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1045976

registered interest
date	22/01/2019
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Video Games
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what safeguards his Department has put in place to prevent vulnerable people being exploited by the gaming industry.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	211244
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Gambling Act 2005 sets out licensing objectives which underpin the regulation of gambling in Great Britain. They include the protection of vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.</p><p>All operators providing gambling facilities to consumers in Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission and comply with licence conditions. These include requirements to prevent underage gambling, to intervene when a customer shows signs of being at risk of harm and to offer the facility to self-exclude. Operators may also be required to make tools available to help players manage their gambling, such as setting time or spend limits.</p><p>In May last year the Government published its <em>Review of Proposed Changes to Gaming Machines and Responsibility Measures,</em> which set out a package to strengthen protections further. The response can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures</a></p><p> </p><p>As promised in the Review, the Government has passed legislation to reduce the maximum stake limit on B2 machines from £100 to £2. This will come into effect on 1 April 2019. Alongside this we announced action to strengthen safeguards online, including the rollout of GAMSTOP, the online multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. The Gambling Commission has consulted on tightening age and identity verification requirements and will publish a response shortly. It will also launch a call for evidence on gambling on credit and a consultation on customer interaction.</p><p> </p><p>The Review also announced measures to strengthen protections on gambling advertising, including significant new guidance from the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) on protecting vulnerable people, tougher sanctions for operators in breach of advertising codes, and a major advertising campaign aimed at raising awareness of risks around gambling.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 29/01/2019 18:00:42 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045632

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit
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 discussions his Department has had with sector representatives on the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210616
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>My Department is having a number of ongoing discussions with sector representatives on the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; over the last 3 months my officials have met with over 250 sector representatives. We are engaging with representatives from all of Defra’s sectors including food and drink, farming, fishing, the chemicals industry and vets to ensure our sectors understand the potential implications of no deal, what actions they would need to take and that they are prepared for these. These discussions are a two-way dialogue, allowing us to work together with sector representatives to make sure any concerns they have are addressed.</p><p> </p><p>Extensive work to prepare for a no deal scenario has been under way for over two years and this is one of the many steps we are taking to ensure the country continues to operate smoothly from the day we leave.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:34:42 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045634

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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	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 plans he has to enhance animal welfare standards as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Whilst the UK already has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, we are considering what more can be done in the context of our future agricultural policy. We will maintain our existing standards and look to raise standards sustainably over time as new research and evidence emerges.</p><p> </p><p>In England, we intend to develop publicly-funded schemes for farmers to deliver animal welfare enhancements beyond regulatory requirements that are not sufficiently rewarded by the market and want to provide greater transparency and certainty for consumers and for farmers. We are also looking to control exports of live animals for slaughter.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this work related to our departure from the EU, we are planning to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty to five years. We are also introducing a ban on the ivory trade which is the toughest in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 29/01/2019 17:32:51 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045636

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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	Fly-tipping
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fly-tipping incidents there have been in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below refers to England only. The below table shows the number of fly-tipping incidents recorded in England in the last five years.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>857,655</p></td><td><p>905,604</p></td><td><p>941,896</p></td><td><p>1,011,199</p></td><td><p>997,553</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The national fly-tipping statistics are published annually by Defra and are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 24/01/2019 09:46:35 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045637

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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	Environment Protection: Crime
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fixed penalty notices were issued by local authorities for environmental protection crimes in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210619
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2019 answer text <p>Defra publishes annual fly-tipping statistics for England which include information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued in relation to fly-tipping offences only. This data is compiled on a financial year basis with the latest published data available for 2017/18. A summary of the annual figures on the number of fixed penalty notices issued by local authorities is given in the table below from the data published here: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Fixed penalty notices issued for fly-tipping offences in England:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Fixed Penalty Notices issued in relation to fly-tipping</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>36,835</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>38,149</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>35,888</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>57,271</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>68,618</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We do not collect any data on fixed penalties issued for other environmental offences such as noise, littering, dog fouling or abandoned vehicles.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/01/2019 18:13:12 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1045640

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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	Environment Protection: Crime
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 new initiatives his Department plans to bring forward to tackle environmental crimes.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	210620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State commissioned an independent review into serious and organised crime in the waste industry which was published in November last year. The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out our new strategic approach to tackling crime and poor performance in the waste sector and actions in response to the recommendations of the review. We will:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>consult on a fundamental reform of the waste carriers, brokers and dealers system to ensure that the supply of waste to criminals is curtailed;</p></li><li><p>consult on mandatory digital tracking of waste movements; and</p></li><li><p>work with the Environment Agency to create a Joint Unit for Waste Crime to deal with the threat of serious and organised criminal gangs.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>These actions will build on the strong action we have already taken, including by:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>legislating to enable local authorities and the Environment Agency to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who breach their duty of care to only pass their waste to authorised operators who can dispose of it legally and safely. The penalties came into force on 7 January this year;</p></li><li><p>enhancing local authorities’ and the Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers and introducing new powers for the Environment Agency to block access to problem waste sites.</p></li><li><p>increasing the fixed penalties for littering offence, and introducing new powers to tackle littering from vehicles. From April this year, the minimum fixed penalty for littering will rise from £50 to £65; and</p></li><li><p>consulting on improved guidance to litter authorities on the proportionate and effective use of their enforcement powers. The new guidance will be published shortly.</p><p> </p></li></ul> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/01/2019 13:10:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1041740

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
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, how much the increase in the work allowance of universal credit is worth per household.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	208848
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>Work allowance rates will be increased by £1000 from April 2019 and uprated in line with inflation thereafter. This measure provides additional support in a package worth £1.7 billion in 2023/24 to some of the most vulnerable low paid working households.</p><p> </p><p>It will increase the amount that these households can earn before the Universal Credit taper rate is applied, providing 2.4 million working households with around an extra £630 a year.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 23/01/2019 17:07:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1041741

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
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: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the exceptional circumstances are which will allow full support under universal credit for third and subsequent children born after April 2017.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	208849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>Since 6 April 2017, families with third and subsequent children born on or after this date are able to claim additional support through Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit for their first two children.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some claimants are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family. That is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups.</p><p> </p><p>Exceptions apply to third and subsequent children who are:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Additional children in a multiple birth: an extra amount is payable for all children in a multiple birth other than the first child; or</li><li>Likely to have been born as a result of non-consensual conception, which for this purpose includes non-consensual sex where the claimant was in a controlling or coercive relationship with the child’s other biological parent at the time of conception.</li></ul><p> </p><p>An exception also applies to any children in a household who are:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Adopted when they would otherwise be in Local Authority care; or</li><li>Living long term with friends or family and would otherwise be at risk of entering the care system, or where a child (under 16) living with their parents or carers has a child of their own (until they make a separate claim upon turning 16).</li></ul> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 23/01/2019 16:36:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1038525

registered interest
date	09/01/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Plastic Surgery
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for practitioners of cosmetic interventions to receive proper training and an assessment before undertaking procedures.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	206813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures through better training for practitioners, and better information so that people can make informed decisions about their care.</p><p> </p><p>Cosmetic surgery, where the surgical procedure involves the use of instruments or equipment which are inserted into the body, is a regulated activity and can only be performed by surgeons who are registered with the General Medical Council. Providers are required to register with the Care Quality Commission and meet the fundamental standards of safety and quality.</p><p> </p><p>The Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners was established in 2018 to accredit and assess practitioners and education and training providers within the non-surgical sector with the overarching aim of ensuring patient safety.</p><p> </p><p>We urge anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure to take the time to find a reputable, safe, and qualified practitioner who is subject to statutory regulation, or on a voluntary register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 17/01/2019 17:23:14 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1038529

registered interest
date	09/01/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Plastic Surgery
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an ombudsman to oversee the regulation of cosmetic procedures.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	206814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving the safety of cosmetic procedures through better training for practitioners, and better information so that people can make informed decisions about their care.</p><p> </p><p>In January 2012, Sir Bruce Keogh was asked by the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Rt. hon. Jeremy Hunt MP) to carry out a review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions following the Poly Implant Prothèse breast implants scandal. Recommendation 34 covered potentially expanding the remit of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to cover the whole private healthcare sector, including cosmetic procedures.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s Cosmetic Interventions Working Group subsequently evaluated the feasibility of including private health services in the remit of the Ombudsman. This process identified a number of issues that would need to be resolved before such a change could be made.</p><p> </p><p>Consumers opting for cosmetic procedures are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and other forms of legal redress including the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 17/01/2019 17:22:19 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord