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1151610

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Genito-urinary Medicine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will (a) introduce a national sexual health strategy to tackle increases in the levels of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and (b) allocate funding to testing for all STIs in sexual health clinics in England.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	3778
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>We have made excellent progress in some aspects of sexual and reproductive health, for example reducing new HIV infections and teenage pregnancy, but we are concerned about the worrying increases in some sexually transmitted infections. To address this, we announced on 24 October a new sexual health strategy to ensure that people know how to protect themselves, and can access the services they need for good sexual and reproductive health.</p><p>The Government provides funding to local authorities for public health services, including sexual health services, through the ringfenced public health grant. It is for local authorities to determine how the public health grant is allocated in their local areas to meet their needs. Sexual health service providers should ensure commissioned services are in line with current national guidance, standards of training and care and quality indicators.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 30/10/2019 17:53:04 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1168377

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Lotteries: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government has taken to implement the society lotteries annual sales increased limit, announced in July 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	76
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>New limits to the per draw sales, annual sales and maximum prize for society lotteries were announced on 16 July 2019. Affirmative secondary legislation is required to change the limits, and the Gambling Commission is also required to consult on changes to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I hope to lay the draft Order in Parliament in January 2020, and the changes to come into force during 2020. The Order will include transitional arrangements for the first year, to enable operators to take advantage of the new limits as soon as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Gambling Commission has already launched its consultation in anticipation of the legislation, and this will help ensure the new limits can come into force as swiftly as possible. Their consultation also covers measures to improve transparency of society lotteries and will run until 12 March 2020.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I shall not be making any further statement at this time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately grouped question UIN 30 77 question first answered 07/01/2020 12:44:41 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1168379

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Lotteries: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will increase the annual sales limit on society lotteries to £50 million by the end of the first quarter of 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	77
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>New limits to the per draw sales, annual sales and maximum prize for society lotteries were announced on 16 July 2019. Affirmative secondary legislation is required to change the limits, and the Gambling Commission is also required to consult on changes to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I hope to lay the draft Order in Parliament in January 2020, and the changes to come into force during 2020. The Order will include transitional arrangements for the first year, to enable operators to take advantage of the new limits as soon as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Gambling Commission has already launched its consultation in anticipation of the legislation, and this will help ensure the new limits can come into force as swiftly as possible. Their consultation also covers measures to improve transparency of society lotteries and will run until 12 March 2020.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I shall not be making any further statement at this time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately grouped question UIN 30 76 question first answered 07/01/2020 12:44:41 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1171954

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Electronic Publishing: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Upper Tribunal’s ruling in News Corp UK & Ireland Limited v Commissioners for HMRC [2019] on VAT on digital publications; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	5407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.</p><p> </p><p>The impact on literacy and people with disabilities of any reduction of VAT on e-publications is likely to depend on commercial decisions about the extent to which any tax saving would lead to price reductions for consumers, and any associated behavioural changes.</p><p> </p><p>Any amendments to the VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and e-publications must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal considerations. Any representations on this issue will be considered as part of the fiscal events process.</p><p> </p><p>Over the past year the Government has engaged with industry on this issue. It will continue to consider the benefits and risks associated with changing the VAT rate for e-publications; for digital businesses, high street retailers, consumers and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC are carefully considering the Upper Tribunal’s ruling.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 5408 5409 question first answered 28/01/2020 13:48:51 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1171956

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Electronic Publishing: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of reducing VAT on digital reading formats on the annual cost of low literacy rates; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	5408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.</p><p> </p><p>The impact on literacy and people with disabilities of any reduction of VAT on e-publications is likely to depend on commercial decisions about the extent to which any tax saving would lead to price reductions for consumers, and any associated behavioural changes.</p><p> </p><p>Any amendments to the VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and e-publications must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal considerations. Any representations on this issue will be considered as part of the fiscal events process.</p><p> </p><p>Over the past year the Government has engaged with industry on this issue. It will continue to consider the benefits and risks associated with changing the VAT rate for e-publications; for digital businesses, high street retailers, consumers and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC are carefully considering the Upper Tribunal’s ruling.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 5407 5409 question first answered 28/01/2020 13:48:51 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1171957

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Audiobooks and Electronic Publishing: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of charging VAT for e-books and audiobooks on (a) literacy rates and (b) the wellbeing of people with disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	5409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.</p><p> </p><p>The impact on literacy and people with disabilities of any reduction of VAT on e-publications is likely to depend on commercial decisions about the extent to which any tax saving would lead to price reductions for consumers, and any associated behavioural changes.</p><p> </p><p>Any amendments to the VAT regime as it applies to physical publications and e-publications must be carefully assessed against policy, economic and fiscal considerations. Any representations on this issue will be considered as part of the fiscal events process.</p><p> </p><p>Over the past year the Government has engaged with industry on this issue. It will continue to consider the benefits and risks associated with changing the VAT rate for e-publications; for digital businesses, high street retailers, consumers and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC are carefully considering the Upper Tribunal’s ruling.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 5407 5408 question first answered 28/01/2020 13:48:51 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172566

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Kurds: Foreign Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what projects are in place under the reform partnership between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UK; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and to support economic and security reform. I reiterated our commitment to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq when I spoke to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on 8 January, and these messages were reaffirmed by the British Ambassador to Iraq when he met the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region on 16 January. As part of this support, we have contributed £16 million to a World Bank Trust Fund which can provide technical assistance to both the Government of Iraq and the KRG to deliver economic reforms. We are also supporting reform of the Kurdish Peshmerga reform including through a British Army officer based in Erbil.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 6648 question first answered 30/01/2020 11:49:42 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172567

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Kurds: Foreign Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the reform partnership between the UK and the Kurdistan Regional Government; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and to support economic and security reform. I reiterated our commitment to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq when I spoke to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on 8 January, and these messages were reaffirmed by the British Ambassador to Iraq when he met the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region on 16 January. As part of this support, we have contributed £16 million to a World Bank Trust Fund which can provide technical assistance to both the Government of Iraq and the KRG to deliver economic reforms. We are also supporting reform of the Kurdish Peshmerga reform including through a British Army officer based in Erbil.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison grouped question UIN 6647 question first answered 30/01/2020 11:49:42 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172568

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Iraq: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to support peace and stability in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan region; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6649
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK is working actively to support continued peace, stability and democracy in Iraq following recent events. Since early January Ministers have engaged closely with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Iraqi President Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mehdi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hakim and KRG Prime Minister Barzani. In his conversation with his Iraqi counterpart on 6 January, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and security. We have also reiterated the continued importance of the Global Coalition's role in supporting the Iraqi security forces including the Kurdish Peshmerga to prevent any resurgence of Daesh. The UK continues its support for the consolidation of democracy in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. In light of ongoing protests in Iraq, we have encouraged political dialogue and emphasised the need to respect the right to peaceful protest.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 30/01/2020 11:51:52 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1172569

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Iraq: Kurds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan Region in that country; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	6650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>​The UK is working actively to support continued peace, stability and democracy in Iraq following recent events. Since early January Ministers have engaged closely with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Iraqi President Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul-Mehdi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hakim and KRG Prime Minister Barzani. In his conversation with his Iraqi counterpart on 6 January, the Prime Minister reaffirmed our strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and security. We have also reiterated the continued importance of the Global Coalition's role in supporting the Iraqi security forces including the Kurdish Peshmerga to prevent any resurgence of Daesh. The UK continues its support for the consolidation of democracy in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. In light of ongoing protests in Iraq, we have encouraged political dialogue and emphasised the need to respect the right to peaceful protest.</p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 30/01/2020 11:54:25 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon