Liz McInnes

We have had an exceptional response rate to the consultation on the Gender Recognition Act, receiving over 100,000 responses. We are currently analysing all of these contributions and we intend to publish a response later this year.

On 30 April 2015, Daniel Smith and Joe McLean of Grant Thornton UK LLP were appointed as administrators to the companies trading as Carcraft.

When a company goes into administration the insolvency practitioners must, within six months of their appointment, report confidentially to the Insolvency Service about the conduct of the directors. Where there is serious public concern, the Insolvency Service will not wait for that report. In this case it has made early contact with the administrators to discuss the conduct of the directors and whether there are any matters giving rise to concern.

In accordance with the two stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS carefully considered the evidence submitted by the private prosecutor both on its own and in addition to the material already in its possession from the earlier decision. In both cases the CPS concluded that there was no realistic prospect of conviction for the charge selected by the private prosecutor.

In addition the CPS considered whether both sets evidence taken together might be sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any abortion offence. It was concluded that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute an offence of using poison, instruments or any other means with intent to procure an abortion but that this was very finely balanced. It further concluded that the public interest considerations in not pursuing a prosecution outweighed those in favour for the same reasons as in 2013, most importantly the lack of professional guidance on how doctors should approach comparative risk assessments.

The full reasons for the decision are available on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) website: http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/cps_decision_to_stop_private_prosecutions_of_doctors_charged_with_abortion_offences/

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse (Jake Berry). Government is responding to the Shop Direct closures and has held a number of conversations with various parties to ensure proper processes are followed and employee rights are upheld. We will continue to engage with relevant parties as appropriate. My rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State has already met with the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) about Shop Direct and will be having a further meeting with her in due course.

The Department of Health led on drawing up the action plan to tackle childhood obesity with input from across Government, including this Department.

This is a matter for the Charity Commission as independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales. The Commission has said that, on seeing the reported events, it immediately contacted the Presidents Club Charitable Trust and called for an urgent meeting. The Commission is also engaging with the Financial Times whose investigation uncovered the activities of the Presidents Club Charity Dinner, and has requested any further evidence to ensure it can look into these matters fully and robustly. The Commission has said that it will deal robustly with any misconduct or mismanagement it finds, will consider what further regulatory action may be required and will ensure that the charity is wound up in an orderly manner and that any remaining funds are distributed correctly. The Commission has also confirmed that it is in discussion with Equality and Human Rights Commission about these matters.

This is a matter for the Charity Commission as independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales. The Commission has said that, on seeing the reported events, it immediately contacted the Presidents Club Charitable Trust and called for an urgent meeting. The Commission is also engaging with the Financial Times whose investigation uncovered the activities of the Presidents Club Charity Dinner, and has requested any further evidence to ensure it can look into these matters fully and robustly. The Commission has said that it will deal robustly with any misconduct or mismanagement it finds, will consider what further regulatory action may be required and will ensure that the charity is wound up in an orderly manner and that any remaining funds are distributed correctly. The Commission has also confirmed that it is in discussion with Equality and Human Rights Commission about these matters.

The childhood obesity plan was developed and drafted by Department of Health with input from departments across Government, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. DCMS will continue to work with DH on the implementation of the actions within the plan.

The Government consulted on adding on-demand programme services to the TV licence framework as part of its Green Paper published in July last year. Under the new proposals, all individuals will need to be covered by a TV licence if they stream or download television programmes through on-demand services provided by the BBC (notably the iPlayer). If an individual has a licence already, then they are automatically covered to watch BBC on-demand services under the new proposals.

As set out in the Government's White Paper, A BBC for the future​: a Broadcaster of Distinction, the government encourages the BBC to do more to open up its archive and ensure that it can be used by the public and as wide a range of institutions and organisations as possible​. How the BBC presents its online content is matter for the BBC.​ Your Paintings is now available on artuk.org.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students studying at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As part of the publication ‘Performance Indicators for Higher Education’, HESA estimate learning outcomes for UK domiciled full-time students starting first degree[1] courses.

The table below shows the projected outcomes for those commencing their studies in 2014/15 at UK HEIs, by country of institution.

Projected learning outcomes of UK domiciled full-time first degree entrants

UK Higher Education Institutions

Academic year 2014/15

Source: HESA UK Performance Indicators (Non-Continuation), Table T5

The table shows that even where a student does not complete their degree course, they may go on to achieve a different qualification or transfer to another higher education provider.

Further information on how projected outcomes are defined and calculated by HESA can be found in the UK Performance Indicators Non-Continuation Publication at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation-summary.

Figures for entrants in the 2015/16 academic year will be published by HESA in March 2018.

[1] Whilst the majority of full-time first degree courses are three year courses, this group will also include some individuals enrolled on four year courses (for example integrated masters degrees).

[2] Percentages are rounded to one decimal place so may not sum exactly to 100.

My department is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, other government departments and other interested parties to establish criteria for determining entitlement to benefits-related free school meals as the roll-out of universal credit progresses.

No decision has been taken yet; our proposals on this matter will be announced in due course.

Information on the number of disadvantaged young people entering higher education, and non-continuation of young disadvantaged first degree students is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England via the following link:

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/HEinEngland/students/social/.

The Higher Education sector is taking this issue very seriously. The Department has had a very positive and comprehensive response from all of the 238 HEFCE-funded providers and designated Alternative Providers. All providers have been tested where necessary. Where issues have been identified providers have been quick to respond to protect the safety of students. Officials will continue to work with those in the Department for Communities and Local Government reviewing private student accommodation.

We received over 25,000 responses to the consultation, which we are analysing in detail. We are grateful to all those who expressed their views on school funding and the proposed formula as part of this process. We will publish the response to the consultation in due course.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit assists law enforcers in their investigations and helps prevent and detect wildlife crime, including cybercrime related to the illegal sale of ivory.

The issue of online sales was raised in response to our recent consultation on banning UK sales of ivory. We are considering this carefully, along with other issues, in developing the Government’s response to the consultation.

Several online retailers have voluntarily banned the sale of ivory online.

As part of the Litter Strategy for England that was published in April this year, we have established a working group to look at different voluntary and economic incentives to improve the recycling and reuse of packaging, and to reduce the incidence of commonly littered items. As well as voluntary models, the scope of the working group includes consideration of regulatory options and measures to target particular types of item or product, including the full cost impacts and benefits of different types of deposit and reward and return schemes for drink containers including plastic bottles. This working group will be consulting widely in developing its evidence base and analysis.

Defra has not made any assessment of the UK remaining in the EU on the farming industry.

Defra has not made any assessment of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on the UK farming industry.

The Protocol on Gibraltar will form part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The Agreement will be laid in the House under section 13(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 once negotiations are concluded. We expect to make the Memoranda available in due course once negotiations on the overall agreement between the United Kingdom, the Government of Gibraltar and Spain are complete.

The Department for Exiting the European Union has used the services of a number of consulting firms to help with departmental set-up and planning. A small number of individuals are also on secondment from consultancy firms and external organisations. The Department will make further use of external support and recruitment as appropriate to ensure it has the right expertise available.

The total expenditure on professional services and consultancy in the financial year 2016-17 will be published in the annual report and accounts. Specific contracts awarded over £10,000 and items of expenditure over £25,000 will be reported in due course.

The Department for Exiting the European Union has used the services of a number of consulting firms to help with departmental set-up and planning. A small number of individuals are currently on secondment from consultancy firms and external organisations. Going forward, the Department will make further use of external support and recruitment as appropriate to ensure it has the right expertise to deliver its objectives.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 1 December 2016 to the Question 55210 and 55211.

We have made clear to the Government of Bangladesh that any relocation of refugees must be safe, dignified and meet international humanitarian principles and standards.

The UK fully supports the UN’s position that full and detailed technical and protection assessments should be conducted of Bhasan Char before any relocations of Rohingya are considered. We welcome the Government of Bangladesh’s commitment to ensure any relocations are voluntary and are conducted in coordination with UN agencies.

The UK has been one of the major supporters of the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since it began in August 2018. This has included providing significant funding and technical expertise. Two days before the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), on 15 July, DFID announced additional financial and technical support of up to £50 million – recognising the seriousness of the situation in DRC and the high risk of regional spread.

Following the PHEIC declaration, the UK has echoed the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in encouraging countries, companies and individuals to avoid measures that could undermine the response and further fuel insecurity, notably the closure of borders.

The UK is deeply concerned by the increasing levels of violence in Mali. The number of displaced people across Mali has more than tripled in the past year. Through the Sahel Humanitarian Emergency Response Programme (SHERP), the UK is providing Mali with £11.1m of humanitarian aid this year, providing emergency food aid, emergency nutrition activities, and protection assistance to conflict-affected and displaced people across Mali.

The risk of spread to countries neighbouring eastern DRC remains high, including to South Sudan. This is why the UK is the leading donor to regional preparedness efforts in neighbouring countries, helping support a range of activities, including screening at border crossings and the vaccination of health workers. The recent confirmed Ebola case in Ariwara, DRC, 70km from South Sudan, has further encouraged the international community to step up preparedness activities, particularly in high-risk areas along the border, in the support of the Government of South Sudan.

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor responding to the refugee situation in Uganda, through UN agencies and international NGOs, and in coordination with the Government of Uganda. Between March 2015 and April 2019 UKAid provided extensive support that has enabled the delivery of a range of life-saving assistance and protection services. These include providing 1.2 million people with food assistance, 130,000 people with access to clean water, and 342,000 women and children with nutritional support. We have also led efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola into refugee settlements in Uganda.

The UK’s response in Uganda will continue to protect people in crisis and invest in long-term livelihood and self-reliance options. It will capitalise on the fact that Uganda’s refugee policy, which allows freedom of movement and the right to work, means that it is well placed to deliver commitments made at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit under the Grand Bargain and is a pilot country for implementing the 2018 Global Refugee Compact.