Mhairi Black

The Government is committed to strengthening the UK's response to bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and other forms of economic crime.

The Government is continuing to review options to improve the effectiveness of the UK's response to economic crime, and any measures resulting from this work will be announced in due course.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to 114642.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to 114642.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to 114642.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to 114642.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to 114642.

The House of Commons Commission is responsible for the hybrid proceedings in the Commons. The costs set out below therefore relate only to work associated with the Commons, not Parliament as a whole. The figures show combined implementation/other one-off costs and running costs as at 31 May 2020, and cover committed spend up to that date, not just actual expenditure.

VIRTUAL CHAMBER REVENUE COSTS:

Chamber set up – £31,200

Broadcasting hub set up – £12,734

Specialist operating team – £176,000

Technical infrastructure hire – £334,000

Remote broadcasting provision for Ministers and other key Members – £70,000

Additional internet bandwidth – £6,000

Sub-total excluding VAT = £629,934

(all supplier costs concerned, excluding any capital costs, are VAT recoverable)

VIRTUAL CHAMBER CAPITAL COSTS:

Broadcasting equipment – £123,994

Hansard recording equipment – £58,306

Sub-total excluding VAT = £182,300

Sub-total including VAT = £218,760

REMOTE VOTING, BALLOTING AND ANNUNCIATOR COSTS:

Remote voting (development, hosting) – £40,000 approx.

Commons Balloting – £12,500

Remote annunciator (“UKParliamentNow”) – £33,464 (Commons share only)

Sub-total including VAT = £85,964

VIRTUAL COMMITTEES REVENUE COSTS:

Implementation = £24,327 ex VAT (£29,192 including VAT)

VIRTUAL COMMITTEES CAPITAL COSTS:

Implementation = £330,824 ex VAT (£396,988 including VAT)

ONLINE BY-ELECTION FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIRS

£3,780 including VAT.

TOTAL REVENUE INCLUDING NON-RECOVERABLE VAT = £745,090

TOTAL CAPITAL INCLUDING VAT = £615,748

GRAND TOTAL = £1,360,838

Government worked with a wide range of businesses, unions and representative organisations to draft the guidance on safe return to work, as well as Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive. The guidance sets out clearly that the Government advice on vulnerable and shielded groups continues to apply, and that equalities matters should still be taken into account.

Clinically vulnerable people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 have been asked to take extra care in observing social distancing. Employers should help these individuals work from home if possible. The guidance sets out that employers should consider whether workers with a disability are exposed to any specific risks, including those who are classed as either “clinically extremely vulnerable” or “clinically vulnerable” to COVID-19. If so, they should take the steps needed to protect those individuals.

The guidance does not replace health and safety or equalities legislation; it provides information to employers on how best to meet these responsibilities in the context of COVID-19.

The Government are committed to building an economy that works for everyone. Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW), we are ensuring the lowest paid are fairly rewarded for their contribution to the economy.

The Government considers the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) when setting the NMW rates. We reward workers with the highest possible minimum wage while considering the impact on the economy and affordability for businesses. As well as looking at living costs, the LPC draws on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research and stakeholder evidence.

The hon Member recently tabled a Named Day question on this matter.

In my answer of 13 June I advised that this was the operational responsibility of the Post Office and I would ask its Chief Executive, Paula Vennells, to write to the hon Member.

I understand Paula Vennells wrote to the hon Member on 21 June. This letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Office Limited runs and manages its directly managed Crown post offices. Changes to the Crown network and arrangements for employees of these offices are the operational responsibility of the Post Office.

I have asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

The Government acknowledges the importance of the music industry to the UK economy and that it has been significantly affected by the impacts of COVID-19.

The £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will benefit the music sector by providing support to venues and many other organisations. Over £1 billion of the fund has now been allocated to over 3,000 arts and culture organisations across the country, including over £54 million to over 300 music venues. A contingency element of £400 million of the Culture Recovery Fund was held back so that it could be most effectively used dependent on the state of the pandemic, with grant applications closing on 26 January 2021. This fund will support cultural organisations facing financial distress as a result of closure, as well as helping them transition back to fuller opening.

The Government’s broader economic measures have also supported the music industry. This support includes business rates relief; £1.1 billion existing discretionary funding for Local Authorities; the furlough scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which have been extended to April; and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which have been extended until March. In addition, the Treasury announced a temporary reduction in VAT for concert tickets from 20% to 5% to take effect from 15 July 2020 for ticket sales until 31 March.

DCMS has engaged extensively with union bodies, companies, orchestras, individual musical practitioners and cultural organisations. We understand the importance of being able to tour. We recognise that this depends on musicians and crew being able to move quickly and easily between countries, taking necessary equipment with them.

We want a relationship with the EU based on friendly cooperation. On temporary entry for business purposes (mode 4), a reciprocal agreement based on best precedent will mean that UK citizens will be able to undertake some business activities in the EU without a work permit, on a short-term basis. The same would apply for EU citizens making business visits to the UK. The precise details, including range of activities, documentation needed, and the time limit, will be negotiated.

There are several options currently available which allow certain goods to be imported temporarily into the UK from outside the EU without payment of duties, subject to certain conditions. These include ATA Carnet and Temporary Admission (TA). Similarly there are options, including ATA Carnet and Returned Goods Relief (RGR), that allow certain goods to be reimported to the UK following temporary export to another customs territory without payment of duties. At the end of the Transition Period, ATA Carnets, RGR and TA will all become options for temporarily moving musical instruments and equipment between the UK and EU.

DEFRA has already expanded the list of CITES-designated points of entry and exit available post Transition Period to a total of 29. They will continue to work with port operators, Border Force, and industry to analyse trade flows and will designate further PoE where there is clear evidence of benefit to the UK.

On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors, including music.

We are working closely with DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies to develop guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding, and we will publish detailed guidance as soon as possible in July.

The government takes concerns around issues such as loot boxes in video games very seriously. We have committed to a review of the Gambling Act, with a particular focus on tackling issues around loot boxes. Further details will be set out in the government response to the DCMS Select Committee’s report on Immersive and Addictive Technologies which will be published shortly.

We also continue to work with industry and the age ratings bodies to encourage the use of parental controls that can disable or limit spending on devices, and welcomed the launch in January 2020 of the games industry’s Get Smart About P.L.A.Y. campaign encouraging parents to use parental controls and take an active role in their children’s gaming. We also welcome PEGI’s decision in April 2020 to introduce a new ‘paid random items’ content label for physical and digital copies of games.

The government has made the decision not to seek participation in Creative Europe in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Domestic alternatives will be a consideration for the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I have regular meetings with Scottish ministers, and ministers from all the devolved administrations, about higher education issues. These discussions have included the development of student number controls policy. Departmental officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts.

Student number controls are a direct response to COVID-19. They are designed to minimise the impact to the financial threat posed by the outbreak and form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. We want to make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so.

These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in the devolved administrations only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company, and are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.

Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I have regular meetings with Scottish ministers, and ministers from all the devolved administrations, about higher education issues. These discussions have included the development of student number controls policy. Departmental officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts.

Student number controls are a direct response to COVID-19. They are designed to minimise the impact to the financial threat posed by the outbreak and form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. We want to make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so.

These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in the devolved administrations only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company, and are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.

Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

As we set out in the UK’s approach to negotiations, we remain open to the UK participating in elements of the Erasmus+ programme, on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interest.

The specific terms under which the UK could participate in the programme are subject to the future negotiations with the EU, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible.

In parallel with the ongoing negotiations, we continue to develop an alternative domestic scheme as part of preparing for every eventuality.

Last year the Government published the Resources and Waste Strategy, setting out our plans to reduce, reuse and recycle more plastic than we do now. Our target is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste throughout the life of the 25 Year Environment Plan, but for the most problematic plastics we are going faster - that is why we have committed to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the UK market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

The Government recently consulted on reforms to the packaging producer responsibility system to ensure that packaging producers fund the full net cost of managing the packaging they place on the market once it becomes waste. This provides a strong financial incentive for packaging producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and during manufacture, and to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products.

Furthermore, in April last year, the Waste and Resources Action Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched their world leading UK Plastics Pact, with support from the Government, and all the major supermarkets have signed up to it. The Pact brings these organisations together with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. This includes action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single use plastic packaging items. Our proposed reforms will support supermarkets in achieving those targets.

I refer the Hon. Lady for Paisley and Renfrewshire South to the answer I gave her on 20^th November 2020 (UIN: 114241).

HM Government has no current plans to ratify the Convention.

Technical standards for noise for new cars are set at an International level by both the European Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Under these technical regulations the noise limits for new models of passenger car were reduced by 2 decibels in 2016, and will be further reduced by 2 decibels in 2020 and again in 2024.

Once a car is in service, UK regulations require exhausts and silencers to be maintained in good working order and not altered so as to increase noise.

The Department for Transport has commissioned research into enforcement measures and technologies with the potential to combat excessive noise from road vehicles.

Technical standards for noise for new cars are set at an International level by both the European Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Under these technical regulations the noise limits for new models of passenger car were reduced by 2 decibels in 2016, and will be further reduced by 2 decibels in 2020 and again in 2024.

Once a car is in service, UK regulations require exhausts and silencers to be maintained in good working order and not altered so as to increase noise.

The Department for Transport has commissioned research into enforcement measures and technologies with the potential to combat excessive noise from road vehicles.

We have injected over £6.5bn into the welfare system, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 a year for everyone. This was in addition to the 1.7 per cent inflation increase which was part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze meaning more financial support for millions of people across the UK, including those under 25.

The Universal Credit rate for under 25s reflects the lower wages that younger workers typically receive.

Universal Credit also includes separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers. These additional amounts are provided to claimants at the same level irrespective of age.

We acknowledge that it is important that Jobcentres continue to support young people through the economic recovery post-COVID-19. They have already started to re-engage with new and existing claimants and are signposting them to appropriate support.

Anyone over the age of 18 can claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance if they have sufficient paid National Insurance contributions. Neither of those benefits is means-tested. Those on low incomes and with limited capital can claim Universal Credit or legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance.

For Universal Credit, New Claims Advances of up to 100% of potential entitlement are available within a few days if a claimant needs support during their first assessment period. Face-to-face checks for Universal Credit advances have been scrapped due to Covid-19, so people get the support they need despite COVID-19 restrictions. We have also increased the Standard Allowance for everyone by over £80 a month on top of the existing 1.7% (CPI) increase already announced. This additional increase means all claimants will be up to £1040 better off.

DWP is also engaging with a number of external stakeholders including the Youth Employment Group (set up by the Prince’s Trust, Youth Employment UK, the Institute for Employment Studies, the Youth Futures Foundation and Impetus) as well as continuing to work across Whitehall to develop appropriate support aimed at young people.

As a result of changes made in April, the Universal Credit standard allowance increased by £20 per week for the next 12 months – equivalent to up to £1,040 a year. This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation increase, announced Nov 2019, as part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze, and means more financial support for millions of people across the UK.

Regardless of employment status, any funds held in an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded as capital in Universal Credit until the claimant reaches the pension age of the scheme, or withdraws funds from the scheme early.

We currently have no plans to increase Employment and Support Allowance above its current rates.

We have announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption, such as increasing the standard rate in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week) on top of the planned annual uprating. This additional increase means claimants will be up to £1040 better off. We estimate 2.5m households on UC will benefit straight away, as well as new claimants who become unemployed or whose earnings or work hours decrease because of the outbreak. The Universal Credit IT system is significantly more flexible than our legacy systems and uses different technology from other DWP systems. The Department is experiencing significant increased demand and the Government has to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall.

We have also made a number of changes to legacy benefits like Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increases in entitlement. These new measures include:

• Providing more support for benefit claimants in the Private Rented Sector by increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile, helping to alleviate affordability challenges. Those receiving Housing Benefit and legacy benefits will benefit from this increase.

• Treating all ESA claimants who satisfy the conditions of entitlement and are suffering from COVID-19 or who are required to self-isolate in line with government guidance, including vulnerable individuals who have been advised by the NHS to ‘shield’ (stay at home for at least 12 weeks) because they are at high risk of severe illness, as having limited capability for work, without the requirement to undergo a Work Capability Assessment,

• Removing waiting days for ESA, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement; and,

• Allowing disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payments, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit to continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged.