Matthew Pennycook

The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) is a private sector-led initiative and is independent of UK Government efforts as the hosts of COP26.

As set out in his Terms of Reference, Mark Carney is focussed on creating a more sustainable financial system to support the path to net zero and embedding climate into every financial decision. His objectives are set out in his published ‘Priorities for private finance for COP26’. The work of the TSVCM in supporting companies to contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement is set out in the Taskforce’s final report, available at iif.com/tsvcm.

Neither the Finance Advisor for COP26, Mark Carney, nor the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets will play a role in the formation of Government policy in relation to COP26 negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) is a private sector-led initiative and is independent of UK Government efforts as the hosts of COP26.

As set out in his Terms of Reference, Mark Carney is focussed on creating a more sustainable financial system to support the path to net zero and embedding climate into every financial decision. His objectives are set out in his published ‘Priorities for private finance for COP26’. The work of the TSVCM in supporting companies to contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement is set out in the Taskforce’s final report, available at iif.com/tsvcm.

Neither the Finance Advisor for COP26, Mark Carney, nor the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets will play a role in the formation of Government policy in relation to COP26 negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) is a private sector-led initiative and is independent of UK Government efforts as the hosts of COP26.

As set out in his Terms of Reference, Mark Carney is focussed on creating a more sustainable financial system to support the path to net zero and embedding climate into every financial decision. His objectives are set out in his published ‘Priorities for private finance for COP26’. The work of the TSVCM in supporting companies to contribute to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement is set out in the Taskforce’s final report, available at iif.com/tsvcm.

Neither the Finance Advisor for COP26, Mark Carney, nor the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets will play a role in the formation of Government policy in relation to COP26 negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

It is a long established precedent that detailed information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.

Further to the answer given to PQ 5342 on 23 January 2020 and PQ 21909 on 3 March, details of executive agencies and non-ministerial departments can be found on gov.uk.

The hon. Member’s correspondence about financial support for the hospitality sector was transferred to BEIS from HM Treasury on 19 March. I will write separately in response to the hon. Member.

The Government is considering its response to the consultation and will respond in due course. This includes the Government’s decision on the timing of the policy implementation.

The UK Government is now considering the information received and will respond in due course.

BEIS is reviewing the Carbon Values used to value emissions in government policy appraisal. Once this review is completed the updated values will be published later in the year.

In August 2019, the Government announced a £250 million Clean Steel Fund to support the UK steel sector to transition to lower carbon iron and steel production, through investment in new technologies and processes. The Fund will help the sector towards achieving our target of net zero emissions by 2050, by maximising longevity and resilience while harnessing clean growth opportunities.

Steel industry stakeholders provided positive responses to our Call for Evidence, including responses on possible timelines for the Fund. Feedback generally indicated that companies could be ready with projects for funding by 2023 or 2024. A summary of the responses was published in December 2020. Officials will work with industry to decide the most appropriate timeline for the scheme.

Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to protect public health. The government's guidance remains that people should gather in groups of no larger than six people from different households, or two households, adhering to social distancing. Further easing of restrictions will take place as and when appropriate in line with scientific and medical advice.

Shops in England selling non-essential goods will be able to reopen from Monday 15 June, thanks to continuing progress in meeting our 5 tests, and provided they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines set out by the Government in May.

This includes High street retailers and department stores, book shops, electronics retailers, tailors, auction houses, photography studios, indoor markets, and shops selling clothes, shoes and toys.

It will be for individual shops, however, to decide when the time is right for them to reopen, as it is subject to them following the COVID-19 secure guidelines.

The government recognises the vital role of independent community newspapers in supporting particular groups and isolated individuals by ensuring the provision of reliable, high-quality information throughout the current pandemic. Safeguarding the UK’s news media at this time of financial instability is a key priority for the government and we are in regular dialogue with publishers to ensure that our response to the challenges they are facing is as effective as it can be.

To date, the government has issued guidance to local authorities on the importance of newspaper delivery, which has been critical to ensuring the continued dissemination of printed public interest news. We have also clarified that journalists and other ancillary staff are ‘key workers’ for the purposes of access to childcare and educational places.

The government has sought to maximise advertising opportunities for the news publishing sector through a public information campaign across many national and local titles. The current partnership brings together over 600 national, regional and local titles across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to reach 49 million people a month. All titles utilised in the campaign have been selected by our media planning and buying agency, OmniGOV. As with any media planning approach, titles are selected on their ability to engage with audiences and to ensure value for money, reach and targeting efficacy. The vast majority of titles are local papers and additional titles have been selected in order to further reach priority audiences including BAME and older men. In parallel, we have taken steps to ensure the use of ‘keyword blocklisting’ technology does not inadvertently damage news publishers’ online advertising revenues for Covid-19 related stories. Dialogue with the relevant technology companies has helped to protect publishers against the ad-blocking of coronavirus-related terms.

Most recently, the Chancellor also brought forward the zero rating of VAT on all e-publications to the 1st May - seven months ahead of schedule. The government expects the tax relief to be passed on to consumers in the form of reduced prices, and publishers should benefit from increased sales. Independent publishers may also benefit from several measures included in our unprecedented business support package, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Job Retention Scheme, Bounce Back Loans, VAT deferrals, and coverage of statutory sick pay costs.

The government will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism. Never have the activities of journalists been more popular and critical; providing quality news to all, including those self-isolating, and binding communities together, a fundamental function of our modern day democracy.

In considering which areas may be suitable for primary restrictions under our contingency framework, the Department worked closely with Public Health England, the Joint Biosecurity Centre, NHS Test & Trace and the Department for Health and Social Care using the most recent data available. We used a balanced approach, rather than simple threshold cut offs, and took all factors into account, but with particular focus on: very high rates of infection, particularly high increases in seven-day case rates, and intelligence about pressure on the NHS.

These were not easy decisions to make, but they were made according to the best clinical advice and the key indicators set out within the COVID-19 Winter Plan. More information on the COVID-19 Winter Plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan.

The national lockdown announced on 4 January 2021 replaced the restrictions that had been active in some primary schools under the contingency framework. We will be continually reviewing the restrictions on schools, colleges and universities to ensure that pupils and students can return to face to face education when the pressures are easing on the NHS.

These decisions do not suggest that schools and colleges are no longer safe places. Instead, limiting attendance is about reducing the number of contacts that all of us have with people in other households.

As of 2 December, providers offering out-of-school activities to children, including private tuition, are able to open for both indoor and outdoor provision in areas at all restriction tiers, with safety measures in place. We have updated our guidance for providers of after-school and holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings on the measures they should put in place to ensure they are operating as safely as possible. For example, the guidance advises that private tutors working from their own home should consider whether a specific, well-ventilated room could be designated for lessons. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak. If a private tutor normally offers provision in their own home or students’ homes, they should also refer to the government guidance on ‘Working safely during coronavirus in other people’s homes’, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes.

The government recognises that maintained nursery schools are an important part of the early years sector and provide valuable services, especially in disadvantaged areas.

We are committed to funding for maintained nursery schools in the longer term. Last October, we announced that maintained nursery schools would continue to receive supplementary funding for the whole of the financial year 2020-21 and this is unchanged by the COVID-19 outbreak, along with their funding for the usual early education entitlements through the dedicated schools grant. At the moment, our resources are focused on tackling the unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19. But resolving the long-term funding of maintained nursery schools is high on our list of priorities and we will return to it as soon as we are able. Any reform to the way maintained nursery schools are funded in the future will be accompanied by appropriate funding protections.

Unlike most state-funded schools, maintained nursery schools typically rely on private income for a significant proportion of their total income. Therefore, we have ensured that access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is also available to maintained nursery schools, in line with the published guidance.

Maintained nursery schools can access the free school meal vouchers via Edenred.

Defra declined the transfer of this correspondence. It is currently with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to respond.

As the Prime Minister stated in his announcement on 12 December 2020, the government will continue to apply current policy for all in-scope activities, until the new policy is implemented following the consultation.

In line with the Prime Minister’s announcement, UK Export Finance (UKEF) will continue to consider fossil fuel projects, subject to our due diligence, until the new policy is implemented. We do not yet know what the date of implementation will be.

The Government will provide further details underpinning the policy shift, alongside the government’s response to the consultation that closed on 8^th February.

When considering a request for support, UKEF conducts extensive due diligence, including environmental, social, and human rights due diligence and consideration of climate change, to understand the risk it is being asked to take. There are various reasons why an application to UKEF might not result in support being provided, or, if support is offered, why delays in providing that support might arise. All these factors make determining when UKEF support may, or even will, be provided difficult and imprecise.

UKEF will publish details of any projects supported in its Annual Report and Accounts.

Until the Government has completed its assessment of the responses to the consultation and finalised the policy in this area, details of the final parameters of the exemptions remain subject to change. Additionally, as this policy was neither in place nor under consideration during the period in question, UK Export Finance (UKEF) does not hold sufficient data to assess whether an exemption could have been applied to certain projects which otherwise could not be supported under the new policy. Similarly, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold sufficient data about official development assistance in the form required. Consequently we are unable to provide this information other than at disproportionate cost.

The operation of specific routes is a commercial decision for airlines. The Government remains committed to working with industry to ensure a return to international travel when it is safe to do so.

The UK has introduced further border controls to add another level of protection against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and reduce the risk of a new and dangerous strain being imported into the UK. The travel measures announced in January include the requirement for pre-departure tests, travel bans, and government-approved managed quarantine for arrivals from red list countries. Further information is available on Gov.uk.

We keep all our measures under constant review, and they will remain in place as long as is required in order to protect public health and reduce transmission of the virus and to reduce the risk of new variants.

Anyone wishing to travel should always check the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

There are no plans to make compensation available to those whose theory test certificates have expired. The cost of paying any compensation would fall to the DVSA, and to the feepayer, were the DVSA to put in place arrangements to pay it. This would be unfair to other fee payers who would not benefit from such an arrangement.

In addition, applications for a re-test would need to be validated and systems amended to remove the requirement for payment in these cases. The DVSA’s focus should rightly be on developing solutions to address the backlog of practical driving tests that has arisen as a result of the pandemic.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency must verify that the information supporting changes of name is genuine and appropriate before amending the driving licence record and issuing a licence. This is to safeguard the integrity of the records it holds.

There are currently no plans to introduce an online service.

You can leave home to attend a place of worship for individual prayer, a funeral or a related event for someone who has died, to visit a burial ground or a remembrance garden, or to attend a deathbed wedding. A list of what constitutes a ‘reasonable excuse’ for leaving home can be found in the regulations.

You can travel internationally if travelling for a reason which would permit you to leave your home under the national lockdown rules, including those set out above. Guidance for overseas travel is published in gov.uk, available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers.

We replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 4 December 2020.

When an individual is told that they are considered clinically extremely vulnerable as a result of national additions to the Shielded Patient List a physical letter is sent to them and emails are sent to those who have registered an email address with their general practitioner (GP). When an individual is added to the Shielded Patient List by their GP practice or trust, they receive their correspondence from those organisations directly. When there is an update to the guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people, a letter is sent out to all those affected. In addition, an email containing the same information is sent to those individuals who have registered an email address with their GP.

We are actively encouraging the use of email, though we recognise this is not appropriate for everyone as some individuals are digitally excluded and would not receive any communication if the Government only sent letters in electronic formats. It has also been noted that that some clinically extremely vulnerable people rely on the physical letter as evidence for others, such as their employer.

The Department has a storage network in place that lets us access and manage our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply to meet demand throughout the winter. We currently hold fewer than 400 shipping containers at British ports.

Clipper, our logistics partner, manages the PPE distribution centre in Daventry. They have a stock audit team who undertake a rolling audit of all the PPE in the warehouses. As part of the audit activity, expiry dates for PPE are captured in a stock management system, enabling us to ensure that the PPE we supply is in date and of the required standard.

We are closely monitoring storage capacity across the United Kingdom on a routine basis and the Department has identified several options to increase storage capacity if needed.

NHS England publishes data on vaccines administered per week and cumulative data on the number of vaccines administered by region and clinical commissioning group, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

We are working to provide all Members and external correspondents with accurate answers to their correspondence, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hon. Member’s letter will be answered as soon as possible.

The UK recognises the serious and unequivocal threat that climate change poses to our planet, and that it can undermine the enjoyment of human rights. However, any recognition of a new legal right must give due regard to the structure of international human rights law so as not to undermine the notion and value of human rights as a whole.

Details of UK International Climate Finance (ICF) by calendar year can be found here. Headline figures are below:

The UK Government remains committed to doubling our ICF to £11.6 billion over the next five years. Annual allocations have not been set for the five year period.

The Foreign Secretary has completed the cross-government review of how Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be allocated against the government's priorities for 2021, including on climate and biodiversity. This review has ensured that UK ODA is focused on our strategic priorities, spent where it will have the maximum impact, has greater coherence and delivers most value for money.

However our international climate finance is protected, and we remain committed to doubling our International Climate Finance to £11.6 billion over the next five years.

No decisions on individual budgets have been taken yet by Ministers.

A response was sent on 22 December 2020, and an additional copy has been sent to the Member's office.

I spoke to the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister on 13 November and the Armenian Foreign Minister on 30 November where I welcomed the cessation of hostilities. I urged both Foreign Ministers to ensure the International Committee of the Red Cross were able to access the conflict zone to allow for the facilitation of the return of prisoners of war and the remains of the deceased. Our Embassies in Yerevan and Baku continue to engage their hosts in support of these efforts.