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1140854

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Pets: Tagging
	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 steps his Department is taking to create a centrally accessible database logging pets' microchip numbers and date of entry into the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	280181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>It is already a requirement for every dog in the UK to be identified by a microchip and its details to be recorded on a recognised database. This includes dogs imported from outside the UK. Defra will shortly be issuing a call for evidence on whether to introduce compulsory microchipping for all cats in England. Furthermore, all pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering Great Britain on approved routes have their microchip scanned and recorded by the carrier at the time of travel.</p><p> </p><p>We do not consider it necessary at this time to introduce an additional database along the lines proposed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 13:55:04 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1140855

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Pets: Animal Welfare
	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 steps his Department is taking to ensure that all dog and cat rehoming centres are adequately regulated.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	280182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>As with anyone who owns or keeps animals, rescue and rehoming centres are subject to the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which means they must provide for the animals’ welfare needs and protect them from pain, injury and disease. During the consultation on whether to ban the third party selling of puppies and kittens, carried out last year, we included a question about whether rescue and rehoming centres should be regulated. We need to be confident of the benefits and the impacts of any regulations placed on rescue and rehoming centres, particularly on some of the smaller rescues. We will put forward legislative proposals at the earliest possible point, once we have fully consulted with the sector and understood the impact of any proposals.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 13:51:24 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1141254

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Dogs: Imports
	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 recent steps his Department is taking to increase collaboration between the Animal and Plant Health Agency and veterinary regulatory authorities in other countries to tackle provision of fake pet passports and veterinary certificates for dogs being imported into the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	280926
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Defra takes the issue of illegal dog and puppy imports very seriously. This is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to the smuggled dogs and puts the health of pets and people in the UK at risk. Defra is working hard to tackle the problem through a comprehensive approach that seeks to target both the supply and demand of illegally imported dogs.</p><p> </p><p>International engagement is one aspect of this approach. It takes place through Defra, with input from APHA intelligence and expertise. Under Article 26 of EU Regulation 1/2005 (on the protection of animals during transport and related operations), Defra notify Member States of the origin of the transporter where a welfare issue with an import has been identified. We send these to notify the Member State so that they can take remedial action to ensure that the transporter complies in future. The notifications include details of passports and certificates. The UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has written to her counterparts in countries where illegally imported dogs typically originate, including (most recently) her counterparts in Hungary and Serbia. The issue also continues to be raised and discussed at EU CVO meetings.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 15:38:28 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1141407

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Food Supply
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the legal responsibility of local authorities to provide food in a time of crisis extends to (a) children, (b) people on a low income, (c) elderly people, (d) disabled people and (e) housebound people.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	281010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Food is a critical national infrastructure sector and Defra has lead Government department oversight of responsibility for food supply in England. The policy is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the constitutional settlement.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is not responsible for the supply of food and drink to the population in an emergency, and the expertise, capability and levers to plan for and respond to food supply disruption lie within the industry. However, we have well established relationships with the food and drink sectors, and we work collaboratively with the food industry and across Government to support coherent and robust industry contingency planning and response in the event of an incident situation. The food industry is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities do not have a general duty to provide food but have duties to provide food to particular groups in particular circumstances, including schools and care settings. Public sector food provision for specific sectors is led by the relevant Government departments. Defra works with lead Departments (including DfE, DHSC and MoJ) to support their contingency planning for food supply to public services. Defra’s role involves providing advice and support to these departments who in turn work with their public services to ensure that supply is resilient.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to a strong safety net for those who need it, which is why this Government continues to spend over £90 billion a year on welfare benefits.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 14:02:23 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1143139

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Livestock: Exports
	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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the export of live animals from the UK for slaughter and fattening abroad.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	284803
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to the Honourable Member for Crewe and Nantwich, on 2 July 2019; PQ UIN 268497.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 06/09/2019 12:34:24 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1142669

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	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	Housing Benefit: Foster Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that the payment of housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit to foster carers does not adversely affect any other benefits they receive.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	284142
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Foster Carer’s Allowance is disregarded in both Housing Benefit (HB) and Universal Credit (UC). The receipt of HB or Housing Element as part of their UC award does not adversely affect any other benefits that foster carers may receive.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:39:38 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1142871

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to Question 270706 on social security benefits, tabled by the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 27 June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	284380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to this question. I can confirm that a response has now been issued.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:41:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143137

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Support for Mortgage Interest
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Support for Mortgage Interest loans are attached to current universal Credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	284578
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Some homeowners in receipt of Universal Credit, along with other qualifying benefits, may be able to get help towards interest payments on their mortgage or loans taken out for certain repairs and improvements to their home. This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Assistance is paid as a loan normally paid direct to the lender, which needs to be repaid with interest when a home is sold or ownership is transferred.</p><p> </p><p>There were 450 households on Universal Credit on 13th June 2019 that were in receipt of SMI loan payments.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Note:</strong></p><ol><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</li></ol> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:28:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143275

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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 her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants are aware of how assessment periods are calculated prior to application.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	284759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and how utility companies and other service providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month, which means that if a claimant’s income falls they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes a guide for claimants which tells them how Universal Credit works, including assessment periods.</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department also publishes more specific guidance for claimants about how different earning patterns affect Universal Credit.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p> </p><p>We continually review Universal Credit using feedback from claimants and stakeholders to inform further improvements to the service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:10:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1143587

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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 assessment she has made of the ability of universal credit claimants to access passported benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	285018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Claimants may currently be entitled to a number of other benefits because they are in receipt of Universal Credit. These are known as passported benefits, which include free school meals and free prescriptions. The eligibility criteria for each passported benefit remain the responsibility of the Departments and Devolved Administrations that own them.</p><p> </p><p>Government Departments and Devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to look at how to reduce the complexity of the current passported benefits system and put in place arrangements for Universal Credit, as it expands, that will continue to target available support at those who need it most.</p><p> </p><p>The Department currently signposts Universal Credit households to other financial support via their online account/payment statement, as well as on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:21:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield