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1121339

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Age
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether apprenticeships are age restricted; and whether they are designed to entice any particular demographic.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	244092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Education is responsible for the apprenticeship programme in England.</p><p>Individuals in England can apply for an apprenticeship whilst they are still at school but must be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start an apprenticeship. There is no upper age limit. Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to earn whilst they learn.</p><p>We are encouraging participation from under-represented groups, including people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with a learning disability or learning difficulty, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, so that everyone can benefit from the increased wage returns and employment prospects that apprenticeships offer. We are also working to improve gender representation in sectors where it is needed, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 24/04/2019 09:48:02 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1121340

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Community Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations she has received on the use of church facilities for community purposes at times when worship or church events are not taking place.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	244093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England encourages its churches to consider making wider, more imaginative and more strategic use of their buildings, where this will help them to fulfil their purpose of being a Christian presence in every community. There is national guidance on selecting the right legal and funding model to develop church buildings for uses beyond worship, whether that is to tackle issues of social justice, or for a commercial partnership. Individual decisions on what is right for particular churches and communities are made by parishes.</p><p>National guidance is available here, along with a number of case studies: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/sharing-your-building" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/sharing-your-building</a></p><p>The Diocese of Hereford has produced a comprehensive resource on developing church buildings for additional uses, called Crossing the Threshold, available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/making-changes-your-building-and-churchyard" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/making-changes-your-building-and-churchyard</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 23/04/2019 07:18:10 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1121341

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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 Agreements: China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make an assessment of whether the UK would have to have a trade deal with China in the event it joined NAFTA.
tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
tabling member printed	Scott Mann
uin	244166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK does not comment on the content of agreements signed by other countries, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is the agreement from the renegotiated NAFTA.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is committed to strengthening our trade relationships with all countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada and China.</p> answering member constituency Meon Valley answering member printed George Hollingbery question first answered 25/04/2019 08:46:32 answering member 4016 label Biography information for Sir George Hollingbery
tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

1121342

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Department for International Development: Brexit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department received notice to be on standby for redeployment to support essential work related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and in which countries do those staff work.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	243999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>DFID has undertaken prioritisation work and has reviewed delivery plans with these principles in mind to allow the department to successfully deliver EU Exit whilst protecting essential business. Staff deemed as deployable were then matched provisionally to roles, therefore placed on standby to deploy, should they be required.</p><p> </p><p>As a result of recent developments, DFID is working closely with other government departments and the Cabinet Office to plan for the return of staff deployed onto no deal planning. All 48 DFID staff who were on standby to be deployed have now been stood down.</p> answering member constituency West Worcestershire answering member printed Harriett Baldwin question first answered 24/04/2019 13:47:59 answering member 4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1121343

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of reducing the current £16,000 savings threshold for entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	244145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>We have no plans to change the capital rule on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>Entitlement to contributory ESA is not affected by the amount of capital a person has.</p><p> </p><p>The current upper capital limit strikes a balance between protecting less well-off people and protecting the taxpayer, whilst at the same time recognising the conscientious efforts of people who have built up capital. This limit ensures that the help which comes from taxpayers, many of whom are themselves on low incomes and have limited capital, is directed to people who need it most.</p><p>The effect of reducing the savings threshold would be that fewer claimants would be entitled to ESA.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/04/2019 10:27:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121344

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Water: Prices
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 he is taking to ensure that water services are affordable for older people.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	244155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s November 2017 ‘S<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661803/sps-ofwat-2017.pdf" target="_blank">trategic policy statement</a> to Ofwat’, the economic regulator for the water industry, challenged the water industry to do more for vulnerable customers in England, including older people. In Ofwat’s Price Review 2019 process in which water companies set out their business plans for 2020-25, Ofwat required companies to set out in their business plans how they would better identify and support those customers who need financial help. Work on the plans is ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>Current support includes the Government mandated WaterSure scheme which enables water companies to cap bills for eligible low income customers using a lot of water for essential family or health reasons. All water companies also offer schemes, known as social tariffs, for eligible customers on low incomes or receiving specific benefits. Approximately 400,000 household customers currently benefit from such water bill support schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Legislative powers recently put in place in the Digital Economy Act 2017 allow data sharing between water companies and other organisations, including Government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions. This will help companies identify and consequently provide support to more customers who may need help with their bills.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 23/04/2019 10:22:02 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121345

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
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 Government is taking to ensure that older people claim the benefits they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	244156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 244000 question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121346

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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	Council Tax: Care Leavers
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 information his department holds on the extent to which immediate care leavers are liable to pay the full rate of council tax for the property they are living in.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
uin	244172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>Many local authorities use their discretionary powers under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to offer council tax discounts to care leavers. Information on such discounts is not collected centrally.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 23/04/2019 10:19:44 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1121347

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the planned timeframe for the publication of a report on the second phase of its investigation into the Royal Bank of Scotland's Global Restructuring Group.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	244146
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>On 31 July 2018, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced it would publish a fuller account of its findings following the conclusion of its investigation into the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Global Restructuring Group.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA is an independent non-governmental body. In view of this independence, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on the timeframe for the publication of the FCA’s findings.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/04/2019 13:04:47 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1121348

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
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: EEA Nationals and EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many EU and EEA nationals (a) have made a claim for universal credit and (b) have had that claim rejected in each of the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	244127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 23/04/2019 10:45:35 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray