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1055826

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Contracts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the transition from the asylum accommodation COMPASS contracts to the Asylum Accommodation and Support Transformation contracts, whether transition, risk management and contingency plans have been shared with local authorities in participating asylum dispersal areas.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217596
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has designed the Asylum Accommodation and Support Transformation project to replace the current asylum accommodation and support services to ensure a smooth transition of services from one Provider to another.</p><p>The current timetable allows eight months for mobilisation and transition activities, which is similar to the time that such activity took when the current contracts came into operation.</p><p>The transition governance structure means that we are now working closely with local authorities and other statutory partners to ensure a smooth transition. Regional Transition leads are working to ensure that their regional plans are co-ordinated on a local basis with strategic stakeholders to manage risks and to ensure effective contingency measures are in place to minimise impacts to all Service Users.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 15/03/2019 12:45:39 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1082571

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2019
	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	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has written to people who will be affected by the changes to pension credit entitlement which come into force on 15 May 2019 to inform them that they will no longer be entitled to claim pension credit if their partner is not of state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	229220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couple policy was legislated for in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and then the commencement order was that the mixed age couple policy change will come into force on 15 May 2019, which was announced on 14 January 2019. Following the announcement we are implementing comprehensive plans to raise awareness of the change among people who may be affected.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has written directly to mixed-age couples who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners to inform them of the changes and encourage them to find out what it could mean for them. Importantly the letters explain that mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners immediately before 15 May will not be affected for as long as they remain in receipt of either benefit after that date, and that their State Pension will not be affected.</p><p> </p><p>This is in addition to providing information on gov.uk and through existing departmental channels. The Department’s staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres are able to provide help and advice about the change, as will staff in local authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also worked with relevant organisations, including providing them with a fact sheet to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 229221 question first answered 11/03/2019 17:13:26 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1082572

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2019
	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	Pension 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 has taken to publicise the changes to pension credit entitlement which come into force on 15 May 2019 to (a) couples who will no longer receive that entitlement because one partner is not of state pension age and (b) other people.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	229221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couple policy was legislated for in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and then the commencement order was that the mixed age couple policy change will come into force on 15 May 2019, which was announced on 14 January 2019. Following the announcement we are implementing comprehensive plans to raise awareness of the change among people who may be affected.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has written directly to mixed-age couples who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners to inform them of the changes and encourage them to find out what it could mean for them. Importantly the letters explain that mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners immediately before 15 May will not be affected for as long as they remain in receipt of either benefit after that date, and that their State Pension will not be affected.</p><p> </p><p>This is in addition to providing information on gov.uk and through existing departmental channels. The Department’s staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres are able to provide help and advice about the change, as will staff in local authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also worked with relevant organisations, including providing them with a fact sheet to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 229220 question first answered 11/03/2019 17:13:26 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055899

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has held discussions with the Information Commissioner on the effect of the introduction of the Aspen on (a) data protection and (b) an individuals privacy.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217612
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>The introduction of the Aspen Card and its effect on data protection and privacy has not been discussed with the Information Commissioner.</p><p>As part of the project, consideration was given to the privacy aspects of the scheme. The terms and conditions relating to Aspen usage received appropriate legal scrutiny prior to being published and make it clear that personal data will be used only for the prevention of fraud and to preserve the integrity of the scheme which includes ensuring the welfare of card users</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/02/2019 16:44:01 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055900

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have had their asylum support (a) suspended and (b) discontinued as a result of information obtained by the monitoring of the usage of an Aspen card.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217613
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Where evidence comes to light that would suggest a supported asylum ap-plicant has access to alternative accommodation and support, we would invite the applicant to give an account of their activity.</p><p>Evidence can come from a number of sources, including Aspen usage data. Suspension and any subsequent discontinuation of support due to a breach of conditions carries a right of appeal. Data is not held in a publishable format.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/02/2019 16:45:37 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1056871

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the responses to Annex A of the Seasonal Workers Pilot Request for Information submitted by (a) Pro-Force Limited and (b) Concordia UK.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	218320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>Defra has no plans to publish the responses to the Request for Information, as this could potentially harm the commercial interests of the parties who responded to it.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 13:46:18 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1056876

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Seasonal Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who his Department consulted in assessing responses to Annex A of the Seasonal Workers Pilot Request for Information.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	218321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2019 answer text <p>The responses to the request for information (RFI) were assessed by a panel of Defra officials, against the criteria set out in the RFI. The review process included assessment by commercial and finance specialists. The Pilot was designed by Defra and the Home Office, with input from industry.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 15/02/2019 11:42:37 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055830

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which local authorities he has received written correspondence since August 2018 indicating that they may withdraw from the asylum dispersal scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office has received a number of letters from Local Authorities relating to asylum dispersal and is working closely with a wide range of local authorities to increase the number of areas across the UK that agree to accommodate and support people seeking protection.</p><p>We take a coordinated approach to the delivery of the various resettlement and asylum schemes and engage through the Regional Strategic Migration Partnerships to consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments can be made where appropriate. Participation in asylum dispersal is subject to discussion and agreement with individual local authorities and there is no target level of participation - every local authority is encouraged to contribute.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 14/02/2019 14:09:52 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055832

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Contracts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he provided existing asylum dispersal local authorities with details of the proposed contracts for asylum accommodation beyond the Statement of Requirements in advance of those contracts being signed and announced in January 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office openly shared ‘schedule 2’, the statement of requirements, and ‘schedule 23’, procurement consultation, of the accommodation and sup-port and AIRE contracts, which contains the information most pertinent to Local Authorities.</p><p>Prior to both contract award and signature we invited Regional Strategic Mi-gration Partnerships to engage with Local Authorities to identify those sched-ules within the contract set of most interest to them.</p><p>As part of the procurement process it is essential that the contracting authori-ty adheres to the procurement regulation and protect the integrity of the pro-cess. For this reason, additional documents were not openly shared with stakeholders.</p><p>We will continue to engage with Local Authorities through the Regional Stra-tegic Migration Partnerships to listen to and act in response to concerns raised, ensuring swift and appropriate action.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 14/02/2019 17:13:42 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1055835

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with which local authorities did his Department's contract compliance team conduct joint inspections of asylum accommodation in 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
	tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
	uin	217600
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office does not routinely publish data on its inspection activity.</p><p><br>Local Authorities are actively engaged in the inspection and monitoring of properties used by asylum seekers and we welcome their input and expertise. In the first instance we expect Providers to develop close working relationships with Local Authorities on property standards and in particular they must com-ply with local authority licensing and regulation regimes. Where licences are applicable and issued the Local Authority can and do inspect property stand-ards to ensure they comply.</p><p><br>We encourage our Providers to take a proactive role in engaging Local Author-ities on property standards and would expect that in the first instance that Pro-viders and local authorities inspect jointly where that is required. This has in-cluded joint inspections with over 25 Local Authorities over the last 12 months.</p><p><br>The offer to inspect jointly with UKVI or the accommodation provider is open to all Local Authority areas though we cannot compel them to do so. If Local Au-thorities feel they do not have sufficient resource to inspect with UKVI, or the accommodation Provider, then the Home Office is committed to using its re-source to inspect areas of concern and feedback our findings.</p><p><br>As part of our Assurance Plan, we have offered a pilot to three Local Authority areas in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. We will evaluate their success and roll out any future programmes to all Local Authorities who wish to take us up on that offer.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 14/02/2019 15:01:17 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald