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523531

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2016
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Visual Impairment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the Government is on target to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	39772
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2016 answer text <p>The indicator within the Public Health Outcomes Framework brings together the range of information on levels of preventable sight loss in a single place.</p><p>The indicator is made up of four sub-indicators which are measuring the crude rates of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, and of the rate of sight loss certifications per 100,000 population.</p><p>The latest data published by the Public Health Outcomes framework show that there were the following new certifications of visual impairment in 2013/14:</p><p> </p><p>- 11,055 for age related macular degeneration, a decrease of 90 from 2012/13;</p><p>- 3,432 for glaucoma, an increase of 141 from 2012/13;</p><p>- 1,563 for diabetic eye disease, a decrease of 29 from 2012/13; and</p><p>- 22,911 overall new certifications (all causes), an increase of 264 from 2012/13.</p><p> </p><p>Early detection is essential to tackling preventable sight loss. A range of treatment and services are in place in the National Health Service to deal with the key causes of preventable sight loss.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 13/06/2016 08:33:18 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1086678

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2019
	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 his Department is taking to help support (a) older people and (b) people with (i) mental and (ii) physical health conditions to transition to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	230646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department is committed to ensuring that all claimants, especially the most vulnerable, are supported as they move onto Universal Credit.</p><p>Claimants, including vulnerable claimants and those with mental and physical health conditions, can receive continuous tailored support managed through work coaches. DWP staff working with claimants complete extensive training that prepares them for their role. Specific training is provided for working with different vulnerable groups, with guidance to signpost claimants to relevant support, and these circumstances will be recorded on a claimant’s online account. We have started to deliver additional training in mental health that will help work coaches to build their expertise and provide the most effective support.</p><p>We take a number of steps to identify individuals who will need support in making a claim to Universal Credit. For example, we identify claimants either prior to or at the initial claim stage, to discuss what support mechanisms need to be in place to make a claim. This can be through discussions with their Work Coach, the Universal Credit helpline and/or through home visits.</p><p>From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will deliver a new ‘Help to Claim’ service to claimants, including the most vulnerable, who are making a new Universal Credit claim or moving from a legacy benefit to Universal Credit because of a change of circumstances. The Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. This service will be available online, over the phone and face to face through local Citizens Advice services.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/03/2019 17:03:18 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1110304

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Child Poverty Action Group's recent report on universal credit, published on 6 April 2019, what assessment she has made of the two-child limit policy on compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	242040
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government has assessed the impact of the two-child policy from an equality and human rights perspective throughout its development and in preparation for its implementation. Therefore, we consider that we have met our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty and ensured compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the UN convention on the Rights of the Child.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s view is that providing support for a maximum of two children in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit, ensures fairness between claimants, and to those taxpayers who support themselves solely through work. Families on benefits should face the same financial choices when deciding to grow their family as those supporting themselves solely through work. A benefits structure adjusting automatically to family size is unsustainable.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to take action to help families with the cost of living, including raising the national living wage, reducing the UC earnings taper, raising the income tax personal allowance, introducing tax-free childcare and 30 hours a week of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 11/04/2019 13:29:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122166

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	Age: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce ageism in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	245681
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010, provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or a job applicant because of their age, unless the employer can justify it as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.</p><p> </p><p>Government has put in place a number of measures to support people of all ages to enter and remain in a workplace.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken steps to support younger workers by introducing the Youth Obligation Support Programme, an intensive package of labour market support for 18-21 year-olds looking to get (back) into work. We are committed to providing targeted support for young people, so that everyone, no matter what their start in life, is given the very best chance of getting into work. In April 2019, Mentoring circles were rolled out nationally, which involve national employers offering specialised support to unemployed, young jobseekers to help build their confidence and raise their aspirations.</p><p>To support older workers to remain in or return to the labour market, the Government has removed the Default Retirement Age meaning most people can choose when to retire, and extended the right to request flexible working to all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer.</p><p>In February 2017, the UK Government published “Fuller Working Lives: a partnership approach” to set out the role employers, individuals and Government can play in supporting fuller working lives. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf</a></p><p>The Government has also appointed the Business In The Community (BITC) Age at Work leadership team as Business Champion for Older Workers. The BITC team of employers spearhead the Government’s work to support employers to retain, retrain and recruit older workers. They actively promote the benefits of older workers to employers across England.</p><p>The number of older workers in employment is at a record high. There are now 10.4 million people aged 50 and over in the workforce.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 30/04/2019 11:19:34 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122634

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Ceramics: Staffordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to support potters in North Staffordshire facing redundancy.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246952
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>DWP organised and facilitated a support event on 16<sup>th</sup> April 2019 for those people affected by the redundancies at Dudson. We have built excellent links with the ceramic confederation, local authorities, Citizens Advice, ACAS, local providers and employers. As a result, the Department is in a position to provide tailored support to those who need it. This ensures they have the correct financial, pension, employment and up to date benefit advice as well as direct contact with employers who have expressed a keen interest in recruiting Dudson ex-employees. Following the event, all stakeholders are working together collectively to help the community in Stoke-on-Trent. People were assured that all the stakeholders in attendance were there to support them.</p><p> </p><p>All Dudson ex-employees were invited through DWP and the administrator to the City Wide Jobs fair held at Stoke-on-Trent college on the 18<sup>th</sup> April 2019. Around 54 employers and partners were in attendance with an estimated 1,800 jobs available. 20 Job interviews were conducted on the day, with 15 job contracts being offered the following day.</p><p> </p><p>BBC Radio Stoke reported live from the event encouraging people to come and be part of the day. They also interviewed a few ex-employees of Dudson who reported that it was a great opportunity to talk to employers in sectors they had not previously considered.</p><p> </p><p>We have explained that help to claim support is available through Citizens Advice to ensure customers are making the appropriate claim.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we organised daily group sessions for the 3 days immediately following the announcement of redundancies from Dudson to manage the increased footfall and queries. 50 people attended these sessions where they were given advice regarding benefits, budgeting and CV’s.</p><p> </p><p>There are 54 people still employed by Dudson so over the next few weeks and months as other parts of the business close we may see additional claims within North Staffs. These people will also be offered the same support.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/04/2019 17:10:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1123433

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2019
	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	Older Workers: Recruitment and Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to (a) tackle age-bias in recruitment and (b) ensure that older workers are offered training and development opportunities.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	247988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010, provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and makes it unlawful for an employer or an employment service provider such as a recruitment agency, to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of their age or perceived age. This applies both where the employer is making arrangements to fill a job, and in respect of anything done during the course of a person’s employment. To be lawful, any differential treatment based on age must be objectively justified.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2017, The Government published a strategy ‘Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach’. The Strategy is led by employers, but also sets out the case for action by individuals, and the role of Government in supporting older workers to remain in and return to work. The Strategy and supporting evidence base are available on the gov.uk website.</p><p>DWP also work closely with the Business in the Community and Older Workers Champion to promote the Fuller Working Lives strategy with employers.</p><p> </p><p>The number of workers aged 50 and over currently in employment is at a record high of 10.4 million, an increase of 1.4 million over the last 5 years and an increase of 2.5 million over the last 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>Further to the Fuller Working Lives strategy, through the National Retraining Partnership, the Government is developing the National Retraining Scheme, which is an ambitious, far-reaching programme to drive adult retraining. It will help individuals to respond to the changing labour market, redirect their careers and secure better, more secure jobs of the future. Its focus will be on supporting those adults whose occupations are most at risk of technological change, to provide them with new skills to move into more sustainable career.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/05/2019 13:57:09 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1124942

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Cancer
	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 ensure that universal credit phone-line staff are adequately trained to understand the complex needs of claimants suffering with cancer.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	251218
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>All DWP staff delivering Universal Credit undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants, including those who have cancer and other serious health conditions. Colleagues receive on-going learning in their roles and have access to Universal Credit guidance which is refreshed at regular intervals.</p><p> </p><p>The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. We are committed to ensuring that people who have cancer are treated with the upmost sensitivity and care, when making a claim to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people who claim Universal Credit to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. This includes how they are identified and supported, either from our own staff or via referrals from local services. For instance, when a claimant is asked to attend a Work Capability Assessment, they are required to complete a UC50 questionnaire which incorporates a 'light touch' evidence gathering process for cancer patients; and makes clear that Clinical Nurse Specialists and consultants can provide information on the form.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/05/2019 13:32:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1133325

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Young People: Gender
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Youth Voice Census Report 2019, published in June 2018, what assessment she has made of the effect of gender on a young person's level of engagement with school and employment.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	266814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>No assessment has been made of gender on a young person’s level of engagement with school and employment.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government is committed to providing targeted support for all young people so that everyone, no matter what their start in life, is given the very best chance.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has raised the participation age to ensure that all young people are supported to continue their education until at least age 18, and invested nearly £7 billion during academic year 2018/19, to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16 to 19-year old.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities (LAs) have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation of 16 and 17 year olds, supporting those who are not participating to do so and making sure that there is sufficient, suitable education and training provision to meet their needs. The September Guarantee places a further duty on LAs to ensure that all year 11 pupils (and year 12 pupils on one year courses) receive an offer of a place in education/training for the following September. It aims to ensure that all young people, regardless of what they achieved in school, understand that there are opportunities that will help them to progress, and to ensure that they get the advice and support they need to find a suitable place.</p><p> </p><p>The latest data for the end of 2017 (provisional) shows that 86.8% of 16-18-year-old females are in Education and Training, compared to 85.1% of males. Source is the ‘Participation in education, training and employment: 2017’ published statistics.</p><p> </p><p>In January to March 2019 the number of young people aged 16-24 who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the UK was at a near record low (764,000) – down 364,000 since 2010. As part of this the number of women aged 16-24 who were NEET was at a near record low (383,000) – down 238,000 since 2010. The number of men aged 16-24 who were NEET was also near a record low – at 381,000 – down 126,000 since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The latest figures from the independent ONS, show that in February-April 2019 UK employment rate is at a joint record high of 76.1% - and as part of this the female employment rate is at a record high (72.0%). The male employment rate was 80.3% - up 5.3% points since 2010.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 24/06/2019 15:38:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122769

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Transport: Stoke on Trent
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that reasonably-priced travel options remain available to passengers travelling from Stoke-on-Trent to London.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246956
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government regulates the existence and price of certain rail fares. We protect passengers by setting the maximum amount by which regulated fares can increase year-on-year. The Government has ensured regulated fares can rise by no more than inflation since 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Passengers travelling from Stoke-on-Trent on the West Midlands Rail franchise now benefit from live train crowding information, compensation for people delayed by 15 minutes or more, smart ticketing and, from next year, better value tickets for part-time workers. These changes modernise rail fares for those travelling from Stoke-on-Trent and offer fare payers the choice and flexibility they expect of a modern railway.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 29/04/2019 14:03:22 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1124134

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Stoke on Trent
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2019 to Question 246956 on Transport: Stoke-on-Trent, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the frequency of daily train services between Stoke-on-Trent and London.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	249852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The West Coast Partnership is due to be awarded shortly and as per the ITT, the current Inter City West Coast service between London Euston and Stoke on Trent has been protected as a minimum requirement.</p><p> </p><p>The incoming franchisee will also be responsible for the implementation of a timetable recast associated with the introduction of HS2 services, which will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders for the provision of future services.</p><p> </p><p>There is no change to the overall number of direct LNR trains between Stoke-on-Trent and London Euston in the forthcoming timetable change from 20 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones question first answered 13/05/2019 14:21:20 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122766

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Nuclear Power
	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 recent assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) environmental consequences of nuclear energy.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>All nuclear new build projects are assessed on a case by case basis to ensure they provide value for money for taxpayers and consumers. Before a new nuclear power station can be built and operated, the operator must apply for and obtain a number of permissions from the independent regulators and from Government. The assessment of environmental impact is an important consideration in regulators deciding whether relevant permissions should be issued and what conditions should be attached to the permissions. In addition, potential new nuclear technologies are considered under the Justification Regulations, with ‘Justification’ being the process by which Government determines whether the potential benefits of a practice making use of ionising radiation outweigh its potential risks. Furthermore, all developers of new build stations are required to have a Funded Decommissioning Programme approved by the Secretary of State before nuclear-related construction can begin. This ensures the taxpayer does not bear the burden for future costs of turning the station into a greenfield site once generation has ceased.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 29/04/2019 15:22:59 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122805

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Ceramics: Staffordshire
	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 steps his Department is taking to ensure that the skills and expertise are retained of people made redundant in the ceramics industry in North Staffordshire.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246958
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>A local Taskforce has been established bringing together BEIS, DWP JobCentre Plus Rapid Response Service, ACAS, National Careers Service, local partners and stakeholders to offer a comprehensive range of help and support to people made redundant recently in the ceramics industry in North Staffordshire.</p><p> </p><p>A Jobs Fair held on the 18 April was attended by more than 40 employers showcasing an estimated 1,500 vacancies.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 01/05/2019 11:15:14 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1128898

	registered interest
	date	03/06/2019
	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	Iron and Steel: Recycling
	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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a more sustainable steel industry with a focus on recycling steel.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	259037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We are working with the sector, the unions and devolved administrations to support the UK steel industry to develop a long-term sustainable solution for the UK steel industry. The Department commissioned independent research to identify high value opportunities for UK steel, worth up to £3.8 billion a year by 2030.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2018 Budget, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an Industrial Energy Transformation Fund with investment of £315 million to help businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and transition UK industry to a low carbon future. Through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, we are also providing up to £66 million, subject to industry co-funding, to transform foundation industries which includes steel, to develop radical new technologies and establish innovation centres of excellence in these sectors.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 11/06/2019 15:54:14 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1131252

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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	Cars: Sales
	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 discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on bringing forward the 2040 deadline to end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	263084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>BEIS Ministers and officials regularly engage with their counterparts in other departments on clean growth matters including ultra low and zero emission vehicle policy. We set out in our Road to Zero strategy published last year our mission to put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles, and for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on legislating for net zero, we will build on the strong frameworks of the Clean Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy to deliver on that target in all sectors of the economy, including transport. The Government is committed to supporting the transition to zero emission vehicles, which can cut carbon, reduce air pollution, and help us grow the economy as part of our Industrial Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 18/06/2019 13:25:36 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson previous answer version 123452 answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1137531

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2019
	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	Batteries: Factories
	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 discussions he has had with car manufacturers in the UK on creating a battery gigafactory to make the UK less dependent on essential materials which are currently sourced abroad.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	274462
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is in regular dialogue with car manufacturers in the UK on a range of opportunities to support the transition to zero emission vehicles and to new supply chains, including batteries.</p><p>The UK is a highly attractive location for battery manufacturing. It is home to Europe’s first volume automotive battery production facility at Sunderland, owned by Envision AESC. In April 2019, the Advanced Propulsion Centre published a report showing the strength of the UK chemicals and materials supply chain for batteries, representing a £4.8bn a year supply chain opportunity by 2030.</p><p>Through our Industrial Strategy and landmark Automotive Sector Deal, we are placing the UK at the forefront of new automotive technology development. The Sector Deal which was developed in partnership with the industry, working through the Automotive Council, includes a joint ambition to establish battery manufacturing a scale, a “gigafactory”, in the UK. Central to this, government has committed £274m to the Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC) to help businesses in the UK lead the world in the design, development and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.</p><p>Under the FBC government has invested £108m in the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) which will open in 2020 and provide a state-of-the-art pilot facility to test new cell technology. UKBIC will play a key role in laying the groundwork to secure a battery gigafactory. It will do this by allowing collaborative R&amp;D by UK cell manufacturers, battery pack assemblers and car makers to take place, proving out cell chemistries, formats and manufacturing processes at industrial rates.</p><p>This is an essential step to allow UK companies to quickly develop their capabilities to manufacture batteries, scale up and get them to market.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 11/07/2019 16:50:00 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138931

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	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	Biofuels: Plastics
	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 steps he is taking to (a) support the growth and (b) minimise the adverse environmental effects of the bioplastics industry.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	277119
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>This Government is building a globally competitive sustainable plastics industry through research and innovation. As announced in the recent Bioeconomy Strategy, the Department will provide up to £60 million, bolstered by considerable industry support, to establish the UK as the world’s leading innovator in smart sustainable plastic packaging. We will soon be launching a call for evidence on the impacts of bio-based and biodegradable plastics on the environment and their interaction with the circular economy.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 18/07/2019 10:35:40 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1147941

	registered interest
	date	02/10/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	West Africa: Fisheries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support his Department is giving to West African countries that are victims of illegal fishing.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	293485
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>DFID works closely with partner Governments to promote sustainable fishing practices, helping to reduce the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in West Africa and across the world.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our commitment to protecting the global environment, the Government has provided £250 million in funding to the Global Environment Facility’s 7<sup>th</sup> replenishment (2018-2022), which helps strengthen the management of fisheries and marine-protected areas.</p><p> </p><p>DFID provides a core contribution to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which supports countries in sustainable fisheries management. Progress is set out in their flagship report ‘State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture’.</p><p> </p><p>DFID is also supporting sustainable small-scale aquaculture through the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, and our support has contributed to improving the fish-based livelihoods of 51,235 households and 72,264 people.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 08/10/2019 16:59:16 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109404

	registered interest
	date	03/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Apprentices
	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 ensure that teachers are adequately trained to advise students on the benefits of apprenticeships.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	240522
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provides a programme in schools and further education colleges across England called the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools (ASK) Programme, which provides a face-to-face and or digital services incorporating advice, information and continuous professional development resources for teachers.</p><p> </p><p>This service has been provided for students in years 10 to 13 since 2016 and will be extended to provide for students in years 7 to 9 for the 2019/20 academic year. In conjunction with this, we will seek feedback from teachers to inform our review of the content of the ASK programme to ensure that delivery is progressive throughout each school year.</p><p> </p><p>To complement this work, the ESFA also have developed Amazing Apprenticeships which is a resource portal for schools, colleges and those providing advice and guidance on apprenticeships. The site contains a wealth of useful resources that are downloadable and free of charge and includes a facility for schools to book a visit from a young apprenticeship ambassador or an ASK provider.</p><p>Every school and college must have a Careers Leader who co-ordinates their institution's careers provision and is responsible and accountable for the delivery of their school or college careers programme.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 08/04/2019 12:13:06 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122762

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupils: Work Experience
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to introduce compulsory work experience for secondary school students.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The careers statutory guidance makes it clear that schools should offer experiences of work and other employer-based encounters as part of their careers strategy for pupils from year 8 to year 13. Schools are free to decide how this is delivered. The Gatsby Benchmarks also recommend that secondary schools offer every young person at least 7 encounters with employers throughout their education.</p><p>We want all young people, irrespective of their background, to learn from employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace. Activities involving employers, such as careers insights, mentoring, work tasters and work experience, are crucial in giving young people the skills that they need to succeed.</p><p>That is why we are funding the Careers &amp; Enterprise Company to help connect schools and colleges with employers in order to provide meaningful encounters with the world of work for young people. They do this through their Enterprise Adviser Network, Careers Hubs and investment funds. We are also working with the Careers &amp; Enterprise Company to better understand the barriers that students face in accessing work experience.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 29/04/2019 15:39:47 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1133319

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Young People: Unemployment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	266808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2019 answer text <p>The government has raised the participation age to ensure that all young people are supported to continue their education until at least age 18. We have invested nearly £7 billion during academic year 2018/19 to ensure there is a place in education or training for every 16 to 19 year old.</p><p>Local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and track the participation of 16 and 17 year olds, supporting those who are not participating to do so and making sure that there is sufficient, suitable education and training provision to meet their needs. The September Guarantee places a further duty on local authorities to ensure that all year 11 pupils (and year 12 pupils on 1-year courses) receive an offer of a place in education/training for the following September. It aims to ensure that all young people, regardless of what they achieved in school, understand that there are opportunities that will help them to progress, and to ensure that they get the advice and support they need to find a suitable place.</p><p>A range of provision is available for young people aged 16 to 24 to equip them with the skills and experience they need to progress. This includes traineeships which provide unemployed young people with employability training, work experience and English and maths, and supported internships which offer tailored support for young people aged 16 to 25 who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. In addition, young people aged 19 to 23 are funded to gain a first full level 2 or 3 qualification; English and maths training is funded for young people who have not achieved a level 2 standard; and a range of employability training is available to support young people who are unemployed into work.</p><p>We are creating further opportunities for young people through the introduction of T levels from September 2020, new technical education courses designed by employers which will give young people a high-quality alternative to A levels. Alongside this, the changes we have made to apprenticeships are giving young people the opportunity to get the high-quality training they need for a rewarding career in a skilled profession.</p><p>The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company has taken on a more ambitious role by coordinating support for schools and colleges across all the Gatsby Benchmarks. This will build on their progress to date in improving the connections between schools, colleges and employers so that young people raise their aspirations and become aware of the full range of career opportunities available.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 28/06/2019 10:36:20 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1135822

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Vocational Guidance: Secondary Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to improve careers information and guidance for secondary school leavers.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	271399
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Our careers strategy, published in December 2017, committed investment, support and resources to help schools make visible and lasting improvements. It endorses the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, based on rigorous national and international research. The benchmarks help schools develop a programme of high quality careers advice and all schools are expected to meet the 8 benchmarks by the end of 2020.</p><p>To support schools in implementing the benchmarks, we have funded 1,300 bursaries for face-to-face careers leader training and have established a network of 40 careers hubs. Hubs bring together schools, colleges, Local Enterprise Partnerships, businesses and careers organisations to work together towards achieving the benchmarks.</p><p>We are also funding The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company to help connect schools and colleges with employers, to provide meaningful encounters with the world of work for young people. Through its Enterprise Adviser Network, over 2,000 business volunteers have been matched to schools and colleges to help them develop their careers education plans.</p><p>Under the Baker clause, introduced in January 2018, all secondary schools must invite providers of technical education and apprenticeships to talk to all pupils to support them to understand their full range of options. Schools must also publish a policy statement setting out these opportunities and make sure that this statement is followed.<strong><br> </strong></p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 09/07/2019 15:25:19 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1137842

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Artificial Intelligence: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to (a) update curriculums and (b) develop new courses to take account the evolution of artificial intelligence.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	275133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2019 answer text <p>Ensuring that our children have the digital and computing skills needed for the future is a key priority of this government. Demand for high-level skills in computing will continue to grow in the years ahead and will be crucial to supporting a successful economy.</p><p>To meet the demand for high-level skills in computing, the government has introduced computing as a statutory national curriculum subject at all four key stages and reformed the computer science GCSE and A Level. The reformed GCSE, introduced for first teaching from September 2016, aims to ensure that all pupils understand the fundamental principles of computer science, including knowledge on artificial intelligence, programming, coding and data representation. The reformed A level places emphasis on programming, algorithms and problem solving.</p><p>In March 2018, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, committed to making no further changes to the national curriculum beyond those that had already been announced in response to teacher feedback. Currently there are no plans to make further changes to the national curriculum during this Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>In November 2018 DfE launched the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), backed by £84 million in new funding. The NCCE is run by a coalition of STEM Learning, the British Computing Society and Raspberry Pi and supported by industry.</p><p> </p><p>The department is introducing T Levels as a high quality, technical alternative to A levels. The first T levels will start in September 2020, with all routes available from September 2022. Digital is one of the first subjects that will be rolled out in 2020. The department is also designing new apprenticeship standards that are more responsive to the needs of business both now and in the future, ensuring that employers can secure the skills they need to succeed.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, the government recently announced further investment to drive up skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science and support more adults to upskill and retrain to progress in their careers or find new employment.</p><p>Up to 2,500 people from underrepresented groups will have the opportunity to retrain and become experts in data science and AI, thanks to a £13.5 million investment to fund new degree and Masters conversion courses and scholarships at UK academic institutions over the next three years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 15/07/2019 15:02:01 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1138939

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Degrees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that school leavers are informed of degree apprenticeships.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	277122
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>We are pleased that Universities UK has recognised degree apprenticeships as a ‘growing success story’. Degree apprenticeships give employers the opportunity to work with universities to develop the higher-level skills they need, and apprentices the opportunity to gain a degree while they earn. Alongside our work to raise awareness of these benefits, we are also making it easier to find and apply for vacancies with employers of all sizes.</p><p>Current vacancies can be found on the ‘Find an apprenticeship’ website, the UCAS ‘Careers finder’ site, and employers’ own websites. We encourage employers to promote their future vacancies up to a year in advance in our Higher and Degree Listing, which is published at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-and-degree-apprenticeships</a>. We are aiming to publish our next listing, for vacancies commencing in September 2020, in September 2019 and this will be distributed to schools and handed out at events.</p><p>The Degree Apprenticeships Development Fund has supported initiatives including UCAS careers fairs, materials on apprenticeships for schools, and apprenticeship ambassadors. In the 2018/19 academic year, we attended 30 UCAS Higher Education Exhibitions across England, directly engaging with an estimated 8,500 young people, and worked with UCAS to contact over a quarter of a million more young people by email to raise awareness of apprenticeships</p><p>We also provide a free service to schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge project, to make sure that teachers have the knowledge and support to enable them to promote apprenticeships to their students. This has enabled over three quarters of a million young people to hear about apprenticeships since the project’s launch in 2016.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 18/07/2019 13:21:53 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1139290

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to reintroduce young apprenticeships.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	277672
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to reintroduce the Young Apprenticeships programme.</p><p>However, high-quality apprenticeships are available to people of all ages. Our reforms are improving apprenticeships by making them longer with more off-the job training and formal assessment at the end.</p><p>An apprenticeship provides the foundation for a successful career and is a great option for young people who are strong academically but want on-the-job experience and a high-quality alternative to full-time university study.</p><p>Traineeships are available to provide quality training to those young people who need to develop their skills and experience in order to enter the labour market. The department’s recent Traineeship Impact Evaluation Report shows that 75% of trainees are in apprenticeships, other jobs, or further learning a year after their traineeship.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 22/07/2019 16:56:53 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1139817

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to (a) increase transparency of the amount of apprenticeship levy spent on different types of apprenticeship and (b) help ensure the availability of data on the socioeconomic background of apprentices by apprenticeship level.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	278402
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>Our quarterly ‘Apprenticeships and Traineeships’ and monthly ‘Apprenticeships and Levy Statistics’ data releases provide extensive information on the breakdown of apprenticeship starts by level, sector subject area and framework/standard. This is in addition to whether starts are supported by the apprenticeship levy. The most recent quarterly release was published on 11 July 2019 and can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-july-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-july-2019</a>. This data, in addition to our extensive engagement with employers and sector bodies, informs our picture of emerging demand across the employer-led apprenticeships programme.</p><p> </p><p>We use the ‘Further education: indices of multiple deprivation’ data release to understand the background of apprentices and inform our widening participation policies. This data is broken down by apprenticeship level and benchmarked against data for participation in all further education and skills training. We know that apprentices disproportionately come from more disadvantaged areas: in 2017/18, 24% of participating apprentices came from the most disadvantaged fifth of areas, compared to 15.6% from the least disadvantaged fifth. This data is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765589/Index_of_Multiple_Deprivation_201516_to_201718.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765589/Index_of_Multiple_Deprivation_201516_to_201718.xlsx</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 22/07/2019 16:02:43 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly