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1463487

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	STEM Subjects: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of 19,000 apprentices contributions in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors on the promotion of STEM throughout the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	3560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>The department recognises the critical value of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in driving the economy and productivity. Ensuring that anyone, regardless of their background, can pursue a career in a STEM occupation is a key priority for this government.</p><p>Apprenticeships are a great way for people to receive high-quality training and begin, or progress in, a successful STEM career. The department has put employers at the heart of our apprenticeship system, empowering them to design the standards they need with the help of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. There are over 340 employer-designed apprenticeship standards in STEM, including Cyber Security Technician at level 3, Space Engineer Technician at level 4 and Aero Space Engineer (degree) at level 6.</p><p>It is encouraging to see that in the 2021/22 academic year, there were 66,000 apprenticeship starts in STEM, making up 32.3% of all apprenticeship starts that year.</p><p>The department continues to promote apprenticeships in schools through the Apprenticeship Support &amp; Knowledge programme and is working with our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network of influential employers such as Siemens, Bombardier, and Rolls-Royce to promote best practices in recruiting and retaining people from all backgrounds in STEM apprenticeships.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 24/05/2022 11:41:27 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1670720

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2023
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	National Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps his Department is taking to strengthen national security.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	900260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The Cabinet Office leads on, and coordinates across government, key elements of the UK’s national security policy. This includes the development and implementation of the Integrated Review Refresh. Published in March, the Refresh updated the government’s security, defence, development and foreign policy priorities to reflect changes in the global context since the Integrated Review 2021. Flowing from this, the Cabinet Office has played a key role in developing and overseeing the National Cyber Strategy, National Security and Investment Programme, and the Biological Security Strategy. The department is taking essential steps to ensure delivery of these and other issues.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Specific recent outcomes include the launch of the National Security and Investment Act call for evidence, and the leading role the department has played in coordinating the government’s response to several international and domestic crises.</p><p><strong></strong><br><br></p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 23/11/2023 18:36:31 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1682320

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	National Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps his Department is taking to strengthen national security.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	901027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2024 answer text <p>The Cabinet Office leads and coordinates the UK’s national security crisis response through the Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR), and national security policy through the National Security Council structures. This includes the National Cyber Strategy, National Security and Investment Programme, and the Biological Security Strategy, all of which the department is taking essential steps to deliver.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Key successes in 2023 included publishing the Integrated Review Refresh, passing the National Security Act, launching the Emergency Alerting scheme and delivering the Atlantic Declaration and risk elements of the AI Summit. So far in 2024, we have launched a new Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security with the US and continued to coordinate the response to the conflict in Gaza and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 18/01/2024 17:56:42 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1288060

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Child Trust Fund: Learning Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2021 to Question 153196, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including parent and voluntary sector representation on the cross-government working group that has been established to look at the issues raised in relation to accessing matured Child Trust Funds (CTFs) in light of the Mental Capacity Act.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	156336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2021 answer text <p>A cross-government working group has been convened to consider the issues raised in relation to access to matured Child Trust Funds for those who lack mental capacity. The group has representation from Her Majesty’s Treasury, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice. Learning Disability England and MENCAP are also engaged and providing valuable input to this work. We recognise that there are many individuals and advocacy groups who have an interest in this work, and we will ensure that we continue to engage with interested groups as proposals develop.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 02/03/2021 14:34:09 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1133709

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	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 she is taking to increase financial support for vulnerable claimants of universal credit to ensure that the amount of benefit they receive is not lower than what they received through the legacy system.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	267340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2019 answer text <p>Claimants currently only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to a benefit that Universal Credit replaces. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit and their new circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>For those claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit without a change in their circumstances, the Department has committed to providing transitional protection to ensure that they see no decrease in their benefit entitlement at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>There are £2.4 billion of unclaimed legacy benefits not going to the people who need them, because they do not know that they are entitled to them or how to claim. Universal Credit makes sure that welfare payments reach those who need them most.</p><p> </p><p>We have also introduced a number of measures to assist claimants during their transition to Universal Credit. Claimants moving onto Universal Credit can access a Universal Credit advance, which is worth up to 100 per cent of their indicative award and is available from the date of their claim. This advance is currently repayable over 12 months, but as announced in the 2018 Budget, from October 2021 the maximum repayment period will be extended to 16 months. Claimants may also be entitled to a two-week Universal Credit Transitional Housing Payment. From July 2020 the Government is introducing a new two-week run on for income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 28/06/2019 10:09:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1437823

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2022
	answering body	COP26
	answering dept id	210
	answering dept short name	COP26
	answering dept sort name	COP26
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the President of COP26, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the role of the food system in global emissions.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	133986
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>In February 2021, the UK and Indonesia established the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue, bringing together major producer and consumer countries of agricultural commodities to work together to protect forests while promoting development and trade. COP President addressed members of the dialogue on the importance of the food system in global emissions and building sustainable supply chains to keep 1.5 degrees alive and saw the launch of the FACT Roadmap at COP26, which committed members to work together to advance sustainable production and trade, and outlining actions to incentivise sustainability, support smallholder farmers, improve transparency of supply chains, and drive innovation.</p><p>The UK Government and World Bank co-convened a Policy Dialogue on Accelerating Transition to Sustainable Agriculture, which brought together 34 leading countries to share their experience and opportunities to deliver transformation through repurposing public policies and support and innovation. The UK COP Presidency raised visibility and mobilised action for transformation in agriculture, land use and food systems. We will continue to work with key partners in taking forward delivery of COP26 commitments in 2022 to deliver on the ambition of accelerating a transition to a more sustainable food system.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 28/03/2022 14:48:20 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1438705

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2022
	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	British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policy of the Mauritian sovereignty claim on the Chagos islands.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	905932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2022 answer text <p>The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), which we have held continuously since 1814.</p><p>Mauritius has never held sovereignty over BIOT and we do not recognise its claim.</p><p>However, we stand by our commitment, first made in 1965, to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes.</p> answering member constituency Cannock Chase answering member printed Amanda Milling question first answered 08/03/2022 16:37:55 answering member 4454 label Biography information for Dame Amanda Milling
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1484671

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2022
	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	Iraq: Kurds
	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 her Department taking to help encourage the resolution of disputes between the federal government in Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	27576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2022 answer text <p>The UK supports a strong relationship between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Federal Government of Iraq and continues to encourage cooperation to resolve outstanding issues. We want to see a strong and successful Kurdistan region within a thriving and multicultural Iraq.</p> answering member constituency Cannock Chase answering member printed Amanda Milling question first answered 07/07/2022 15:59:58 answering member 4454 label Biography information for Dame Amanda Milling
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1180967

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Vaccination: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of directing UKRI to fund research into platform vaccine and diagnostic tools to support the development of vaccines during a potential pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	21237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>We work with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Department for International Development, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support research on platform vaccine technologies and diagnostic tools that can be utilised as a rapid response during a pandemic. These form a component of the current DHSC and UKRI COVID-19 rapid-response call for proposals to address the threat of this novel coronavirus. Platform vaccines and diagnostics are an integral part of UKRI’s current approach for the development and translation of research findings into tangible benefits, with research funded across UKRI councils</p><p> </p><p>DHSC and UKRI lead the UK Vaccine Network which brings together funders, industry and academia to identify and target investment opportunities for the most promising vaccines and vaccine technologies, including platform vaccine and diagnostic tools to combat infectious diseases with epidemic potential and to address structural issues related to the UK’s vaccine infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Network two vaccine manufacturing hubs have been established to streamline vaccine manufacturing. A £10 million award to Professor Robin Shuttock at Imperial College London aims to revolutionise the vaccine manufacture, stabilisation and storage, reducing costs, increasing efficiency and improving prevention of existing and new diseases. A £7 million award to Professor Tarit Mukhopadhyay at University College London aims to establish the UK as a global centre for vaccine discovery, development and manufacture, while also ensuring that new vaccine manufacturing processes can be used in low and middle income countries.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 03/03/2020 16:02:27 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1285630

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2021
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Vaccination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to (a) conduct and (b) provide funding for external organisations to conduct research into the effectiveness of covid-19 vaccinations for (a) people with blood cancer and (b) other immunocompromised people.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	152472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2021 answer text <p>UKRI is currently funding one study of direct relevance to these areas. UKRI has allocated an initial £1.8 million to the OCTAVE study, led by Professor Iain McInnes, University of Glasgow, for a twelve-month period, and is considering a case for additional funding beyond this. OCTAVE is supporting research on vaccine responses in groups of immune-supressed individuals, including those with inflammatory disorders, high risk cancer patient groups, and patients with severe kidney and liver disease. Cancer patient groups include chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, myeloma, acute leukaemia, and bone marrow transplants. As the OCTAVE study is being managed as a single project it is not possible to give costs for the individual groups.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, there are proposals on vaccine responses in high-risk clinical groups under consideration as part of the UKRI COVID-19 Agile call, with announcements to be made shortly. Furthermore, UKRI continues to accept applications for COVID-19 related research, including on this topic, through its active calls, which can be found on the UKRI website.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 26/02/2021 12:13:53 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith