Gavin Robinson

The Joint Committee has been working on the many difficulties presented to the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol by the EU’s decision to activate Article 16 on 29 January. There are outstanding issues to be resolved and we have taken temporary operational steps to avoid disruption to everyday life. We remain committed to working within the Joint Committee process to find solutions.

All guidance on duty free arrangements for Northern Ireland traders has been published, and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods.

The information requested is not held centrally. It could be held across a very wide range of paper files and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Under the Public Records Act, the records from 1997-1999 will be reviewed and transferred to The National Archives by 2022.

The Department is aware of a small number of cases in which customers have reported that they have not received their voucher and yet it has already been redeemed. Customers are required to produce various forms of evidence and identification when redeeming a voucher and this is set out in the scheme guidance. The Government is working closely with suppliers to ensure eligible customers receive their payment as soon as possible, whilst appropriately protecting public money.

The Government keeps the global vaccine picture under ongoing review and through its regular conversations with vaccine developers will explore supply options, should that become necessary.

There are no Covid-19 vaccines for under 5s currently approved for use in the UK, and as such we have not specifically procured vaccines for this cohort. The Government will continue monitoring developments and follow the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation going forward.

The precise details of our vaccine orders and deliveries are commercially sensitive, but we have sufficient vaccines available to enable us to meet current, and any future updates to JCVI guidance. We continue to plan for future scenarios.

The precise details of our vaccine orders and deliveries are commercially sensitive, but we have sufficient vaccines available to enable us to meet current, and any future updates to JCVI guidance. We continue to plan for future scenarios.

The Government is committed to ensuring that only safe consumer products can be sold in the UK, including through online marketplaces. Product safety legislation places obligations on distributors to act with due care to ensure products they are selling are safe and this includes online retailers selling goods via marketplaces.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) continues to engage with major online marketplaces to ensure that they are playing their part in protecting UK consumers from unsafe products. This includes developing a new voluntary commitment for online marketplaces to agree actions they will take to reduce the risks from unsafe products, including white goods subject to recall, being sold online, enabling them to publicly demonstrate their commitment to the safety of their consumers in the UK.

In order to ensure that the UK’s Product Safety framework is flexible and fit for the future, the OPSS is conducting a review. The review will ensure we have a framework that delivers safety for consumers while supporting businesses to innovate and grow and will consider the impact on product safety of non-traditional business models, including third-party sales conducted via online marketplaces.

The OPSS is currently running a Call for Evidence that is open until 3 June to ensure a wide range of views and evidence are gathered: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/uk-product-safety-review-call-for-evidence.

As outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 7 June, the Secretary of State has appointed Malcolm Sheehan QC to lead the independent review of the Football Index gambling product and we have published its scope and terms of reference on gov.uk. That independent review is underway and is expected to provide a report for publication in the summer. The statement can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-06-07/hcws63

The Government has made clear that it does not intend to proceed with Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. This decision was reached following a public consultation and having taken into account all of the views and evidence submitted. Reopening the inquiry is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest. This position was reiterated in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

The media landscape has changed significantly since the Leveson Inquiry. Today, our press is facing new and critical challenges that threaten its livelihood and sustainability.

The Inquiry and subsequent police investigations were comprehensive. More than 300 people gave evidence to the Inquiry, and over 40 people were convicted during the three major investigations. There have been extensive reforms to policing practices as well as significant changes to press self-regulation.

There now exists a strengthened, independent, self-regulatory system for the press. The majority of traditional publishers—including 95% of national newspapers by circulation—are members of IPSO. A number of smaller publishers have joined IMPRESS.

The UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills (ENIC) provides expert advice on the comparability of international qualifications at all levels of education with those of the UK, on behalf of the government. ENIC maintains an extensive database of international qualifications and education systems, including for Ukraine, and is fully prepared to assess and advise on the comparability of Ukrainian and other refugees’ qualifications.

Organisations and individuals can apply for a Statement of Comparability through the standard UK ENIC portal. Within the portal, there is provision for individuals to be able to identify as refugees, which allows more flexibility for document submissions. Many organisations, including education institutions and employers, also subscribe to the UK ENIC service and use its database when assessing applications.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous institutions, independent from government, and they are responsible for their own admissions policies. The department has made clear to providers that they should be as flexible as possible when considering applications for students with difficult circumstances, such as those from Ukraine, and would encourage students to speak to their desired HE provider about their personal situation directly.

As my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19. Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the current 2019/20 academic year.

To provide further support, we have worked closely with the Office for Students to enable providers to draw upon existing funding to increase hardship funds and to support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19. As a result, providers will be able to use the funding – worth around £23 million per month for April and May - towards student hardship funds, including for the purchase of IT equipment and mental health support.

The government encourages universities and private hall providers to be fair in their decisions about rent charges for this period. A number of universities and large companies have waived rents for the summer term or released students early from their contracts.

The government guidance makes clear that tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy, published on 11 May, sets out a cautious roadmap to ease existing measures in a safe and measured way. The strategy allows for certain necessary travel if people take precautions.

In light of this, we are developing guidance on students travelling to and from student accommodation and this will be published today.

We have made clear meanwhile that we do not believe that students should be fined for failing to collect their belongings if this is because they are complying with the government’s travel advice.

If a student has asked their accommodation provider to store their belongings for collection once the COVID-19 lockdown period is over, there may be costs to the provider associated in carrying out this service. We would not expect a provider to make a profit from such a service.

The practice of non-exempted mutilations such as cropping dogs' ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the UK for over 10 years.

In August 2021, we consulted on proposed changes to the commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into Great Britain including the importation of dogs with cropped ears.

We are carefully reviewing the feedback from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published in due course.

Flood Re’s statistics run from October 2017 and are reported twice a year, with the most recent confirmed data in April 2021. The data shows a steady increase in the number of properties ceded to the Flood Re scheme within Belfast East.

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.

The Government is aware that the high cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot can be a significant barrier to many young people seeking to pursue a career as a pilot. The Generation Aviation programme sees Government work with industry and outreach partners to raise the profile of aviation careers and remove barriers to access so the sector can build a workforce fit for the future.

As part of this, the Department commissioned independent research to help both Government and industry understand options for addressing the high cost of pilot training in the UK. The research, published in May 2023, found that there is a possibility that the future supply of commercial pilots will not meet demand in the UK. It made recommendations about alternative funding approaches and about addressing other costs for new pilots.

Since publication, the DfT has worked closely with industry to consider next steps. Airlines have a crucial role to play in reducing the financial barriers to becoming a pilot and we applaud the airline carriers who have recently launched funding options/sponsored pathways and cadetships.

Employers in the sector have already developed a First Officer Apprenticeship (FOA) standard to support the industry to develop the skills it needs and to help it widen access to the profession. The Department for Transport and Department for Education (DfE) are working with the sector to ensure that suitable training provision is available and to support the sector to make use of the apprenticeship. My department plans to host an industry event to discuss this in more detail next week.

The Department continues to actively review retained EU laws to identify and progress opportunities for reform by June 2026, when the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act’s powers expire.

We have already taken steps, such as through four statutory instruments already laid so far that seek to revoke or reform transport retained EU laws, the detail of which is available online. This is in addition to revoking over 65 unnecessary transport retained EU laws through the Act itself, including the Port Services Regulations 2019.

The £20 per week uplift to everyone on Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit was announced by the Chancellor as a temporary measure in March 2020 to support those facing the most financial disruption as a result of the public health emergency. This measure remains in place until March 2021.

The lower rates for younger claimants under 25 years reflects the fact that they are more likely to live in someone else's household and have lower living costs and lower earnings expectations. It also reinforces the stronger work incentives that Universal Credit creates for this age group which have been aided by the Department’s £2bn Kickstart scheme which is already creating thousands of high-quality jobs for young people.

For claimants who live independently, Universal Credit already includes separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers.

Care leavers up to the age of 22 are exempt from the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Shared Accommodation Rate and are entitled to the higher, one bed LHA rate.

For those who require additional support Discretionary Housing Payments are available. Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHPs to local authorities to support households with their housing costs.

The temporary Universal Credit Standard Allowance uplift was introduced to support those facing the most financial disruption due to the pandemic. There are no plans to extend the uplift to legacy benefits. Claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit (UC) if they believe that they will be better off. Claimants should check carefully their eligibility and entitlements under UC before applying as legacy benefits will end when claimants submit their claim and they will not be able to return to them in the future.

We have consulted on a proposal to end the sale of energy drinks to children in England and we will be setting out our full response to the consultation in due course. There have been no such recent discussions.

We have consulted on a proposal to end the sale of energy drinks to children in England and we will be setting out our full response to the consultation in due course. There have been no such recent discussions.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for the safety of high caffeine drinks and foods, including the caffeine labelling requirements set out in Articles 4.1 and 4.2 of Annex III of retained EU Regulation No. 1169/2011.

These articles require information to be provided on the level of caffeine, in milligrams per 100 millilitres or per 100 grams and helps to highlight the existence of caffeine in a product where, unlike a coffee or tea, people may not expect it to be present.

We have no current plans to remove these requirements as some people need to limit their caffeine consumption such as pregnant women where high caffeine consumption can increase the risk of pregnancy complications. However, the FSA is considering the UK Government’s Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and what opportunities there are to reform legislation, where needed.

The FSA advises that children, or other people sensitive to caffeine, should only consume caffeine in moderation. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg a day. As the level of caffeine can vary between high caffeine ‘energy’ drinks and caffeinated foods, the labelling requirement provide useful information for consumers who need to limit their caffeine consumption.

The Department is aware of clinical trials currently taking place internationally, which are researching possible links between the long term effects of COVID-19 and micro-clots. The Department will assess the impact of research findings as they emerge and update its guidance accordingly.

Through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research Institute (UKRI), over £50 million has been invested in research projects for post-COVID-19 syndrome to improve our understanding and treatment of the condition. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics, the NIHR and UKRI welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the long term effects of COVID-19.

The Department is aware of clinical trials currently taking place internationally, which are researching possible links between the long term effects of COVID-19 and micro-clots. The Department will assess the impact of research findings as they emerge and update its guidance accordingly.

Through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research Institute (UKRI), over £50 million has been invested in research projects for post-COVID-19 syndrome to improve our understanding and treatment of the condition. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics, the NIHR and UKRI welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the long term effects of COVID-19.