consultation, and the accompanying call for evidence, will inform our next steps and we are continuing to work on this important area.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/05/2020 15:21:47 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

521186

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2016
	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	Wildlife: Smuggling
	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 the status is of the draft Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations; and when those regulations are expected to be adopted into UK law.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	38171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2016 answer text <p>Following consultation on proposals to update and consolidate the existing legislation on the control of trade in endangered species last year, work to finalise a new regulation is nearing completion. The aim remains for the new regulation to come into force as soon as possible, in the second half of this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 31/05/2016 10:16:57 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

797469

	registered interest
	date	29/11/2017
	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	Wildlife: Smuggling
	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 recent steps his Department has taken to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	116432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2017 answer text <p>Combatting the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a priority for the UK government. This is why we are investing £26 million globally, and working with international partners, to tackle the systemic issues driving IWT. This includes funding initiatives directly and through Defra’s IWT Challenge Fund to reduce demand, strengthen enforcement, ensure effective legal frameworks and develop sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by IWT.</p><p> </p><p>The UK government is committed to taking action as part of global efforts to assure the future of elephants. That is why we are currently consulting on proposals to ban all UK sales of ivory which contribute directly or indirectly to the poaching of elephants.</p><p> </p><p>Following the success of the inaugural international conference on IWT in London in 2014, and subsequent successful conferences in Kasane in 2015 and Hanoi in 2016, the UK will bring global leaders back to London in October 2018 for a fourth high-level international meeting. This meeting will ensure that IWT stays at the top of the political agenda and that all participants deliver on the commitments they have made.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 06/12/2017 09:54:51 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

604691

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2016
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, how many people were (a) prosecuted for and (b) convicted of offences under the Wild Animals (Protection) Act 1996 in each police force area in England in 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	49177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2016 answer text <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of people who have been charged with, and prosecuted for, offences brought by way of the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Although it is not possible to identify the number of people charged with particular offences, records are held showing the overall number of offences in which a prosecution commenced in the magistrates’ courts. In 2015 there was one offence commenced under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 25/10/2016 09:47:22 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1250008

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Wholesale Trade: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on extending business rates relief to wholesale distributors.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	91868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>The Government has provided Local Authorities with £1.1billion across England via the Additional Restrictions Grant, for businesses which are not legally closed, but which are severely affected by local or national restrictions.</p><p>Local Authorities have discretion on how to use this funding to support businesses in their areas, but the Government encourages them to set up discretionary grant schemes to support businesses such as wholesalers which can remain open, but which are nonetheless severely affected by the enhanced COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>All business rates reliefs in England will be considered through the business rates review.</p><p>In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 91871 question first answered 16/11/2020 16:54:24 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1250009

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Wholesale Trade: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to financially support wholesale distributors in localities where local authorities do not include them in eligibility for five per cent discretionary grant funding announced as part of the Plan for Jobs.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	91869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>During this difficult time for the country, I absolutely recognise the extreme disruption to people’s lives, jobs, and businesses due to the necessary actions to tackle COVID-19. This includes those in the wholesale sector who play a critical role in supporting our food supply chain.</p><p>The Government recognises that businesses which are legally required to close due to national or local restrictions will need additional support. This is why we have announced the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) scheme, which will provide businesses in England which are legally required to close with grants of up to £3,000 per four-week closure period, depending on their rateable value.</p><p>For businesses which are not legally closed, but which are nonetheless severely impacted by local or national restrictions, we have provided Local Authorities with a further £1.1billion across England via the Additional Restrictions Grant.</p><p>Local Authorities have discretion on how to use this funding to support businesses in their areas, but we encourage them to set up discretionary grant schemes to support businesses such as wholesalers which can remain open, but which are nonetheless severely affected by the enhanced COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>Businesses across the country, including wholesale distributors, should also be able to benefit from others measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of support for businesses, including:</p><p>• The extension to 31 March of the CJRS, through which employees will receive up to 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked up to a maximum of £2,500 per month; <br>• Support for the self-employed via the SEISS, which will provide the self-employed with grants worth up to 80% of trading profits, covering November to January; <br>• The extension of the application deadline for loan guarantee schemes to the end of January 2021; <br>• An adjustment to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme rules to allow those businesses who have borrowed less than their maximum (i.e. less than 25% of their turnover) to top-up their existing loan; and <br>• Help for businesses in repaying loans from Government-backed schemes through the Pay as you Grow scheme and allowing lenders to extend the terms of CBILS loans to up to 10 years.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 16/11/2020 14:38:45 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1313027

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2021
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Wholesale Trade: Business Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to include wholesalers in the guidance for local authorities on the administration of the new Business Rates Relief Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	206
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government has announced a £1.5 billion pot of additional business rates relief for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that have not otherwise been eligible for existing reliefs. The statement by the Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government of 25 March 2021 explained the relief will be allocated to local authorities based on the stock of properties in the area and the sector-specific economic impacts of COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>Formal guidance will follow in due course, setting out the specific considerations that Local Authorities (LAs) should have regard for when providing relief. Relief will be for LAs to award on a discretionary basis. Funding will be available once the legislation relating to material change in circumstance provisions has passed and LAs have established their own local relief schemes. The Government will support LAs to do this as quickly as possible, including through new burdens funding.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 19/05/2021 13:22:33 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1579609

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2023
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Weather: Death
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to investigate the reasons for the increase in excess deaths over winter 2022/23.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	129759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2023 answer text <p>The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities produces a monthly update of excess mortality statistics, which have been used to monitor excess deaths since July 2020 and adjust for age and size of the population. There are a range of different organisations producing different estimates based on different methodologies.</p><p> </p><p>It is likely that a combination of factors has contributed to excess deaths over winter 2022/23, including high flu prevalence, cold, the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.</p><p>We are taking steps to help reduce excess deaths, including those which involve COVID-19, and those due to other factors.</p> answering member constituency Harborough answering member printed Neil O'Brien question first answered 27/01/2023 10:39:28 answering member 4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1543989

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2022
	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	Water Companies: Fines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of investing fines given to water companies in improving waterways.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	92161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>On Wednesday 30<sup>th</sup> November we announced we will be channelling money from water company fines into schemes to improve the environment. The announcement is available on gov.uk at the webpage here:</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fnews%2Fwater-company-fines-to-be-channelled-into-environmental-improvements&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Cbb732ac0ff064d7bcdde08dad4589cca%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638055774291251696%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QaXsypjvfkUp%2FptNp7wOf3nuDszZXl856CCXopBg9Z4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/water-company-fines-to-be-channelled-into-environmental-improvements</a></p><p> </p><p>Under our new plans, money from fines handed out to water companies that pollute our rivers and seas will be re-invested in schemes that benefit our natural environment.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015, the Environment Agency has concluded 56 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £141 million.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 08/12/2022 14:54:39 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1173858

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2020
	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	Waste Disposal: 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 steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) organised waste crime and (b) fly-tipping.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	8995
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>Waste crime damages the environment, is a blight on local communities and the Government is committed to tackling this criminal activity. We have given the Environment Agency (EA) an extra £60 million to tackle waste crime since 2014 and have also made a range of legislative changes. In addition, the Resource and Waste Strategy sets out an ambitious package of further reforms to modernise the way waste is regulated, clamping down on illegal operators and improving performance across the sector. Some of these commitments are being taken forward in the Environment Bill, including measures to further strengthen EA powers when dealing with criminal operators.</p><p> </p><p>The new Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), a taskforce dedicated to tackling serious and organised criminality in the waste sector was launched last month. The JUWC will tackle criminal activity including the large-scale illegal dumping, or false labelling of waste so it can be exported abroad to unsuspecting countries. It brings together the EA, the National Crime Agency, the police, HMRC, Natural Resources Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in a concerted UK-wide effort to share intelligence and resources to tackle crime which costs the economy at least £600 million every year.</p><p> </p><p>Fly-tipping is unacceptable whether it occurs on public or private land and tackling this crime is a priority for the Government. In recent years we have bolstered local authorities’ powers to tackle fly-tipping. As well as enhanced powers to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, we have given them the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of up to £400 for fly-tipping offences, including to those caught fly-tipping and householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. FPNs provide local authorities with an efficient mechanism to hold fly-tipping perpetrators to account without having to go to court, which can be a time consuming, resource-intensive and expensive process.</p><p> </p><p>If a prosecution is taken, then a fly-tipper can receive a fine of up to £50,000, or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a Magistrates' Court. The offence can attract an unlimited fine and up to 5 years imprisonment if convicted in a Crown Court. Defra has worked with the Sentencing Council to amend sentencing guidance for magistrates to ensure that they are aware of local fixed penalty levels for these offences, but will continue this work to help to secure tougher penalties in line with our manifesto commitment.</p><p> </p><p>We have also committed to the development of a fly-tipping toolkit, hosted by the National Fly Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG). This will be a web-based tool to help local authorities and others work in partnership to tackle fly-tipping. It will cover, for example, the use of new technology to report fly-tipping, sharing of intelligence within and between partnerships, dealing with unauthorised encampments and promoting the duty of care to individuals and businesses. The Government is also consulting at the moment about strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The NFTPG has also published a Fly-tipping Partnership Framework outlining best practice for the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of fly-tipping and a series of fly-tipping prevention guides for householders, businesses and landowners.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 04/02/2020 17:23:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

171777

	registered interest
	date	02/01/2015
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Voluntary Work: Crawley
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has for the National Citizen Service in Crawley constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	219583
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2015 answer text <p>117 young people took part in National Citizen Service (NCS) in Crawley and surrounding area in 2014.</p><p>This year will again see NCS programmes taking place in every local authority across England, giving more young people the opportunity to take part in this life changing programme.</p><p>The government is committed to giving as many young people as possible the chance to take part in NCS and the significant growth of the programme so far is set to continue this year across the country.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading East answering member printed Mr Rob Wilson question first answered 06/01/2015 17:37:25 answering member 1556 label Biography information for Mr Rob Wilson
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1190710

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Voluntary Work: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his statement in 10 Downing Street on 18 April 2020, how many of the 750,000 reported volunteers are providing telephone support to the extremely vulnerable group of people being asked to shield at home as a result of the covid-19 outbreak measures.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	40581
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>As of 1 May 2020, out of the 750,000 people who have signed up to the NHS Volunteer Responders programme in England, 607,074 volunteers have completed the necessary identity checks to begin helping those most vulnerable, more than double the original target. Between 7 April – 1 May 2020, 17,594 check in and chats have been completed.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 15/05/2020 11:54:59 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1218758

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: China
	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 it her policy to introduce a visa ban on officials from the Peoples Republic of China entering the UK in response to the Chinese Government's policies in relation to human rights in Hong Kong.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	66017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2020 answer text <p>All those coming to the UK are assessed against the immigration rules and must meet the suitability and eligibility requirements. All UK visa applications are considered on their individual merits.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 07/07/2020 16:14:48 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1673198

	registered interest
	date	27/11/2023
	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	Veterinary Services: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to (a) publish the results of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations consultation and (b) introduce revised regulations.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	3772
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Veterinary medicines play a vital role in protecting our animals’ health and welfare. Defra is updating the Veterinary Medicines Regulations in respect of Great Britain, to ensure the Regulations continue to be fit for purpose, and we consulted on these changes earlier this year. We are finalising the response to the consultation, where we will set out the changes we are taking forward. We are aware that there is significant interest in our proposed changes and we are taking our time to make sure we get it right. We will then seek to introduce the revised Regulations as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 3960 question first answered 04/12/2023 17:09:11 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1191819

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Veterinary Services: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support veterinary practices affected by the covid-19 lockdown through business rate relief.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	41429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Business rates are devolved in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as veterinary practices, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and the deferral of VAT payments for this quarter.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 41010 question first answered 04/05/2020 15:26:21 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1541361

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2022
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Veterans: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what additional support the Government is providing to Armed Forces charities to help increase the capacity and delivery of (a) mental health and (b) suicide prevention initiatives for veterans.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	83603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>This government will continue to prioritise supporting veterans with their mental health needs. There is a range of statutory support for veterans across the UK, including the bespoke mental health service for veterans in England: Op COURAGE.</p><p>Charities continue to play a vital role in helping veterans with their mental health, and I pay tribute to them for all they do. The Government provided £20m in 2021 to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support Service charities comprising the £10m annual allocation plus extra £10m announced in the 2021 Budget. In addition, we provided £5m through the Afghanistan Veterans’ Fund. These funds included provision for initiatives to improve capacity in mental health and wellbeing provision, and suicide prevention.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 23/11/2022 11:35:28 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1583322

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Veterans: Disability Aids
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of providing a long-term funding stream for specialist (a) mobility and (b) orthotic equipment for veterans that was previously provided under the Veterans Mobility Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	138305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting all our veterans, and to ensuring that they continue to thrive after leaving the services.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2014, the Government has committed £773m of LIBOR fines to support Armed Forces and Emergency Service charities.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this package, the Chancellor awarded the Royal British Legion £3m to develop a Veterans Mobility Fund, designed to meet the wellbeing needs of veterans discharged with service-attributable serious physical injury. At the same time, the Chancellor also awarded £10m to develop a Veterans Hearing Fund, providing support to veterans who suffered hearing loss during service.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, at the Royal British Legion’s request, the Treasury authorised the transfer of almost £1.5m from the Veterans Mobility Fund to the Veterans Hearing Fund, following dramatic increases in the rate of applications for the Hearing Fund and a comparatively static application rate for the Mobility Fund. Both the Veterans Hearing and Veterans Mobility Funds have now closed.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2020, we have announced a further £10m funding to support veterans’ mental health, £475k to support the development of a digital and data strategy for the sector, £5m to enable charities to address the impact of events in Afghanistan on veterans, a £5m Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund, and £8.55m in December last year to end veteran homelessness in 2023.</p><p> </p><p>More than 100 service charities, including those who support veterans, also benefitted from £6m of the £750m to support the charity sector announced by the Chancellor in April 21 in support of COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Governments Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan sets out the steps we will take in the next two years towards our ambition of making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran by 2028.</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor engages with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care routinely on health matters.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 08/02/2023 17:38:42 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith