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1310218

registered interest
date	19/04/2021
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	Child Maintenance Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of improving the clarity of information in the Child Maintenance Service's written communications to service users.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	183086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>The Department and the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) regularly review the Services offered to customers, including written communications. In 2018 we identified the top ten letters sent by CMS and worked with partners to simplify them; this included, removal of duplication and simplifying the language where appropriate, whilst moving key messages up front so they could be easily identified and understood by customers.</p><p> </p><p>We have also implemented several improvement suggestions from Independent Case Examiners, including clarification of the complaints process and communication with employers</p><p> </p><p>We have reduced the volume of letters being sent to customers, focusing instead on fewer, clearly worded letters that can be used across the board.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the DWP External Communications team continually review letters to ensure they meet the agreed communications standard which comprises: using plain English, no jargon, no Latin words and no contractions. Whilst making sure the message is clear, helpful, respectful and positive.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/04/2021 14:06:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1310219

registered interest
date	19/04/2021
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	Child Maintenance Service: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints the Child Maintenance Service has received relating to problems with unclear communications to service users since 2019.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	183087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>In the year with the most recent data (2019/2020), the Department recorded a total of 1,374 complaints to the Child Maintenance Service about unclear communications.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/04/2021 13:49:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 98698 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1310220

registered interest
date	19/04/2021
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	Child Maintenance Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Child Maintenance Service takes to monitor the efficacy of its communication practices with service users.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	183088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring our communications with claimants are clear, accurate and understandable. Using customer insight, we continuously improve our letters and take into account all the feedback we receive, analysing complaints and customer calls to further understand and focus out improvement activity, including customer testing of the messages within our letters.</p><p /><p>The Department Customer Charter provides the standard against which all aspects of service delivery are measured. Measurement against these standards is conducted via customer surveys are carried out regularly with customers across all contact channels and customers are asked specifically about our communication practices under the ‘easy access’ and ‘keeping you informed’ elements of the Charter. Customer satisfaction levels and feedback recorded against these measures are utilised to continually improve our services.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/04/2021 14:03:59 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1309599

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	Social Security Benefits: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the comparative effects of the two child limit on (a) universal credit and (b) child tax credit support between (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland since 2017.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	181197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2020 were published in July 2020 and can be accessed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020</a>. Statistics related to the period up to April 2021 will be published in the summer.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s published Impact Assessment noted that ethnic minority households may be more likely to be impacted by the policy. This is because they are, on average, more likely to be in receipt of CTC and UC, and on average have larger families. However, the government does not collect sufficiently robust data on the ethnic background or religious beliefs of benefit claimants to enable a fuller assessment of the impact of the policy on particular ethnic or religious groups. The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective, meeting our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 181198 181199 question first answered 20/04/2021 16:01:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1309602

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	Social Security Benefits: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many additional children in Wales have been affected by the two-child limit on universal and child tax credit since March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	181198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2020 were published in July 2020 and can be accessed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020</a>. Statistics related to the period up to April 2021 will be published in the summer.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s published Impact Assessment noted that ethnic minority households may be more likely to be impacted by the policy. This is because they are, on average, more likely to be in receipt of CTC and UC, and on average have larger families. However, the government does not collect sufficiently robust data on the ethnic background or religious beliefs of benefit claimants to enable a fuller assessment of the impact of the policy on particular ethnic or religious groups. The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective, meeting our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 181197 181199 question first answered 20/04/2021 16:01:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1309603

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	Social Security Benefits: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the comparative effects of the two-child limit on (a) universal credit and (b) child tax credit support on different ethnic groups in (a) Wales and (b) the rest of the UK since 2017.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	181199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2020 were published in July 2020 and can be accessed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-tax-credit-and-universal-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2020</a>. Statistics related to the period up to April 2021 will be published in the summer.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s published Impact Assessment noted that ethnic minority households may be more likely to be impacted by the policy. This is because they are, on average, more likely to be in receipt of CTC and UC, and on average have larger families. However, the government does not collect sufficiently robust data on the ethnic background or religious beliefs of benefit claimants to enable a fuller assessment of the impact of the policy on particular ethnic or religious groups. The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective, meeting our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, and ensuring compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 181197 181198 question first answered 20/04/2021 16:01:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1306623

registered interest
date	25/03/2021
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	UK Trade with EU: Exports
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 recent assessment he has made of the effect of the current export arrangements between the UK and the EU on the ability of hauliers to transport small quantities of goods directly from SMEs in the UK to consumers in the EU.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	175723
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has regular dialogue with representatives of the haulage sector and general business representative organisations through the Brexit Business Taskforce.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is offering various avenues of support to hauliers, including over 20 helplines to provide advice to specific sectors. We have also published a Haulier Handbook - translated into 13 different languages - to provide information and advice to hauliers on how they can get ready for changes at the GB-EU border. This is in addition to the 46 Information and Advice sites across the UK.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government continues to provide support for businesses, as outlined in the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Thursday 11 February in which he announced the launch of the £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, which has been met with support from SMEs and provides them with access to grants and practical support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 175724 175729 question first answered 19/04/2021 16:58:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1306627

registered interest
date	25/03/2021
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	UK Trade with EU: Exports
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 steps his Department is taking to reduce export (a) costs and (b) delays for hauliers transporting small quantities of goods directly from SMEs in the UK to consumers in the EU.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	175724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government has regular dialogue with representatives of the haulage sector and general business representative organisations through the Brexit Business Taskforce.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is offering various avenues of support to hauliers, including over 20 helplines to provide advice to specific sectors. We have also published a Haulier Handbook - translated into 13 different languages - to provide information and advice to hauliers on how they can get ready for changes at the GB-EU border. This is in addition to the 46 Information and Advice sites across the UK.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government continues to provide support for businesses, as outlined in the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Thursday 11 February in which he announced the launch of the £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, which has been met with support from SMEs and provides them with access to grants and practical support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 175723 175729 question first answered 19/04/2021 16:58:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1306631

registered interest
date	25/03/2021
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Trade: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to support the Welsh Government’s trade responsibilities established through the 2013 Devolution Memorandum of Understanding.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	175725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2021 answer text <p>The 2013 MoU states that HMG has lead responsibility for the provision of support and assistance to new and existing exporters and outward investors both at home and overseas, and for promoting the UK to foreign investors. The Welsh Government is responsible for devising and implementing additional programmes to meet the particular needs of companies in Wales and for promoting Wales to foreign investors.</p><p> </p><p>We are dedicated to providing the best possible trade and investment support for all nations of the United Kingdom. Last month, we announced a new Trade and Investment Hub in Cardiff as part of a new strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK, including benefits from future free trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP. My colleague, the Minister of State for Trade Policy, holds regular bilateral meetings with his Welsh counterpart as well as the quarterly Ministerial Forum for Trade.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020 more than 56,000 jobs were created throughout the UK through foreign investment, including 2,736 new jobs in Wales. Our free trade agreements will significantly benefit exporters in Wales. For example, indicative estimates show that an ambitious UK-US FTA could boost the economy in Wales by £154m.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart question first answered 19/04/2021 14:50:48 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1306632

registered interest
date	25/03/2021
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Trade: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings she has had with the Welsh Government on the (a) Welsh Government’s trade strategy and (b) promotion of Welsh exports in 2020.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	175726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/04/2021 answer text <p>The Department for International Trade (DIT) works closely with the devolved administrations on our full trade agenda. This includes regular ministerial engagement through the Ministerial Forum for Trade, which takes place at least 3 times a year and which met most recently on March 18<sup>th</sup>.</p><p>DIT also runs a substantial programme of senior official-level engagement which includes Welsh Government colleagues, for example through our Senior Officials Group and Executive Forum.</p> answering member constituency Beverley and Holderness answering member printed Graham Stuart grouped question UIN 175728 question first answered 13/04/2021 15:08:35 answering member 1482 label Biography information for Graham Stuart
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams