Roberta Blackman-Woods

Labour - Former Member for City of Durham

First elected: 5th May 2005

Left House: 6th November 2019 (Standing Down)


Roberta Blackman-Woods is not a member of any APPGs
Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities & Local Government) (Planning)
12th Jan 2018 - 6th Nov 2019
Shadow Minister (International Development)
3rd Jul 2017 - 12th Jan 2018
Shadow Minister (Housing)
9th Oct 2016 - 3rd Jul 2017
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
18th Jul 2016 - 13th Mar 2017
Science and Technology Committee
18th Jul 2016 - 13th Mar 2017
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
18th Jul 2016 - 13th Mar 2017
Shadow Minister (Housing)
18th Sep 2015 - 27th Jun 2016
Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government)
7th Oct 2011 - 18th Sep 2015
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
8th Oct 2010 - 7th Oct 2011
Commons Science and Technology
1st Oct 2009 - 6th May 2010
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
28th Jun 2005 - 6th May 2010
Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
28th Jun 2005 - 6th May 2010
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee
10th Mar 2008 - 30th Sep 2009
Education & Skills
12th Jul 2005 - 17th Jul 2006


Division Voting information

Roberta Blackman-Woods has voted in 2267 divisions, and 8 times against the majority of their Party.

20 Apr 2016 - Record Copies of Acts - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Labour Aye votes vs 23 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 117 Noes - 38
11 Jul 2012 - Sittings of the House - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 51 Labour No votes vs 141 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 280 Noes - 184
4 Mar 2010 - Chair (Terminology) - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Labour Aye votes vs 124 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 106 Noes - 221
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 126 Labour Aye votes vs 184 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 418
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 132 Labour Aye votes vs 177 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 392
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 156 Labour Aye votes vs 157 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 267
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 96 Labour No votes vs 207 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 337 Noes - 224
17 Oct 2006 - Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment) - View Vote Context
Roberta Blackman-Woods voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 46 Labour No votes vs 49 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 55 Noes - 240
View All Roberta Blackman-Woods Division Votes

All Debates

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
Brandon Lewis (Conservative)
(84 debate interactions)
Lord Barwell (Conservative)
(75 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Education
(89 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(76 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(62 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Roberta Blackman-Woods's debates

City of Durham 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

That this Government without delay recognises the need for a non-means tested bridging pension for women born on or after 6/4/1950 who are affected by the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts and compensate those at risk of losing up to around £45,000, to also give proper notification for any future changes.


Latest EDMs signed by Roberta Blackman-Woods

15th October 2019
Roberta Blackman-Woods signed this EDM on Monday 28th October 2019

Prison officer pension age

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House recognises the dangerous working conditions in the Prison Service; expresses concern at the increasing number of violent assaults on prison staff; believes that prison officers approaching the age of 70 should not be expected to deal with violent and dangerous criminals aged in their twenties, thirties and …
75 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 36
Scottish National Party: 19
Democratic Unionist Party: 8
Independent: 6
Conservative: 3
Plaid Cymru: 2
Liberal Democrat: 1
14th October 2019
Roberta Blackman-Woods signed this EDM on Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Women Against State Pension Inequality

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House calls on the Government to financially support women worst affected by the accelerated increase in the state pension age introduced through the Pensions Act 2011; notes with concern that significant numbers of women were unaware of pension age equalisation set out in the Pensions Act 1995; acknowledges …
45 signatures
(Most recent: 4 Nov 2019)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 20
Scottish National Party: 7
Independent: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Conservative: 3
Liberal Democrat: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
View All Roberta Blackman-Woods's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Roberta Blackman-Woods, 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.


Roberta Blackman-Woods has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Roberta Blackman-Woods

Tuesday 27th January 2015
Wednesday 26th June 2013

Roberta Blackman-Woods has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

1 Bill co-sponsored by Roberta Blackman-Woods

Abortion Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Diana Johnson (Lab)


Latest 50 Written Questions

(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
6 Other Department Questions
11th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the potential (a) number of job losses at and (b) redundancy costs to local authorities as a result of the proposed takeover of responsibility for LLC1 searches by the Land Registry.

At this stage it is not possible to quantify whether there will be any redundancies at local authorities or if so, how many there could be.

Land Registry’s current research suggests approximately 850 local authority staff deal with Local Land Charges as all or part of their roles. Land Registry acknowledges the possibility that there may be redundancies among these staff, but they will typically have additional responsibilities alongside their Local Land Charges role.

Further work is required to understand exactly how much time is spent by each individual officer on the Local Land Charges service. Land Registry will, of course, fulfil any TUPE obligations if applicable in any particular case.

10th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding had been drawn down by successful bidders to the Regional Growth Fund by 31 December 2014; and what proportion of the overall allocation for each round that funding represents.

The table sets out the total amount drawn down by operational RGF awards to date and the financial years in which the remaining RGF and eRGF is committed through to 31 March 2017.

Unless otherwise agreed, projects and programmes in Rounds 1 to 4 have until 31 March 2015 to draw down their funding and projects and programmes in Round 5 and 6 will be able to draw down funding until 31 March 2017. The Department agrees a draw down profile with each organisation when they sign their grant offer letter that matches the beneficiary’s own investment schedules and job commitments. The subsequent rate of draw down is then subject to the beneficiaries meeting these conditions.

RGF Drawn Down by year (£m)

Financial Year

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Total

Actual paid – year to date

464

159

551

875*

2,048

Remaining/ Planned for whole financial year

16

459

305

780

Total

2,829

*This is the actual amount paid to beneficiaries and claims awaiting payment as of 24 March 2015.

10th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding was awarded by the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council to institutions and Reseach Organisations in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) each government office region in England in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13, (D) 2013-14 and (E) 2014-15.

This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

10th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding was awarded by the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council to each university in the UK in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15.

This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

10th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much capital and revenue research funding was awarded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to institutions in each government office region in England in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.
10th Feb 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of commissioners from local government have attended the Commissioning Academy; and by which local authorities those commissioners are employed.

Through its programme of Civil Service Reform, the Government is taking urgent action to address long-standing skills gaps in the Civil Service. Our pioneering Commissioning Academy is building commercial capability across the public sector, and improving how public services are delivered.

To date 392 individuals have attended the central Commissioning Academy programmes, including 206 (52%) from central government. In the last year there was a 50% increase in demand for places on the programme, and it will be expanded to deliver 1,500 places by March 2016.

Commissioners have attended from the following local authorities:

Basildon Borough Council

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council

Birmingham City Council

Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council

Bristol City Council

Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group

Cheltenham Borough Council

Cherwell District, South Northants and Stratford on Avon Councils

Cheshire East Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester (a place-based group)

Cumbria County Council

Devon County Council

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Essex County Council

Fenland District Council

Gloucestershire County Council

Harborough District Council

Horsham District Council

Kent County Council

Knowsley Council (Health and Social Care Integration)

Lancashire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

London Borough of Barnet

London Borough of Haringey

London Borough of Lambeth

London Borough of Lewisham

London Borough of Sutton

London Borough of Waltham Forest

Lowestoft Rising (Place based group)

Manchester City Council

Milton Keynes Council

Norfolk County Council

Northamptonshire County Council

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Shropshire

Somerset County Council

Southend-on-sea Borough Council

Staffordshire County Council

Stoke-On-Trent City Council

Suffolk Coastal

Sunderland City Council

Surrey County Council

Swindon Borough Council

Tamworth Borough Council

Tri-borough councils: Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster

Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

Walsall Council

Warrington Borough Council

Waverley Borough Council

West Sussex County Council

Westminster City Council

Wirral Council

Worcestershire County Council

A number of other programmes sit alongside the central programme under the Commissioning Academy umbrella. 78 officials have attended local programmes in Norfolk and Staffordshire, modelled on the central programme, with participants drawn from local authorities and other public sector bodies in the local area. In addition, 8 councillors have attended a streamlined programme for Local Authority elected members.


10th Feb 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation by local authorities of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

The Cabinet Office asked Lord Young of Graffham, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Enterprise, to conduct a review of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

The report, published on 13 February, shows the Act is having a positive effect where it is taken up. It finds that a number of local authorities have taken a leading role in implementing social value and names Durham Council as an example.

The report makes a number of recommendations. The Government is considering these to ensure that the Act fulfils its full potential.

10th Feb 2015
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has undertaken a post-legislative analysis of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

The Cabinet Office asked Lord Young of Graffham, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Enterprise, to conduct a review of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

The report, published on 13 February, shows the Act is having a positive effect where it is taken up. It finds that a number of local authorities have taken a leading role in implementing social value and names Durham Council as an example.

The report makes a number of recommendations. The Government is considering these to ensure that the Act fulfils its full potential.

29th Mar 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will guarantee that UK Research and Innovation will sign the terms of grants of researchers who have submitted successful bids for European Research Council advanced grants in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal before the advanced grant process has been completed.

The Government underwrite guarantee will cover funding for all successful UK bids to Horizon 2020 that are submitted before exit, even if they are notified of success after exit. This includes the 47 successful UK bids to the ERC Advanced Grant 2018 call which form part of the €540m funding recently announced by the European Commission for cutting edge research.

The UKRI portal was announced in the Horizon 2020 Technical Notice and is part of our plans to underwrite funding for UK Horizon 2020 beneficiaries in the event of ‘no deal’. In this scenario, UK beneficiaries who have registered on the UKRI portal will receive detailed information about how the guarantee will be delivered and the next steps that they need to take.

If the underwrite does need to come into effect, our delivery partner, UKRI, is ready to deliver and has planned to make the process as simple and effective as possible for UK beneficiaries.

27th Mar 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government has taken to ensure the latest cohort of successful European Research Council Advanced Grant applicants are aware of the underwrite that exists should the UK leave the EU without a deal before the conditions of their grants have been finalised.

The Government underwrite guarantee will cover funding for all successful UK bids to Horizon 2020 that are submitted before exit, even if they are notified of success after exit. This includes the 47 successful UK bids to the ERC Advanced Grant 2018 call which form part of the €540m funding recently announced by the European Commission for cutting edge research.

The UKRI portal was announced in the Horizon 2020 Technical Notice and is part of our plans to underwrite funding for UK Horizon 2020 beneficiaries in the event of ‘no deal’. In this scenario, UK beneficiaries who have registered on the UKRI portal will receive detailed information about how the guarantee will be delivered and the next steps that they need to take.

Since the announcement of the underwrite guarantee in 2016, the Government has consistently reiterated our commitment to deliver it, should it be required. Methods used include Ministerial statements in Parliament, digital engagement by both BEIS and our delivery partner UKRI, and direct engagement with business and stakeholder groups.

19th Apr 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much government research funding was provided to each higher education institution in each of the last three years; what proportion of all government research funding is provided to such institutions; and if he will make a statement.

The attached tables show the amount and proportion of research income earned by each higher education institution (HEI) from the Research Councils and higher education funding bodies across the UK in each of the last three years.

13th Apr 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the Government's policy is on increasing its investment in research and development as a proportion of GDP above the OECD average by 2020-21.

Research and development is a key driver of economic growth and is a vital part of the government's Industrial Strategy. The government clearly demonstrated its commitment to science and research in the 2016 Autumn Statement, committing an additional £4.7 billion to R&D funding covering both science and innovation over the period 2017/18 to 20/21. This equates to an extra £2 billion a year by 2020/21, the biggest increase in any parliament since 1979.

Total R&D expenditure in the UK in 2015 represented 1.68% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The rate in future years will depend on both public sector and private sector investment in R&D as well as on the level of GDP.

13th Apr 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of government investment in research and development as a proportion of GDP in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Research and development is a key driver of economic growth and is a vital part of the government's Industrial Strategy. The government clearly demonstrated its commitment to science and research in the 2016 Autumn Statement, committing an additional £4.7 billion to R&D funding covering both science and innovation over the period 2017/18 to 20/21. This equates to an extra £2 billion a year by 2020/21, the biggest increase in any parliament since 1979.

Total R&D expenditure in the UK in 2015 represented 1.68% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The rate in future years will depend on both public sector and private sector investment in R&D as well as on the level of GDP.

9th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will allocate funding to support the work of UN Women UK.

We are currently considering the merits of a request for funding that we received from the UK National Committee for Women on the 28th of August.

The UK is the second largest donor to UN Women, providing £12.5m of funding each year.

4th Jul 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which universities (a) Philip Augar and (b) members of the associated panel visited during the Post-18 review of education and funding.

I refer the hon. Member for the City of Durham to the answer I gave on 26 June 2019 to Question 267762.

10th Jun 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will change the measure of disadvantage used in the Student Premium to capture individual-level socio-economic disadvantage as recommended in the May 2019 Post-18 education and funding review: independent panel report.

The government will consider the Post-18 Education and Funding Review recommendations carefully and will conclude the review at the Spending Review. The government has not yet taken decisions with regards to the recommendations put forward. Access and successful participation remain a priority for this government and is enshrined in the Higher Education (HE) and Research Act (2017). Everyone with the ability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity, regardless of their background or where they grew up.

1st Feb 2019
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the financial effect on universities of increased contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

The Department is running a public consultation until 12 February 2019 to gather evidence on the impact of increased contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) for all TPS employers, including universities.

17th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 18 September 2017 to Questions 10212 and 10213 on Erasmus+, whether the Government will underwrite successful bids submitted for Erasmus+ for those students with a mandatory year abroad in 2019-20, including the bids that are signed after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government has stated publicly that the United Kingdom (UK) is committed to continuing full participation in the Erasmus+ Programme up until we leave the European Union. We will underwrite successful bids for Erasmus+ that are submitted while the UK is still a member state, even if they are not approved until after we leave, and/or payments continue beyond the point of exit.

Bids for higher education study periods submitted before the exit date will include mobility in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. The underwrite will cover funding for those successful bids which are submitted before exit and we are encouraging participants to continue to apply for funding until we leave.

5th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of student loan debt on the level of university applications and drop-out rates.

The student finance system is financially sustainable and has enabled record numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to benefit from higher education.

Latest data show that 18 year olds applied at record rates in 2017, and their application rates have increased for five years in a row. This is also true for the most disadvantaged 18 year olds.

Non-continuation rates for UK students at English Higher Education Institutions are lower than in 2009/10, including for young, mature, disadvantaged and BME students.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on teacher training recruitment to shortage subjects of all university providers only recruiting applicants with a 2.1 degree or higher.

Teaching is a graduate profession. We do not stipulate a minimum degree class for trainee teachers; however, initial teacher training providers have the freedom to set their own entry requirements. Through the use of bursaries, we encourage those with a higher degree class to enter teaching. Details of bursaries for those beginning courses in 2017/18 can be found here: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-salary/overview

The degree class of current postgraduate trainees is provided in Tables 2 and 2a in the Main tables section on:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-training-trainee-number-census-2016-to-2017.

It includes a breakdown by subject and route.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on recruitment to initial teaching training courses of all university providers only recruiting applicants with a 2.1 degree or higher.

Teaching is a graduate profession. We do not stipulate a minimum degree class for trainee teachers; however, initial teacher training providers have the freedom to set their own entry requirements. Through the use of bursaries, we encourage those with a higher degree class to enter teaching. Details of bursaries for those beginning courses in 2017/18 can be found here: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-salary/overview

The degree class of current postgraduate trainees is provided in Tables 2 and 2a in the Main tables section on:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-training-trainee-number-census-2016-to-2017.

It includes a breakdown by subject and route.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what routes her Department recognises as providing appropriate entry into the teaching profession.

To teach in a state maintained secondary, primary, or state or non-state maintained special school you must have qualified teacher status (QTS). Routes that lead to the award of QTS, including those which assess previous teaching experience, are outlined on the Get Into Teaching website:

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes.

Teachers who trained outside England may be able to have their teaching qualification recognised as equivalent to QTS. To do so, such teachers must apply to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) to be awarded QTS before they can take up a teaching post in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in England. Individuals who hold qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS) status are also eligible to work as a qualified teacher in schools in England.

Further information on eligibility and equivalencies is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualified-teacher-status-qts.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what account her Department took of the (a) location, (b) size and (c) date of the latest Ofsted inspection of university providers when awarding universities either a multi-year or single-year allocation of initial teacher training places.

The criteria used to determine eligibility for multi-year allocations are set out in the 2017-18 allocations methodology published in September 2016. For postgraduate providers, these include Ofsted grade (based on published initial teacher education inspection data) but do not refer to provider size or location.

We will publish a detailed technical methodology on how three-year allocations were determined, alongside a full list of allocations for 2017-18, in due course.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria her Department uses to determine which universities are awarded a multi-year allocation of initial teacher training places and which are awarded a single-year allocation.

The criteria used to determine the allocations universities received are set out on pages 7-8 of the 2017/18 allocations methodology, published September 2016.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to publish details of which universities were awarded multi-year initial teacher training allocations and which were awarded single-year allocations.

We intend to publish a full list of allocations and three-year allocations for 2017-18 in due course. This will be supported with a methodological and technical guide on how three-year initial teacher training allocations were determined.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether weightings were applied to the criteria which her Department uses to determine which universities were awarded a multi-year allocation of initial teacher training places and which were awarded a single-year allocation.

We did not apply different weightings to the criteria – they all have equal weighting. The criteria on how we determined three-year allocations is outlined on pages 7-8 of the 2017/18 allocations methodology, published September 2016.

17th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of skilled construction apprenticeships required to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to build new homes.

It is for individual businesses to determine how they meet the skills challenges arising from the Government’s ambitious home building programme.

Our reforms to apprenticeships will be a key tool to enable employers to meet their skills needs and the construction sector is currently developing a range of apprenticeship standards as part of the reform process.

17th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to introduce monitoring mechanisms to ensure that increased numbers of construction industry apprenticeships do not have an effect on the quality of apprenticeship training.

The training that is delivered for apprentices is monitored by Ofsted and the Skills Funding Agency, which set minimum standards for achievement rates. Both organisations have intervention regimes in place if training falls short of minimum requirements.

14th Oct 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to put in place high-quality three year apprenticeships in (a) bricklaying, (b) plastering and (c) other essential construction trades.

The current apprenticeships programme has a clear emphasis on improving quality.

There are apprenticeship standards in development for both plastering and bricklaying, and both are intended to be three years in duration. We have a further 25 construction apprenticeship standards in development. We are working with the construction sector to ensure that these apprenticeships are relevant, robust, high-quality and are of sufficient duration for the apprentice to be competent in their chosen occupation.

2nd Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the recent reduction in the number of school nurses does not affect the standard of sex and relationship education in schools.

The government believes that all children should have the opportunity to receive a high quality and appropriate sex and relationship education (SRE). SRE is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools, and many primary schools also teach it in an age-appropriate way. Academies do not have to teach SRE but many choose to do so as part of their statutory duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.

Schools and teachers should decide what to teach based on their pupils’ needs, and taking account of pupil and parent views. Teachers are encouraged to develop their practice with the support of specialist organisations and expert professionals, as they deem appropriate, and schools work with a number of partners to deliver SRE in schools.

Since April 2013, Local Authorities have been responsible for public health locally, including school nursing, and decisions should be based around local needs. According to NHS Digital there are 1,100 qualified school nurses (Specialist Community Public Health Nurses) in England and the workforce numbers have remained relatively stable over the last few years. More information can be found at: http://digital.nhs.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=21584&topics=0%2fWorkforce&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on improving protection for ancient woodland; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to ensuring stronger protection of our ancient woodlands. The irreplaceable nature and value of ancient woodlands is recognised by their special status in the National Planning Policy Framework. The National Planning Policy Framework is very clear that the development of these areas should be avoided.

12th Dec 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether it is the policy of her Department to always use the word Rohingya when discussing the Rohingya with Burmese Government officials and Ministers.

The UK does not have a specific policy about using the word Rohingya in discussions with the Burmese authorities. The UK recognises the rights of all communities to self-identify, including the Rohingya. We continue to urge the Burmese authorities to ensure basic rights for all people of Burma.

11th Dec 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to 9,000 displaced ethnic Shan and Karen people from Burma who are no longer receiving support via the Border Consortium.

At present DFID is not providing support directly to this specific population. Humanitarian Advisors are monitoring the situation, speaking to the Border Consortium and aiming to visit the area in early 2018 to make an assessment. DFID’s current humanitarian assistance in Burma is channelled through the Burma Humanitarian Assistance And Resilience Programme, which provides support to Burmese refugees in Thailand and over 100,000 conflict-affected and internally displaced people across Burma.

11th Dec 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what safeguards her Department has put in place to ensure UK aid projects in Burma are not purchasing goods and services from military-owned or controlled companies.

Before DFID Burma’s programmes work with private sector companies we conduct vetting and due diligence to identify and screen out any companies or individuals who may have military links. It is however difficult in Burma to assert that none of our project partners are not purchasing any goods or services from military-owned or controlled companies. Over 50 years of dictatorship the military has built up a range of commercial interests. The services and goods they provide range from drinking water to port handling services and mobile phone towers.

23rd Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to recent reports of sub-standard teaching and unsanitary learning facilities and the decision in the High Court in Kampala in August 2016 to order the closure of 63 Bridge International Academies in Uganda, whether her Department has taken steps to change Government funding patterns to that organisation.

In Uganda, the Bridge International Academies (BIA) schools remain open with BIA and the Government of Uganda in dialogue to ensure that BIA meets the requirements set out.

There is no set funding pattern to BIA. CDC has a total UK investment in BIA of $7.1m, made in 2014. The investments made were long term and will be returned to the UK taxpayer, they are not specifically for any country of operation. A DFID £3.45m grant, awarded competitively, was also provided to open 23 Bridge academies in Lagos, Nigeria. This grant is now completed.

Any future funding decisions will follow DFID’s due process that aims to achieve best value for money and developmental impact, taking into consideration a broad range of evidence.

23rd Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on its strategy on trade and aid of the establishment of the Institute for Free Trade; and if she will make a statement.

I welcome the establishment of the Institute for Free Trade, which fully acknowledges the vital role trade can play in boosting developing countries’ economic development and lifting people out of poverty.

This Government is committed to engaging with a broad range of stakeholders as we further develop our trade and development policy. I look forward to considering the work of the Institute as this progresses.

6th Oct 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of progress towards the amount the Government pledged for education in Syria at the London donor conference in February 2016.

Since 2012 the UK has pledged £2.46 billion in response to the Syria crisis, the UK’s largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. As well as supporting children with food, shelter and healthcare, the UK helped to launch UNICEF’s No Lost Generation Initiative, which provides education, protection, and mental health support for children in Syria and neighbouring countries. At the 2016 London Syria Conference we did not make a specific pledge for education inside Syria, but in 2016/17 alone DFID helped ensure that over 350,000 children accessed formal primary and secondary education in Syria, and that over 80,000 benefitted from non-formal education.

14th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to change OECD-DAC rules.

In line with the Conservative Manifesto, this Government is pressing for the rules that govern how, on whom, and for what purpose development assistance is spent to better reflect the breadth of our assistance around the world. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) determines what may be counted as Official Development Assistance. As it operates by consensus, we are working with our DAC partners and other stakeholders to achieve this.

14th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent humanitarian assistance her Department has provided to victims of floods and monsoons in south east Asia.

DFID led the way in the crisis as the international community’s largest bilateral donor. In Bangladesh we made the first international contribution of £660,000 to help over 60,000 people with food, shelter, and water and sanitation. Following flooding earlier in the year, we allocated £3m for early recovery in North East Bangladesh. In Nepal, we provided water, hygiene, sanitation and shelter support to 30,000 people through pre-positioned supplies, and gave £400,000 to the Nepal Red Cross Society for the response. In Pakistan, we committed over £410,000 for emergency response, which included cash support for 1,300 families to repair damaged homes, and provide temporary access to clean drinking water to 400,000 people. In India, we committed £400,000 through the multi-donor START fund in India.

Over several years DFID has helped Bangladesh and Nepal to prepare for natural disasters. Previous UK support in Bangladesh funded emergency flood shelters, and in Nepal the UK funded the construction of a humanitarian staging area at Kathmandu airport. In addition, DFID Bangladesh is earmarking £7.9 million for disaster preparedness from 2016-2021, and DFID Nepal is setting aside £46 million between 2016 and 2022, for strengthening disaster resilience and responding to humanitarian emergencies.

14th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to change her Department's financial contributions for sexual and reproductive health rights.

The UK leads the world in our long-term support for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR): from tackling HIV, to family planning, to maternal and newborn health, to combatting Female Genital Mutilation and child, early and forced marriage, to supporting safe abortion. We are the second largest donor to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; the largest donor to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and we recently opened bids for innovative civil society consortia to address SRHR.

In July 2017 the UK again rose to the challenge, hosting the London summit on family planning, and committing to spend an average of £225m every year on family planning for the next five years, an increase of 25%, which we estimate will prevent 6 million unintended pregnancies.

14th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to provide medium and long-term aid for reconstruction of areas of the Caribbean damaged by Hurricane Irma.

While our first priority has been to deliver life-saving assistance to those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the UK government has also started work on recovery and reconstruction in the affected Territories. A team of technical experts will be starting discussions this week with the Overseas Territory Governments to help them develop plans to meet their reconstruction needs.

14th Sep 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will convene a global malaria summit, linked to the UK's chairmanship of the Commonwealth Heads of Government between 2018 and 2020.

DFID is working closely with member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat to develop policy proposals for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting 2018 and for the UK's full period as Chair-In-Office until 2020. Malaria is one of the issues under consideration. The UK is a leading global actor in fighting malaria through a wide range of interventions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Agreed Conclusions of the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, if she will support the inclusion of a specific target on women's full, equal and effective participation in all fields and leadership at all levels of decision-making within the post-2015 development framework.

I am pleased that the Agreed Conclusions reached by member states at the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) included a call for a dedicated goal on gender equality, women's and girls' empowerment and the human rights of girls and women. It also called for ending all forms of violence against women and girls; economic empowerment; leadership and participation in decision making; and ending harmful practice, including Child, Early and Forced Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation.

The UK statement at the CSW highlighted the need for a dedicated goal on gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women in the post -2015 framework. We are working with others across the international community, including civil society, to ensure that this is achieved.

22nd Feb 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy to prioritise (a) UK higher education and (b) higher education distance learning in the Government's future trade export strategy.

The Government recognises the benefit that education exports bring to the UK and continues to support its growth - it is our wish to maximise opportunities for UK providers. We also recognise the valuable contribution universities make to improving lives around the world. We will be doing more to promote the UK higher education offer, particularly in Trans National Education; and the Department for International Trade’s dedicated education team has enhanced its focus with the imminent arrival of a secondee from the sector. We will continue to collaborate with the higher education sector to support development of their international business.

2nd Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 July 2016, Official Report, column 849, when his Department will make an announcement on the exemption of specialist supported housing from changes to housing benefit.

The Secretary of State has confirmed that the Government expects to make an announcement on the way forward for supported housing in early autumn.

2nd Sep 2016
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 July 2016, Official Report, column 849, what (a) meetings and (b) discussions Ministers of his Department have had with stakeholders on the exemption of specialist supported housing from changes to housing benefit.

Ministers in DWP and DCLG have met and continue to meet with stakeholders representing local authorities, supported accommodation, commissioners, and all categories of supported housing providers, be they charities, housing associations, voluntary organisations or from the commercial sector.