Ben Bradshaw Portrait

Ben Bradshaw

Labour - Exeter

First elected: 1st May 1997


5 APPG memberships (as of 1 Nov 2023)
Cycling and Walking, Electoral Reform, Italy, South West, Yoga in Society
2 Former APPG memberships
Cycling, South West Rail
Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill
1st Mar 2023 - 8th Mar 2023
Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill
25th Jan 2023 - 1st Feb 2023
Health and Social Care Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
31st Oct 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
28th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Health and Social Care Committee
26th Oct 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
17th Sep 2012 - 30th Mar 2015
Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee)
26th Oct 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Privacy and Injunctions (Joint Committee)
14th Jul 2011 - 12th Mar 2012
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (also Shadow Deputy Prime Minister)
12th May 2010 - 8th Oct 2010
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
5th Jun 2009 - 6th May 2010
Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (South West)
29th Jun 2007 - 9th Jun 2009
Minister of State (Department of Health) (Health Services)
28th Jun 2007 - 5th Jun 2009
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare)
10th Nov 2006 - 28th Jun 2007
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare)
13th Jun 2003 - 10th Nov 2006
Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
29th May 2002 - 13th Jun 2003
Parliamentary Secretary (Privy Council Office)
29th May 2002 - 13th Jun 2003
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
11th Jun 2001 - 28th May 2002
European Scrutiny Committee
17th Nov 1998 - 11th May 2001
European Legislation
15th Jul 1997 - 17th Nov 1998


Oral Question
Tuesday 5th December 2023
11:30
Department of Health and Social Care
Oral Question No. 18
What steps she is taking to reduce NHS waiting times.
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Department Event
Thursday 14th December 2023
09:30
Department for Transport
Oral questions - Main Chamber
14 Dec 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Transport (including Topical Questions)
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Note: This event involves a Department with which this person is linked, and does not guarantee their actual attendance.
Division Votes
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
voted Aye - in line with the party majority
One of 140 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 194 Noes - 275
Speeches
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Section 28 Repeal: 20th Anniversary
When I became the first openly gay person in Britain to be selected to fight a parliamentary seat more than …
Written Answers
Tuesday 21st November 2023
Cycling and Walking: Administration of Justice
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing …
Early Day Motions
None available
Bills
Tuesday 21st March 2023
Same Sex Marriage (Church of England) Bill 2022-23
A Bill to enable clergy of the Church of England to conduct same sex marriages on Church of England premises …
MP Financial Interests
Monday 17th April 2023
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: Humboldt University
Address of donor: Mohrenstraffe 60, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Estimate of the probable value (or amount …
EDM signed
Tuesday 6th March 2018
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: TIME OFF FOR RETAIL STAFF ON 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WW1
That this House believes that all people in the UK should be able to pay their respects on 11 November …
Supported Legislation
Wednesday 2nd March 2022
Firearms and Hate Crime Bill 2021-22
A Bill to prohibit the keeping of pump action firearms in homes, with exemptions for professional pest controllers and farmers; …

Division Voting information

During the current Parliamentary Session, Ben Bradshaw has voted in 677 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

25 Mar 2021 - Coronavirus - View Vote Context
Ben Bradshaw voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Labour No votes vs 176 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 484 Noes - 76
View All Ben Bradshaw Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(27 debate interactions)
Matt Hancock (Independent)
(19 debate interactions)
Sajid Javid (Conservative)
(15 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(33 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(33 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(16 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(13 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Ben Bradshaw's debates

Exeter Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

The maximum penalty for failure to stop after an incident is points and a 6-month custodial sentence. Causing death by careless/dangerous driving is between 5-14 yrs. The sentence for failing to stop after a fatal collision must be increased.

The offence of causing 'death by dangerous driving' should be widened to include: failure to stop, call 999 and render aid on scene until further help arrives.

The Government should class in-person interaction with family members and unmarried partners abroad as an essential reason to travel.


Latest EDMs signed by Ben Bradshaw

6th March 2018
Ben Bradshaw signed this EDM on Tuesday 6th March 2018

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: TIME OFF FOR RETAIL STAFF ON 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WW1

Tabled by: David Hanson (Labour - Delyn)
That this House believes that all people in the UK should be able to pay their respects on 11 November 2018 to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during conflict; notes that this year marks the centenary of the end of the First World War; further notes …
65 signatures
(Most recent: 19 Jun 2018)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 50
Independent: 5
Scottish National Party: 3
Liberal Democrat: 3
The Independent Group for Change: 2
Conservative: 2
Non-affiliated: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Ben Bradshaw's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Ben Bradshaw, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Ben Bradshaw

Tuesday 24th January 2023

1 Adjournment Debate led by Ben Bradshaw

1 Bill introduced by Ben Bradshaw


A Bill to enable clergy of the Church of England to conduct same sex marriages on Church of England premises in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 21st March 2023
(Read Debate)

319 Written Questions in the current parliament

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
67 Other Department Questions
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what physical acts the Church refers to when teaching that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is forbidden.

The Living in Love and Faith process has always sought to recognise that the expression of sexual intimacy between two people cannot be reduced to a small set of defined actions.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the General Synod papers on Living in Love and Faith circulated on 20 October 2023 reflect the current position of the (a) House and (b)College of Bishops.

Drafts of the material presented in the November Synod papers were seen and commented on by the College of Bishops and House of Bishops at their respective meetings on 18th September and 9th October. The papers for the November meeting of General Synod were drafted and agreed by the Chairs of the LLF steering group based on this feedback and noting the diversity of opinions held by the bishops.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether a draft form of Pastoral Guidance for Ministry has been (a) prepared and (b) shared with the (i) House and (ii) College of Bishops.

Drafts of the section on Ministry in the Pastoral Guidance were shared with the College of Bishops and House of Bishops and on both occasions they asked for further work to be done. It is hoped that this will be completed as soon as possible, and I recognise that some are disappointed that this is not being brought to the November Synod.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether a further letter threatening legal action was sent to the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops between the end of the meeting of the College and the House meeting in October.

Several items of correspondence were received over this period from a number of groups with different views, reflecting differing legal and theological opinions, as is widely in the public domain. Some offered a legal opinion on the routes of commendation or authorisation for the Prayers of Love and Faith, but I am not aware that any directly threatened the recipients with legal action.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Oct 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether there are recorded majorities in the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops to (i) allow clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriages and (ii) remove the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships.

The proceedings of these meetings of the House of Bishops and College of Bishops, including details of votes, are confidential. Both the College and the House decided that further work should be done on allowing clergy to enter into same sex marriages, and on the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships. It is stated in the General Synod papers (GS2328 and annexes: gs-2328-llf-nov-2023.pdf (churchofengland.org) ), that there is ‘further work on the Ministry elements of the Pastoral Guidance including on clergy in same-sex marriages’. It is hoped that this work will be done as quickly as is possible.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
7th Sep 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to Review of Lowest Income Communities and Strategic Development Funding, published in March 2022, what steps the Church Commissioners have taken to implement new governance arrangements to ensure that Lowest Incomes Communities Funding is distributed to dioceses by the Archbishops’ Council is accounted for (a) effectively and (b) transparently.

The Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding led by Sir Robert Chote was published in March 2022 and can be read here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf

In respect of improving governance arrangements of Lowest Income Communities Funding (LInC) the Review recommended:

  • Recommendation 2 - "Refocusing annual returns … towards more strategic reporting".
  • Recommendation 3 - asked staff to "identify and promote best practice … perhaps convening a learning symposium".
  • Recommendation 5 – asked staff to "communicate more clearly the extent to which LInC funding is sustaining ministry".

The action taken so far by the Archbishops' Council's Vision and Strategy team in response to those recommendations has been to:

  • Raise the profile of LInC funding within ongoing strategic conversations between its staff and diocesan teams, as part of dioceses' strategic development processes, with the aim of improving its effectiveness.
  • Ask dioceses to give information about the intended outcomes from their planned use of LInC funding, together with how they will be measured, as part of their annual return on LInC funding for 2022.
  • Plan a learning event to bring together diocesan representatives to share and develop their approaches on the use of LInC funding, aiming to improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of LInC funding.

The Independent Review also made further suggestions in Recommendation 1: "encouraging dioceses to use LInC funding more for clergy transitions" and in Recommendation 4: "maintaining current levels of LInC funding". While not related directly to governance, these may also feature in the learning event and in ongoing conversations with dioceses.

From the start of 2023, the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB), a committee of the Archbishops' Council, has replaced the previous Strategic Investment Board and Strategic Ministry Board. It distributes and monitors funds made available by the Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council via LInC, SDF, and other similar funds.

The Boards of the Archbishops’ Council and the Church Commissioners are regularly updated by the SMMIB about funding decisions and projects supported by these funds. Members of the Archbishops’ Council and Church Commissioners Boards are part of the SMMIB and help monitor funding decisions and spending. The SMMIB will also provide an annual report to the General Synod.

More information about the role the SMMIB plays can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
17th Jul 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the announcement by the Archbishop of York of an independent inquiry into the decision to close down the Independent Safeguarding Board, if he will publish a copy of the inquiry's finings once available.

The Archbishop of York has committed that the findings of this review will be made public.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
3rd Jul 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions he has had with the Church of England General Synod on its expected timetable for bringing forward proposals on (a) blessings, (b) marriages and (c) rules for clergy in same-sex relationships.

In February 2023 the General Synod agreed proposals that would enable same-sex couples to come to church after a civil marriage or civil partnership to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing.

In my response to the Rt Hon Member’s oral question of 9th March, I said:

“The pastoral guidance is being worked on, and the bishops remain committed to implementing their response to Living in Love and Faith, which the General Synod approved last month. The timing may depend on the July Synod’s response to the pastoral guidance and “Prayers of Love and Faith”. The Synod is a democratic body and, like this Parliament, its decisions cannot be guaranteed in advance.” (Commons Hansard 9th March 2023, col. 409)

That answer was given in the hope that the necessary work would be completed in time for the July Synod to consider it, but was not intended as a guarantee that it would. While I understand that the work to produce the new pastoral guidance is progressing well, it is not at the stage where it is possible for it to be considered at the July sessions of the General Synod. Instead Synod members will be given an update and an opportunity to ask questions. It will be possible to consider a timetable for the introduction of the prayers of love and faith once other key elements, including the new pastoral guidance, are in place. All efforts are being made to progress the work.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Jun 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the work started in phase one of the Independent Safeguarding Board will be completed following the disbanding of the Board.

The Archbishops’ Council of the National Church Institutions is absolutely committed to developing fully independent scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church of England to ensure the Church of England is a safe place for everyone, to be transparent and accountable, and to hear the voices of victims and survivors. The actions of the Archbishops' Council and reasons for the decisions taken are set out here: Statement from Archbishops’ Council on the Independent Safeguarding Board | The Church of England

The work of independently reviewing cases will not stop, and the Archbishops’ Council has moved swiftly to put in place interim arrangements, which will be carried out as at present by external experts. The priority will now be to move to the next phase of setting up a fully independent Board, which will be fully separate from the Church. The Church of England will engage with victims and survivors and others to establish a process of working together to design a permanent independent oversight structure as soon as possible. It is not appointing further Board members at this stage.

The Archbishops' Council has been seeking to resolve the dispute in good faith. But because the two board members were reluctant to engage in those discussions, for example they had not met with the Acting Chair since March, with great regret the Archbishops’ Council felt this was the only way forward.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Jun 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what process the Church is using to appoint new members of the Independent Safeguarding Board.

The Archbishops’ Council of the National Church Institutions is absolutely committed to developing fully independent scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church of England to ensure the Church of England is a safe place for everyone, to be transparent and accountable, and to hear the voices of victims and survivors. The actions of the Archbishops' Council and reasons for the decisions taken are set out here: Statement from Archbishops’ Council on the Independent Safeguarding Board | The Church of England

The work of independently reviewing cases will not stop, and the Archbishops’ Council has moved swiftly to put in place interim arrangements, which will be carried out as at present by external experts. The priority will now be to move to the next phase of setting up a fully independent Board, which will be fully separate from the Church. The Church of England will engage with victims and survivors and others to establish a process of working together to design a permanent independent oversight structure as soon as possible. It is not appointing further Board members at this stage.

The Archbishops' Council has been seeking to resolve the dispute in good faith. But because the two board members were reluctant to engage in those discussions, for example they had not met with the Acting Chair since March, with great regret the Archbishops’ Council felt this was the only way forward.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Jun 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners made an assessment of the potential implications of any obligation to provide an independent mediator to resolve the Independent Safeguarding Board dispute.

The Archbishops’ Council of the National Church Institutions is absolutely committed to developing fully independent scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church of England to ensure the Church of England is a safe place for everyone, to be transparent and accountable, and to hear the voices of victims and survivors. The actions of the Archbishops' Council and reasons for the decisions taken are set out here: Statement from Archbishops’ Council on the Independent Safeguarding Board | The Church of England

The work of independently reviewing cases will not stop, and the Archbishops’ Council has moved swiftly to put in place interim arrangements, which will be carried out as at present by external experts. The priority will now be to move to the next phase of setting up a fully independent Board, which will be fully separate from the Church. The Church of England will engage with victims and survivors and others to establish a process of working together to design a permanent independent oversight structure as soon as possible. It is not appointing further Board members at this stage.

The Archbishops' Council has been seeking to resolve the dispute in good faith. But because the two board members were reluctant to engage in those discussions, for example they had not met with the Acting Chair since March, with great regret the Archbishops’ Council felt this was the only way forward.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Jun 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church took to resolve the dispute with members of the Independent Safeguarding Board before the decision was made to give them notice.

The Archbishops’ Council of the National Church Institutions is absolutely committed to developing fully independent scrutiny of safeguarding within the Church of England to ensure the Church of England is a safe place for everyone, to be transparent and accountable, and to hear the voices of victims and survivors. The actions of the Archbishops' Council and reasons for the decisions taken are set out here: Statement from Archbishops’ Council on the Independent Safeguarding Board | The Church of England

The work of independently reviewing cases will not stop, and the Archbishops’ Council has moved swiftly to put in place interim arrangements, which will be carried out as at present by external experts. The priority will now be to move to the next phase of setting up a fully independent Board, which will be fully separate from the Church. The Church of England will engage with victims and survivors and others to establish a process of working together to design a permanent independent oversight structure as soon as possible. It is not appointing further Board members at this stage.

The Archbishops' Council has been seeking to resolve the dispute in good faith. But because the two board members were reluctant to engage in those discussions, for example they had not met with the Acting Chair since March, with great regret the Archbishops’ Council felt this was the only way forward.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
14th Jun 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many parishes in the Diocese of Truro have a vacancy for (a) an incumbency and (b) a priest-in-charge; and how many (i) incumbent and (ii) priest-in-charge vacancies there have been in Truro Diocese in each of the last five years.

Parish priest appointments are a matter for diocesan bishops. Data about the number of vacancies for incumbents and priests-in-charge per annum are not held centrally by the National Church Institutions.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
22nd May 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the average length was of vacancies for a parish (a) incumbent and (b) priest-in-charge in each of the last five years.

Parish priest appointments are a matter for diocesan bishops. Data about the number of vacancies for incumbents and priests-in-charge per annum in parishes across the 42 dioceses of the Church of England are not held centrally by the National Church Institutions. It would incur a disproportionate cost to assemble and present the information requested

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
22nd May 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many parishes have a vacancy for (a) an incumbency and (b) a priest-in-charge in each diocese; and how many (i) incumbent and (ii) priest-in-charge vacancies there have been in each diocese in each of the last five years.

Parish priest appointments are a matter for diocesan bishops. Data about the number of vacancies for incumbents and priests-in-charge per annum in parishes across the 42 dioceses of the Church of England are not held centrally by the National Church Institutions. It would incur a disproportionate cost to assemble and present the information requested.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
11th May 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Answer of 22 December 2022 to Question 102787 on the Energy Costs Grant, whether the Commissioners have now gathered feedback to examine (a) how much of the Grant dioceses have allocated, (b) by what mechanism dioceses have distributed that funding and (c) what proportion of the Grant was used to supplement the Ministry Hardship Fund.

All dioceses took up the Energy Costs Grant, and none has returned unspent sums. The National Church Institutions intend to gather detailed feedback from dioceses in the Autumn on how dioceses distributed grants to their parishes and what proportion was used to supplement the Ministry Hardship Fund.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Feb 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Office for National Statistics classifications for land use in rural and urban areas, how many and what proportion of parishes are classified as rural; and how many and what proportion of newly ordained stipendiary curates have commenced curacy training in a parish classified as rural in each of the last five years.

The most up to date Office of National Statistics dataset relating to urban and rural communities is expected to be published in the summer. Until this has been mapped and applied to the data held by the National Church Institutions (NCIs), it is not possible to provide the information requested.

The NCIs do not request statistical information about stipendiary curates as part of their routine annual survey of parishes. The most recent data available on the number of stipendiary curates can be found in the one off special project published in 2015 called 'Released for mission, growing the rural church', which is available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/released-mission-growing-rural-church

For more than a decade the Church Commissioners have financially supported dioceses to increase the number of ordinands they can afford to send for training. Funding has recently been allocated to dioceses through the Ministry Division of the NCIs to ensure ordinands can be supported in posts of first responsibility. This month the Church Commissioners announced a further grant (through the Strategic Mission & Ministry Investment Board of the Archbishops’ Council) of £5.6 million to continue to support curates as they move into their next posts. This will benefit both urban and rural parishes. More information can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/clergy-posts-funded-through-ps56-million-national-church-england

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Feb 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what meetings he has held in his capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner with (a) evangelical groups and (b) groups representing other traditions in the Church of England in the last 12 months.

In the twelve month period since February 2022 I have met with representatives of the groups listed below. This is in addition to the large number of regular meetings I have held with the National Church Institutions boards, committees and officials, and with individual bishops, Government ministers, officials, and Members of Parliament


2022
1 March: Evangelical Alliance Freedom of Religious Belief Conference
31 March: Meeting with Anglican Communion Primates in Parliament
5 July: Chaired the annual Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast. More details at: 2022 Programme – Christians in Parliament
5 July: Meeting with representative of Anna Chaplaincy
5 July: Attended No.10 Downing Street reception on Freedom of Religion & Belief
3 August: Attended the Lambeth Day of The Lambeth Conference
7 November: Meeting with representatives of the CofE Evangelical Council
19 December: Meeting with Bishop Graham Tomlin, Centre for Cultural Witness

2023
18 January: Attended the launch of the Open Doors Watch List
30 January: Attended meeting between Archbishop of Canterbury and MPs/Peers supportive of same-sex marriage in the Church of England
8 February: Attended meeting of the Church of England General Synod

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, in the context of the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process and the forthcoming General Synod, whether the Commissioners have made assessment of the potential impact of the Church of England's exemptions from the Equality Act 2010 on LGBT+ people.

The National Church Institutions have made no such assessment. The exceptions in the Equality Act are for all religious organisations rather than for the Church of England specifically. It is unlikely that any of the exceptions will be engaged by Living in Love and Faith and therefore no assessment has been carried out.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
10th Jan 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost of legal support to the Mission, Pastoral and Church Property Committee for their consideration of pastoral reorganisation schemes was in each of the last five years.

The National Church institutions (NCIs), of which the Church Commissioners are one of the institutional bodies, are supported by the central legal office of the NCIs, which is available to all departments, boards and committees to give advice when it is needed. This is an in-house service. No time sheets are kept of how many hours are spent on specific projects or for particular NCI departments and so it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
10th Jan 2023
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost of legal support provided by (a) dioceses and (b) the Church Commissioners to incumbents and PCCs of parishes affected by pastoral reorganisation making a representation at an oral hearing of the Mission, Pastoral and Church Property Committee was in each of the last five years.

Dioceses are required to retain the services of a Diocesan Registrar who will provide free advice to incumbents and PCCs on Mission and Pastoral Measure processes as part of their contract with the diocese. Information is not held centrally about the financial cost or take up of that advice


The Church Commissioners have not provided legal support to incumbents or PCCs attending hearings of the Mission, Pastoral and Church Property Committee over the last 5 years. The Church Commissioners are not able to provide legal advice to PCCs, incumbents or Diocesan Boards of Finance.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
5th Dec 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether he expects dioceses to pass the Energy Costs Grant direct to parishes.

The Church Commissioners were pleased to provide £15m to the Archbishops’ Council for distribution to dioceses for Energy Costs Grants. All dioceses received a share of this Grant in October. The main purpose of the Grant is to help Parochial Church Councils to cover the increased cost of heating and lighting church buildings this winter.

Dioceses are also able to use some of their Grants to supplement the £3m Ministers’ Hardship Fund announced earlier in the year to provide targeted hardship payments for clergy and other employed ministers to cover household bills, in particular energy costs.

The Church Commissioners intend to gather feedback in the New Year to see how much of the Grant dioceses have allocated, by what mechanism they distributed it, and what proportion was used to supplement the Ministry Hardship Fund.

In addition to support for parishes and clergy, the Church of England has opened its doors locally to support or provide Warm Spaces. These may be in churches, village halls or other suitable community spaces such as libraries or cafes. More information about the Warm Welcome Campaign and where to locate your nearest warm space can be found here: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the General Synod asked the Church Commissioners to continue work on the review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure and bring forward draft proposals for debate in February 2023.

The Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committee of the Church Commissioners tabled a paper for debate at the July 2021 Synod. The motion and vote was:

‘That this Synod a) welcome the consultation paper Mission in Revision: A Review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (GS 2222); b) commend it for discussion; and c) invite the Archbishops’ Council, the Legislative Reform Committee and the Church Commissioners to bring forward draft legislation for consideration by the Synod no later than July 2022.’

In a counted vote of the whole Synod the voting was as follows:
• In favour - 278
• Against – 2
• Abstentions – 7

The original timetable was extended as the Commissioners decided that further consultation was needed before any proposals came to Synod. It is hoped that the Business Committee of the General Synod will schedule the Mission and Pastoral Measure as an item at the July 2023 meeting and that the Synod will be presented with either an update or more specific proposals, depending on progress.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, which (a) body or (b) person asked the Church Commissioners to review the Mission and Pastoral Measure.

In 2019 the Legislative Reform Committee of the Archbishops’ Council was tasked with considering reviews of primary legislation. In July 2020 the Archbishops’ Council approved a recommendation from the Committee that the Mission and Pastoral Measure be reviewed, and this was endorsed by the House of Bishops at their meeting in July 2020. The Church Commissioners were then asked by the Archbishops’ Council to lead on a review, as they have the governance and management responsibility for the legislation.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions he has had with the General Synod on the steps it will take to agree the Vision and Strategy for the Church of England in the 2020s.

I have had no discussions with the Business Committee of the General Synod about the Vision and Strategy.

The Vision and Strategy was debated in July 2022, when the Synod voted in favour of the following motion:

‘That this Synod:
(a) welcome the spending plans by the Church Commissioners and Archbishops’ Council, set out in GS 2262, for financial distributions over 2023 to 2025 and indicative distributions for the subsequent six years;

(b) welcome the investment in ministry in parishes, chaplaincies, schools, cathedrals and other forms of church in support of the Church’s vision and strategy as set out in Annex A of GS 2262; and

(c) welcome the focused investment to support previously agreed commitments to a 2030 net zero carbon target and to address racial justice.’

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many vacancies there are for clergy posts in England; and what proportion of those vacancies are in rural areas.

The National Church Institutions do not hold sufficient information about the number or proportion of vacancies in rural and urban parishes to be able to respond. The deployment of clergy to benefices and other ministry roles within a diocese is the responsibility of the diocesan bishop.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church of England has to review its exemptions under the Equality Act 2010.

The National Church Institutions have no current plans to do so.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many provincial episcopal visitors there were in the Church of England in each of the last 10 years.

The Church of England has three provincial episcopal visitors, the Bishops of Richborough, Ebbsfleet and Beverley. These posts have been held by the following individuals in the last ten years:

Year

Richborough

Ebbsfleet

Beverley

2012

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Baker

Rt Revd Martyn Jarrett (retired 01.10.12)

2013

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Baker (translated 13.2.13) /Jonathan Goodall (consecrated 25.9.13)

Rt Revd Glyn Webster (consecrated 25.01.13)

2014

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2015

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2016

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2017

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2018

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2019

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2020

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2021

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall (resigned role 08.09.21)

Rt Revd Glyn Webster

2022

Rt Revd Norman Banks

Vacancy until early 2023 (the role will transfer to the Bishop of Oswestry)

Rt Revd Glyn Webster (retired 06.01.22)
Fr Stephen Race appointed (consecration 30.11.22)

The former Bishop of Maidstone (now retired) is also recorded as having an informal role as a ‘Complementarian’ Bishop in 62 of the parishes under the oversight of a Diocesan or Suffragan bishop where he was “invited to be involved as issues arose”. It is expected that the See of Ebbsfleet will take up these duties when a new bishop is appointed.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations he has received recently about the Church of England’s exemptions under the Equality Act 2010.

I have received no direct representations in my capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations has he received on sex discrimination and misogyny in the Church of England.

I have received no direct representations in my capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner. The National Church Institutions (NCIs) have a Belonging and Inclusion Strategy, which aims to make sure that the NCI workforce represent the diversity of the nation that the Church of England serves, at all levels including the most senior, so that everyone in the NCIs feels that they belong, are valued for who they are and what they contribute, and are supported to develop and flourish.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
1st Nov 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many parishes in the Church of England in England reject the ministry of women.

The House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests makes provision for parishes to pass resolutions where their theological conviction leads them to seek the priestly or episcopal ministry of men. The most recent information held centrally by the National Church Institutions is contained on page 32 of the Mission Statistics 2020, the full details of which can be found here: Ministry Statistics 2020 report FINAL.pdf (churchofengland.org)

There were 590 parishes in which a resolution under the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests had been passed at the end of 2020. These parishes account for 4.8% of all parishes. The breakdown is shown in Figure 24 of the Mission Statistics 2020.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with her counterparts and legislators in (a) Malta, (b) France, (c) Canada, (d) New Zealand, (e) Greece and the relevant regional or state governments of the (i) US, (ii) Spain and (iii) Australia on their legislation on banning conversion practices and their protection of transgender people.

The Government has engaged with a wide range of international counterparts including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Malta, to understand the approaches they have taken to ban conversion therapy. We will continue to engage with counterparts around the world that are committed to protecting everyone from conversion practices to share insight and develop our approach.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on banning sexual orientation and transgender conversion practices.

The Government has been liaising with territorial offices and the devolved administrations including the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on this important issue.

Officials will continue to work with their counterparts across the devolved administrations to discuss the UK Government’s approach to protecting everyone in England and Wales from conversion therapy practices.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations made by the Ending Conversion Practices Expert Advisory Group in Scotland on 4 October 2022.

The Government has been liaising with territorial offices and the devolved administrations including the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on this important issue.

Officials will continue to work with their counterparts across the devolved administrations to discuss the UK Government’s approach to protecting everyone in England and Wales from conversion therapy practices.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what work has been undertaken by her Department on transgender conversion practices since the Government set out its plans on this topic in its background briefing to the Queen’s Speech in May 2022.

Since May 2022, the Government has launched a support service open to all victims or those at risk of conversion practices regardless of their background or circumstances. The Government has committed up to £360,000 over three years to this service. The service includes a helpline, instant messaging service, and website to enable people to get the support they need.

More widely, the Government remains committed to protecting everyone from these practices. We are carefully considering the responses to the public consultation which closed earlier this year and will respond in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which accredited medical, counselling or psychological organisations support the Government’s plan to exclude transgender people from a ban on conversion practices.

The Equality Hub Ministers and officials have met with healthcare professionals in developing the policy approach to protecting all individuals from conversion practices. Many such organisations responded to the public consultation that closed in February 2022.

We will continue to meet with healthcare professionals to inform our approach and will respond to the consultation in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department has consulted (a) NHS England, (b) NHS Wales, (c) the Royal College of GPs, (d) the Royal College of Psychiatrists, (e) the British Psychological Society and (f) the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy as part of its work to explore the issue of transgender conversion practices further.

The Equality Hub Ministers and officials have met with healthcare professionals in developing the policy approach to protecting all individuals from conversion practices. Many such organisations responded to the public consultation that closed in February 2022.

We will continue to meet with healthcare professionals to inform our approach and will respond to the consultation in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to Section 1(1) of the National Institutions Measure 1998 and the statement on page six of the Archbishops’ Council Annual Report 2022 that the Council was established under the National Institutions Measure 1998 to provide focus for leadership and executive responsibility and a forum for strategic thinking and planning, whether the Church Commissioners have made an assessment of the authority of the Archbishops’ Council in respect of the exercise of its executive functions.

The Church Commissioners have not made such an assessment.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Church of England Report, Released for mission, growing the rural church, published in 2015, which identifies that 17.6 per cent of the English population live in rural areas and 40 per cent of churchgoers attend parishes in rural areas, and with reference to the Parish Finance Statistics 2020 which shows £471 million of parish giving for the whole of the Church of England in 2020, what proportion of that parish giving came from rural parishes.

A revised analysis based on ONS rural/urban land-use classifications and the latest (2019) mid-year population updates, gives a slightly different set of parishes classified as rural, totalling 24% of the English population. Analysis of church attendance has been complicated in recent years because of the effects of COVID and restrictions on in-person worship, but it is estimated that 37% of attendance is in these parishes. Analysis of the £471million giving reported in 2020 Parish Finance Statistics indicates that 44% came from these parishes in rural areas. Rural areas tend to be wealthier on average; of the population living in the most deprived 10% of parishes, 5% live in these rural areas, and 95% in urban areas.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to their decision to award the Diocese of Leeds £3,094,588 of Strategic Development Funding (SDF), and figure 10 of the Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities funding and Strategic Development Funding by Sir Robert Chote and others, how many of the (a) anticipated and (b) recorded numbers of new disciples came from the project Strengthening Mission Across the City of Leeds between 2017 and 2021.

The Church Commissioners do not award funding to specific dioceses; this is the role of the Archbishops' Council, as delegated to the Strategic Investment Board.

The Independent Review notes on page 27 para 3.32, beneath Figure 10, that "the Strategy and Development Unit do not regard the estimates of new disciples witnessed and expected for individual projects that underpin the aggregates as a robust basis to compare their actual and expected performance, which of course suggests that one should be wary of combining them into an aggregate figure."

The figure used in the report is 175 new disciples out of an anticipated 1125 by 2024, but is based on older data. More up-to-date figures from the end of 2020 show that the project as a whole is ahead of its interim goals for attendance by the end of 2021, and early data shows further growth into 2022. As with all churches, the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are still to be worked out. The Chote Review of Lowest Income Communities funding and Strategic Development Funding can be found at: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/IRLS%20-%20final%20report%20%282%29.pdf

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Diocese of Liverpool's Transforming Wigan bid document, and the list of expectations expressed in paragraph 76 of that document, according to performance reporting on Strategic Development Fund projects, (a) which of those expectations were achieved in full by the end of 2021 and (b) which have not been achieved in full.

Over time there have been adjustments to the programme to reflect learning and the experience on the ground. The latest internal project review with the national church dates from April 2020, and at this point a majority of these objectives were seen as on track. An end-of-project independent evaluation has been commissioned and will be presented to the Strategic Investment Board later this year. More information about the project is available from the Diocese of Liverpool here: https://liverpool.anglican.org/about-us/liverpool-dbf/sdf-projects/transforming-wigan/

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Diocese of Liverpool's Transforming Wigan bid document, and the expectation expressed in paragraph 76 of that document that there would be a real-terms increase in annual giving of £500,000, what figure has been reported against that target to the Archbishops’ Council Strategic Development Unit in performance reporting on Strategic Development Fund projects.

Based on learning from the project, the focus of this objective was changed to focus on the long term sustainability of the deanery – to clear the parish share backlog of the deanery with the diocese, to establish an annual balanced budget that is fully funded by the deanery, and to develop a deanery giving scheme focused on the mission, engaging more people in the parish, and increasing overall giving year-on-year. This was on track at the end of 2019, at which point Wigan had cleared its historic backlog. Since then, Covid has had a significant impact, and the deanery is seeking to rebuild its financial position. A final evaluation of the project has been commissioned and should be provided internally to the Strategic Investment Board by the end of the year. More information about the Transforming Wigan project is available from the Diocese of Liverpool here: https://liverpool.anglican.org/about-us/liverpool-dbf/sdf-projects/transforming-wigan/

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to paragraph 76 of the Diocese of Liverpool's Transforming Wigan bid document and the 500 per cent increase in the number of young people involved in church, as reflected in average weekly attendance figures, in the performance reporting on SDF projects, what figure has been reported against that target to the Archbishops’ Council Strategic Development Unit.

The latest monitoring report for the 'Transforming Wigan' project dates from April 2020. The project team reported that this was the most challenging part of the project. An initial attempt to develop a Network Youth Strategy was brought to an end as it did not provide the growth required or connect well with the whole. The Wigan team undertook a significant review to re-engage and develop a more embedded youth strategy, building on learning what worked well. The next phase of work was to be built around pioneer chaplaincy, an internship scheme for engaging young people in mission, and a Brighter School of Discipleship. From the information available to the National Church Institutions there have been over 2,000 direct contacts with young people in schools through this work.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Low Income Communities Funding, if the Commissioners will ask the Bishop of Truro to pass on the benefits from that funding to mission in Truro's lowest income communities, such as by reducing their parish share, as opposed to leaving it to underwrite the diocesan deficit.

The award, monitoring and evaluation of Lowest Income Communities Funding is the responsibility of the Archbishops' Council, as delegated to its Strategic Investment Board. The primary business of the diocese is to fund mission in parishes, chiefly through funding the provision of stipendiary clergy, and so the primary driver of a deficit or surplus is the difference in cost between ministry funded and funds received from parishes and other sources towards these ministry costs.

The Diocese of Truro expects that by 2023 all or nearly all of the funding received from the Lowest Income Communities Fund will have been passed onto funding ministry and mission in the diocese's lowest income communities, and not underwriting the diocesan deficit.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Answer of 28 March 2022 to Question 145801, on Church of England, and the official document, Governance: simple, fruitful and sustainable, published by the Diocese of Truro in April 2021, which states that in a multi-parish benefice a pastoral scheme may unite several parishes to become a single parish with one PCC, whether the Church Commissioners have made an assessment of the consistency of that scheme with the definition of a parish.

The document Governance: simple, fruitful and sustainable summarises the Diocese of Truro’s approach to mission and pastoral planning and is consistent with the requirements of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011, which provides the legal framework for the local organisation of worship, mission and ministry. Under the terms of the Mission and Pastoral Measure several parishes can be united to become a single parish with a single PCC, or variations of that model.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
17th May 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, in the interests of transparency in the use of charitable funding and learning lessons, if the Church Commissioners will publish (a) all requests for Church Commissioners’ finance for the project, (b) the responses to each request, (c) progress reports made and (d) comments by the Strategic Investment Board on those reports.

The diocese has asked for funding for the Transforming Wigan project once, in 2014, and was awarded £900,000 of SDF at that time.

Funding has also been awarded to projects to improve the strategic capacity (£168,000), multiply congregations in deprived areas (£1m) and to invest in younger generations (£4.6m) across the whole Diocese of Liverpool, which also have elements which support ministry in Wigan.

All SDF projects are announced when they are funded, are reported to the General Synod in the SIB annual report, and a full list is available on the Church of England’s website. All projects go through a robust process of a 2-stage application with full project plan, annual reporting, continuing engagement between the diocese and the national church, and a final independent evaluation. The diocese has chosen to publish their application on the Transforming Wigan website 1602081544.pdf (d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net) but in general this robust process is dependent on being able to have open, honest and confidential conversations, both at Board level and with dioceses.

Transparency and learning have been mentioned in the Independent Review of LInC and SDF as areas where the funding programme can do more, and the Strategic Investment Board is working on proposals to improve both learning and transparency without compromising the quality and robustness of its accountability. Overall, the Strategic Investment Board has confidence in the Transforming Wigan programme and its engagement with young people, founding of new church communities, and training of clergy and lay leaders.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
17th May 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, what quantitative outcomes were envisaged as a result of the Church Commissioners’ funding of that project.

At its outset, the project had a wide range of different metrics providing an indication of the scale and direction of change sought. These can be seen on the Project Bid Document available on the Transforming Wigan website: 1602081544.pdf (d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net) (though dioceses are not required to publish these documents). These covered increased engagement with young people, establishing new expressions of church, training for clergy and lay people, and increased financial sustainability.

Some of these goals have been significantly over-achieved, others have proved more challenging. Over time, the programme has evolved based on learning about what is working and where a change in approach has been needed, including reflecting the impact of Covid-19. An independent evaluation will be commissioned when the programme is finished, to capture learning and impact.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
17th May 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, what Church Commissioners’ funding has been awarded to that project since its inception in 2014.

The Diocese of Liverpool was awarded £900,000 of Strategic Development Funding in 2014 for its Transforming Wigan project.

A full list of projects awarded Strategic Development Funding is available on the Church of England website at https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/SDF%20project%20summaries%20July%202021.pdf

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
11th May 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to Figure 10 of the report entitled Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities funding and Strategic Development Funding published by Sir Robert Chote and others in February 2022, how many of the national total of 25,923 new disciples the Church of England expects to be in Truro Diocese; and how many of the 5,019 new disciples have been recorded by the Strategic Development Unit.

The question relates to the ‘Transforming Mission’ project in the Diocese of Truro. Strategic Development Funding was granted initially in 2017 for Transforming Mission in Falmouth and further grants were awarded in 2019 to extend the project to Truro, Camborne, St Austell, and Liskeard. Transforming Mission represents a significant investment in parish ministry in the county of Cornwall, benefitting many deprived parishes. While the project has been hit hard by Covid, with disruption meaning detailed and up-to-date data is not available, early signs are that there has been a positive recovery and return to church since the pandemic; although more time will be needed to fully realise its planned outcomes compared to if the pandemic had not happened.

Transforming Mission in Falmouth has shown encouraging results, with growth in the existing parish congregation and a new congregation, and increased engagement with the community and university in Falmouth. In Camborne, at the time of the funding award in 2019 the parishes were in regular contact with 20 children and young people per month. By May 2022 this had increased to 460 children and young people, and 230 parents and carers in regular contact with the parishes.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141113, and with reference to the finding of the report Growing Deeper that where there is an increase in stipendiary clergy, there is a greater likelihood of growth, a decrease in stipendiary clergy is more likely, on average, to lead to decline, what impact is expected on the size of the worshipping community (as defined in Statistics for Mission) in the Diocese of Liverpool, as a result of implementing Fit for Mission, in which teams will cover bigger areas; and what the five-year budget forecast is of giving across the Liverpool Diocese as a result of implementation of Fit for Mission.

The plan referred to has been developed by the Diocese of Liverpool, which is responsible for the mission of the Church of England in that diocese. All dioceses are seeking to grow their worshipping communities and wherever possible to create financially sustainable churches, in order to sustain the mission of the Church across the entire country.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141113, and with reference to the finding of the report Growing Deeper that where there is an increase in stipendiary clergy, there is a greater likelihood of growth, a decrease in stipendiary clergy is more likely, on average, to lead to decline, what impact is expected on the size of the worshipping community (as defined in Statistics for Mission) in the Diocese of Lincoln, as a result of implementing A Time to Change Together, in which across the new Deanery Partnerships the total number of stipendiary ministers will fall; and what the five-year budget forecast is of giving across the Lincoln Diocese as a result of implementation of A Time to Change Together.

The plan referred to has been developed by the Diocese of Lincoln, which is responsible for the mission of the Church of England in that diocese. All dioceses are seeking to grow their worshipping communities and wherever possible to create financially sustainable churches, in order to sustain the mission of the Church across the entire country.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141113, and with reference to the finding of the report Growing Deeper that where there is an increase in stipendiary clergy, there is a greater likelihood of growth, a decrease in stipendiary clergy is more likely, on average, to lead to decline, what impact is expected on the size of the worshipping community (as defined in Statistics for Mission) in the Diocese of Leicester, as a result of implementing Shaped by God Together, in which each Minister Community may have only one ordained oversight minister; and what the five-year budget forecast is of giving across the Leicester Diocese as a result of the implementation of Shaped by God Together.

The plan referred to has been developed by the diocese of Leicester, which is responsible for the mission of the Church of England in that diocese. All dioceses are seeking to grow their worshipping communities and wherever possible to create financially sustainable churches, in order to sustain the mission of the Church across the entire country.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the pastoral reorganisation of Wigan in the Diocese of Liverpool, Scheme 08072019, if the Diocese will provide figures for the (a) requested and (b) donated Parish Share in each of the 29 former parishes and the 7 new parishes in each year from 2016 to 2021.

While financial accounts of parishes are publicly available on the Charity Commission’s website, it is not the policy of the National Church Institutions to publish the data on attendance and finances that they request from individual parishes, because the right to publish is not given by parishes when they provide the data to the national Church.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, if the Church of England will provide figures for parish giving in each of the (a) 29 former parishes and (b) 7 new parishes in the Deanery of Wigan in the Diocese of Liverpool in each year from 2016 to 2021.

While financial accounts of parishes are publicly available on the Charity Commission’s website, it is not the policy of the National Church Institutions to publish the data on attendance and finances that they request from individual parishes, because the right to publish is not given by parishes when they provide the data to the national Church.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, if the Church of England will provide figures for the worshipping community in each of the (a) 29 former parishes and (b) 7 new parishes in the deanery of Wigan in the Diocese of Liverpool in each year from 2016 to 2021.

While financial accounts of parishes are publicly available on the Charity Commission’s website, it is not the policy of the National Church Institutions to publish the data on attendance and finances that they request from individual parishes, because the right to publish is not given by parishes when they provide the data to the national Church.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Transforming Wigan project in the Diocese of Liverpool, (a) how much Strategic Development Fund funding has been awarded in each of the seven years of the project and (b) what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that funding.

The Transforming Wigan project was awarded £900,000 of Strategic Development Funding in 2014, which was drawn down in full by the end of 2019. As with all Strategic Development Funding projects, the project was subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation by the Strategic Investment Board. The programme has generated significant learning, as well as generating outcomes around starting new church communities, engaging young people, developing new leaders, financial sustainability, and community support.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141113 on Church of England: Finance, and with reference to the Going Deeper: Church attendance statistics and clergy deployment research, published in August 2016, what financial planning assumptions have been made in the dioceses of (a) Leicester, (b) Lincoln and (c) Liverpool on parish giving over the next five years.

Funding is not given to dioceses solely for the purpose of facilitating large parish structures, but this may be a part of a wider plan that is funded by Strategic Transformation Funding, and scrutinised by the Strategic Investment Board, a subcommittee of the Archbishops’ Council.

The aims of the funding are to support major change programmes that fit with a diocese’s strategic plans and make a significant difference to their mission and financial strength. Alongside this they must help develop flourishing mission and ministry over a 5-10 year period, demonstrate a sustainable financial and people plan, and design a clear pathway to a thriving and sustainable future, with a clear plan for growth.

The assessment criteria are based around ‘Strategic Impact’ (e.g. is there a hope-filled vision embracing all contexts and traditions, a robust analysis, analysis between options, evidence or convincing logic in the approach, defining roles of clergy and lay ministers, alignment with evidence) and ‘Programme Delivery Confidence’ (e.g. is there a detailed financial plan, capability and capacity for change, a detailed measurement framework, and support for the wider cultural and emotional aspects). It would not be appropriate to reveal the internal conversations of the Strategic Investment Board, but all projects would be required to meet these criteria to access funding.

It is for individual dioceses to make decisions about the appropriate numbers of incumbent stipendiary ministers for that diocese, and also to make financial planning assumptions appropriate to their context.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141114 on Church of England: Finance, what steps the Church of England has taken to assess the effect of removing incumbent stipendiary ministers in the Leicester, Lincoln and Liverpool dioceses on the quality of pastoral care.

Funding is not given to dioceses solely for the purpose of facilitating large parish structures, but this may be a part of a wider plan that is funded by Strategic Transformation Funding, and scrutinised by the Strategic Investment Board, a subcommittee of the Archbishops’ Council.

The aims of the funding are to support major change programmes that fit with a diocese’s strategic plans and make a significant difference to their mission and financial strength. Alongside this they must help develop flourishing mission and ministry over a 5-10 year period, demonstrate a sustainable financial and people plan, and design a clear pathway to a thriving and sustainable future, with a clear plan for growth.

The assessment criteria are based around ‘Strategic Impact’ (e.g. is there a hope-filled vision embracing all contexts and traditions, a robust analysis, analysis between options, evidence or convincing logic in the approach, defining roles of clergy and lay ministers, alignment with evidence) and ‘Programme Delivery Confidence’ (e.g. is there a detailed financial plan, capability and capacity for change, a detailed measurement framework, and support for the wider cultural and emotional aspects). It would not be appropriate to reveal the internal conversations of the Strategic Investment Board, but all projects would be required to meet these criteria to access funding.

It is for individual dioceses to make decisions about the appropriate numbers of incumbent stipendiary ministers for that diocese, and also to make financial planning assumptions appropriate to their context.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141115 on Church of England: Finance, what metrics the Church of England used to measure effective ministry in dioceses planning large parish structures; and what steps the Church of England plans to take to measure effectiveness of new ministry arrangements.

Funding is not given to dioceses solely for the purpose of facilitating large parish structures, but this may be a part of a wider plan that is funded by Strategic Transformation Funding, and scrutinised by the Strategic Investment Board, a subcommittee of the Archbishops’ Council.

The aims of the funding are to support major change programmes that fit with a diocese’s strategic plans and make a significant difference to their mission and financial strength. Alongside this they must help develop flourishing mission and ministry over a 5-10 year period, demonstrate a sustainable financial and people plan, and design a clear pathway to a thriving and sustainable future, with a clear plan for growth.

The assessment criteria are based around ‘Strategic Impact’ (e.g. is there a hope-filled vision embracing all contexts and traditions, a robust analysis, analysis between options, evidence or convincing logic in the approach, defining roles of clergy and lay ministers, alignment with evidence) and ‘Programme Delivery Confidence’ (e.g. is there a detailed financial plan, capability and capacity for change, a detailed measurement framework, and support for the wider cultural and emotional aspects). It would not be appropriate to reveal the internal conversations of the Strategic Investment Board, but all projects would be required to meet these criteria to access funding.

It is for individual dioceses to make decisions about the appropriate numbers of incumbent stipendiary ministers for that diocese, and also to make financial planning assumptions appropriate to their context.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
28th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 141116 on Church of England: Finance, where funding has been awarded by the Church Commissioners to facilitate bringing about large parish structures, what (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages were identified during scrutiny by funding awarding panels.

Funding is not given to dioceses solely for the purpose of facilitating large parish structures, but this may be a part of a wider plan that is funded by Strategic Transformation Funding, and scrutinised by the Strategic Investment Board, a subcommittee of the Archbishops’ Council.

The aims of the funding are to support major change programmes that fit with a diocese’s strategic plans and make a significant difference to their mission and financial strength. Alongside this they must help develop flourishing mission and ministry over a 5-10 year period, demonstrate a sustainable financial and people plan, and design a clear pathway to a thriving and sustainable future, with a clear plan for growth.

The assessment criteria are based around ‘Strategic Impact’ (e.g. is there a hope-filled vision embracing all contexts and traditions, a robust analysis, analysis between options, evidence or convincing logic in the approach, defining roles of clergy and lay ministers, alignment with evidence) and ‘Programme Delivery Confidence’ (e.g. is there a detailed financial plan, capability and capacity for change, a detailed measurement framework, and support for the wider cultural and emotional aspects). It would not be appropriate to reveal the internal conversations of the Strategic Investment Board, but all projects would be required to meet these criteria to access funding.

It is for individual dioceses to make decisions about the appropriate numbers of incumbent stipendiary ministers for that diocese, and also to make financial planning assumptions appropriate to their context.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
23rd Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church of England has to change the definition of a parish; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 on the definition of a parish.

There are no plans to change the legal definition of a parish.

The Mission and Pastoral Measure carries forward from previous legislation a well-established legal definition of a parish in section 105: Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Church Representation Rules also contain a definition in rule 82: Church Representation Rules online - part 8 | The Church of England

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
16th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what alternative approaches to savings were considered at the same time as large parish structures and why were these alternatives rejected.

Local strategies are for individual dioceses to work out, not the Church Commissioners.

These large parish structures are not primarily about achieving financial savings, but ensuring that there is effective ministry and service to the community, given the financial and other constraints that the Church faces. Where funding has been awarded by the Church Commissioners, there has been a requirement to consider the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and these have been scrutinised by funding award panels.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
16th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate he has made of the potential net financial saving of areas that plan to implement large parish structures.

Local strategies are for individual dioceses to work out, not the Church Commissioners.

These large parish structures are not primarily about achieving financial savings, but ensuring that there is effective ministry and service to the community, given the financial and other constraints that the Church faces.

The dioceses of the Church of England are not-for-profit organisations, and so all funds are reinvested in the work of the Church, and the proposed changes are about how to use these funds in the best possible way to serve the whole of England.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
16th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the announcements of the cities of Leicester, Lincoln and Liverpool on plans to implement large parish structures in February 2022, what arrangements will be put in place to compensate for the loss in local pastoral care.

Local strategies are for individual dioceses to work out, not the Church Commissioners.

In each of these cases, the change in structures are to enable effective ministry, including pastoral care, to be present in communities given the challenges in the overall numbers of clergy and the financial challenge facing the Church, especially post-Covid. In each of the cases there is an anticipation of better pastoral care than under the status quo.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
16th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Church of England’s report, entitled From Anecdote to Evidence, what planning assumptions have been made in dioceses where large parish structures are being implemented in relation to the consequent fall in congregation numbers and drop in giving.

In the area of parish structures, the From Anecdote to Evidence report has been superseded by more recent research reports called Growing Deeper and Stronger as One. Both reports can be viewed at: Findings and reports | The Church of England

This research has shown that there is no statistically significant relationship between the number of churches within a benefice (the benefice structure) and numerical growth or decline, once clergy numbers, geography, population change and initial church size are taken into account.

The specific planning assumptions are for individual dioceses and not the Church Commissioners.

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
10th Mar 2022
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy of incumbent status have been dispossessed in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) diocese and (b) year by year; and how many schemes, including dispossession of office, are being prepared.

Under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 clergy may be dispossessed of their office when changes are made to the administrative geography for worship, ministry, and mission, such as parish or benefice boundaries. The table below summarises the number of dispossessions for 2017-2021 by diocese, based on the date when they legally came into effect. There are currently 5 schemes where the process has been started, but where we do not yet know the outcome.

Year

Diocese

clergy dispossession

2017

0

2018

Gloucester

1

2019

0

2020

Portsmouth

6

2021

St Albans

2

Andrew Selous
Second Church Estates Commissioner
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Attorney General, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

The Attorney General and Solicitor General have not claimed any exemptions from the requirement to quarantine after returning from a red list country as neither Law Officer has undertaken any official business overseas since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
8th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2022 to Question 74500 on Ministers: Public Appointments, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating and maintaining a central record of the average duration Ministers spend in post.

I refer to the reply I gave to the Hon. Gentlemen on 7 November 2022.

This information is a matter of public record. The Government has no plans to create and maintain a central record of the overall average duration of ministerial posts.

31st Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long on average Ministers spent in post in each of the last five years.

This information is not collected centrally. However ministerial appointments and their duration are a matter of public record.

22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to establish arrangements for statistical cooperation between the UK and EU, as envisaged by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 22 February is attached.

22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK. All travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption.’ The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Government has had with European counterparts on the introduction of a covid-19 passport to facilitate travel as the covid-19 restrictions ease.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 144802 on 08 February 2021.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
24th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the oral evidence of the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Mail to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on 22 February 2023, HC 1045, what steps her Department is taking with Ofcom to help ensure that Royal Mail delivers its universal service obligation.

The Government’s objective continues to be ensuring the provision of a sustainable, accessible and affordable universal postal service.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification. The Government has no role in Ofcom’s regulatory investigations.

Ofcom continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance against its universal service obligation to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
24th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Seventh Report of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee entitled Royal Mail, published on 17 March 2023, HC 1045, whether she plans to take steps with Ofcom to ensure that their investigation into Royal Mail (a) takes a multi-year approach and (b) accepts evidence from postal workers.

The Government’s objective continues to be ensuring the provision of a sustainable, accessible and affordable universal postal service.

It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification. The Government has no role in Ofcom’s regulatory investigations.

Ofcom continues to monitor Royal Mail’s performance against its universal service obligation to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the number of supply chain jobs that will be created in (a) Devon and (b) the UK from the installation of a subsea electricity generation and storage connection to Morocco by 2030.

As the Government set out in the Energy Security Plan, we are actively exploring the potential for international projects to provide clean, affordable and secure power.  We are interested in the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project and are considering – without commitment – the viability and merits of the proposal to understand if it could contribute to the UK’s energy security.

We have established a team in the department to assess the project through a Business Case process that will consider potential economic benefits, including jobs.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress has been made on the Morocco-UK Power Project; and how many hours staff in his Department have spent working on the project in the last 12 months.

As the Government set out in the Energy Security Plan, we are actively exploring the potential for international projects to provide clean, affordable and secure power.  We are interested in the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project and are considering – without commitment – the viability and merits of the proposal to understand if it could contribute to the UK’s energy security.

We have been engaging with the developer over the past 12 months, and in January established a departmental team to assess the project through a Business Case process that is ongoing. The team has spent an estimated around 9,500 hours on this project.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
8th Jun 2023
What recent progress she has made on securing the UK's association to Horizon Europe.

We are moving forward with discussions on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe. We hope negotiations will be successful, and that is our preference.

But the terms must work for UK researchers, businesses and taxpayers and reflect the lasting impact of two years of EU delays to the UK’s association.

If we are unable to associate, we will implement our bold, ambitious alternative to Horizon Europe, Pioneer.

10th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason his Department provided renewable subsidies to Drax for the burning of imported wood.

The Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes were set up to support the establishment of new low-carbon electricity generation projects, helping to reduce reliance on fossils fuels. Sustainable biomass can be used to produce renewable and low-carbon electricity. It has numerous system benefits from dispatchability to inertia, with stable established supply chains, providing energy security within a net zero consistent energy system.

The Government only supports sustainable biomass and generators only receive subsidies for biomass that complies with the UK’s strict sustainability criteria.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has granted no letters exempting BEIS Ministers returning from red list countries from managed quarantine. Two BEIS Ministers performing duties outside of their BEIS roles were granted exemptions for engagements by other Departments.

30th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress the Government has made on producing a sustainable long-term plan for carbon pricing.

The Government is committed to carbon pricing as a tool to meet our ambitious emissions reductions targets. In the Energy White Paper we announced that a UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) would be the UK’s carbon pricing policy from 1 January 2021. The UK ETS initially covers around one third of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and applies to the power sector, heavy industry, domestic aviation, and flights from the UK to the European Economic Area.

We recognise that meeting Net Zero will require us to build on this ambition. That is why in the next 9 months we will consult on how to align the UK ETS cap with an appropriate net zero trajectory. The cap will provide certainty about the UK’s decarbonisation trajectory over the long-term, giving businesses the confidence to mobilise the scale of capital investment necessary to deploy clean energy technologies.

We are also committed to explore expanding the UK ETS and will set out our aspirations to continue to lead the world on carbon pricing in the run up to COP26.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a carbon fee and dividend as part of its plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

A carbon fee and dividend is an alternative form of carbon pricing policy. The UK already prices carbon emissions. This was previously through participation in the EU Emissions Trading System, and from January 2021 is via a UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) as announced in the Energy White Paper. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to carbon pricing as a tool to reduce emissions in line with our ambitious net zero target.

Whilst we recognise the benefits of a carbon fee and dividend system, we believe that our UK ETS is better placed to support businesses to decarbonise at least cost. The UK ETS initially covers around one third of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and applies to the power sector, heavy industry, domestic aviation and flights from the UK to the European Economic Area. We will consult in the next 9 months on how to align the cap with the appropriate net zero trajectory, and we are also committed to exploring expanding the UK ETS to the two thirds of emissions currently not covered by carbon pricing, and will set out our aspirations to continue to lead the world on carbon pricing in the run up to COP26.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the potential number of job losses in the (a) travel sector, (b) tourism sector and (c) wider economy as a result of the Government's proposed 14 day quarantine requirement due to the covid-19 outbreak.

The 14 day quarantine policy is a matter for Home Office.

22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

No DCMS Ministers have received exemptions from undertaking Managed Quarantine Service in a quarantine hotel after returning from a Covid-19 red list country for the purposes of conducting official business for DCMS.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
4th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that technology companies support efforts to tackle wildlife crime and the illegal wildlife trade.

In March, the Government hosted a roundtable with a group of conservation charities, tech companies and experts to discuss and better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the conservation sector, and the nexus with digital technologies.

This is an important year for the world and this government. At COP26 we will unite parties to help accelerate action toward tackling climate change, which includes how we take forward action to protect and restore critical ecosystems. https://ukcop26.org/cop26-goals/

This work is ongoing, and my Department is committed to further understanding the opportunities and links between our collective goals for COP26 and conservation efforts. We will continue to engage with colleagues across government, Non-Government Organisations, conservation experts and tech companies in this regard.

22nd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic effect of delaying the re-opening of adult gaming centres in line with (a) licensed betting offices and (b) other elements of the non-essential retail sector.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 22 February that indoor entertainment venues, which will include Adult Gaming Centres, will open at Step 3 of the roadmap, not before 17 May. The design of the roadmap has been informed by the latest scientific evidence and seeks a balance between our key social and economic priorities, while preserving the health and safety of the country.

At next week’s Budget the Chancellor will set out the next phase in our economic support package to reflect the steps set out in the Prime Minister’s roadmap to easing restrictions, tailoring support for individuals and businesses to reflect the changing public health restrictions.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
1st May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to increase protections for members of the public from bugs and other covert listening devices bought online that may intrude on their privacy in public settings.

Private organisations using surveillance equipment will need to ensure that their use of this equipment complies with the UK’s data protection laws.

Our data protection laws impose strict obligations on both individuals and organisations to process people’s data fairly and lawfully and to ensure that any data collected is held securely. There must also be a legal basis for processing data. The way in which personal data is collected and handled must be fair and transparent, and the data should be processed in a way which individuals would expect.

The UK’s data protection laws are enforced independently of Government by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Organisations that fail to comply may be subject to enforcement action by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Whilst a breach of these laws is not generally a criminal offence, the Information Commissioner can impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance.

Where this equipment is used by individuals for private purposes, data protection rules will not normally apply, but criminal offences, such as stalking and harassment, might be relevant depending on the circumstances of the case.

Whilst the Government remains open to considering any gaps identified in the law, it currently considers that the range of existing legal provisions provides a robust framework.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) regulate, (b) supervise and (c) control the sale of covert listening and filming devices.

Private organisations using surveillance equipment will need to ensure that their use of this equipment complies with the UK’s data protection laws.

Our data protection laws impose strict obligations on both individuals and organisations to process people’s data fairly and lawfully and to ensure that any data collected is held securely. There must also be a legal basis for processing data. The way in which personal data is collected and handled must be fair and transparent, and the data should be processed in a way which individuals would expect.

The UK’s data protection laws are enforced independently of Government by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Organisations that fail to comply may be subject to enforcement action by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Whilst a breach of these laws is not generally a criminal offence, the Information Commissioner can impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance.

Where this equipment is used by individuals for private purposes, data protection rules will not normally apply, but criminal offences, such as stalking and harassment, might be relevant depending on the circumstances of the case.

Whilst the Government remains open to considering any gaps identified in the law, it currently considers that the range of existing legal provisions provides a robust framework.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of (a) nurseries, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools, (d) sixth form colleges and (e) all-through schools that have experienced construction delays that have postponed the planned opening date in each of the last five years.

The Department aims to minimise the time that any free school spends in pre-opening. Officials work closely with schools and trusts to ensure they receive the support they need, as projects progress.

If the Department is not confident that a free school will be viable, sustainable, and successful, it will not hesitate to defer or cancel a project at any point during the pre-opening phase.

The Department monitors opening dates across all free school projects but does not record whether changes to the original expected year of opening are due to site issues or other concerns around viability and readiness to open.

19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has oversight of work on school buildings that is subcontracted by its contractors.

Departmental project managers oversee work on school building projects that are procured centrally by the Department. These projects are managed and monitored on a day to day basis by appointed Technical Advisors, who oversee project delivery including the performance of subcontractors. On site, the Technical Advisor’s Clerk of Works performs site based assurance over construction works, with oversight of work that is undertaken by sub-contractors.

19th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of school rebuilding programme projects that have experienced construction delays of more than one month in each of the last five years.

The Department is transforming buildings at 500 schools over the next decade as part of its School Rebuilding Programme. The construction programmes of building projects in all Department programmes is monitored by the Department through programme management and project delivery teams.

In the four school rebuilding projects which have been completed, three were delayed more than a month against initial forecasts. These initial programme forecasts were made ahead of the impact of significant events that could not have been reasonably predicted and that affected the global market.

The Department has continuously improved its approach to building schools since the Sebastian James’ review. This identified that the Building Schools for the Future programme, introduced under the last Government in 2004, was overly bureaucratic and not designed to target poor condition, did not support high and consistent quality, did not use standardised specifications that work for education, and did not deliver value for money and economies of scale from central procurement and delivery, which are all things that are now prioritised when building schools.

Under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) this Government launched in 2014, whole schools were built one third cheaper per square metre on average than schools built under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. The Department has further built on this success in its School Rebuilding Programme, which is exceeding delivery timescales compared to PSBP, while delivering schools that will be net zero in operation. The Infrastructure and Project Authority has highlighted that our progress is very good.

24th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2022 to Question 18885 on Schools: Platinum Jubilee 2022, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on applying the lessons learned from the roll out of covid-19 vaccinations to the distribution of the Platinum Jubilee book to schools.

The department is working hard to distribute ‘Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration’ to schools as quickly as possible. The distribution of the books is being managed by DK, as per their contract with the department. The majority of deliveries to schools in England have now been completed with 3,053,000 copies delivered as of 24 June 2022, including all books delivered to schools in Northern Ireland. The delivery process is on course to be completed by 11 July 2022 at the latest.

As we are nearing the final stages of the delivery process, a discussion with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is not needed.

22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Ministers from the Department for Education have not claimed any exemptions from the requirement to quarantine in a managed quarantine facility that is required after returning from a red list country.

Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
4th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department is having with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the implementation of the Ivory Act 2018 and ensuring technology companies work with enforcement officers to prevent the illegal trade of ivory products.

The Department has not discussed the role of technology companies with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Contractors have had early discussions about the role of online sales platforms. We will work with a range of interested parties and stake holders to ensure the ban on dealing in elephant ivory is enforced effectively.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.

Penny Mordaunt
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
15th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to implement the recommendation of the APPG on Cycling and Walking in its report entitled Road justice, published in September 2023, on making exceptional hardship grounds available only on appeal in the Crown Court.

The government does not have any plans to make any changes to the application of exceptional hardship.

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to item 30 in his Department's policy paper entitled The plan for drivers, published on 2 October 2023, what steps he plans to take with industry to myth-bust concerns about electric vehicles.

As set out in the Plan for Drivers, the Government will continue to champion the transition to zero emission vehicles, by working with industry to address common misconceptions and show how EVs can be a practical option for most drivers. This will include active engagement with news and specialist industry outlets, providing up to date information in government publications and continued media monitoring to rebut false narratives and to highlight the benefits of electric vehicles.

18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to move the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035 on (a) consumers and (b) investor confidence in electric vehicles.

The decision to delay the complete ban of the sale of on petrol and diesel cars comes alongside the publication of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which sets out one of the most ambitious pathways to zero emission vehicles of any major economy. Taken together, these represent a balanced decision, which allows people to choose to travel how they want, whilst giving investors’ confidence in our the Government’s future plans.

11th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Morocco-UK Power Project on the number of maritime jobs in the UK.

The Department for Transport does not plan to make an assessment of the potential impact on the Morocco-UK Power Project on the number of maritime jobs in the UK.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
12th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of whether his Department will meet its target of increasing the proportion of children aged 5 to 10 who usually walk to school to 55 per cent by 2025.

The Government’s most recent assessment of progress towards meeting its active travel goals was set out in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) report to Parliament in July 2022, a copy of which is available in the House Libraries. The most recent National Travel Survey statistics for 2021 show that the proportion of children aged 5 to 10 who usually walk to school was 49 per cent. The latest statistics for 2022 are due to be published in September 2023 and the Government will provide a further assessment in its next report to Parliament.

12th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Levelling Up Fund bids have been given a design assessment by Active Travel England.

Active Travel England reviewed 31 Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bids where an active travel intervention was considered to be the majority element of the bid. Active Travel England will conduct design assessments of all active travel schemes funded by the LUF as they are being developed.

11th May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of a UK-wide target for reducing car miles driven annually in the UK in the context of reducing emissions and the fifth carbon budget.

In July 2021 the Department published its the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which set out an ambitious and credible pathway for decarbonising the transport sector in line with carbon budgets and net zero by 2050.

In addition, the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate pursues one of the most ambitious transitions away from fossil fuels anywhere in the world, allowing the Government to effectively decarbonise transport in this country.

27th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles fitted with a prohibited defeat device have had an emissions-related fix since 2015.

The Government is committed to reducing air pollution from all forms of transport, which has significantly reduced since 2010. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 45% and emissions of PM2.5 by 10% since that date.

The DVSA Market Surveillance Unit will continue to conduct a vehicle-emissions testing programme to monitor vehicle emissions performance and address non-compliance where identified.

Since 2015, there have been 134 manufacturer recalls or non-code actions involving a total of 1.85 million vehicles to amend or upgrade emissions systems. Not all action will have been to address non-compliance.

27th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report by the International Council on Clean Transportation entitled Reassessment of excess NOx from diesel cars in Europe following the Court Justice of the European Union rulings, published on 22 March 2023, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that report's findings on the prevalence of illegal technology that tampers with emission controls.

The Government is committed to reducing air pollution from all forms of transport, which has significantly reduced since 2010. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 45% and emissions of PM2.5 by 10% since that date.

The DVSA Market Surveillance Unit will continue to conduct a vehicle-emissions testing programme to monitor vehicle emissions performance and address non-compliance where identified.

Since 2015, there have been 134 manufacturer recalls or non-code actions involving a total of 1.85 million vehicles to amend or upgrade emissions systems. Not all action will have been to address non-compliance.

24th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to restrict the use of illegal emissions technology since 2015.

In 2016, the DVSA Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) was established to test vehicle emissions in the real world as well as in labs and investigate suspicious practice, significantly increasing oversight of vehicle emissions. The results of the MSU annual emissions-testing programme are made publicly available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dvsa-vehicle-market-surveillance-unit. Where MSU testing identifies non-compliant emissions, including suspicions of a prohibited defeat device, DVSA works with the manufacturer to implement improvement plans. Where action has been carried out this is explained within the published reports. The plan is monitored through regular updates from the manufacturer.

To restrict the use of illegal emission technologies, the Government was at the forefront of the introduction at a European level of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) requirements for new cars and vans, which came into force in September 2017. This is an emissions test conducted on public roads using portable emissions measurement equipment, which due to its random nature makes it virtually impossible to ‘cheat’. Vehicles are checked to ensure they comply with RDE requirements through in-service testing by type approval authorities, market surveillance authorities and other third-party organisations, including NGOs.

For vehicles type-approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency, the effectiveness of any ‘fixes’ installed is assessed before application.

In 2018 the Government strengthened restrictions against the use of illegal emissions technology by passing legislation making it an offence for manufacturers to place motor vehicles on the market which contain prohibited defeat systems. The Government will also bring forward legislation to enable us to require vehicles to be recalled on environmental grounds, as well as exploring other means of strengthening enforcement.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
24th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on vehicles in the UK that have been identified as containing prohibited defeat devices since 2015.

In 2016, the DVSA Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) was established to test vehicle emissions in the real world as well as in labs and investigate suspicious practice, significantly increasing oversight of vehicle emissions. The results of the MSU annual emissions-testing programme are made publicly available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dvsa-vehicle-market-surveillance-unit. Where MSU testing identifies non-compliant emissions, including suspicions of a prohibited defeat device, DVSA works with the manufacturer to implement improvement plans. Where action has been carried out this is explained within the published reports. The plan is monitored through regular updates from the manufacturer.

To restrict the use of illegal emission technologies, the Government was at the forefront of the introduction at a European level of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) requirements for new cars and vans, which came into force in September 2017. This is an emissions test conducted on public roads using portable emissions measurement equipment, which due to its random nature makes it virtually impossible to ‘cheat’. Vehicles are checked to ensure they comply with RDE requirements through in-service testing by type approval authorities, market surveillance authorities and other third-party organisations, including NGOs.

For vehicles type-approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency, the effectiveness of any ‘fixes’ installed is assessed before application.

In 2018 the Government strengthened restrictions against the use of illegal emissions technology by passing legislation making it an offence for manufacturers to place motor vehicles on the market which contain prohibited defeat systems. The Government will also bring forward legislation to enable us to require vehicles to be recalled on environmental grounds, as well as exploring other means of strengthening enforcement.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
24th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to help ensure that emission fixes installed in vehicles are effective.

In 2016, the DVSA Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) was established to test vehicle emissions in the real world as well as in labs and investigate suspicious practice, significantly increasing oversight of vehicle emissions. The results of the MSU annual emissions-testing programme are made publicly available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dvsa-vehicle-market-surveillance-unit. Where MSU testing identifies non-compliant emissions, including suspicions of a prohibited defeat device, DVSA works with the manufacturer to implement improvement plans. Where action has been carried out this is explained within the published reports. The plan is monitored through regular updates from the manufacturer.

To restrict the use of illegal emission technologies, the Government was at the forefront of the introduction at a European level of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) requirements for new cars and vans, which came into force in September 2017. This is an emissions test conducted on public roads using portable emissions measurement equipment, which due to its random nature makes it virtually impossible to ‘cheat’. Vehicles are checked to ensure they comply with RDE requirements through in-service testing by type approval authorities, market surveillance authorities and other third-party organisations, including NGOs.

For vehicles type-approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency, the effectiveness of any ‘fixes’ installed is assessed before application.

In 2018 the Government strengthened restrictions against the use of illegal emissions technology by passing legislation making it an offence for manufacturers to place motor vehicles on the market which contain prohibited defeat systems. The Government will also bring forward legislation to enable us to require vehicles to be recalled on environmental grounds, as well as exploring other means of strengthening enforcement.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
17th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to publish the results of its e-scooter trials research.

Government intends to create a Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle (LZEV) category that is distinct from the cycle and motor vehicle categories. The first beneficiaries of this new system will be e-scooters. No final decisions about e-scooter regulations have been made and the Department will consult publicly before any new arrangements come into force.

A full set of findings from our evaluation of the e-scooter trials will be published in due course.

17th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals on light powered vehicles to enable the creation of appropriate legal standards for e-scooters.

Government intends to create a Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle (LZEV) category that is distinct from the cycle and motor vehicle categories. The first beneficiaries of this new system will be e-scooters. No final decisions about e-scooter regulations have been made and the Department will consult publicly before any new arrangements come into force.

A full set of findings from our evaluation of the e-scooter trials will be published in due course.

10th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will open the Aviation Consumer Policy consultation as part of the Government’s aviation strategy; and whether changes are planned to the scope of that consultation in response to covid-related events that have affected the sector.

The Government remains absolutely committed to ensuring consumers are protected when travelling by air. As announced in both the Global Travel Taskforce report in April, and the recent announcement by Government on Regulatory reforms, we will consult on additional, flexible and modern tools to enforce consumer rights. We will publish the consultation in due course at an appropriate time.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Joint Biosecurity Centre's risk assessment in July 2021 found Germany to be a higher risk for international travel than Croatia.

Decisions on border measures are taken by Ministers, who take into account Joint Biosecurity Centre risk assessments of countries and territories, alongside wider public health factors.

In July 2021, Germany was on the amber list. Croatia was removed from the amber list and added to the green list from 19 July 2021. The countries and territories on the green list in July 2021 were those that presented the lowest risk to the UK.

From Monday 4 October, the traffic light system was replaced with a single red list of countries and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world, depending on vaccination status.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Government Ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning from the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting officials business.

Ministers from the Department for Transport have not claimed any exemptions from the requirement to quarantine in a managed quarantine facility that is required after returning from a red list country. The Department for Transport does not hold information on exemption usage by ministers from other government departments.

22nd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to ACI Europe’s 2020 Airport Industry Connectivity Report published in December 2020, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the collapse of the UK’s regional aviation network on the number of (a) air routes lost between the UK and Europe and (b) redundancies among aviation companies in the UK.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by the aviation sector at this time. The Government is committed to maintaining critical connectivity and through policies like Public Service Obligations the Department for Transport subsidises routes into London.

The Government is keen to find ways to work closely with the industry to ease restrictions on international travel gradually and sustainably. The Secretary of State for Transport will lead a successor to the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a framework that can facilitate greater travel when the time is right, while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants.

The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to tackle the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on regional airports.

The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

Aviation businesses have access to the unprecedented economic support package that the Chancellor has put in place to help businesses to manage the challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Firms can continue to draw upon the package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and VAT deferrals.

In addition to this, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England. It will provide support up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m.

Through the Global Travel Taskforce, the Government will work closely with the industry to find ways to safely and gradually ease restrictions on international travel. We will set out more detail on this soon.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to support the aviation sector to increase connectivity to pre-covid-19 pandemic levels.

The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

In addition, through the Global Travel Taskforce, the Government will work closely with the industry to find ways to safely and gradually ease restrictions on international travel. We will set out more detail on this soon.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the loss of air routes in Europe on the UK’s ability to trade with Europe.

The new UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) does not place any restriction on air services between points in the UK and points in the EU, ensuring that UK-EU trade can continue to travel freely by air. Furthermore, the TCA recognises that, at their discretion, EU Member states may permit UK airlines to operate non-scheduled air services within and beyond the EU. The TCA also allows the UK and individual EU Member States to negotiate and agree a bilateral exchange of additional “5th Freedom” all-cargo rights. My officials are engaging closely with EU Member States and with industry on these matters.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what economic forecasts his Department has made for the recovery and growth of (a) air transport and (b) the travel sector after the covid-19 outbreak.

DfT has not produced economic forecasts of recovery and growth in the air transport or travel sectors. DfT maintain a capability to produce a range of passenger demand scenarios, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the potential shape of recovery, for internal use.

The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

Aviation businesses have access to the unprecedented economic support package that the Chancellor has put in place to help businesses to manage the challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to this, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the disproportionate effect of the covid-19 outbreak on regional airports as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by the aviation sector at this time. The Government is committed to maintaining critical connectivity and through policies like Public Service Obligations the Department for Transport subsidises routes into London.

We have also taken action to support airports through the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS). This opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England. It will provide support up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m.

The Government is keen to find ways to work closely with the industry to ease restrictions on international travel gradually and sustainably. The Secretary of State for Transport will lead a successor to the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a framework that can facilitate greater travel when the time is right, while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of the downturn in the aviation industry as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Before Covid-19, aviation directly contributed at least £22 billion to GDP to the UK economy and supported around half a million jobs. This included the air transport and aerospace sectors, as well as the wider supply chain. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the aviation sector has been one of the worst affected sectors in the UK. Passenger numbers at UK airports fell by 99% at the height of the pandemic. Overall volumes of flight traffic in the UK is currently around 80% below equivalent 2019 levels. The air transport sector’s contribution to the UK economy dropped by 74% in 2020 compared to 2019 and tens of thousands of redundancy notifications have been made. In addition to the direct impact to the UK air transport sector, the wider supply-chain and economy has also been adversely impacted by the severe reduction in air passenger demand, jobs and air connectivity, with impacts on consumer spending and investment across the rest of the economy.

The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

Aviation businesses have access to the unprecedented economic support package that the Chancellor has put in place to help businesses to manage the challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to this, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England.

Through the Global Travel Taskforce, the Government will work closely with the industry to find ways to safely and gradually ease restrictions on international travel. We will set out more detail on this soon.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what stimulus package he plans to implement to incentivise new air routes being set up by airlines after strict travel restrictions are eased after the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

Aviation businesses have access to the unprecedented economic support package that the Chancellor has put in place to help businesses to manage the challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Firms can continue to draw upon the package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and VAT deferrals.

In addition to this, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England. It will provide support up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings he has had with representatives of the aviation industry to discuss the planned aviation recovery package.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Department for Transport has engaged very regularly with the industry, including through both Ministerial meetings and official led sessions.

As announced on 22nd February as part of the roadmap for the phased lifting of restrictions in England, the Secretary of State for Transport will also now lead a successor to the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a framework that can facilitate greater international travel when the time is right, while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants.

The government is also developing a forward looking strategic framework on the recovery of the sector, which we engage with the industry on and will publish later this year.

19th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Office for National Statistics release, Coronavirus and the impact on output in the UK economy: December 2020, published on 12 February 2021, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits to economic recovery of an aviation recovery package.

Before Covid-19, aviation directly contributed at least £22 billion GDP to the UK economy and supported around half a million jobs. This included the air transport and aerospace sectors, as well as the wider supply chain. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the aviation sector has been one of the worst affected sectors in the UK. Passenger numbers at UK airports fell by 99% at the height of the pandemic. Overall volumes of flight traffic in the UK is currently around 80% below equivalent 2019 levels. The air transport sector’s contribution to the UK economy dropped by 75% in 2020 compared to 2019.

The Department recognises the severe impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.

In addition, through the Global Travel Taskforce, the Government will work closely with the industry to find ways to safely and gradually ease restrictions on international travel. We will set out more detail on this soon.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate the Government has made of the number of British nationals that are unable to return to the UK due to the unavailability of English language test certificates in their country of origin.

Travellers must present proof of a negative coronavirus test result taken within the 3 days before their departure to the UK. The Government considered carefully which languages to permit the result notification to be provided in. English, French and Spanish were deemed to be appropriate as the majority of countries’ testing providers could meet this requirement.

The result notification must be understandable to Border Force personnel upon arrival in the UK for enforcement purposes. This is possible with French and Spanish, given the similarity of key wording in the notification to English. Widening the number of languages permitted for the notification would reduce the ability of Border Force to assess adequately the veracity of the result.

There is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with the FCDO when they travel or live abroad, so the Government does not hold data on the number of British nationals overseas, or those unable to return to the UK for any reason.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to expand the number of languages accepted for pre-arrival covid-19 tests.

Travellers must present proof of a negative coronavirus test result taken within the 3 days before their departure to the UK. The Government considered carefully which languages to permit the result notification to be provided in. English, French and Spanish were deemed to be appropriate as the majority of countries’ testing providers could meet this requirement.

The result notification must be understandable to Border Force personnel upon arrival in the UK for enforcement purposes. This is possible with French and Spanish, given the similarity of key wording in the notification to English. Widening the number of languages permitted for the notification would reduce the ability of Border Force to assess adequately the veracity of the result.

There is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with the FCDO when they travel or live abroad, so the Government does not hold data on the number of British nationals overseas, or those unable to return to the UK for any reason.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason pre-arrival covid-19 tests for people arriving in the UK are only accepted in English, French or Spanish.

Travellers must present proof of a negative coronavirus test result taken within the 3 days before their departure to the UK. The Government considered carefully which languages to permit the result notification to be provided in. English, French and Spanish were deemed to be appropriate as the majority of countries’ testing providers could meet this requirement.

The result notification must be understandable to Border Force personnel upon arrival in the UK for enforcement purposes. This is possible with French and Spanish, given the similarity of key wording in the notification to English. Widening the number of languages permitted for the notification would reduce the ability of Border Force to assess adequately the veracity of the result.

There is no requirement for British travellers or residents to register with the FCDO when they travel or live abroad, so the Government does not hold data on the number of British nationals overseas, or those unable to return to the UK for any reason.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Government has had with representatives of the (a) airline and (b) travel sectors on exiting the Government's covid-19 quarantine strategy.

Ministers and officials have engaged extensively with the aviation and travel industries throughout the pandemic. We remain committed to an open engagement with the sector and continue to work with industry to share information and provide industry the opportunity to contribute as policy develops, with the aim of helping retain jobs and return the sector to growth as soon as possible.

25th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to increase regulated rail fares by RPI from January 2021 based on July's RPI figure.

The Government’s plans for regulated rail fares will be communicated in due course.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits on establishing air bridges with countries that can demonstrate they have (a) no significant domestic covid-19 restrictions in place and (b) adequate public health protocols the border that comply with EASA guidance.

The Government is carefully considering the concept of ‘international travel corridors’ (also known as air bridges), which have the potential to remove the need for quarantine measures for incoming passengers. It is currently not agreed Government policy.

Ultimately, we will be guided by the science, and the health of the public will always come first.

Other countries are considering similar proposals.

27th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure social distancing by reallocating road space to pedestrians and cyclists during the covid-19 outbreak.

I welcome appropriate changes to roads to give cyclists and pedestrians more space to enable social distancing. The details are for local authorities as they are responsible for managing their roads, but I am pleased to see that some local authorities have already begun to consider such changes.

There is a well-established range of traffic management measures already available to local authorities. Some measures, such as road closures to enable filtering for different traffic types, require Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to make them legal and enforceable, and we are aware that parts of that process are difficult for local authorities to comply with during the current situation. To assist with this, the Department has published temporary guidance, which suggests ways in which authorities can continue to make TROs, whilst still complying with the intention of the legislation.

This guidance has been circulated to local authorities already and will be kept under review. It will be withdrawn when circumstances allow. It is available on the Department’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-orders-advertising-during-coranavirus-covid-19

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
27th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the airline and travel industries of imposing a 14 day quarantine on people arriving in the UK from other countries.

Airlines and airports have implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.

Our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.

27th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce pre-boarding covid-19 testing at airports.

Airlines and airports have already implemented additional measures in response to COVID-19 in line with advice from PHE, SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Airports are displaying posters and digital signage relaying Government information about COVID-19. Passengers arriving into UK airports are being given a leaflet with information about the measures in place in the UK, and announcements are made on aircraft an hour before landing.

Our approach is being kept under review as the pandemic develops. This may mean that measures and procedures change as we control the spread of, and understand more about, the virus. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer. Protecting the health of the UK public will always come first.

26th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will provide details of the civil servants affected by the closure of the Department's processing site at Clarendon House in Exeter by (a) age, (b) ethnicity, (c) gender and (d) disability.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish her Department’s (a) equality and (b) socio-economic impact assessment in respect of the closure of the Department for Work and Pension's processing site at Clarendon House, Exeter.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether compulsory redundancies will result from the closure of the Department for Work and Pension's processing site at Clarendon House, Exeter.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date the Department's processing site at Clarendon House, Exeter will close.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
26th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of jobs that will be affected by the closure of the Department for Work and Pensions' processing site at Clarendon House, Exeter.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department has considered the potential merits of (a) introducing a right to request an assessor with appropriate knowledge of a claimant’s condition, and (b) the potential impact such an assessor would have on the number of claimants requiring mandatory reconsideration and tribunal.

The Health and Disability Green Paper published last year explores how the benefits system can better meet the needs of disabled people and people with health conditions, including how we could improve assessments to better understand the impact of a person’s condition on their ability to work or live independently. We will follow up on the responses to the Green Paper through a White Paper that we will publish later this year.

20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are taken to ensure that claimants receive the correct benefit award after their assessment, rather than requiring a mandatory reconsideration or tribunal.

The Department’s aim is to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey. We have made improvements to our decision making processes to ensure that people get the support they are entitled to as quickly as possible, because decision makers can better gather relevant additional evidence earlier in the process.

20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the finances of personal independence payment and employment support allowance claimants who are required to wait for a tribunal in order to receive their correct benefits award.

The Department understands the potential effect of waiting for a tribunal hearing which is why our aim is to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey. Recent improvements to our decision-making processes mean that Decision Makers can better gather relevant additional evidence. This helps to ensure that people get the support they are entitled to as quickly as possible, without the need for a tribunal appeal.

20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of tribunals for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment benefits claims in (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

20th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of mandatory reconsiderations for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment benefits claims in (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

The information for the financial years covered by the request are detailed in the tables below:

2019-20
(£m)

2020-21 (£m)

PIP

£23.7

£24.8

ESA

£6.6

£1.6

Cost figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1m

Data Source: ABM

The cost figures quoted are estimated DWP level 1 operating costs, including both direct delivery staff and non-staff costs. Non-staff costs are only those costs incurred in local cost centres, relating to direct delivery staff.

Please note that the data supplied is from the Departmental Activity Based Models. This data is derived from unpublished management information which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standards. It should therefore be treated with caution. The Departmental Activity Based staffing models are a snapshot of how many people were identified as undertaking specified activities as assigned by line managers.

22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

None of the Department’s ministers have travelled to a ‘red list’ country and therefore no exemptions have been required.

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of employees with epilepsy working in Government departments.

We do not hold information for other Government departments and can only answer in relation to the Department for Work and Pension’s staff.

I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer given to the Honourable Member for East Renfrewshire to Question 132962 on 11 January 2021. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-12-30/132962

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of companies that are signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme; and what assessment she has made of the effect of that scheme on employment rates for disabled people.

As of 31st March 2021, over 20,000 employers had signed up to the Disability Confident (DC) scheme covering over 11 million employees. Disability Confident is a learning journey that provides employers with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to attract, recruit, retain and progress disabled people in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to publically report on disability employment and mental health using the Voluntary Reporting Framework (VRF), but are not required to provide government with this data.

18th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department is using to assess the (a) clinical and (b) cost effectiveness of offering Evusheld on the NHS.

The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the independent expert body to develop guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of Evusheld in its licensed indications for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. NICE will develop guidance in line with its established methods and processes for health technology evaluation which are published and available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36/chapter/introduction-to-health-technology-evaluation.

NICE is appraising Evusheld for the treatment of COVID-19 alongside other licensed therapeutics and currently expects to publish final guidance in March 2023. NICE’s final guidance on Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 is currently expected in April 2023. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

18th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when Evusheld will be available on the NHS.

The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the independent expert body to develop guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of Evusheld in its licensed indications for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. NICE will develop guidance in line with its established methods and processes for health technology evaluation which are published and available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36/chapter/introduction-to-health-technology-evaluation.

NICE is appraising Evusheld for the treatment of COVID-19 alongside other licensed therapeutics and currently expects to publish final guidance in March 2023. NICE’s final guidance on Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 is currently expected in April 2023. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

18th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department uses to assess the cost-effectiveness of the use of Evusheld against the cost of admission to a hospital for an immune-compromised person with complex health conditions.

The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the independent expert body to develop guidance for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of Evusheld in its licensed indications for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. NICE will develop guidance in line with its established methods and processes for health technology evaluation which are published and available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36/chapter/introduction-to-health-technology-evaluation.

NICE is appraising Evusheld for the treatment of COVID-19 alongside other licensed therapeutics and currently expects to publish final guidance in March 2023. NICE’s final guidance on Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 is currently expected in April 2023. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in the UK have been diagnosed with Long Covid.

NHS England promotes the use of diagnostic coding for post-COVID-19 syndrome. In primary care, this data is recorded and monitored via OpenSAFELY, which shows as of March 2022, 162,881 people had received a diagnostic code for the long term effects of COVID-19.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in the UK have been diagnosed with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, as defined in the NICE guidelines.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of GP appointments in Exeter constituency (a) in the last 12 months and (b) in 2013.

This information is not collected in the format requested. In the 12 months to August 2022, there were 8.16 million general practice appointments in the NHS Devon Integrated Care System area, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. Of these, 62.5% were conducted face-to-face.

19th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of cancelled operations in Exeter constituency in the past 12 months.

This information is not collected in the format requested.

19th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of FTE fully qualified GPs (excluding GPs in Training Grade) practicing in Exeter (a) as of 19 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

This information is not collected in the format requested.

19th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of GP appointments in Exeter conducted face-to-face in (a) the last 12 months and (b) 2013.

This information is not collected in the format requested. In the 12 months to August 2022, there were 8.16 million general practice appointments in the NHS Devon Integrated Care System area, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. Of these, 62.5% were conducted face-to-face.

18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Exeter constituency.

‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, such as improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health, including in Exeter, Leeds North West, Tooting and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituencies. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities also works with local system partners in these areas, including providing evidence and intelligence.

18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with HIV in Exeter constituency in each of the last 5 five years.

The information is not collected in the format requested.

18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made.

18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made.

18th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of (a) four and (b) 11 were admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction due to decay in Exeter constituency in each of the last five years.

This information is not held in the format requested.

17th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in Exeter constituency in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the number of people that were diagnosed with diabetes in Exeter constituency in each of the calendar years from 2016 to 2020, broken down by diabetes type.

Year of diagnosis

Number of people diagnosed with diabetes

Type 1

Type 2 and Other

2016

15

235

2017

15

260

2018

15

280

2019

15

390

2020

20

415

Source: National Diabetes Audit

Notes:

  1. A person may have more than 1 diabetes diagnosis within the National Diabetes Audit. In this case, an algorithm is used to derive the best diagnosis date and diabetes type for each person. This is used in the analysis above.
  2. Disclosure control has been applied to all figures, as per the National Diabetes Audit publication – all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5, unless the number is 1 to 7, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’.
  3. Diabetes type is reported as ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2 and other’ within the National Diabetes Audit.
    1. ‘Type 1’ includes where a person is recorded as having Type 1 diabetes in the National Diabetes Audit.
    2. ‘Type 2 and other’ includes where a person is recorded as having Type 2 diabetes, Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young, other or non-specified diabetes in the National Diabetes Audit.

17th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of midwives in Exeter constituency.

NHS England retains oversight of local workforce plans and is updated on vacancy rates. However, recruitment and retention is undertaken at trust level.

In 2022, an additional £127 million has been invested in the National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care, including in Exeter. This is in addition to the £95 million invested in 2021 to fund a further 1,200 midwives and 100 consultant obstetricians. The NHS People Plan focuses on improving the retention of NHS staff by prioritising staff health and wellbeing. In 2022/23, £45 million has been allocated to support the continuation of 40 mental health hubs, the Professional Nurse Advocates programme and expanding the NHS Practitioner Health service.

17th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in Exeter constituency.

The NHS Long Term Plan stated the aim of increasing the mental health workforce in England by an additional 27,000 professionals by 2023/24. NHS England and Health Education England are working with local integrated care systems, including in NHS Devon, to confirm plans for service models, supply, retention and recruitment until 2024.

NHS England continues to support local systems, including in NHS Devon, to develop tailored health and wellbeing offers to meet the needs of the local mental health workforce. This includes mental health hubs in each integrated care system and occupational health services which are being supported through the Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing national programme.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
17th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Exeter constituency.

We are working with NHS England, Health Education England and the profession to increase the general practice workforce in England, including in Exeter. This includes measures to improve recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice.

The updated GP Contract Framework announced a number of new schemes, alongside continued support for existing recruitment and retention schemes for the general practice workforce. This includes the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the National GP Induction and Refresher, the Locum Support Scheme, the New to Partnership Payment and the Supporting Mentors Scheme.

17th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made.

14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of care homes were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Exeter constituency as of 14 October 2022.

As of 14 October, 26 or 81.3% of care homes in Exeter constituency were rated ‘good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission.

14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Exeter constituency.

The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan. The plan will consider the number of staff and the roles required and will set out the actions and reforms needed to improve workforce supply and retention, including in Exeter.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of GP surgeries were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Exeter constituency as of 14 October 2022.

As of 14 October, 11 or 78.6% of general practitioner surgeries in Exeter were rated as ‘good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission.

14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made. The Government’s national maternity safety ambition aims to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries in babies occurring during or soon after birth, by 2025. Since 2010, the rate of stillbirths has reduced by 19.3%, the rate of neonatal mortality for babies born over 24 weeks gestational age of viability has reduced by 36% and maternal mortality has reduced by 17%.

We have introduced targeted interventions to accelerate progress, such as the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the Brain Injury Reduction Programme. NHS England has also invested £127 million in National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care. This is in addition to the £95 million investment made in 2021 to fund the establishment of a further 1,200 midwifery and 100 consultant obstetrician posts. NHS England is offering funding and support to trusts to recruit an additional 300 to 500 overseas midwives in the next 12 months.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of dental practices were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Exeter constituency as of 14 October 2022.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not currently rate providers of primary dental care services.  The CQC publishes an assessment against five ‘key aspects’ that determine whether a dental provider is meeting its regulatory requirements. These are:

- Treating people with respect and involving them in their care;

- Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs;

- Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm;

- Staffing; and

- Quality and suitability of management.

The CQC provides information for the public to find local dentists and profiles, which display the regulatory performance and inspection reports.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made. Local authorities have a responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that the care needs of the local population are met.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in Exeter constituency.

The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’, published in February 2022, stated the ambition to reduce patient backlogs for planned National Health Service treatments and the Government plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25. We made £520 million available to expand general practice capacity during the pandemic. This was in addition to at least £1.5 billion announced in 2020 by 2024 which includes supporting increased workloads in general practitioner (GP) surgeries, including in Exeter. In September 2022, ‘Our plan for patients’ announced measures to support GP practices increase access and manage workloads, such as the provision of 31,000 phone lines and funding to expand the staff roles working in general practice, including in Exeter.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Exeter constituency.

On 22 September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which contains measures to assist people make an informed choice on their general practitioner (GP) practice, book an appointment more easily, benefit from more care options and increase the diversity of general practice teams. This aims to increase the availability of appointment types, such as face-to-face, in England, including in Exeter.

NHS England’s guidance states that GP practices must provide face to face appointments and remote consultations and should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.  While remote consultations can provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for patients, this is not suitable for all patients or in all circumstances.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in Exeter constituency since 2017.

Since January 2017, nine care homes in Exeter constituency have been deactivated. The Care Quality Commission records care homes which have closed as ‘deactivated’. The ‘deactivated’ locations exclude care homes where the provider continues to operate under a new, separate registration. This could be due to a legal entity change or a change in the provider.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Exeter constituency.

The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Exeter. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.

The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
12th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the NHS dentist provision in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made. However, NHS England asked dental practices to return to full delivery of contracted activity from July 2022, including in Exeter. In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Exeter.

The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

12th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Exeter constituency.

No specific assessment has been made. However, NHS England asked dental practices to return to full delivery of contracted activity from July 2022, including in Exeter. In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Exeter.

The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

12th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Exeter constituency.

In September we announced ‘Our Plan for Patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health and eating disorder services, including in Exeter. Making it easier to access general practice through our ABCD priorities will expand this route as a gateway to mental health care.

Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand these services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Walsall South.

We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness, including eating disorders, by 2023/24 and an additional £53 million per year in children and young people's community eating disorder services to increase capacity in the 70 community eating disorder teams.

12th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people with eating disorders in Exeter constituency.

In September we announced ‘Our Plan for Patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health and eating disorder services, including in Exeter. Making it easier to access general practice through our ABCD priorities will expand this route as a gateway to mental health care.

Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand these services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Walsall South.

We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness, including eating disorders, by 2023/24 and an additional £53 million per year in children and young people's community eating disorder services to increase capacity in the 70 community eating disorder teams.

12th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Exeter constituency.

The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.

National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

7th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether UK-based organisations can access the EDLSNet notification system following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and UKHSA on 1 December 2021.

The European Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance Network notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems, which integrates several surveillance systems which were previously independent. This facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.

Appointed experts from the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within the European Centre for Disease Control’s (ECDC) cooperation framework, and international organisations can access the portal to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens which may threaten public health in the EU and the EEA. The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework.

7th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish full details of the memorandum of understanding aimed to strengthen the collaboration between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and UKHSA on matters of communicable diseases prevention and control, signed on 1 December 2021.

On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control announced a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/ecdc-signs-memorandum-understanding-uk-health-security-agency

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc

23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department will take to support people who withdraw from local authority care as a result of no longer being able to afford it.

Local authorities have a duty to meet the eligible needs of individuals in certain situations, including where the individual has assets below the means test threshold and is therefore eligible for funded support.

Whether a local authority can charge an individual for some or all of the cost of their care will depend on their financial situation. Under the Care Act 2014, charging is based on principles including that people should not be charged more they can afford to pay. It would therefore be for the local authority to determine whether a revised financial assessment is required in the event the cost of living is impeding an individual’s ability to contribute to meeting their eligible care needs.

We have announced that we will reform our overall data and assurance approach to improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of adult social care data. From April 2022, we have unfrozen the Minimum Income Guarantee for those receiving care in their own homes and the Personal Expenses Allowance for care home residents. We have implemented this reform ahead of the planned timetable to support people with income levels.

From October 2023, we will implement a more generous means testing regime to ensure that more people will receive support for their care costs at an earlier stage and retain more of their savings when contributing to care costs. We will continue to work with the sector to understand the potential impact of inflationary pressures on adult social care costs by October 2023.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) collate, (b) monitor and (c) report data on people withdrawing from care support as a result of no longer being able to afford it.

Local authorities have a duty to meet the eligible needs of individuals in certain situations, including where the individual has assets below the means test threshold and is therefore eligible for funded support.

Whether a local authority can charge an individual for some or all of the cost of their care will depend on their financial situation. Under the Care Act 2014, charging is based on principles including that people should not be charged more they can afford to pay. It would therefore be for the local authority to determine whether a revised financial assessment is required in the event the cost of living is impeding an individual’s ability to contribute to meeting their eligible care needs.

We have announced that we will reform our overall data and assurance approach to improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of adult social care data. From April 2022, we have unfrozen the Minimum Income Guarantee for those receiving care in their own homes and the Personal Expenses Allowance for care home residents. We have implemented this reform ahead of the planned timetable to support people with income levels.

From October 2023, we will implement a more generous means testing regime to ensure that more people will receive support for their care costs at an earlier stage and retain more of their savings when contributing to care costs. We will continue to work with the sector to understand the potential impact of inflationary pressures on adult social care costs by October 2023.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the rise in the cost of living on the levels of support people who pay for or contribute to their local authority social care support are able to afford.

Local authorities have a duty to meet the eligible needs of individuals in certain situations, including where the individual has assets below the means test threshold and is therefore eligible for funded support.

Whether a local authority can charge an individual for some or all of the cost of their care will depend on their financial situation. Under the Care Act 2014, charging is based on principles including that people should not be charged more they can afford to pay. It would therefore be for the local authority to determine whether a revised financial assessment is required in the event the cost of living is impeding an individual’s ability to contribute to meeting their eligible care needs.

We have announced that we will reform our overall data and assurance approach to improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of adult social care data. From April 2022, we have unfrozen the Minimum Income Guarantee for those receiving care in their own homes and the Personal Expenses Allowance for care home residents. We have implemented this reform ahead of the planned timetable to support people with income levels.

From October 2023, we will implement a more generous means testing regime to ensure that more people will receive support for their care costs at an earlier stage and retain more of their savings when contributing to care costs. We will continue to work with the sector to understand the potential impact of inflationary pressures on adult social care costs by October 2023.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
22nd Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients not seen within the operational standard of the Cancer Pathway in (a) the South West and (b) Exeter as at 22 March 2022.

This information is not available in the format requested, as data on cancer pathways is collected at trust and clinical commissioning group level.


Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
28th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the overall cost was of (a) travel and (b) subsistence for the UK Delegation when attending the G7 Health Ministers summit in July 2021.

Ministers travelled in official vehicles for this event. Travel expenses for senior Departmental officials supporting Ministers totalled £1,018.44.

It is not possible to separate the United Kingdom delegation’s subsistence costs from the overall event costs. All hotel costs were included in the Department’s booking for exclusive use of the hotel during the G7 event. Hotel costs and costs of official dinners during the event were part of the overall Cabinet office budget for this event. The hotel costs for core delegates, including from G7 partner countries and UK supporting officials was £54,422 excluding VAT. The cost of official dinners was £4,195 excluding VAT.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

None of the Department’s ministers have returned from a ‘red list’ country and therefore no exemptions have been required.

22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to allow people enrolled on the Novavax covid-19 vaccine trial to receive either two doses or a booster dose of an approved covid-19 vaccine.

The decision for a participant in a vaccine trial to receive a further vaccination should be made in conjunction with clinicians. This may vary depending on the vaccine. The clinical guidance for administering further vaccinations for trial participants is currently under review.

22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to enable people enrolled on the Novavax covid-19 vaccine trial to access an international NHS covid-19 pass for the purposes of travel.

All Novavax clinical trial participants in England and Wales can access their domestic COVID Pass through the NHS App or online through NHS.UK.

As of 21 September, approximately two thirds of Novavax trial participants in England, can present their vaccination information through the NHS COVID Pass for travel purposes. Work is ongoing to ensure that all clinical trial participants can access an NHS COVID Pass for travel in the near future.

22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish the methodology used by the Joint Biosecurity Centre when deciding to add a country to the covid-19 red list for international travel.
22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS software will be amended to allow multiple covid-19 vaccinations to be recorded and the appropriate vaccinations required for domestic and international travel passes be displayed by the NHS app.

Currently, the first and last vaccine doses are shown on the NHS COVID Pass for international travel, with a maximum of two doses in accordance with international standards. We are reviewing the implications of booster vaccines for international travel certification, including how these doses could be incorporated into the NHS COVID Pass for travel, subject to international guidelines.


Multiple vaccinations, or doses in addition to a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, are not required for domestic certification and therefore do not impact the domestic NHS COVID Pass.

22nd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been granted exemptions from quarantining in a hotel after returning from a covid-19 red list country; and for what reasons those exemptions were granted.

The information on exemptions from ‘red list’ countries is not available in a consolidated format as individual departments are responsible for managing exemptions relevant to their responsibilities. Exemptions from managed quarantine are agreed on a case by case basis and are recorded by the relevant Government department.

Exemptions include those that are work related such as jobs that are essential for the effective running of the country, for medical and compassionate reasons or for safeguarding unaccompanied minors. Those seeking an exemption on medical or compassionate grounds would be granted an exemption before travel while in some other categories, prior approval for an exemption is not required. In these cases, relevant documentation would be presented to confirm exemption from managed quarantine. Due to the range of conditions and evidence required to satisfy each exemption, this data is not collected in a central record.

10th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for South Africa's status as a covid-19 red list country of data and genetic sequencing from that country showing the relative prevalence of the Beta and Delta variants of covid-19.

All countries, including South Africa, are continually monitored. The Joint Biosecurity Centre’s (JBC) assessments which inform Ministers’ decisions on red, amber and green categorisation are reviewed every three weeks. The JBC uses a range of factors in its assessments, such as variant prevalence, genomic surveillance capability, virus transmission risk and variants of concern and variants under investigation. The methodology for international travel risk assessment is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-risk-assessment-methodology-to-inform-international-travel-traffic-light-system

9th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reassess South Africa’s red list categorisation in response to South Africa’s low covid-19 infection rate.

All countries, including South Africa, are continually monitored as part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s assessments which are reviewed every three weeks.

19th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of Gina Colangelo's (a) travel, (b) subsistence and (c) other expenses claimed by Gina Colangelo for the G7 Health Minister's meeting in June 2021.

Ms Coladangelo attended the G7 Health Minister’s meeting as a part of the UK delegation.

All travel and subsistence costs were covered as part of the Department’s overall booking. Ms Coladangelo did not claim any additional expenses.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
19th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role former non-executive director Gina Colangelo played in the G7 Health Minister's meeting in June 2021.

Ms Coladangelo attended the G7 Health Minister’s meeting as a part of the UK delegation.

All travel and subsistence costs were covered as part of the Department’s overall booking. Ms Coladangelo did not claim any additional expenses.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
28th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the evidential basis supporting the decision to advise against travel to amber destinations for leisure purposes in order to protect public health.

We are unable to provide the information requested as it relates to the formulation of Government policy. Decisions regarding travel advice are informed by the data within the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risks assessments alongside wider public health factors, including the percentage of a country’s population that have been vaccinated; the rate of infection; the prevalence of variants of concern; and the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risk assessment data for the entire covid-19 traffic light list and (b) risk assessment status of all countries and destinations on green, amber and red lists.

Decisions to place countries on the ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ lists are taken by Ministers informed by evidence, including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risk assessments alongside other wider public health factors. We are unable to provide the advice, evidence and methodology which informs these decisions as it relates to the on-going development of Government policy. However, further information on the data informing international travel risk assessments is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/data-informing-international-travel-risk-assessments

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to allow people who have been fully vaccinated against covid-19 arriving into England from amber destinations to avoid the need for self-isolation from 19 July 2021.

Certain categories of international arrivals who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine or take a day 8 test when travelling from ‘amber list’ countries. This currently includes individuals vaccinated under the United Kingdom vaccine rollout and travellers who have been vaccinated in the United States or European Union with a European Medicines Agency, Swissmedic or United States Food and Drug Administration authorised vaccine.

Travellers will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on day two, with any positive results requiring isolation in line with domestic social distancing regulations. This will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
18th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will urgently commission research into the Beta variant of covid-19.

Public Health England has published a paper into the Beta variant, ‘Evidence of escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 from natural and vaccine-induced sera’, which is available at the following link:

https://researchportal.phe.gov.uk/en/publications/evidence-of-escape-of-sars-cov-2-variant-b1351-from-natural-and-v

The National Institute for Health Research has funded studies looking at specific aspects of variants of concern, including the Beta variant. The studies are in progress and details will be published in due course.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, whether his Department has conducted a recent analysis of the (a) transmissibility of the Beta variant compared with the Alpha variant, (b) severity of disease caused by the Beta variant compared with the Alpha variant and (c) ability of the Beta variant to evade the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine.

Public Health England’s (PHE) data published on 11 June shows that transmissibility of the Beta variant is similar to Alpha in the United Kingdom. PHE monitors the epidemiology and growth rate of all variants of concern in England. PHE also monitors the case fatality ratio of all variants of concern in England. The current case fatality ratio in England is similar between Alpha and Beta amongst those individuals who have completed 28 day follow up.

PHE’s risk assessment of 1 April 2021 states that there is evidence of reduced ability of vaccinated individuals to neutralise the virus, across vaccines. Evidence suggests the magnitude of this effect is larger for Beta, compared to Gamma or Alpha. There is clinical trial evidence of decreased effectiveness in humans for preventing mild to moderate infection with Beta variant. This varies by vaccine. PHE reviews and updates the variant risk assessment.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the public health advice on which the latest review of the Government’s foreign travel covid-19 traffic light system was based.

Decisions to designate countries as either ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ on the ‘traffic light’ system are taken by the Government to protect public health. They are informed by evidence including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risks assessments alongside wider public health factors. We are unable to provide the advice, evidence and methodology which informs these decisions as it relates to the on-going development of Government policy. However, further information on the data informing international travel risk assessments is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-informing-international-travel-traffic-light-risk-assessments

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the public health advice on which the decision not to place Malta on the green list in the Government’s latest review of its covid-19 traffic light system.

Decisions to designate countries, such as Malta, as either ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ on the ‘traffic light’ system are taken by the Government to protect public health. They are informed by evidence including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risks assessments alongside wider public health factors. We are unable to provide the advice, evidence and methodology which informs these decisions as it relates to the on-going development of Government policy. However, further information on the data informing international travel risk assessments is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-informing-international-travel-traffic-light-risk-assessments

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will he publish the public health advice on which the decision to move Portugal from the green to the orange list in the Government’s latest review of its covid-19 traffic light system.

Decisions to designate countries, such as Portugal, as either ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ on the ‘traffic light’ system are taken by the Government to protect public health. They are informed by evidence including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risks assessments alongside wider public health factors.

We are unable to provide the advice, evidence and methodology which informs these decisions as it relates to the on-going development of Government policy. However, further information on the data informing international travel risk assessments is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-informing-international-travel-traffic-light-risk-assessments

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will support the implementation of the recommendations on epilepsy in the reports by the Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) and MBRRACE to help speed up the prevention of avoidable epilepsy deaths.

We support the Learning Disability Mortality Review’s recommendation that the safety of people with epilepsy should be prioritised. It is for the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence to establish their guidelines and for the Care Quality Commission to agree how their inspections are conducted and what is considered.

In light of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths conducted by MBBRACE, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is reviewing all available data and arranging to meet with key patient support organisations and prescribers to explore how information provided to women can be improved. The conclusions of a safety review by the Commission of Human Medicines of the risks of epilepsy medicines in pregnancy have recently been published.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to issue guidance on the mental health needs of children and young people with epilepsy to (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities.

There are no current plans to issue specific guidance.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish data on epilepsy deaths in 2020.

Data on deaths from epilepsy is published by the Office for National Statistics.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to (a) replace or (b) supplement the covid-19 quarantine system for people arriving in the UK with GPS tracking technology.

We continue to look at the role that technology can play in ensuring arrivals are quarantining and to provide them with support through their quarantine period.

Due to the increased risk of new variants entering the United Kingdom, introducing managed quarantine facilities for ‘red list’ arrivals and home quarantine with mandatory testing for other arrivals is the right course of action to take now to safeguard public health and the vaccine programme.

8th Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions the Government has had with representatives of the (a) airline and (b) travel sectors on replacing the covid-19 hotel quarantine rules with GPS tracking technology.

We have engaged extensively with the airline and travel sectors in implementing the managed quarantine scheme and continue to do so. We are looking at the role that technology can play in ensuring travellers are quarantining and supporting them through their quarantine period.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
27th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what scientific evidence he consulted prior to introducing the hotel quarantine policy; and if she will publish that evidence in full.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
27th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential effect of his hotel quarantine policy on covid-19 (a) infection and (b) death rates in the UK prior to introducing that policy.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
13th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations his Department has received on potential liability relating to patients who receive a first dose of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine, and who have their second dose postponed or cancelled.

A search of the Department's correspondence database showed that more than 11,600 cases were received relating to COVID-19 vaccines, as of 1 April. However, information relating to the number of cases on this specific issue could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are systems in place in local vaccine centres to inoculate non-priority groups in the event that doses of a vaccine are about to expire but have not yet been administered.

No vaccines should be wasted. All vaccination centres should have a backup list people in the cohorts currently being vaccinated, who can be called in case doses would be wasted. If no members of the currently vaccinated cohorts are available, it is recommended that members of the priority cohorts next in line be vaccinated.

In the unlikely case the above is not possible, and where the general practice can demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing that it is clinically appropriate and where resources would otherwise have been wasted, then individuals present on site should be vaccinated based on clinical judgement. This is in line with the Enhanced Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will publish weekly figures on the number of covid-19 vaccine doses which were spoilt due to (a) supply chain issues and (b) appointment no-shows.

The information requested is not currently held centrally. Work is ongoing across the vaccination programme to standardise and increase the information available for management purposes.

All vaccination services have been advised to maintain backup reserve list of eligible people to take up any missed appointments.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is the Government's policy to deliver second doses of covid-19 vaccines within the 12 week timeframe; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect on vaccine efficacy in the event that timeframe is exceeded.

The Government’s policy, based on recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the four United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers, is that second doses should be administered within 12 weeks of the first dose. For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the second dose may be given between three to 12 weeks following the first dose whilst the second dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may be given between four to 12 weeks following the first dose.

Recent data from Public Health England shows a single dose of either the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine reduces hospital admissions by 80% in the over 70 year olds. No assessment has been made of the potential effect on vaccine efficacy at a timeframe over 12 weeks.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will publish the modelling used to determine initial vaccination targets.

Commercial confidentiality means that we cannot release any information on modelling that has been used by the Government, as that is contingent on sensitive supply information.

The Government’s priority for the current COVID-19 vaccination programme is the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Our prioritisation strategy for the vaccine roll-out has allowed us to protect the most vulnerable in society as quickly as possible. These aims, coupled with the capacity of NHS England and NHS Improvement to deploy vaccines has allowed initial vaccine targets to be set. By 15 February we had successfully offered a first vaccine dose to everyone in the top four priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and are on track to meet the mid-April target of offering a first vaccine dose to the top nine priority groups.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidential basis was for the Government's decision to delay the second dose of the covid-19 Pfizer vaccine; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of that policy with guidance issued by the manufacturer and the World Health Organization on that matter.

The decision to extend the dosing interval to up to twelve weeks was based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the United Kingdom’s four Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and was designed to maximize the impact of the vaccination programme.

After studying all the available data, the JCVI concluded that the first dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine provided substantial protection from severe COVID-19 disease within two to three weeks of vaccination.  Whilst the second vaccine dose is important to sustain the protection and extend its duration, in the short term the additional impact of the second dose is likely to be modest and most of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine.

The four UK CMOs agreed with the JCVI that prioritising the first doses of vaccine for as many people as possible on the priority list would protect the greatest number of at-risk people in the shortest possible time. The evidence underpinning the JCVI’s advice and the statement of the four CMOs can be found at the following links:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/prioritising-the-first-covid-19-vaccine-dose-jcvi-statement/optimising-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-maximum-short-term-impact

www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers-on-the-prioritisation-of-first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines

This policy is compatible with guidance issued by the manufacturer. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA’s) Information for Healthcare Professionals regarding the Pfizer vaccine states that the second dose should be given at least 21 days after the first dose. This advice is based on clinical trial data and other information submitted to the MHRA by the manufacturer.

The interim guidance for use of the Pfizer Vaccine, set out by the World Health Organization on 8 January 2021, was not available to assess when the decision to extend the dose interval in the UK was made on 30 December 2020. Different organisations will come to their own view as to the vaccination approach appropriate to their respective situations, and compatibility with the advice of external organisations or institutions is not a pre-requisite for approaches taken within the Government’s vaccine deployment programme.

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what modelling his Department has undertaken on the optimal strategy for covid-19 vaccine roll-out; and when that modelling is planned to be published.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) takes account of a range of scientific information including modelling work and this is cited in their minutes and published statements which are available at the following link:

https://app.box.com/s/iddfb4ppwkmtjusir2tc

The modelling work by Warwick University which informed the JCVI’s phase one advice is available at the following link:

http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/149402/1/WRAP-Modelling-optimal-vaccination-strategy-SARS-CoV-2-2021.pdf

The modelling work which informed their advice for extending the interval between the first and second dose is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prioritising-the-first-covid-19-vaccine-dose-jcvi-statement

The modelling work which informed the JCVI’s phase two interim advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/university-of-warwick-covid-19-vaccine-impact-forecast-13-january-2021

12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of potential changes in liability relating to the covid-19 vaccine process in circumstances where vaccines are not used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Clinical negligence liabilities for individuals engaged in providing the COVID-19 vaccination programme through general practitioner practices and National Health Service trusts will be managed under the usual state indemnity schemes for clinical negligence - the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice and the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. In addition, pharmacy led sites will be covered by a state indemnity for clinical negligence to 31 August 2021. Volunteers provided by St John Ambulance are covered for clinical negligence by their own insurance.

28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will meet representatives of SUDEP Action to discuss its research into the effect of covid-19 on (a) people with epilepsy, (b) health professionals and (c) people bereaved by that condition.

While there are no specific plans to meet representatives of SUDEP Action at this time, the Government is committed to working with the charity sector to utilise their research into epilepsy, and to ensure that the needs and views of the diverse and often specialist stakeholders and services are captured and valued.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking in response to the recent Learning Disability Mortality Review's (LeDeR) recommendation that epilepsy safety should be prioritised with basic safety measures including (a) the completion of SUDEP Action’s SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist and (b) regular risk assessments integrated into care to prevent future avoidable epilepsy deaths; and if he will meet with representatives of SUDEP Action to discuss the Government’s plans.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 16 July 2020 (HCWS378), the Government is clear that we must address the issues raised in the LeDeR report to ensure the care that each individual deserves is provided. We are considering the report and its recommendations in more detail, and will work with stakeholders to determine the specific action that must be taken.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to (a) promote the NHS Rightcare Epilepsy Toolkit and (b) implement best practice highlighted in that toolkit on tackling epilepsy mortality.

The NHS England and NHS Improvement Rightcare Epilepsy toolkit, endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and developed in partnership with Epilepsy Action, SUDEP Action and Young Epilepsy, provides support for clinicians to understand the priorities in epilepsy care and key actions to take. The toolkit is available at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/rightcare/products/pathways/epilepsy-toolkit/

Clinicians should take into account best-practice guidance, including the Rightcare Epilepsy toolkit as well as other guidelines produced by NHS England and NHS Improvement and NICE, when tackling epilepsy mortality and providing care for people suffering with epilepsy.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions the Government is having with specialist bereavement organisations on the wider support that bereaved families need (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government is taking a cross-Government approach to address bereavement support and help ensure that families and friends of those deceased get the support they need – particularly during this difficult time. We are engaging with a range of specialist bereavement organisations to assess the need for support.

We will continue to engage with specialist bereavement organisations to assess how we can support them in doing their important work, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

14th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure public health advice on covid-19 is available in the major languages spoken in England.

Public Health England has published translations of updated core public health guidance into the 10 most commonly spoken languages (other than English) in the United Kingdom. This information has been translated into the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese: simplified, Chinese: traditional, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the national sexual health and reproductive health strategy.

Preliminary work on developing the national sexual and reproductive health strategy began in autumn 2019. This work was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that we are moving forward with the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, work on the national sexual health and reproductive health strategy will be restarting shortly.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when work on the national sexual and reproductive health strategy will commence.

Preliminary work on developing the national sexual and reproductive health strategy began in autumn 2019. This work was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that we are moving forward with the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, work on the national sexual health and reproductive health strategy will be restarting shortly.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
3rd Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 23rd June 2020, Official Report, column 1180, how Government covid-19 guidance permits family and friends to perform childcare for people ineligible to form social bubbles with social distancing measures still in force.

Households that are not in areas where local lockdown measures are in place can meet in groups of up to two households in any location or in any setting (or a household support bubble if they have one) and this includes staying overnight. This allows for people to provide childcare. They should socially distance where possible and practical but should also provide necessary care to children including where this requires being within two metres. When doing this they should take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – when using shared facilities like bathrooms.

Guidance on meeting people from outside of the household has been published and can be accessed at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household

31st Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with LGBT activists and organisations from the (a) Cayman Islands and (b) Bermuda where the right to marriage for same-sex couples is refused by their respective Governments.

The inhabited British Overseas Territories are separate, largely self-governing jurisdictions with their own democratically elected representatives. The relationship with the Overseas Territories is based on partnership. Policy on marriage law is an area of devolved responsibility.

The majority of Overseas Territories have legal recognition and protection for same sex relationships, either through marriage or through civil partnerships as is the case in Bermuda. In 2020 the Governor of the Cayman Islands enacted civil partnership legislation to recognise same-sex partnerships in order to comply with the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal. The UK Government continues to engage with and encourage remaining Territories that have not put in place arrangements to recognise and protect same sex relationships, to do so.

The UK Government remains open to further engagement with LGBT+ activists and organisations across the Overseas Territories to support increased recognition and protections for same-sex relationships in the Overseas Territories.

David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her international counterparts on the level of funding provided for LGBT+ community groups in low and middle income countries.

The UK regularly engages our partners, including governments, civil society, philanthropists, and multilateral organisations, on taking a collaborative approach to Official Development Assistance funding in support of LGBT+ rights.

As co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), the UK and Argentina oversaw the adoption of the ERC's first strategy and five-year implementation plan in July 2021. The UK actively participates in the ERC Donor Coordination Working Group which aims to improve coordination between all actors.

Plans for the levels of UK funding for the 2022-5 Spending Round are not yet confirmed, but we will continue to focus on low and middle income countries in the global south. In June 2022, the Prime Minister announced £2.7 million of new UK funding to support LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth.

24th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s International Development Strategy, what plans she has to work with local LGBT+ groups; and if she will reverse the reduction in funding for LGBT+ rights in low and middle-income countries as set out in the Global Resources 2019-2020 report on Government and Philanthropic Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Communities.

The UK is committed to championing LGBT+ rights internationally and supporting those who defend them. Ministers and our overseas missions work closely with governments and civil society partners to advance LGBT+ equality, and promote the implementation of new laws and policies that better protect LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination.

Since 2018, the UK committed over £11 million in programmes to support the promotion and protection of LGBT+ rights. On 24 June, the Prime Minister announced a further £2.7 million of UK funding to support LGBT+ grassroots human rights defenders, and advance equality and freedom across the Commonwealth. This includes the vital work of organisations such as The Commonwealth Equality Network, Kaleidoscope Trust, and Human Dignity Trust.

18th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her counterpart in Ghana on the proposed Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill which would further criminalise LGBT+ people.

The UK stands firm with LGBT+ individuals globally to affirm our commitment to the principle of non-discrimination on all grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We make regular representations about LGBT+ rights, including to the Government of Ghana. We work through our High Commission in Accra, as well as international organisations, to promote non-discrimination towards LGBT+ people, and to address discriminatory laws.

The UK acknowledges Ghana's democratic reputation and respects Ghana's Parliamentary process. However, we fully support the position of the United Nations Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in condemning the discriminatory nature of the draft Private Members Bill on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values.

Ghana has historically been a champion of tolerance, inclusion and human rights. The UK encourages Ghana to reaffirm its opposition to all forms of discrimination and uphold the human rights provisions enshrined in Ghana's Constitution, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the principles of both the African and Commonwealth Charters.

26th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what procedures are in place with respect of former Ministers in her Department and the selection process for the heads of international organisations.

It is a UK priority to maintain strong UK representation at the top of international organisations and this forms an important part of our multilateral engagement. The selection processes for appointing heads of international organisations differs depending on the organisation, but the UK always promotes merit based, transparent senior level appointments in the multilateral system. We proactively target and support well qualified UK and non-UK candidates at all levels and run high level campaigns to support UK Nationals for priority roles.

Amanda Milling
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she is making to her counterparts in the 15 jurisdictions that criminalise the gender identity and/or expression of transgender people, using cross-dressing, impersonation and disguise laws, on repealing those laws.

UK Government ministers and our overseas missions continue to urge countries that criminalise LGBT+ individuals, and same sex conduct to uphold the universality of human rights, to decriminalise same-sex relations and to pass laws to protect their LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination. We remain committed to funding £3 million of LGBT+ rights projects this year, including project work with a focus on tackling discriminatory legislation.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she is making to her counterparts in the 11 jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity on repealing those laws.

UK Government ministers and our overseas missions continue to urge countries that criminalise LGBT+ individuals, and same sex conduct to uphold the universality of human rights, to decriminalise same-sex relations and to pass laws to protect their LGBT+ people from violence and discrimination. We remain committed to funding £3 million of LGBT+ rights projects this year, including project work with a focus on tackling discriminatory legislation.

18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure the equitable distribution of covid-19 vaccines in Syria.

The UK is committed to equitable access to vaccines, across Syria and globally, as demonstrated by our £548 million contribution to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment. UK support will help distribute one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 92 developing countries, including Syria, in 2021. We recognise that the political situation in Syria is complex, and we are lobbying the UN and working with health partners to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are distributed to those in greatest need across the whole of Syria.

This complements the UK's existing support to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Syria, providing water, healthcare, hygiene kits and sanitation support for vulnerable Syrians across the country.

James Cleverly
Home Secretary
11th May 2020
What recent diplomatic steps he has taken with his overseas counterparts to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

The UK is playing a major role in the global response as we galvanise support for our Four-Point Plan: 1) co-ordinating the global health response; 2) accelerating the search for a vaccine, treatments and testing; 3) securing a sound economic response; and 4) bringing our people home.

The Foreign Secretary and Ministerial team are carrying out extensive bilateral and multilateral engagement, including with G7/G20 counterparts, and working with international companies to tackle the crisis.

We are also working closely with UN Security Council members and the UN Secretary-General to address pandemic and secondary impacts, including instability.

Through our international engagement, we have repeatedly made clear that measures taken by States to tackle CV19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed.

20th Jun 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2023 to Question 187024 on Dementia: Health Services, if his Department will consider the potential merits of including community interest companies that provide social care but are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, due to not providing personal care, in the VAT exemptions for welfare services.

The standard rate of VAT applies to most goods and services. Exceptions have always been strictly limited by legal and fiscal considerations.

Where social care is provided by a state-regulated body, including community interest companies, then the VAT exemption for welfare services applies.

The regulation requirement ensures that VAT relief is limited to providers certified as offering safe and high-quality welfare services. This is a long-standing requirement, and there are no plans to make changes to these rules.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on access to social care for people with dementia of the inclusion of community interest companies within the VAT exemptions for welfare, services and goods.

Where social care for people with dementia is provided by a state-regulated body then the VAT exemption for welfare services applies.

Community interest companies qualify for the VAT exemption for welfare if the activity they provide is required to be regulated by or registered with the relevant regulatory body.
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
28th Mar 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an estimate of the future value of sustainable aviation fuel to the British economy.

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
28th Mar 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act and the need for a price support mechanism for sustainable aviation fuel in the UK on the future levels of domestic production of those fuels.

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
28th Mar 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a contracts for difference scheme for the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK.

The government is committed to supporting the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). A SAF mandate will be introduced to drive demand. A consultation setting out further detail on the mandate and potential uptake trajectories for SAF was published on 30 March. It reaffirms our commitment that at least 10% of fuel must be made from sustainable sources by 2030.

The government is investing in SAF plants to boost supply. 8 SAF plants received support through the green fuels, green skies competition. A further £165m is being invested through the Advanced Fuels Fund between 2022 – 25 to support UK SAF plants reach commercial scale.

DfT commissioned an independent review in October 2022 to understand how to accelerate investment in a UK SAF industry. The government will publish the review and respond to it shortly. The government has been clear that it wants to see the UK continue to capture its share of the global SAF market and play a leading role in the development, production and use of SAF. As the response to the independent report will set out, government will continue to work in partnership with industry and investors to explore the best approach to addressing barriers to investment.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
17th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the context of personal allowances for bringing excise goods into the UK for personal use, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average value of (a) 42 litres of beer, (b) 18 litres of still wine, (c) four litres of spirits and other liquors with over 22 per cent alcohol content and (d) nine litres of sparkling wine and fortified wine up with up to 22 per cent alcohol content.

HMRC does not hold values for the average price of alcohol brought into the UK under the personal allowance.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
17th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of personal allowances for people bringing excise and non-excise goods into the UK for personal use on the economy.

Following a consultation in Spring 2020, on 1 January 2021, the Government extended duty-free sales to EU-bound passengers at UK ports and airports for the first time in over 20 years. This is a significant boost to all ports, airports and international rail terminals in England, Scotland and Wales, including smaller regional airports and rail hubs, which were not able to offer duty-free to the EU before.

The Government also introduced personal allowances for passengers entering Great Britain from the EU. During the consultation stakeholders expressed concerns about this change, particularly those that deal with large volumes of EU passengers travelling to Great Britain in a vehicle by ferry or train, given many passengers were used to bringing back unlimited amounts of goods from the EU. The Government therefore used its freedoms from EU rules to significantly increase alcohol allowances for all passengers. This enables visitors to bring in, for example, three crates of beer, two cases of wine and one case of sparkling wine, without having to pay the relevant taxes, with Great Britain having one of the most generous allowances in the world.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
20th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional steps he is taking to ensure disabled people are financially supported as energy prices and other costs of living rise.

The government is forecast to spend over £58 billion in 21/22 on benefits to support disabled people in Great Britain. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the government’s primary means of supporting working age adults with the extra costs arising from having a disability and is paid regardless of income and irrespective of whether someone is in work. The government will spend over £12.2 billion to support 2.1 million people on PIP in 21/22. Those who have a disability or health condition which limits their ability to work can get additional support through Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). For those with limited capability for work or work-related activity, this includes an additional component in UC, worth £79.30 per week.

We recognise the recent increase in wholesale global gas prices will be a cause of concern, particularly for those who are vulnerable or have a disability. That is why we continue to protect households through the energy price cap, which has saved the 15 million customers on default tariffs up to £100 a year on their bills since it was introduced in 2019. This is on top of wider support that the government is providing this winter through the £140 Warm Home Discount, up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment and £25 per week Cold Weather Payment, all of which help to ensure those most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the winter.

The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help with the cost of living. This includes the £500 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households with costs for essentials such as energy bills, food, clothing, and utilities over the winter. The Household Support Fund adds to the support already in place to help those on low incomes with the cost of living, including:

  • £140 million in 2021-22 for Discretionary Housing Payments;
  • £670 million in 2021-22 for local authorities to support households struggling with their council tax bills;
  • £200m each year of the Spending Review to continue the Holiday Activities and Food programme; and
  • increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers.
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Ministers from HM Treasury have not claimed any exemptions from the requirement to quarantine in a managed quarantine facility that is required after returning from a red list country. HM Treasury does not hold information on exemption usage by ministers from other government departments.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of an aviation recovery package.

The Chancellor regularly discusses a wide range of matters related to economic recovery with Cabinet colleagues.

The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry as a result of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital and flexibilities with tax bills. In addition to economy-wide measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the aerospace sector and its aviation customers are being supported with almost £11 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and grants for research and development. This includes £8bn of guarantees provided by UK Export Finance.

In addition, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme launched on 29 January 2021 will provide support for eligible businesses, up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m. This will help companies with their fixed costs and could unlock shareholder and lender support.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings he has had with representatives of the aviation industry to discuss the planned Aviation Recovery Package.

The Chancellor speaks to industry representatives on a regular basis about a range of matters.

The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry as a result of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital and flexibilities with tax bills. In addition to economy-wide measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the aerospace sector and its aviation customers are being supported with almost £11 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and grants for research and development. This includes £8bn of guarantees provided by UK Export Finance.

In addition, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme launched on 29 January 2021 will provide support for eligible businesses, up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m. This will help companies with their fixed costs and could unlock shareholder and lender support.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
19th Feb 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish information on the effect on revenue to the public purse of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the travel sector.

The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the travel sector as a result of Covid-19, and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills and the extended furlough scheme.

As set out in the Covid-19 Impact Assessment last November, the Government cannot forecast with confidence the precise impact of specific changes to restrictions, including those on the travel sector, as this will depend on a broad range of factors which are, in many cases, difficult to estimate. The Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy and public finances, these are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented fiscal support has caused significant but necessary increase in borrowing and debt. However, borrowing costs continue to be low, making the current costs of servicing this increase in debt affordable.

The Budget will set out the next phase of the plan to tackle the virus and protect jobs.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
27th Jan 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what new fiscal steps he plans to take to support the aviation sector in response to the potential economic effects of the Government’s hotel quarantine policy on that sector.

The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry as a result of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital and flexibilities with tax bills. The aerospace sector and its aviation customers are being supported with almost £11 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and grants for research and development. This includes £8bn of UK Export Finance Guarantees.

The Chancellor also announced on 17 December that the CJRS will be extended until April, with employees receiving 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. This will continue to protect jobs and businesses across the UK in light of recent developments in the path of the virus.

The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme announced on 24 November will also provide support for eligible businesses, up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m. This is intended to help reduce cash burn and could unlock shareholder and lender support.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
20th Jul 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what investigations the Financial Conduct Authority has undertaken on the listing of Nostrum Oil and Gas on the London Stock Exchange, via the Isle of Man.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the UK’s securities regulator, oversees equity markets and is responsible for maintaining the Official List. The FCA does not normally make public the fact that it is or is not investigating a particular matter, or any of the findings or conclusions of an investigation.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
20th Jul 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the losses incurred by UK investors as a result of the collapse of the share price of Nostrum Oil and Gas.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the UK’s securities regulator, oversees equity markets and is responsible for maintaining the Official List. The FCA does not normally make public the fact that it is or is not investigating a particular matter, or any of the findings or conclusions of an investigation.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
22nd Jan 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the Russian Ambassador to the UK met representatives of the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Financial Services Authority to discuss (i) the Alfa Group, (ii) Mikhail Fridman and (iii) other Russian, Ukrainian or Kazakh (A) business people and (B) companies in each of the last twelve years.

This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the right honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
22nd Jan 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times senior executives of the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Financial Services Authority met representatives of a foreign government in each of the last 12 years; and for each of those meetings if he will publish the (i) location, (ii) date, (iii) agenda and (iv) identity of the participants.

This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the right honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
26th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many LGBT young people aged 16-25 have been victims of a hate crime in the last 12 months.

The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

The Home Office publishes information on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police on an annual basis. This provides information on hate crimes, including sexual orientation and transgender identity hate crimes, but does not include the age of the victim for these strands. Information for 2021/22 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2021-to-2022/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2021-to-2022.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to meet Tony Cox, a constituent of the hon. Member for Exeter.

I have written to Mr Cox providing an update on the response to concerns raised by him and the Hon. Member following the tragic death of his daughter Lorraine. I express my sympathies with Mr Cox, however, it would be inappropriate to meet him until after the conclusion of ongoing matters concerning Devon & Cornwall Police.

14th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from Mr Cox, a constituent of the hon. Member for Exeter, on his request for two meetings.

The Home Office responded on 19 December regarding setting up a meeting.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
14th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 2 December 2022 from the hon. Member for Exeter that enclosed a personal letter from his constituent Tony Cox.

The Home Office responded on 19 December regarding setting up a meeting.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
11th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been identified by the Department's review of Tier 1 investor visas as posing a security risk to the UK.

We do not comment on matters of national security. As the Government has set out previously, we will provide a summary of the findings of the Tier 1 Investor historic review in due course.

Tom Tugendhat
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who entered the UK on a Tier 1 Investor Visa between 30 June 2008 and 6 April 2015 have been granted (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) British citizenship.

The Home Office publishes latest data on visas at ‘Immigration statistics data tables, year ending June 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)’. Data on the number of Tier 1 Investor visas granted are published in tables at Data_Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas applications and outcomes(opens in a new tab) dataset.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people with Tier 1 Investor visas and who have been identified by the Government as a possible national security risk have been granted (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) UK citizenship.

We will not be commenting on matters of national security. As the Government has set out, we will provide a summary of the findings of the Tier 1 Investor historic review in due course.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the circumstances leading to the detention of journalist, Martin Banks, by the UK Border Force on 26 February 2022.

We do not comment on individual cases.

Border Force’s number one priority is to maintain a secure border, and we will not compromise on this.

While it is not possible to reveal the details of how security checks at the border operate, Border Force undertakes to perform 100 per cent checks on scheduled passengers arriving in the UK.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
22nd Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will publish a list of Russians who have been granted fast track visas under the recently discontinued investor visa scheme.

The Home Office does not, for data protection reasons, publish personal details of those who make an application under the Immigration Rules.

15th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the upcoming election to the presidency of Interpol from (a) former ministers and former officials in her Department and (b) the former Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Alistair Burt.

Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.

As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.

15th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the upcoming election to the presidency of Interpol from (a) former ministers and former officials in her Department and (b) the former Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Alistair Burt.

Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.

As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.

15th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received in support of the candidacy of Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi for the presidency of Interpol.

Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.

As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.

15th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received in support of the candidacy of Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi for the presidency of Interpol.

Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.

As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.

3rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with her international counterparts to ensure Interpol retains public confidence.

The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.

During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
3rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration does she give to (a) a candidate’s or (b) their home country’s commitment to the rule of law when assessing their suitability to be president of Interpol.

The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.

During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
3rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration does she give to a candidate’s or their home country’s human rights record when assessing their suitability to be president of Interpol.

The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.

During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
3rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what due diligence is she conducting into the suitability of the candidates standing to be president of Interpol.

The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.

During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
3rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with counterparts in democracies on the suitability of the candidates standing for election to the presidency of Interpol.

The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.

During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
26th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what due diligence is in place to enable Ministers to assess the suitability of the candidates for the post of President of Interpol.

The INTERPOL General Secretariat (IPSG) regularly updates member countries with the list of candidates nominated for the Presidency. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
26th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the process and candidates for the selection of the next President of Interpol.

The INTERPOL General Secretariat (IPSG) regularly updates member countries with the list of candidates nominated for the Presidency. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will intervene where insurers refuse or query claims in relation to the recent disposal of a World War II bomb in Exeter.

In cases such as this, the expectation is for costs to be met by private insurance. Communication channels for the public were set up through both the County and City Councils, and members of the public impacted by this incident were urged to go through those channels.

The Home Office does not routinely provide briefing when such instances occur. We would expect the local Council to keep residents and businesses updated.

The HO does not consider it is liable for any damage caused.

It is not for the Home Office to intervene in disputes between insurers and their clients, therefore it would not be appropriate for us to comment.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to provide a briefing on the recent disposal of a World War II bomb in Exeter and distribute that briefing to the residents, businesses and insurance companies affected.

In cases such as this, the expectation is for costs to be met by private insurance. Communication channels for the public were set up through both the County and City Councils, and members of the public impacted by this incident were urged to go through those channels.

The Home Office does not routinely provide briefing when such instances occur. We would expect the local Council to keep residents and businesses updated.

The HO does not consider it is liable for any damage caused.

It is not for the Home Office to intervene in disputes between insurers and their clients, therefore it would not be appropriate for us to comment.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund to reimburse and compensate people affected by damage caused by the recent detonation of a World War II bomb in Exeter.

In cases such as this, the expectation is for costs to be met by private insurance. Communication channels for the public were set up through both the County and City Councils, and members of the public impacted by this incident were urged to go through those channels.

The Home Office does not routinely provide briefing when such instances occur. We would expect the local Council to keep residents and businesses updated.

The HO does not consider it is liable for any damage caused.

It is not for the Home Office to intervene in disputes between insurers and their clients, therefore it would not be appropriate for us to comment.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the liability for the damage caused by the recent detonation of a World War II bomb in Exeter.

In cases such as this, the expectation is for costs to be met by private insurance. Communication channels for the public were set up through both the County and City Councils, and members of the public impacted by this incident were urged to go through those channels.

The Home Office does not routinely provide briefing when such instances occur. We would expect the local Council to keep residents and businesses updated.

The HO does not consider it is liable for any damage caused.

It is not for the Home Office to intervene in disputes between insurers and their clients, therefore it would not be appropriate for us to comment.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she or her Department plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Exeter of 5 March 2021 to the Secretary of State for Defence on the disposal of a World War II bomb in Exeter, which was copied to her and referred to her Department by the Ministry of Defence for further response.

We are aware and have answered a number of parliamentary questions on the render safe operation carried out in Exeter in February. Regarding questions articulated in Rt Hon Bradshaw’s letter of the 5 March, we will write a fuller reply shortly.

20th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the High Court's renewed arrest warrant for Mukhtar Ablyazov in July 2019, what steps are her Department is taking to secure his extradition from France.

Whether to seek extradition of an individual is a matter for the UK’s independent prosecution authorities. There is no Ministerial involvement.

As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, the UK will neither confirm nor deny that an extradition request has been made or received until an arrest has been made in relation to that request.

17th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) scale and (b) number of victims of the financial crimes committed by Mukhtar Ablyazov and his associates.

The Home Office does not confirm or comment on individual operational matters.

17th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what investigations are being made of the financial activities of Mukhtar Ablyazov in the UK.

The Home Office does not confirm or comment on individual operational matters.

1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost of preparing for the Government’s proposed 14 day quarantine requirement due to the covid-19 outbreak up to 8 June 2020.

Work associated with the design and implementation of the Government’s proposed 14-day quarantine requirement, is being delivered within existing budget allocations. However, there will be additional costs associated with these new health measures, such as those relating to the development of new passenger locator form.

Work is underway to determine the additional costs; however, the Home Office does not routinely publish breakdowns of operational departmental spending. The information we do publish can be found in the Annual Report and Accounts – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019.

1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the running costs of the Government's proposed 14 day quarantine requirement due to the covid-19 outbreak after its implementation on 8 June 2020.

Work associated with running the Government’s proposed 14-day quarantine requirement, is being delivered within existing budget allocations. However, it is expected there will be additional costs associated with maintaining these new health measures, such as those relating to accommodation.

Work is underway to determine the additional costs; however, the Home Office does not routinely publish breakdowns of operational departmental spending. The information we do publish can be found in the Annual Report and Accounts – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019.

1st Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the scientific evidence is for imposing a quarantine requirement on arrivals from countries with a lower rate of covid-19 infection than the UK.

The scientific advice is that when domestic transmission of Covid-19 is reduced, new health measures at the border are an important part of managing the risk of new cases entering the UK from abroad and contributing to a second peak of the virus.

27th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis is for the Government's decision to impose a 14 day quarantine for people arriving in the UK; and what assessment she has made of the compatibility of that decision with WHO advice.

In order to keep overall levels of infection down, as the Government prepares for social contact to increase, a series of measures and restrictions will be introduced at the UK border. This will contribute to keeping the overall number of transmissions in the UK as low as possible.

The Government will require all international arrivals not on a short list of exemptions to self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK. Where international travellers are unable to demonstrate where they would self-isolate, they will be required to do so in accommodation arranged by the Government.

Further details, and guidance on measures including screening, will be set out shortly, and the measures and list of exemptions will be kept under regular review.

Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Two Ministry of Defence Ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a fund to reimburse and compensate people affected by damage caused by the recent detonation of a bomb in Exeter.

The provision of Government financial assistance to compensate people affected by damage associated with domestic Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) activity is a matter for the Home Office to consider and address.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans publish the full incident report into the recent bomb detonation in Exeter.

In his response to your letter of 5 March, the Secretary of State described how due to the procedurally sensitive and classified nature of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) incident reports, they are not routinely shared beyond operational partners. Publishing our render safe tactics, techniques and procedures is information that should not be made publicly available and accessible to those who might use it to mitigate our capability.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alternative methods were considered for the disposal of the bomb recently unearthed in Exeter.

In his response to your letter of the 5 March, the Secretary of State described that whilst we do not comment on the specifics of render safe procedures (RSP) or methodology, we can confirm that the full range of RSP options were considered by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team operators and their respective chain of command.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of where liability lies for the damage caused by the recent detonation of a bomb in Exeter.

In the first instance the responsibility for costs associated with damage stemming from the bomb disposal operation in Exeter fall to private insurers. Exeter City Council have, in addition, provided support to local residents covering costs below excess levels, and to address any inconvenience associated with relocation.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
26th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities receive adequate training on supporting LGBT young people (a) experiencing and (b) at risk of homelessness.

It has been mandatory for local authorities to collate declared information on sexual orientation for Homelessness Case Level Information Collection since April 2023 and we will publish relevant data in due course. This will further improve the Government's ability to measure and understand the outcomes for LGBT individuals who are at a risk of homelessness or are homeless.

Our approach is locally led. We expect councils to commission services based on an assessment of the needs of their local community and to make sure that needs of all groups are considered, such as in programmes like the £500 million Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI).

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained to respond to the needs of all households experiencing homelessness. In May 2023, I chaired a round table raising awareness of the challenges faced by young LGBT people, and this was attended by colleagues from local authorities.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
26th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department have made of trends in the levels of homelessness amongst (a) lesbian, (b) gay, (c) bisexual and (d) transgender people in the last 24 months.

It has been mandatory for local authorities to collate declared information on sexual orientation for Homelessness Case Level Information Collection since April 2023 and we will publish relevant data in due course. This will further improve the Government's ability to measure and understand the outcomes for LGBT individuals who are at a risk of homelessness or are homeless.

Our approach is locally led. We expect councils to commission services based on an assessment of the needs of their local community and to make sure that needs of all groups are considered, such as in programmes like the £500 million Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI).

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained to respond to the needs of all households experiencing homelessness. In May 2023, I chaired a round table raising awareness of the challenges faced by young LGBT people, and this was attended by colleagues from local authorities.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
26th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to take steps to improve Homelessness Case Level Information Collection data on sexual orientation.

It has been mandatory for local authorities to collate declared information on sexual orientation for Homelessness Case Level Information Collection since April 2023 and we will publish relevant data in due course. This will further improve the Government's ability to measure and understand the outcomes for LGBT individuals who are at a risk of homelessness or are homeless.

Our approach is locally led. We expect councils to commission services based on an assessment of the needs of their local community and to make sure that needs of all groups are considered, such as in programmes like the £500 million Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI).

Local authorities are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained to respond to the needs of all households experiencing homelessness. In May 2023, I chaired a round table raising awareness of the challenges faced by young LGBT people, and this was attended by colleagues from local authorities.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
26th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the Government will announce the outcome of its consultation on capping rent rises.

The consultation on social housing rents closed on 12 October 2022. We will respond in due course, including with any policy announcements.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
26th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the consultation entitled Social housing rents consultation, published on 31 August 2022, whether it is his policy to include people who pay rent under shared ownership schemes in those proposals.

The consultation on social housing rents closed on 12 October 2022. We will respond in due course, including with any policy announcements.

Felicity Buchan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason there has been a delay in abolishing Section 21 notices and no fault evictions.

The White Paper “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” , published in June 2022, provides further information on the most recent Government announcements in this policy area. We will announce next steps in due course.

Lee Rowley
Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of section 21 notices on the level of rents in the private rented sector.

Government published a consultation in July 2019 “A New Deal for Renting” to understand the impact of any reform to Section 21. 19,697 consultation responses in total were received from a range of individuals and, since then, the Government has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to understand the issues raised.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of section 21 notices on the availability of social housing.

The July 2019 “A New Deal for Renting” consultation sought views on removing Section 21 in the social rented sector. 19,697 consultation responses in total were received from a range of individuals and, since then, the Government has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to understand the issues raised.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
2nd Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of section 21 notices on the housing supply of local authorities.

Tenancies provided directly by Local Authorities are governed by the Housing Act 1985, and Local Authorities are therefore unable to evict tenants using Section 21.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

No Minister from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has travelled to a country while the country was on the Covid-19 red list for the purpose of conducting official business.

28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to provide support to district councils in two-tier local authority areas that are facing reductions in income and increases in expenditure as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Allocations of the additional £1.6 billion support for councils to respond to coronavirus were announced on Tuesday 28 April. This is an unprecedented package of support which responds to the range of pressures councils have told us they are facing and takes the total amount provided to local councils to over £3.2 billion. Across both waves of funding, almost 70 per cent of district councils will receive £1 million or more in support, whilst 90 per cent of the funding will go to social care authorities.

28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the feasibility of temporarily removing statutory constraints on local government finance to help local authorities manage the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their finances.

Government does not currently intend to temporarily remove any of the statutory framework that governs local government finance. However, changes have been made to the statutory audit framework to delay the requirement to prepare and approve draft accounts by the end of May. Instead, they must be approved by 31 August 2020 at the latest or may be approved earlier, wherever possible.

In addition, Government has announced £3.2 billion un-ringfenced funding to support councils to deliver essential front line services – this is an unprecedented sum of money and demonstrates the Government's commitment to support the sector. In addition, we have agreed to defer £2.6 billion in business rates payments, and have brought forward £850 million in social care grants, to ease immediate pressures on local authority cash flow.

21st Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people serving in category (a) C and (b) D prisons have been in custody for 10 years or longer as of 21 June 2023.

We are unable to provide data on the number of people serving in category C and D prisons who have been in custody for 10 years or longer as of 21 June 2023 at this time. This is because they are exempt from disclosure under statistics publication rules outlined in the Code of Practice for Statistics; as they will form a subset of future published statistics.

Data relating to 21 June would need to be extracted from information which will be used to form the next Offender Management Statistics Quarterly publication which is scheduled for release on 27 July 2023.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to have fully implemented local regime leads across the entire prison estate through the National Regime Model.

All prisons will have a local regime lead in place by the end of 2023/24.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
26th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will publish its data on the average time spent out of cell in each prison in England and Wales.

The information requested for adult prisoners is not held by the Ministry of Justice as collecting it would require the detailed monitoring of cell activity in each prison establishment.

There is no central mandate which governs the amount of time that prisoners should spend out of their cells. Governors are instead afforded the flexibility to deliver balanced regimes that maintain an appropriate level of time out of cell on a range of activities, including association, which meet the needs of the establishment’s population.

HMPPS has introduced a Regime Dashboard which reports the percentage of prisoners receiving different levels of regime each week. We are further developing this to align to future regimes. A performance metric has also been introduced to hold prisons to account on their levels of regime delivery. Data from this are scheduled for publication in July 2023.

Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.

Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

No Northern Ireland Office ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

No Minister from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland has travelled to a country while the country was on the covid-19 red list for the purpose of conducting official business.

Alister Jack
Secretary of State for Scotland
22nd Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.

No Ministers from the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales have travelled to a covid-19 red list country for the purpose of conducting official business, therefore no Ministers have been exempted from quarantine.

Simon Hart
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)