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1191682

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
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	Charities: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture Media & Sport, whether charity employees furloughed on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can still participate in fundraising activities for their employer.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	41428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>HMT guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme confirms that furloughed employees can take part in volunteer work, provided that it does not provide services or generate revenue for their employer. The system has been carefully set up to encourage employees whose working is not required due to social distancing to take up a unique opportunity to support the frontline delivery of essential support services.</p><p> </p><p>However, the scheme is not designed to help charities cut the costs of delivering vital services. Where staff are needed in organisations to provide vital services and help vulnerable people through the Covid-19 crisis, these organisations will be eligible to apply for the new £750m funding package that was recently announced.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 04/05/2020 08:53:26 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1191726

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Northern Ireland Government
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Written Statement of the 18 March 2020, Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues, HCWS168, what the timetable is for publishing proposals relating to the investigations set out in that Written Statement.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
uin	41538
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>In line with our commitment in <em>New Decade, New Approach</em>, we published a Written Ministerial Statement on 18 March setting out a framework for legislation to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. As set out in this statement, we have started engagement with a range of stakeholders on the legacy proposals, including victims’ groups, the NI parties and the Irish Government.</p><p> </p><p>The wider context in which we are currently working is very challenging and has unsurprisingly had an impact on our planned timetable, as the repercussions of dealing with the Covid-19 crisis have been extensively felt. However, we continue with the engagement process, as promised, and remain fully committed to making progress on this important issue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 04/05/2020 13:28:50 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

1191808

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Press Conferences: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the daily Government briefing on the covid-19 outbreak has live British Sign Language interpretation.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	41529
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>It is vital that key information is accessible to all. Since the daily press briefings began, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation has been available on the national broadcaster. The BBC provides BSL interpretation at the daily No10 press conference via its News channel, Youtube channel and iPlayer. This is available free to air.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 39766 question first answered 04/05/2020 13:41:04 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1191819

registered interest
date	29/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Veterinary Services: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support veterinary practices affected by the covid-19 lockdown through business rate relief.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	41429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Business rates are devolved in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In England, the Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as veterinary practices, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank backed by an 80% Government guarantee, and the deferral of VAT payments for this quarter.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman grouped question UIN 41010 question first answered 04/05/2020 15:26:21 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1191123

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the humanitarian situation of migrants along the Greek-Turkish border.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	40998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>We continue to be concerned by the situation on the Greece-Turkey border. We recognise Turkey's generosity in supporting millions of refugees who have fled the civil war in Syria; and the challenge faced by both Greece and Turkey in dealing with increased migrant flows. We remain committed to supporting Turkey's efforts to manage migration effectively and are working both bilaterally and with our international partners to this end. The Prime Minister discussed this with the Turkish President on 3 March, as did the Foreign Secretary during his visit to Ankara, also on 3 March.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 05/05/2020 08:10:59 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1191173

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
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: Remote Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring mobile network operators to supply people working from home with unlimited mobile data.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	41075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>In response to Covid-19, my Department has already agreed a package of measures with the UK’s major fixed and mobile providers in order to help and support vulnerable consumers, and those who may be vulnerable, with their connectivity needs.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In recognition of more people working from home, signatory companies have agreed to lift data caps on all their customers’ fixed broadband connections. To assist those relying on mobile networks, companies have also agreed to provide new generous offers, including free voice and data boosts to their mobile customers. All signatories have also committed to working with customers who find it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19 to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/05/2020 11:08:16 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1191212

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Youth Custody: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children are held on remand in (a) youth offending institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) other secure units.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	41016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Custodial remand should only be used as a last resort for children and only in the most serious cases. When a child is remanded to custody, the child’s case is regularly reviewed by the local Youth Offending Team which, if appropriate, will apply to the court for a bail hearing. The court will then carefully consider the circumstances of the case and reach a decision on whether to bail a child into the community, or remand the child back to custody. These decisions must be considered by the court on a case by case basis, and a child will only be released from custodial remand into the community, if the court deems it is safe to do so. Courts are working very closely with the judiciary to prioritise caseload and case types. We are continually reviewing procedures to support access to justice during the emergency period due to Covid-19, particularly for the most time-critical and sensitive cases, such as youth custodial remand cases.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of children held in remand across the Youth Secure Estate is published regularly as part of the Youth Custody Data series, via <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-data</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest available published data from the end of February 2020 show that 293 young people were on remand at this time. Analysis of this data provides the following breakdown per sector:</p><p> </p><p>Young Offender Institutions – 214</p><p>Secure Training Centres – 39</p><p>Secure Children’s Homes – 40</p><p>Total – 293</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 41014 question first answered 04/05/2020 16:52:44 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1191213

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of releasing children held on remand in (a) youth offending institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) other secure units during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	41017
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in custody, both sentenced and on remand, whilst ensuring the public is protected and we are considering all the options available to maintain this approach. I can assure you we will take the necessary actions in the interests of children in custody and the wider community. That is why we have been progressing work to review the cases of those children serving a custodial sentence in the youth estate who may be eligible for early release under the End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) programme. Work has been taking place alongside NHS England &amp; NHS Improvement and the Youth Justice Board to produce joint operational guidance, with the appropriate Youth Offending Teams (YOT) and local authorities updated accordingly. Eligibility for the ECTR programme is determined by the offence type and level of risk that children and young people pose to themselves and others. In addition to this, children will only be eligible if they are serving a custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>We are continually reviewing procedures to support access to justice during the emergency period due to Covid-19, particularly for the most time-critical and sensitive cases, such as youth custodial remand cases. Custodial remand should only be used as a last resort for children and only in the most serious cases. When a child is remanded to custody, the child’s case is regularly reviewed by the local Youth Offending Team which, if appropriate, will apply to the court for a bail hearing. The court will then carefully consider the circumstances of the case and reach a decision of whether to bail a child into the community, or remand the child back to custody. These decisions must be considered by the court on a case by case basis, and a child will only be released from custodial remand into the community, if the court deems it is safe to do so. Courts are working very closely with the judiciary to prioritise caseload and case types.</p><p> </p><p>Those who meet the ECTR criteria will only be released if their YOT manager confirms that their accommodation is safe, suitable and sustainable. All children released under ECTR will be subject to electronic monitoring. If children and young people do not already have their own phone, or access to one then they can be provided with a basic non- internet enabled mobile phone. This will enable them to maintain contact with their YOT, family/carer and establishment from the moment of release. No child will be released without accommodation and bed and breakfast accommodation will not be deemed suitable.</p><p> </p><p>Given these necessary safeguards for the child and the public, and the higher threshold for custodial sentences in youth justice in the first place, this means that only a small number of children are in scope for this release. None have yet completed the process and fewer than ten will be eligible in the next three months, but children do also continue to be released from custody in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 41013 41018 question first answered 04/05/2020 16:45:14 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1191214

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children have been (a) considered for release and (b) released under the Government’s early release scheme.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	41018
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in custody, both sentenced and on remand, whilst ensuring the public is protected and we are considering all the options available to maintain this approach. I can assure you we will take the necessary actions in the interests of children in custody and the wider community. That is why we have been progressing work to review the cases of those children serving a custodial sentence in the youth estate who may be eligible for early release under the End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) programme. Work has been taking place alongside NHS England &amp; NHS Improvement and the Youth Justice Board to produce joint operational guidance, with the appropriate Youth Offending Teams (YOT) and local authorities updated accordingly. Eligibility for the ECTR programme is determined by the offence type and level of risk that children and young people pose to themselves and others. In addition to this, children will only be eligible if they are serving a custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>We are continually reviewing procedures to support access to justice during the emergency period due to Covid-19, particularly for the most time-critical and sensitive cases, such as youth custodial remand cases. Custodial remand should only be used as a last resort for children and only in the most serious cases. When a child is remanded to custody, the child’s case is regularly reviewed by the local Youth Offending Team which, if appropriate, will apply to the court for a bail hearing. The court will then carefully consider the circumstances of the case and reach a decision of whether to bail a child into the community, or remand the child back to custody. These decisions must be considered by the court on a case by case basis, and a child will only be released from custodial remand into the community, if the court deems it is safe to do so. Courts are working very closely with the judiciary to prioritise caseload and case types.</p><p> </p><p>Those who meet the ECTR criteria will only be released if their YOT manager confirms that their accommodation is safe, suitable and sustainable. All children released under ECTR will be subject to electronic monitoring. If children and young people do not already have their own phone, or access to one then they can be provided with a basic non- internet enabled mobile phone. This will enable them to maintain contact with their YOT, family/carer and establishment from the moment of release. No child will be released without accommodation and bed and breakfast accommodation will not be deemed suitable.</p><p> </p><p>Given these necessary safeguards for the child and the public, and the higher threshold for custodial sentences in youth justice in the first place, this means that only a small number of children are in scope for this release. None have yet completed the process and fewer than ten will be eligible in the next three months, but children do also continue to be released from custody in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer grouped question UIN 41013 41017 question first answered 04/05/2020 16:45:14 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1191240

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
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	Gender Dysphoria: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure that children cannot take irreversible decisions about their gender before they are sufficiently mature to make such decisions.
tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
uin	40976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The issue of informed consent by people under the age of 16 is currently the subject of legal proceedings and therefore the Department is unable to comment pending judicial ruling.</p><p>Meanwhile, NHS England is reviewing its commissioning position on the administration of hormone treatments to children and young people on the gender dysphoria pathway, including the evidence-base on the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.</p><p>Further to this £1.3 million has been awarded to fund a Longitudinal Outcomes of Gender Identity in Children (LOGIC) study looking into the development of gender identity in children and young people. The study began in 2019 and is following patients over a two-year period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 04/05/2020 14:17:47 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes