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1198462

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Prime Minister
answering dept id	23
answering dept short name	Prime Minister
answering dept sort name	Prime Minister
hansard heading	Special Advisers: Codes of Practice
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on Clause 14 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisors.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	52211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to him today by my hon Friend, the Minister of State (Cabinet Office), UIN 52214.</p> answering member constituency Uxbridge and South Ruislip answering member printed Boris Johnson question first answered 04/06/2020 15:49:12 answering member 1423 label Biography information for Boris Johnson
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1198478

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Leader of the House
answering dept id	34
answering dept short name	Leader of the House
answering dept sort name	Leader of the House
hansard heading	Programme Motions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Leader of the House, whether he plans to provide additional time in programme motions for House Business as a result of the additional time required for divisions in the House while social distancing measures are in place.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	52212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>The division lobbies have been replaced by a more appropriate alternative and I pay tribute to Mr Speaker for his work to devise a method of voting that allows us to vote in person but is also safe and in line with Public Health England advice.</p><p>I was pleased to see that the time taken for divisions decreased significantly over the course of the day, as members became more used to the new process.</p><p>On the specific question of programme motions, it is for the House to agree any programme motions in the usual way.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Somerset answering member printed Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg question first answered 04/06/2020 14:13:50 answering member 4099 label Biography information for Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1198481

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	House of Commons: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of the number of additional House staff that will be required to be physically present on the Parliamentary estate to support the operation of Parliament as a result of the end of hybrid proceedings.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	52213
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>The House of Commons Commission is aware that up to 650 House Service and Parliamentary Digital staff may be required on site from Monday 1 June onwards. In addition to this figure there are additional passholders on the Parliamentary Estate including the Metropolitan Police and increasing numbers of construction contractors.</p><p>This increase is due to the end of hybrid proceedings, with the change in government guidance for sectors like construction also contributing to the increase.</p><p>The number provided represents staff on site over a 24-hour period.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 04/06/2020 15:39:09 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1198658

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Dominic Cummings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Special Adviser Dominic Cummings sought advice from his Department on the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in advance of making a public statement on 25 May 2020.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	52214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister authorised Mr Cummings’ statement to the media of 25 May, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.</p><p>The Cabinet Secretary has set out that as the event related to his conduct in his official role, it was considered appropriate for the No 10 Press Office to facilitate it on Government premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 52215 question first answered 04/06/2020 15:15:00 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1198659

registered interest
date	01/06/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Dominic Cummings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Dominic Cummings media appearance on 25 May 2020 was in breach of clause 14 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	52215
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister authorised Mr Cummings’ statement to the media of 25 May, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.</p><p>The Cabinet Secretary has set out that as the event related to his conduct in his official role, it was considered appropriate for the No 10 Press Office to facilitate it on Government premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 52214 question first answered 04/06/2020 15:15:00 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196671

registered interest
date	18/05/2020
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	Disinformation: Coronavirus
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 the Government is taking to tackle the spread of fake news relating to covid-19 circulating (a) on social media and (b) in print media.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	48542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of disinformation very seriously. It is vitally important, at this time of national emergency, that the public has accurate information and DCMS is leading work across Government to tackle disinformation. The Government has seen positive steps taken by social media platforms to curtail the spread of harmful and misleading narratives related to COVID-19. We are working closely with platforms to help them identify and remove dangerous and incorrect claims about the virus, in line with their terms and conditions, as well as promote authoritative sources of information.</p><p> </p><p>To help drive awareness of the Government’s national campaign to provide information and reassurance to the public about COVID-19, we have created new and innovative partnerships to drive awareness, engagement and compliance. This includes a significant public information campaign across the local and national press which is providing information and reassurance to the public and is ensuring that authoritative, up-to-date information about the Government’s response to Covid-19 is distributed through reliable channels. The government does not intervene in what the press can and cannot publish. Newspapers are subject to independent self-regulation.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is running a counter disinformation campaign, “Don’t feed the Beast” which aims to increase audience resilience by educating and empowering those who see, inadvertently share and are affected by false and misleading information. The campaign promotes the SHARE checklist, providing the public with five easy steps to identify false content, encouraging users to stop and think before they share content online.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 02/06/2020 08:48:02 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196072

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Universal Credit: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the minimum five week wait before universal credit claimants receive their first payment for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47360
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The Universal Credit Assessment period and payment structure are fundamental parts of the Universal Credit design. The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the subsequent Universal Credit pay date will be within seven calendar days after the end of the initial assessment period. It is not possible to award a Universal Credit payment as soon as a claim is made, as the assessment period must run its course before the award of Universal Credit can be calculated. This monthly calculation has been hard-wired throughout the system, and cannot now be changed without significant re-build. At present, all resources are rightly focused on processing new claims.</p><p> </p><p>New Claim Advances are available urgently if a claimant needs support during their first assessment period, and budgeting support is available for anyone who needs extra help.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 15:31:51 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196073

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Universal Credit: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to relax means testing for universal credit applications for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to relax means testing for Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month. This means that if a claimant’s income falls, they will not not have to wait several months for a rise in the Universal Credit. Equally, as people’s pay increases, their Universal Credit payments reduce gradually, and the taper rate ensures that people are always better off in a job.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 16:50:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196074

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department distinguishes between savings for personal use and savings for the purpose of the ongoing basic maintenance of the applicant's business or self-employment when assessing universal credit applications.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>Yes - Where a claimant has capital over £16,000 we will contact them to understand their circumstances and determine eligibility. If this money is to be used for business or tax purposes, it will not be counted towards their capital, but they may be asked to prove that the money is for these purposes.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 20/05/2020 16:52:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196075

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Universal Credit: Students
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will temporarily amend the eligibility criteria for universal credit to allow students who are in financial difficulty as a result of the covid-19 pandemic to claim during the summer 2020.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>A condition of entitlement for Universal Credit is that the claimant must not be in education, which excludes most students. Financial support for students comes from the system of educational loans, grants and bursaries designed for their needs. To safeguard fairness Universal Credit does not duplicate the support provided by the student support system. Exceptions are made where students have additional needs that are not met through the student support system.</p><p> </p><p>Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the 2019/20 academic year, which covers the summer period.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 16:14:54 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson