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1185686

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
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	Rents: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take through the benefits system to support tenants to meet their rent payments during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	30723
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Support for rented housing costs are available through Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. Discretionary Housing Payments are also available, these payments are very flexible and can be considered where, in the local authority's opinion, further financial assistance towards housing costs is required.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Last week, the Chancellor announced, in response to COVID-19, that for 2020/21, we will increase the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that they are set at the 30th percentile of market rents.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus. With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">From 26 March, landlords have had to give all renters 3 months’ notice if they intend to seek possession (i.e. serve notice that they want to end the tenancy) – this means the landlord can’t apply to start the court process until after this period.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This extended buffer period will apply in law until 30 September 2020 and both the end point, and the 3 month notice period can be extended if needed.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">From 27 March, the court service has suspended all ongoing housing possession action – this means that neither cases currently in the system or any about to go in to it can progress to the stage where someone could be evicted.</ins></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/03/2020 16:53:42 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:03:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 14836 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1185687

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
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	Discretionary Housing Payments: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people with a reduced income after following guidance on coivd-19 are eligible for assistance with rented housing costs through the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme; and whether additional funding has been allocated to local authorities for that payment scheme.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	30724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Discretionary Housing Payments are made at local authority discretion, including the amount and duration of any award.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Local authorities administer the scheme as they are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and the limited funds are targeted effectively.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As we have announced at the spending round for 2020/21 there is £179.5m in DHPs for Local authorities to support renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sector. The increase to the Local Housing Allowance rates will help alleviate shortfalls in the private rented sector and relieve pressure on DHPs.</ins></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/03/2020 16:12:34 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:03:03 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 13953 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1185688

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Self-employed: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of covid-19 on sole traders; and what steps he is taking to support sole traders with reduced income during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	30725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>In order to help UK businesses during the Coronavirus outbreak, we have made an unprecedented level of support available in the form of cash grants and business loans.</p><p> </p><p>The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), delivered by the British Business Bank, is now available for eligible smaller businesses including unincorporated businesses, such as partnerships and sole traders. Decision-making on whether a business is eligible to access CBILS will be fully delegated to the 40+ accredited lenders. The Scheme covers overdrafts, loans, asset finance, and invoice finance. Full guidance, including eligibility criteria, will be published at: <a href="http://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/cbils" target="_blank">www.british-business-bank.co.uk/cbils</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, HMRC have set up a tax helpline on 0800 0159 559 to support and advise businesses and self-employed people concerned about missing tax commitments due to Coronavirus. Further detail on the Government’s support package for businesses is at: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 27/03/2020 14:13:25 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1185689

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) guidance and (b) eligibility criteria are for the covid-19 Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	30726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is now live.</p><p> </p><p>Eligible businesses can apply for a loan or other form of finance through one of 40-plus providers accredited by the British Business Bank to offer the scheme. These include all the major UK banks.</p><p> </p><p>The application process is typically online for smaller amounts and the lending decision is made by the provider concerned.</p><p> </p><p>Full guidance, including eligibility criteria, is available on the British Business Bank website at <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.british-business-bank.co.uk%2Fcbils&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccate.hilton%40beis.gov.uk%7C559aaa8443e24c5d355c08d7cf68af3d%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C637205920827698206&amp;sdata=%2FImVW46NoqXcv1s22E2pYcKv%2BH57SCQLht%2B%2Bjd%2B4sy4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.british-business-bank.co.uk/cbils</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 27/03/2020 09:33:49 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1185690

registered interest
date	17/03/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business: Unpaid Taxes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he had issued to HMRC on the (a) eligibility for and (b) operation of the Time To Pay service during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	30727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2020 answer text <p>HMRC are delivering an enhanced Time to Pay offer to fit the specific impacts of Covid-19. Time to Pay is available to all firms and individuals who are in temporary financial distress as a result of Covid-19 and are unable to pay their tax on time or have existing liabilities. The bespoke arrangement, which is agreed depending on circumstances, can cover all debts owed to HMRC. Taxpayers may be able to defer payments for as long as they need if they are unable to make a payment immediately. To this end, HMRC have set up a dedicated Covid-19 helpline to enable those eligible to get practical help and advice. This can be reached by calling: 0800 0159 559. HMRC will keep all operations under constant review as the situation develops.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 25/03/2020 12:42:11 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1178938

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
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	Public Lavatories: Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of the non-domestic rating of public lavatories in Parliament 2019.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	18506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises that public toilets are valuable community amenities. Primary legislation would be required to provide business rates relief for those public toilets owned by principal local authorities and parish councils, as currently such bodies cannot have their rates bills reduced through reliefs. The Non-Domestic Rating (Lavatories) Bill, which would have enabled this, fell when the last Parliament was dissolved. The Government will consider reintroducing the measure in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 02/03/2020 17:33:49 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1178940

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
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	Mobile Phones: Rural Areas
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 steps his Department is taking to improve mobile phone coverage in (a) North East Bedfordshire constituency and (b) other rural areas.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	18508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government announced in-principle support in October 2019 for the mobile network operators’ (MNOs) Shared Rural Network (SRN) proposal. The proposal would share investment costs between the MNOs and government and increase 4G mobile coverage throughout the United Kingdom to 95% by 2025. It will be underpinned by a legally binding coverage commitment from each operator.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government's in-principle support is subject to detailed negotiations. While this is not yet a done deal, the Prime Minister has made improvements to rural mobile coverage part of his first 100 days pledge. I will continue to work with the sector to make that happen, but I will also explore all possible options to meet our mobile coverage ambitions, including rural roaming.</p><p>The exact site deployment plans and timescales will be managed by the MNOs themselves in order for them to best deliver the agreed coverage outcomes. So until the operators’ final radio planning exercise is complete, neither the Government nor the operators will know the precise location or number of new or upgraded masts. However, the operators will be consulting with local communities as their roll out plans become clearer.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 02/03/2020 17:44:40 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1178941

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police: Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional police officers (a) have been recruited nationally in the last 12 months and (b) she plans to allocate to Bedfordshire constabulary in the next 12 months.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	18509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government is delivering on the people’s priorities by recruiting 20,000 additional police officers over the next three years.</p><p> </p><p>In October 2019 Home Office confirmed officer allocations for every force in England and Wales in the first year of the uplift. Bedfordshire Police has been allocated 54 officers in year one of the uplift, to be recruited by the end of March 2021. Decisions on the allocation of officers for years two and three are yet to be taken.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-announces-first-wave-of-20000-police-officer-uplift" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-announces-first-wave-of-20000-police-officer-uplift</a></p><p> </p><p>From April 2020 the Home Office will publish quarterly updates outlining the progress on delivering the police uplift.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 02/03/2020 17:03:58 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1178942

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
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	Doctors and Nurses: Bedfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent (a) general practitioners, (b) other doctors and (c) nurses employed by the NHS in Bedfordshire in (a) 2010 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	18510
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), but not staff working in primary care or in general practitioner (GP) surgeries, local authorities or other providers.</p><p>The following table shows the full time equivalent (FTE) number of doctors, and nurses and health visitors employed in the Bedfordshire area as at October 2019, the latest available data, compared to October 2010.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>October 2010</p></td><td><p>October 2019</p></td><td><p>Change</p></td><td><p>% Change</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Doctors</p></td><td><p>303</p></td><td><p>360</p></td><td><p>57</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nurses and health visitors</p></td><td><p>905</p></td><td><p>698</p></td><td><p>207</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Bedfordshire area is defined as those working at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust or NHS Bedfordshire CCG in 2019, and at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust or Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust in 2010.</p><p>The following table shows the number of GPs and nurses employed in the area covered by NHS Bedfordshire CCG as at September 2019 compared to September 2015, FTE.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>All Regular GPs (excludes Locums)</p></td><td><p>All Nurses</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"><p>NHS Bedfordshire CCG</p></td><td><p>September 2019</p></td><td><p>245</p></td><td><p>138</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2015</p></td><td><p>227</p></td><td><p>133</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 02/03/2020 17:01:28 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1178943

registered interest
date	21/02/2020
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	Help to Buy Scheme: North East Bedfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been purchased through the Help to Buy scheme in North East Bedfordshire constituency in each of the last six years.
tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
uin	18511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2020 answer text <p>The number of homes purchased through the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme in North East Bedfordshire in each of the last six years are in the table below. Data for 2019 is not included as it is not complete.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Total number of homes</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>77</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>211</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>248</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>356</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>452</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>399</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 27/02/2020 17:31:14 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller