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1189952

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Bankruptcy: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to waive bankruptcy fees for people who become bankrupt as a result of the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	39531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Government has no plans at this time to waive bankruptcy fees.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 04/05/2020 15:01:32 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1189966

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Playing Fields
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will support the roll out of a national programme of timed access to school playing fields for families who are unable to access green spaces safely and easily.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	39681
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.</p><p>Schools are closed until further notice except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children. The management of school sites remains the responsibility of school leaders and governing bodies during this period and their first priority is ensuring arrangements are in place so that pupils and staff still attending school can do so safely.</p><p>Whilst there are currently no plans to roll out a national programme of timed access to school playing fields, we are aware that schools do sometimes choose to make their facilities available for use and may have chosen to allow community access to outdoor spaces during this period.</p><p>It is important that children continue to remain fit and active wherever possible at this time, as long as this is done in line with the latest official advice on social distancing which can be accessed from:<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others</a><em>. </em>Our latest guidance on supporting children to get exercise during COVID-19 can be found on the following page: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education#physical-education-pe-and-physical-activity" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education#physical-education-pe-and-physical-activity</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 04/05/2020 15:52:53 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1189969

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to amend the system of refunds for rail season tickets to ensure that commuters are not adversely affected when claiming refunds as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	39543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>All season ticket holders are entitled to claim a refund for time unused on their tickets in accordance with the National Rail Conditions of Travel.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We have worked with the rail industry to make the process for claiming season ticket refunds easier during this crisis, for example by allowing passengers to claim refunds remotely rather than returning their ticket to a ticket office. We have also allowed passengers to backdate their season ticket refund claim to 17th March, when ‘do not travel’ advice was first introduced, or the date their ticket was last used, whichever is later. The refund acceptance period for passengers has also been extended from 28 to 56 days.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 04/05/2020 15:31:25 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1189993

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Pensions: Advisory Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on when the FCA plans to (a) publish and (b) implement regulations directing pension savers to Pension Wise when they choose to access their pension savings.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	39556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has not personally had discussions with the FCA in relation to this matter, however senior officials at the FCA, DWP and MaPS are working closely together on this and will continue to do so.</p><p>Existing Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require firms to signpost to their customers the availability of pensions guidance via Pensions Wise. These include, for example, rules requiring firms to issue wake-up packs, designed to be one of the main sources of information for consumers about their options for accessing their pension savings.</p><p>Furthermore, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has undertaken trials to gather evidence on the possible ways to help encourage more people to take Pension Wise guidance before accessing their pension, fulfilling the requirement upon Government and the FCA set out in the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018.</p><p>MaPS, with Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) will publish an evaluation report of the trials in Summer 2020. We will use the evidence provided from the trials to help inform and assess the impact of the trials and conduct a consultation prior to implementing any regulations. For the FCA this also includes a duty to consult on the proposed rules. The due processes that DWP must take to lay regulations and the FCA must take to make rules will be followed.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:42:03 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1189998

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business Rates: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the business rates holiday for 2020-21 to supply chain businesses servicing the retail, leisure, and hospitality sector that ceased trading as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
tabling member printed	Andy Slaughter
uin	39500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through the business rates holiday, given the acute impacts of COVID-19. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligibility for the relief, which excludes properties that are not reasonably accessible to visiting members of the public.</p><p> </p><p>A range of measures to support all businesses has also been made available, including the new Bounce Back Loans scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 04/05/2020 15:40:52 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

1190036

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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: Coronavirus
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 support the Government is providing to farmers to ensure they are able to harvest their crops during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	39702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak have meant that there will be a shortfall in the numbers of workers who usually travel to the UK from Europe to work during the harvest season, with the demand for workers peaking from late May through the summer. We need to mobilise the British workforce to fill that gap and make sure our excellent fruit and vegetables are on people's plates over the summer months.</p><p> </p><p>Farming leaders have already kick-started a recruitment drive for work on farms. With many British workers furloughed from their jobs, and students having to put their summer plans on hold, the Government is supporting industry efforts to help farmers bring in this year’s harvest, working to build on these numbers.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of roles for the early part of the harvest season have already been filled. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will shortly be launching a public- facing campaign to highlight the roles available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply. The Government has confirmed that those who have been furloughed from their jobs due to coronavirus, and who are contractually allowed to work for another employer, can take on this seasonal work.</p><p>The Pick for Britain website is a recently launched joint Defra and industry initiative to support this effort. The website will act as a central hub to signpost people to the jobs available and to hold guidance and resources so growers, workers and industry can have a single place to go, available at <a href="https://pickforbritain.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://pickforbritain.org.uk/</a>. The website will also provide links to a wide range of recruitment campaigns organised by labour providers. The Pick for Britain website includes links to the Government's 'Find A Job' website, which will give access to a wide reach of potential applicants. The Find a Job website has more than 1.6 million registered users and is available here: <a href="https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Our farmers are doing a fantastic job of feeding the nation during this challenging time. To help our farmers, industry Best Practice Guidance for employers of seasonal agricultural workers to avoid the spread of coronavirus has also now been published, which has been endorsed by Public Health England: <a href="https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses" target="_blank">https://ahdb.org.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-farm-businesses</a>.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 04/05/2020 16:12:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1190049

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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	Estate Agents: Key Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has assessed the service provided by estate agents as essential service to (a) the public and (b) the economy.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	39714
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Estate Agents play an important role both in supporting home moves where these have to take place, and in helping their existing clients to delay moves wherever possible. However, Estate Agents are not defined as essential workers and should work from home wherever it is possible for them to do so, as long as the current stay-at-home measures apply.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 04/05/2020 14:59:48 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1190053

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has undertaken an assessment of the financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on people who have no recourse to public funds.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Rachel Hopkins
uin	39718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation.</p><p>Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.</p><p> </p><p>Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We therefore do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition.</p><p>The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Additionally, measures we have brought forward such as rent and mortgage protections are not considered public funds and can be accessed by migrants with leave to remain.</p><p>Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question.</p><p>In addition, the Government has made in excess of £3.2 billion of funding to local authorities in England, and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable.</p><p>More information on the support available to migrants, including those with NRPF, can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 39719 question first answered 04/05/2020 16:13:24 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4873 label Biography information for Rachel Hopkins

1190054

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to suspend the no recourse to public funds status during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Luton South
tabling member printed	Rachel Hopkins
uin	39719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation.</p><p>Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.</p><p> </p><p>Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We therefore do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition.</p><p>The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Additionally, measures we have brought forward such as rent and mortgage protections are not considered public funds and can be accessed by migrants with leave to remain.</p><p>Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question.</p><p>In addition, the Government has made in excess of £3.2 billion of funding to local authorities in England, and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable.</p><p>More information on the support available to migrants, including those with NRPF, can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 39718 question first answered 04/05/2020 16:13:24 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4873 label Biography information for Rachel Hopkins

1190055

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an estimate of the potential increase in demand for school places within the maintained sector as a result of parents withdrawing their children from independent schools in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	39564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Department is not in a position at this stage to estimate whether there will be an increase in demand for school places within the maintained sector as a result of parents withdrawing their children from independent schools in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review, and we will consider the impact of pupils moving between the independent and state sectors once the position is clearer.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 04/05/2020 15:41:40 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord