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1197647

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Social Services: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will assess the potential merits of zero-rated social care services for VAT purposes to allow regulated social care companies to reclaim VAT on expenses.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	49719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2020 answer text While all taxes are kept under review, there are currently no plans to change the VAT treatment of social care services. answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 03/06/2020 08:59:19 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1195131

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Maternity Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide financial support to self-employed mothers whose average earnings will be less as a result of taking maternity leave during the timeframe for eligibility for accessing the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	46095
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme has been designed to deliver support as quickly and effectively as possible to millions of individuals. The Government understands the challenges faced by those with periods of maternity leave and the existing averaging calculation takes account of periods of reduced profits. The Government will continue to work with stakeholders to make sure funding reaches those who need it most, keeping all policies under review, while ensuring that any potential changes do not risk the wider delivery of Government schemes. answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 21/05/2020 19:34:16 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1221406

registered interest
date	07/07/2020
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, for what reason claimants of universal credit under the age of 25 receive a lower rate than claimants over the age of 25.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	70433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2020 answer text <p>We have injected over £6.5bn into the welfare system, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 a year for everyone. This was in addition to the 1.7 per cent inflation increase which was part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze meaning more financial support for millions of people across the UK, including those under 25.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit rate for under 25s reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit also includes separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers. These additional amounts are provided to claimants at the same level irrespective of age.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/07/2020 16:54:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1188276

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase Employment and Support Allowance during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	37759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>We currently have no plans to increase Employment and Support Allowance above its current rates.</p><p>We have announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption, such as increasing the standard rate in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week) on top of the planned annual uprating. This additional increase means claimants will be up to £1040 better off. We estimate 2.5m households on UC will benefit straight away, as well as new claimants who become unemployed or whose earnings or work hours decrease because of the outbreak. The Universal Credit IT system is significantly more flexible than our legacy systems and uses different technology from other DWP systems. The Department is experiencing significant increased demand and the Government has to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall.</p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy benefits like Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increases in entitlement. These new measures include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Providing more support for benefit claimants in the Private Rented Sector by increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile, helping to alleviate affordability challenges. Those receiving Housing Benefit and legacy benefits will benefit from this increase.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Treating all ESA claimants who satisfy the conditions of entitlement and are suffering from COVID-19 or who are required to self-isolate in line with government guidance, including vulnerable individuals who have been advised by the NHS to ‘shield’ (stay at home for at least 12 weeks) because they are at high risk of severe illness, as having limited capability for work, without the requirement to undergo a Work Capability Assessment,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Removing waiting days for ESA, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement; and,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Allowing disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payments, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit to continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 14:50:21 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1290049

registered interest
date	25/02/2021
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	Drugs: Imports
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 he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure the importation of medicines into the UK that are manufactured in the EU.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	158971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2021 answer text <p>We continue to work closely with other Government departments, including the Department for Transport, HM Revenue and Customs and the Cabinet Office’s Transition Task Force, the pharmaceutical industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to deliver the shared goal of continuity of safe patient care under all circumstances.</p><p>The Department wrote to all suppliers of medicines and medical products coming to the United Kingdom from or via the European Union on 17 November 2020. The letter sets out how we are continuing to work across Government and with suppliers to deliver our multi-layered approach to mitigate any potential disruption to supply of medicines into the UK. The letter is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-medicines-and-medical-products-suppliers-17-november-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-medicines-and-medical-products-suppliers-17-november-2020</a></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 12/04/2021 12:15:45 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1197655

registered interest
date	20/05/2020
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	Young People: 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 her Department is taking to provide support to young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who are disproportionately financially affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	49722
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>We acknowledge that it is important that Jobcentres continue to support young people through the economic recovery post-COVID-19. They have already started to re-engage with new and existing claimants and are signposting them to appropriate support.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone over the age of 18 can claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance if they have sufficient paid National Insurance contributions. Neither of those benefits is means-tested. Those on low incomes and with limited capital can claim Universal Credit or legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>For Universal Credit, New Claims Advances of up to 100% of potential entitlement are available within a few days if a claimant needs support during their first assessment period. Face-to-face checks for Universal Credit advances have been scrapped due to Covid-19, so people get the support they need despite COVID-19 restrictions. We have also increased the Standard Allowance for everyone by over £80 a month on top of the existing 1.7% (CPI) increase already announced. This additional increase means all claimants will be up to £1040 better off.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is also engaging with a number of external stakeholders including the Youth Employment Group (set up by the Prince’s Trust, Youth Employment UK, the Institute for Employment Studies, the Youth Futures Foundation and Impetus) as well as continuing to work across Whitehall to develop appropriate support aimed at young people.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/06/2020 16:54:07 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1189955

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Airports: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to test people arriving at UK airports for covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	39533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>Travellers returning to the UK are not specifically tested for coronavirus, but are monitored for symptoms. Passengers arriving at UK airports are provided with information on symptoms and the latest social distancing advice to bolster public health measures already in place.</p><p>We will continuously review the most appropriate response at the UK border to the changing situation in relation to CV-19, both in the UK and across the international community.</p><p>The same social distancing rules apply to new arrivals into the UK as apply to the population as a whole, as per the clear advice PHE have set out. Anyone in the UK, whether or not they have been abroad recently, should be following the latest guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary contact with others and self-isolate should they or anyone they live with show symptoms.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 18/05/2020 13:49:32 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1345594

registered interest
date	12/07/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans she has to bring forward proposals to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	902522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2021 answer text <p>This Government currently has no plans to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We keep drug controls under review, in consultation with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.</p><p>Drugs Legislation forms part of our wider approach to preventing drug misuse alongside prevention and education, supporting treatment and recovery, and tackling the supply of illicit drugs.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 12/07/2021 15:42:56 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1259339

registered interest
date	08/12/2020
answering body	Scotland Office
answering dept id	2
answering dept short name	Scotland
answering dept sort name	Scotland
hansard heading	Scotland Office: Communication
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what proportion of people employed in his Department in each financial year since 2008-09 were press and communications employees.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	126906
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>The total number of staff working at the Office is recorded in the Annual Report and Accounts, which are available online at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/scotland" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/scotland</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Office is resourced to deliver all of the communications functions and activities expected and required of a government department in its own right and on behalf of the UK Government in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Along with media handling, the operating model requires communications divisions to deliver the following functions: campaigns and marketing, digital communications, internal communications, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and external affairs - including ministerial visits, events, committee meetings, and activities.</p><p> </p><p>The Office does not hold staff records for team-level staffing prior to 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>The number of staff working at the Office to deliver communications functions, including visits and events, on 31 March in each financial year since 2009/10 is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Office communications staff</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009-2010</strong></p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011-2012</strong></p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012-2013</strong></p></td><td><p>8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013-2014</strong></p></td><td><p>8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014-2015</strong></p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015-2016</strong></p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016-2017</strong></p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017-2018</strong></p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018-2019</strong></p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019-2020</strong></p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 15/12/2020 14:38:00 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1259642

registered interest
date	09/12/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Scotland Office: Public Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the planned budget is of the (a) Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) Union Unit and (c) Union Taskforce for 2021-22.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	127587
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2020 answer text <p>The planned budget of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Office of the Advocate General for 2021-22 is £11.43m.</p><p> </p><p>There is no information available on any specific business unit as HM Treasury does not make decisions on individual business areas within Departments.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 21/12/2020 10:55:40 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black