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1010266

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of personal independence payment applications that go to appeal.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>Since PIP was introduced 3.5m decisions have been made, of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned.</p><p> </p><p>The Department endeavors to get decisions right first time. The main reason why decisions are changed at tribunal is a combination of the claimant’s oral evidence, the tribunal reaching a different conclusion on the same evidence and new written evidence not available to the original decision makers.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to monitor and improve our decision making processes. This includes the deployment of 150 Presenting Officers to represent the Department at tribunal hearings and provide valuable feedback to both Decision Makers and Health Care Professionals.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 27/11/2018 12:14:17 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010267

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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: Staff
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 people were employed by his Department on 19 November 2018.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192873
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The number of staff employed by the department as at 31 October 2018 was 4146. This will be consistent with data due to be published by 7 December 2018 at <a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-defra" target="_blank">Data.Gov.UK - Dataset Workforce Management Information Defra</a>, in line with Cabinet Office arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>We are unable to provide this data as at 19 November 2018 without incurring disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 26/11/2018 19:00:02 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010269

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Food: Imports
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 checks his Department takes to ensure that no insects or pesticides are brought into the UK through food imports.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192875
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>In EU food law, the expectation is that food is not contaminated. Food must be safe and fit for human consumption. This applies to all food placed on the market (i.e. supplied for profit or not) in EU Member States.</p><p> </p><p>Consumers should be provided with information about food which enables them to make safe and informed food choices.</p><p> </p><p>Even where foreign bodies found in food which might not in themselves be harmful to health, including insects or other foreign bodies that should not be in the food, or are not described as being part of the food, the food would still likely be deemed ‘unfit for human consumption.’</p><p> </p><p>Food imported into the EU for placing on the market within the EU must comply with the relevant requirements of food law.</p><p> </p><p>Importers, distributors and retailers of food are under a statutory obligation to comply with maximum residues levels set for pesticides in food. They must put in place appropriate quality controls to ensure this. This requirement is backed up by a substantial UK Government programme of testing for residues in food and drink; results are published on the GOV.UK website.</p><p> </p><p>Controlled plant products are inspected for quarantine pests on a risk basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 27/11/2018 17:16:05 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010271

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Fertilisers
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 his Department's policy will be on time limits for farmers to spread fertiliser after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192877
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>We are committed to meeting our legal obligations, including having set dates for fertiliser spreading under the requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to review agricultural policy to support farmers and deliver environmental benefits in a way that better reflects UK circumstances, in line with the terms of any future agreement with the EU.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/11/2018 17:08:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010273

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Farms: Floods
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 his Department's policy is on financial support for farmers affected by heavy flooding.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>It is the long-standing policy of successive Governments that compensation is not paid for losses due to damage caused by flooding or coastal erosion. This is because, except in very limited circumstance, no-one has a right to flood or coastal erosion defences or, if defences are provided, there is no legal requirement to provide any particular standard of defence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Farms are businesses and, like all businesses, should take actions to try and limit the impacts of flooding on their property or assets, and aim to have insurance in place for any losses incurred by a flood.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 26/11/2018 15:25:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010275

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Working Conditions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that employees have access to good toilet facilities in the workplace.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The law requires employers to provide suitable and sufficient toilet facilities at readily accessible places. Employers should ensure, amongst other things, that toilets are kept clean and well maintained.</p><p> </p><p>The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to most workplaces. There is more specific legislation for construction sites, namely the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM).</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or Local Authority, as the relevant enforcing authority, will follow up complaints regarding unsuitable welfare facilities at workplaces.</p><p> </p><p>HSE provides guidance on what constitutes suitable and sufficient sanitary and washing facilities which is available to download for free on the HSE website:</p><p><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l24.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l24.htm</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l153.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l153.pdf</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/welfare/toilets-and-washing.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/welfare/toilets-and-washing.htm</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/welfare.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/welfare.htm</a></p><p> </p><p>HSE is also currently updating guidance to advise that drivers must have access to welfare facilities in the premises they visit as part of their work.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 26/11/2018 11:34:54 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010278

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Business: School Leaving
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage large businesses to offer work placements to school leavers.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192881
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The government’s careers strategy for England, which was published in December 2017, introduces a new expectation that secondary schools should follow the Gatsby Foundation’s Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance. This means that schools should offer every young person at least one encounter a year with employers from year 7 through to year 13.</p><p>The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company (CEC) is recruiting up to 150 employers as ‘cornerstone’ employers committed to increasing the number of encounters and workplace experiences offered. The CEC’s network of 125 Enterprise Coordinators and over 2000 Enterprise Advisers (who are business volunteers) is also helping to increase employer encounters and work experience. For example, in East Sussex, John O’Connor Ltd. has arranged multiple work experience placements for pupils at Saxon Mount Community Special School so that students can gain a practical understanding of grounds maintenance work.</p><p>Every 16 to 19 year old student following one of the new T levels in England will be entitled to a high quality industry placement. Industry placements are structured periods in employment that are expected to last a minimum of 45 days. We are putting in place measures to directly support employers such as providing a ‘one stop shop’ for guidance and support from the National Apprenticeship Service. This includes a simple referral platform so that employers only have one place to go to be put in touch with providers in their area. We are also investing significantly through the Capacity and Delivery Fund to help providers put in place the systems to organise placements so that the burden is taken off employers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 26/11/2018 13:40:37 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010279

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Retail Trade: Urban Areas
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 steps his Department is taking to support high street retailers increase footfall.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192882
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>This Department is clear that we want all types of retail to thrive now and in the future, and wants to support the sector as it responds to change. This is why in March we established the industry led Retail Sector Council to bring Government and industry together to boost the sector’s productivity and promote its future.</p><p>In addition, in Autumn budget 2018, we announced a number of measures as part of an Action Plan, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support the sustainable transformation of our high streets. This plan includes:</p><ul><li>A £675m Future High Streets Fund, to support local areas in England to invest in town centre infrastructure, including to increase access to high streets and support redevelopment and densification around high streets. The Fund will also support the regeneration of heritage high streets (up to £55m of the overall Fund). MHCLG has published a fact sheet setting out more details about the Fund<p> </p></li><li>Supporting local leadership with a High Streets Taskforce, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. This will provide hands-on support to local areas to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts<p> </p></li><li>A planning consultation to help support change on the high street. This will aim to make it easier for high streets to adapt for the future, with a wider range of retail, residential and other uses. A second consultation will be published in 2019, including how to support the more effective use of tools such as Compulsory Purchase Orders and Local Development Orders<p> </p></li><li>Piloting a register of empty commercial properties to support wider regeneration of our high streets and town centres<p> </p></li><li>Launching an ‘Open Doors’ pilot in five town centres to bring empty properties back into use by matching landlords of vacant premises with local community groups looking for space.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This Action plan is in addition to existing measures including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>An expert panel chaired by Sir John Timpson, whose recommendations informed the budget package. The panel are drawing on existing evidence and their own experiences to investigate the challenges facing our high streets and town centres and to advise on the best practical measures to help them thrive now and in the future. We look forward to receiving their full recommendations.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Future High Street Forum, chaired by the Minister for High Streets. The Forum consists of developers, investors and retailers. It provides joint business and government leadership to better enable our high streets and town centres to adapt and compete in the face of changing consumer and social trends.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Government support for Business Improvement Districts, recognising the important role they play in allowing local businesses to work together to shape and improve their high streets and towns.</li></ul> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 27/11/2018 14:43:43 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010281

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in Northern Ireland on the financial situation of schools in Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192884
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>Education is a devolved matter, and there have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Education and the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education in Northern Ireland on the financial situation of schools in Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 27/11/2018 15:57:42 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1010283

registered interest
date	19/11/2018
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	Fisheries: Northern Ireland
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 recent discussions he has had with fishermen in Northern Ireland on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	192885
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>There have been extensive, positive and productive discussions between Defra and representatives of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland, most recently following the launch of Defra’s White Paper, Sustainable fisheries for future generations, and following the introduction of the Fisheries Bill.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 27/11/2018 17:23:52 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson