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1234926

registered interest
date	16/09/2020
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Africa: Floods
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the statement by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance on the flooding that has affected people in West and Central Africa, and (2) the impact of those floods on (a) food security, and (b) the mass displacement of peoples, in the affected regions; and what steps they are taking to address the implications of the floods for each region in which they have existing development programmes.
tabling member printed	Lord Boateng
uin	HL8175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned by the risk posed to populations in West and Central Africa where approximately 760,000 people have been affected by floods in recent weeks across Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. Humanitarian partners are assessing the damage, including number of houses destroyed, people displaced and crops losses.</p><p>The UK is the largest donor to the UN Central Emergency Response which has already begun to mobilise funds in response (including a £5 million allocation in Niger).</p><p>In Niger and the Sahel the UK is working with existing partners to ensure work can continue and integrate flood response into established programmes where possible.</p><p>We are also working to reduce flooding risks through the UK funded Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa programme. This support to the work of meteorological and associated offices in West Africa helps strengthen weather forecasting and early warning, as well as longer term climate forecasts. Access to early warning is one important aspect of building resilience to floods and other climate shocks. The UK has also supported the World Bank's Adaptive Social Protection (ASP) with £50 million over five years (2015-2020) to build the capacity of Sahel countries to develop their own social protection systems to support the poorest during climate related and weather shocks, including floods.</p><p>Flooding can also increase the risk of desert locusts spreading within the area. We are taking steps to mitigate this risk by strengthening surveillance and control in the region through the Food and Agriculture Organization. We are also conscious of alternative drivers such as conflict which has created a food security situation in the Sahel which is of chronic concern.</p><p>We will continue to closely monitor the situation, including through dialogue with OCHA at regional level. Increased flooding in Africa demonstrates the need for action on climate change which HMG is driving forward through COP26 preparations.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 24/09/2020 16:11:51 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	147 label Biography information for Lord Boateng

1235729

registered interest
date	17/09/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to resume the recruitment to the Armed Forces of personnel born in Commonwealth countries.
tabling member printed	Lord Touhig
uin	HL8254
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Recruitment of Commonwealth citizens has never stopped. Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, both the Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF) had received large numbers of applications from Commonwealth citizens. The Army therefore stopped accepting new applications in September 2019 and the RAF stopped accepting applications from outside the UK in November 2019. The Royal Navy (RN)/Royal Marines (RM) has continued to accept new applications.</p><p>When the COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in March 2020, the RN/RM and RAF continued with the selection and initial training of all applicants who were already in the UK, including those from the Commonwealth. For those applicants based outside the UK, they continued to be proactively managed virtually, but their applications and the recruitment process could not be completed until candidates were once again able to fly to the UK and could meet any COVID-19 restrictions placed on their entry, such as quarantine measures.</p><p>The Army temporarily paused all face-to-face selection until June and all Basic Training until May, but applicants continued to be managed and nurtured. Since selection and training has resumed, the Army has continued to process those applicants already in the UK, and those who had applied prior to September 2019. The Army continues to have enough applications from Commonwealth citizens to meet demand for the current Recruiting Year, and will not therefore be accepting new applications, other than for the Royal Corps of Music.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 24/09/2020 11:26:31 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	542 label Biography information for Lord Touhig

1234930

registered interest
date	16/09/2020
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Cyprus: Territorial Waters
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of Greece and Turkey about those governments' dispute over the territorial waters of Cyprus.
tabling member printed	Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
uin	HL8179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK is in regular contact with Governments of Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus with regard to the ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Officials continue to raise issues with the parties concerned.</p><p>We believe it is critical for stability in the Mediterranean and for the integrity of the rules-based international system that tensions be reduced and that disputes be resolved through dialogue and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We will continue to work with all parties in the region to that end.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 24/09/2020 12:54:54 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
tabling member	627 label Biography information for Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

1235044

registered interest
date	16/09/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Correspondence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's average reply time has been for ministerial letters in each of the last five months.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	91112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Correspondence is a vitally important interface with members of the public, Members of Parliament and Peers, and should be given the highest priority.</p><p>The Government attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence. Departments have seen a significant increase in correspondence during the pandemic but are required to provide a substantial response to all correspondence from MPs and Peers in 20 days. Departments are not required to keep a record of the average response time. The Cabinet Office responded to 58% of MP and Peer correspondence within 20 days between April - June 2020, and to the remaining correspondence as quickly as possible. Officials are working to improve response time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2020 16:51:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1235551

registered interest
date	17/09/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress his Department is making on meeting the 2.3 per cent public sector apprenticeship target; and when his Department will meet that target.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	91613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2020, the Civil Service has achieved a total of 2.1% of its total workforce as apprentices. Since 1 April 2020, Cabinet Office has achieved c.1% apprentice starts representing more apprentice starts at this stage in the financial year than in previous years. We run regular recruitment campaigns for apprentices; with a new campaign being advertised this week. The data for 2018/19 can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-apprenticeship-data-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">here</a>. The data for 2019/20 will be released on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">gov.uk</a> by the end of September 2020.</p><p>Departments are committed to increasing the number of apprentices across the Civil Service and continue to work towards the 2.3% target. The current pandemic has had an impact on the Cabinet Office’s apprenticeship ambition due to priority work and logistics. With the current strategy and targets coming to an end in April 2021, the Civil Service is already focusing on how to continue to support the apprenticeship agenda and drive forward apprenticeship recruitment, pulling on the Plan for Jobs initiative and considering the current economic situation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2020 16:47:56 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1236285

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC staff were employed in Scotland on (a) 1 September 2020, (b) 1 April 2020, (c) 1 April 2019, (d) 1 April 2018, (e) 1 April 2017, (f) 1 April 2016 and (g) 1 April 2015.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
uin	92804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The number of HMRC staff employed in Scotland is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>1 April 2015: 8,450</p><p>1 April 2016: 9,256</p><p>1 April 2017: 9,038</p><p>1 April 2018: 8,592</p><p>1 April 2019: 8,201</p><p>1 April 2020: 7,881</p><p>1 September 2020: 7,726</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 24/09/2020 16:17:10 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

1236126

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Unpaid Taxes: Fines
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was paid in fines by people who submitted tax returns after the deadline of 31 January 2020.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	92712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The 2018-19 Self-Assessment tax return typically has an online filing deadline of 31 January 2020.</p><p>The value of payments attributed to late filing penalties for people filing late and after the deadline of 31 January 2020:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Tax Year penalty relates to</p></td><td><p>Penalty payments</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>£18,558,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Note: The figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand. The figure has been produced using an extract of the data provided for analytical purposes, and there may be small differences between this and other HMRC systems including the live SA system (CESA).</p><p> </p><p>This analysis is based on penalties created and payments received to 4 September 2020. It includes penalty payments made during a period of about six months. Further penalties will be issued and paid relating to this tax return.</p><p> </p><p>The figure provided should not be compared with previous figures provided for earlier years. More penalties will be issued and paid relating to all years but further payments to recent years will be relatively higher, so there will be greater changes to recent years. It is not possible to make meaningful comparisons between different years’ figures.</p><p> </p><p>The above figures include payments for the initial £100 late filing penalty. Late Payment penalties have not been included.</p><p> </p><p>These late filing penalties relate to: individuals who filed online after 31 January after the end of the corresponding tax year and at least 3 months after they were issued with a notice to file; individuals who have missed the 31 January deadline and who have not yet filed their SA return for the corresponding tax year; and individuals who did not need to file an SA return for that tax year but received late filing penalties due to late notification.</p><p> </p><p>The figures may include some penalty payments relating to Trust returns as they receive the same penalty code. Penalty payments relating to partnership returns are not included.</p><p> </p><p>Penalties are not used as a means of generating revenue. HMRC charge penalties to encourage taxpayers to meet their tax obligations and to act as a sanction for those who do not, so the majority who do pay correctly and on time are not disadvantaged. Not all taxpayers who fail to submit their return on time will have to pay a penalty. A penalty will not be payable if a taxpayer had a reasonable excuse for not filing their return on time or if they no longer need to file a return.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC recognise that because of the exceptional circumstances presented by COVID-19, some taxpayers will not be able to meet their tax obligations on time, or appeal or review HMRC decisions within the usual time limit. HMRC’s approach has been to collect the tax and penalties due in a way that recognises the challenges that businesses and individuals are facing, and these figures reflect that approach.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 24/09/2020 16:02:26 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1236488

registered interest
date	17/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
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 merits of introducing a green gilt to encourage private investment in regions outside London.
tabling member constituency	Rother Valley
tabling member printed	Alexander Stafford
uin	91742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to building back better and investing in the green infrastructure that will help us to achieve our climate change objectives and level up the country. At the Plan for Jobs 2020, the Government announced an ambitious £3.05 billion package including the Green Homes Grant, designed to aid homeowners and landlords retrofit to upgrade the energy and cost efficiency of their homes. At Spring Budget 2020 the Government announced at least £800 million to support Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in two initial industrial clusters, the first by the mid-2020s and the second by 2030. CCS has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and factories. And on Tuesday (22 September), Dogger Bank Wind Farm announced the creation of almost 250 jobs in the North East on a project that will be capable of powering up to 4.5m homes when complete.</p><p> </p><p>Our upcoming National Infrastructure Strategy will set out our long-term economic infrastructure ambitions, focusing on decarbonisation and levelling up the nation.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is a global centre for sustainable finance with an established reputation in green finance and a frontrunner in the structuring, underwriting, and listing of green bonds, with more than 100 bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange, raising over $26 billion across eight currencies</p><p> </p><p>The government has been carefully considering the potential issuance of a UK sovereign green bond and will keep this under review. The government remains open to the introduction of new debt instruments, but would need to be satisfied that any new instrument would meet value-for-money criteria, enjoy strong and sustained demand in the long term and be consistent with wider fiscal objectives.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 91741 question first answered 24/09/2020 09:16:48 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4866 label Biography information for Alexander Stafford

1236090

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Money
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to give a public body the responsibility for tracking trends in the acceptance of cash by businesses.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	92914
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government and regulators are closely monitoring developments relating to impacts on cash access and usage, particularly in light of COVID-19, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group. This group, chaired by the Treasury, aims to ensure coordinated oversight of the UK’s cash infrastructure. In July 2020, the Group published an update on its actions, including work led by the Payment Systems Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority to develop a comprehensive picture of cash access infrastructure across the UK in relation to socioeconomic factors that reflect consumer needs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the longer term so that widespread access to cash, which remains extremely important to millions of people across the UK, remains available. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. The Government is working at pace to develop legislation and will ensure that regulators have the appropriate responsibilities and powers.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 92913 question first answered 24/09/2020 09:58:52 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1236089

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Money
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to implement a system to (a) measure, (b) analyse and (c) report how well the cash system performs for consumers.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	92913
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government and regulators are closely monitoring developments relating to impacts on cash access and usage, particularly in light of COVID-19, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group. This group, chaired by the Treasury, aims to ensure coordinated oversight of the UK’s cash infrastructure. In July 2020, the Group published an update on its actions, including work led by the Payment Systems Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority to develop a comprehensive picture of cash access infrastructure across the UK in relation to socioeconomic factors that reflect consumer needs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the longer term so that widespread access to cash, which remains extremely important to millions of people across the UK, remains available. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. The Government is working at pace to develop legislation and will ensure that regulators have the appropriate responsibilities and powers.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 92914 question first answered 24/09/2020 09:58:52 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols