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937715

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
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	Food: Origin Marking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on ensuring the protection of UK food products through a protected designation of origin scheme after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Gloucester
tabling member printed	Richard Graham
uin	906415
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2018 answer text <p>The Government is determined to ensure continued protection for UK Geographical Indications (GIs) after the UK leaves the EU. We will put in place new UK GI schemes by the time we leave the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The EU (Withdrawal) Act will convert EU rules into UK legislation. Regulations to amend those rules where necessary are being drafted and preparations for supporting infrastructure, such as guidance and a UK register, are also in hand.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 12/07/2018 13:45:10 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	3990 label Biography information for Richard Graham

937721

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of high street store closures throughout the UK in 2018; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Jarrow
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
uin	162480
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future.</p><p>However, we recognise that high streets face challenges, including the challenges faced by the retail sector. This is why we have announced that the Department will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at the future of our high streets. We have established an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival.</p><p>The Government is committed to helping communities and high streets adapt. The Department for Business, Energy and the Industrial Strategy has established the sector-led Retail Sector Council so that retailers, large and small, can work effectively with each other and policy makers. The Council is chaired jointly by the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility and Richard Pennycook, the former chief executive of the Co-op.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 18/07/2018 13:54:57 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

937722

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the cumulative effect on local economies of the closures of high street stores in (a) the North East and (b) the UK in 2018.
tabling member constituency	Jarrow
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
uin	162481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>High streets are a crucial part of our communities. The Government is determined to see our high streets thriving, both now and in the future. We want to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time.</p><p> </p><p>That is why on Monday 16 July, the Department announced the appointment of an expert panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting our high streets, and advise on the best long-term approach to help their revival. Later this summer the Department will launch a call for evidence looking at the future of our high streets.</p><p> </p><p>While retail vacancy rates in the north east have experienced an increase over the past year, they have fallen from 17.5 per cent in December 2010 to 13.9 per cent in March 2018. In Jarrow town centre, the retail vacancy rate is currently 8 per cent. This is below the national average of 12.3 per cent. In 2010 the retail vacancy rate was 6.2 per cent. This increased to 13 per cent in January 2013 before falling to its current rate of 8 per cent in March 2018.</p><p> </p><p>In Great Britain as a whole, the retail vacancy rate has fallen from 14.5 per cent in December 2010 to 12.3 per cent in March 2018.</p> answering member constituency Rossendale and Darwen answering member printed Jake Berry question first answered 18/07/2018 16:58:55 answering member 4060 label Biography information for Sir Jake Berry
tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

937723

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of bank branch closures in the North East; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Jarrow
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
uin	162482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>The decision to close a branch is a commercial issue for the management team of the bank. However, Government believes it is important the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible.</p><p> </p><p>The Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing. It also helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board.</p><p> </p><p>Government also considers it important that all customers, wherever they live and especially those who are vulnerable, can still access over the counter services. That is why we support the Post Office’s Banking Framework Agreement, which enables 99% of banks’ personal and 95% of banks’ business customers to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK are fully aware of the important services that remain available to them at their local Post Office, even if their bank branch is closed. In March, in response to my request, the Post Office and UK Finance have committed to work together to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 18/07/2018 15:00:19 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

937726

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
answering dept id	203
answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
hansard heading	UK Trade with EU: Service Industries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the service sector has tariff-free access to the Single Market after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Blackburn
tabling member printed	Kate Hollern
uin	162582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>Services, unlike goods, are not subject to tariffs and, unlike the vast majority of manufactured goods and agricultural products, most services are not subject to specific product standards.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Our position is that we will be leaving the Single Market, including in services. But that does not change our ambition to ensure UK and EU service providers continue to benefit from cross-border trade after leaving the European Union.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>To this end, the Government’s White Paper sets out our vision for a deep and comprehensive deal for the services industry with the European Union – including detailed proposals on digital, financial, professional and business, and other services.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Our approach is based on the principles of international trade and the precedents of existing EU trade agreements. It minimises new barriers to service provision, allowing UK firms to establish in the EU, and provides for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We accept that leaving the Single Market will have implications for market access and that some UK and EU service suppliers will not enjoy the same rights as they do today.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>However, leaving the European Union will give us regulatory flexibility where it matters most, for the UK’s services-based economy, and where the potential trading opportunities outside the EU are the largest.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This proposal represents the best, credible proposal for the future relationship that meets all of the Government's objectives and the EU's red lines.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 18/07/2018 16:31:09 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
tabling member	4363 label Biography information for Kate Hollern

937727

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Research
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the importance of rail research and development to the UK rail industry.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	162579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>The Government places high importance on research and development in the rail industry, and actively supports this through grant payments to Network Rail, the RSSB and to Innovate UK. The rail industry is currently in discussion with the Office of Rail and Road about funding to support rail research and development in the period 2019-24, as part of the £47.9 billion funding settlement announced by Government in October 2017. To realise its full benefits, research and development must be well planned, efficient and deliverable.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 18/07/2018 15:25:20 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

937728

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Fuels: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help keep fuel prices for motorists low.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	162580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>To support British households and businesses, at Autumn Budget 2017, the government froze fuel duty for the eighth successive year. By April 2019, these freezes will have saved the average car driver a total of £850 compared to the pre-2010 escalator.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2011, the announced freezes to fuel duty have meant the Exchequer has not collected around £46 billion in revenues through to 2018-19, and a further £38 billion of revenues will be foregone over the forecast period as a result of these previously announced freezes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 18/07/2018 15:05:28 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

937732

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
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	Breastfeeding and Diabetes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS provides guidance to new Mothers on potential links between breast feeding and diabetes.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	162559
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>The main risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight or obese. Breastfeeding is associated with greater postpartum weight loss and lower body mass index in the longer term for the mother. For infants, not being breastfed may also be associated with a greater risk of overweight or obesity later in childhood.</p><p> </p><p>Women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for around the first six months of an infant’s life and to continue breastfeeding for at least the first year of life. Each makes an important contribution to infant and maternal health.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to promote the importance of breastfeeding through various channels, such as the Start4Life campaign, the NHS Choices website (which has a dedicated Pregnancy and Baby guide) and the NHS Information Service for Parents; further information is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/" target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/</a></p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 18/07/2018 16:38:39 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

937734

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Labour Turnover
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to engage with staff unions to reduce staff turnover in HMCTS; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	162560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2018 answer text <p>HMCTS has a well-developed engagement framework in place which ensures national and regional issues are consulted on at an appropriate level with our trade unions.</p><p> </p><p>Part of this incorporates a monthly People Impact Forum which is facilitated through our Employee Relations and People and Cultural Transition teams, wherein matters including staffing are discussed with Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS) colleagues.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS HR also has a national Business Facing HR BP team who work directly with Regional Senior Management and Business Support Units to identify issues and maximise employee retention.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 18/07/2018 13:27:43 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

937735

registered interest
date	10/07/2018
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	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he takes to ensure that drugs are sold to the NHS at a price which represents value for money to the public purse.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	162561
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2018 answer text <p>The costs of branded medicines are controlled by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme and the statutory scheme for branded medicines. For unbranded generic medicines, the Department encourages competition between suppliers to keep prices down. In primary care, community pharmacies are incentivised to source products at the lowest possible cost and in secondary care competitive tenders ensure value-for-money to the National Health Service. Recent research published in the Milbank Quarterly demonstrated that the United Kingdom pays considerably less for unbranded generic medicines than other countries with a comparable income level.</p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 17/07/2018 13:53:50 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon