Thangam Debbonaire

Section 36 of the Equality Act cannot commence for private companies before an assessment of local authority costs is made. This is because Section 36 applies to all types of landlords; commencement of Section 36 may require local authorities to meet additional costs regardless of the type of landlord. Departments continue to engage on quantifying additional costs.

Section 36 of the Equality Act cannot commence for private companies before an assessment of local authority costs is made. This is because Section 36 applies to all types of landlords; commencement of Section 36 may require local authorities to meet additional costs regardless of the type of landlord. Departments continue to engage on quantifying additional costs.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) regulates and funds MPs’ business costs and expenses. As part of this role, IPSA sets a maximum budget from which MPs can fund their staffing costs. This is based on an average of four full-time-equivalent staff members, although each MP can choose to deploy this budget to suit their own staffing needs.

MPs’ budgets are reviewed each year. In 2012, the staffing budget was increased by 25% for London Area MPs and by 19% for non-London Area MPs, in part to allow MPs to employ more staff to support their work with constituents. In April 2018, the staffing budget will increase by a further 1.8% to allow for staff pay rises.

In addition, MPs may request to increase their budget if they provide evidence of having incurred unforeseen, exceptional costs. Such requests for contingency funding are considered on a case-by-case basis. If any MP finds that their constituency caseload has increased to an unmanageable level as a result of preparations for the UK leaving the EU (or another exceptional issue), they may apply for an increase to their staffing budget in this way.

Girls are just as likely to do well in science, technology, enginerring and mathematics (STEM) GCSEs as boys and the number of girls taking STEM A Levels since 2010 has increased by 20%, but there’s more to do.

STEM careers have a 19% pay premium and we are spending over £12m per year on programmes to increase take up of physics, computing and maths A Levels; for example, the Stimulating Physics Network which provides specific support to address the low uptake of physics.

Apprenticeships are also a crucial route into engineering and that’s why the National College for High Speed Rail will be delivering apprenticeships in the industry and focusing on getting more young women to apply.

The Government is dedicated to promoting the equal rights of women and of transgender individuals.

In our work to review the Gender Recognition Act we are monitoring the implementation of alternative gender recognition processes in other jurisdictions and we are analysing the evidence placed before the Women and Equalities Committee. We are considering single-sex and other public services as part of the review.

All public authorities have to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of policy, commissioning and provision of services. This includes paying due regard not only to the needs of men and women but also transgender individuals. We will comply with these requirements in all our work.

The Church of England takes a flexible approach to yoga classes in church halls, with decisions left to the discretion of the local Parochial Church Council. Advice and guidance is available for parishes that are considering hiring their church hall out, which can be found here https://www.churchofengland.org/media/59302/NRM%20guidance.doc

In the Government’s response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee inquiry into transgender equality, we committed to reviewing the Gender Recognition Act to determine whether changes can be made to improve it in order to streamline and de-medicalise the gender recognition process. The internal review is already underway.

As part of this work, we are monitoring the implementation of alternative gender recognition processes in other jurisdictions and analysing the evidence placed before the Committee; this will inform our consideration of single-sex services as part of the review.

This Government has rightly raised the profile of transgender equality in the past few years as many transgender people still encounter prejudice and discrimination. However, this focus has not been to the detriment to women. The Government is dedicated to promoting the equal rights of women and of transgender individuals.

The Government Equalities Office in November 2015 issued “Providing services for transgender customers: a guide” which sets out guidance and good practice examples on the provision of services to trans individuals. It also aims to help service providers comply with the law.

All public authorities, including NHS England, have to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of policy, commissioning and provision of services. This includes paying due regard not only to the needs of men and women but also trans individuals.

While the Government Equalities Office has not commissioned specific research on the access of trans individuals to gender specific services, this will be considered as part of our review into the demedicalising and streamlining of the Gender Recognition Act.

On 7 July 2016, the Government responded to the Women and Equalities Select Committee inquiry on transgender equality. In this, we committed to publishing an update on progress against “Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality: Moving Forward (2011)”; and “Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action (2011)”.

The Government will publish both of these documents in due course.

The Government welcomes the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.

The report provides a number of recommendations, including ones on hate crime and prison and probation services. Government (including the Ministry of Justice) is carefully considering these recommendations.

In addition, on 8 December 2015 as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Family Justice I announced a review of the care and management of transgender offenders. The review is being coordinated by the Ministry of Justice who are engaging with others to ensure that staff in prisons and probation are provided with the best possible guidance. The National Offender Management Service, the Youth Justice Board, the NHS and the Government Equalities Office are providing professional and operational expertise. The revised guidelines will be published in due course.

Further information on the review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/review-into-the-care-and-management-of-transgender-offenders.

The Government has welcomed the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.

The report provides a substantial number of recommendations covering almost a dozen public bodies, including several recommendations which call for significant changes to legislation and reforms to the NHS. Government is carefully considering these recommendations.

We continually engage with stakeholders from women’s and transgender communities and we would consider their views before making any changes to legislation.

The Government has welcomed the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.

The report provides a substantial number of recommendations covering almost a dozen public bodies, including several recommendations which call for significant changes to legislation and reforms to the NHS. Government is carefully considering these recommendations.

We continually engage with stakeholders from women’s and transgender communities and we would consider their views before making any changes to legislation.

The Government has welcomed the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.

The report provides a substantial number of recommendations covering almost a dozen public bodies, including several recommendations which call for significant changes to legislation and reforms to the NHS. Government is carefully considering these recommendations.

We continually engage with stakeholders from women’s and transgender communities and we would consider their views before making any changes to legislation.

Since 2008 six licences have been granted that relate to the sale of complete Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Four of these licences are linked. Where licences expired before they were fully exhausted the exporter submitted a new application to cover those aircraft not exported under previous licences. The values therefore relate to exports licensed rather than actual exports.

Typhoon transfers per year are declared in the UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Reports and can be found on GOV.UK

We have received nearly 55,000 responses to the consultation. We currently estimate that just over 2,600 are unique and detailed responses; the rest are briefer and more uniform responses, generated by campaigns. We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the consultation and intend to publish a Government response as soon as possible.

The Government issued guidance on its planning policy on unconventional hydrocarbon development in National Parks, the Broads, AONBs and World Heritage Sites in July 2014, which clearly sets out the high level of protection accorded to these areas in respect to development.1

In addition, in July 2015 the Government laid draft regulations that define protected areas in which hydraulic fracturing will be prohibited. These regulations ensure that the process of high volume hydraulic fracturing cannot take place at depths above 1200 metres in National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage Sites and areas that are most vulnerable to groundwater pollution.2

We have also separately committed to ensuring that fracking cannot be conducted from wells that are drilled in the UK’s most valuable areas and are minded to apply these in Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar and Natura 2000 sites, as well as the areas covered by the draft Protected Areas regulations.3

[1]http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/minerals/planning-for-hydrocarbon-extraction/determining-the-planning-application/

2]https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-defines-protected-areas-for-shale-developments

[3]https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds#surface-development-restrictions

The Government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and aims to operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. Government policy is enshrined in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, known as the Consolidated Criteria. We rigorously examine every application on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated Criteria and will only issue an export licence where to do so would be consistent with these criteria.

We undertake appropriate checks using both open and other sources when considering licence applications. To ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, this will involve Desk and Post in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and relevant experts from other Departments.

This Government remains committed to meeting the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%, on 1990 levels, by 2050. This remains in line with our contribution to the international effort to limit global warming to below 2 degrees.

We, also, continue to make progress towards our EU 2020 Renewable Target with provisional figures showing that 7.0% of final energy consumption was met from renewable sources in 2014. We are also on track to meet our EU 2020 energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

We continue to support the deployment of renewable energy in our future energy mix:

• Electricity: The introduction of Contracts for Difference will give companies long term revenue certainty whilst driving down the cost for consumers through competition.
• Heat: Under existing renewable heat schemes, the Government has supported around 40,000 homes and 12,000 businesses, schools, farms and other organisations with new renewable heating systems.
• Transport: The Government is investing £500million over the next 5 years in making ultra-low emission vehicles more accessible to families and businesses across the country.

It is vital to ensure security of supply and that the lights stay on, therefore fossil fuels will continue to play an important part in our future energy mix. The 2012 Carbon Plan noted that we will still need significant oil and gas supplies while we decarbonise our economy and transition to a low carbon economy, with projections showing that in 2030 oil and gas will remain a vital part of the energy mix, providing around 70% of the UK’s primary energy requirements.

The Government is seeking an ambitious, legally binding,global climate change deal in Paris in December that keeps the goal of limiting average global emissions to limit global warming to below 2 degrees within reach.

The Government is committed to working closely with industry and consumer groups on a new value for money approach to the future policy framework for energy efficiency, learning lessons from past approaches. Alongside its specific manifesto commitment of supporting low cost measures on energy efficiency with the goal of insulating a million more homes over the next five years, supporting our commitment to tackle fuel poverty, this Government is also committed to keeping energy bills as low as possible as part of a long-term, coherent and affordable policy framework. That framework, which will take full account of our legally binding commitments on climate change and on fuel poverty, will focus on enabling consumers to take up the measures that are right for them and their home, whether solid wall insulation or other measures. We are soon to see Peter Hansford’s Review on Solid Wall Insulation for the Green Construction Board and that will help inform policy affecting the technology as will the recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change.

BIS’s report “The Size and Performance of the UK Low Carbon Economy” estimated that in 2013 there were over 34,000 jobs in the UK solar sector.

Our consultation on the feed-in tariff review reflects the need to balance sector support whilst keeping bills down for consumers.

We strongly welcome evidence from the sector during this review consultation, which ends on 23 October.

The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for assessing licence applications against Criterion 8. DFID considers export licence applications destined to all International Development Association eligible countries and may also ask to see applications in respect of other countries of concern. Further information on DFID’s role is given in the Government’s Strategic Export Controls Annual Report for 2014, which was presented to Parliament on 16 July 2015 and is also available on the gov.uk website.

The UK does not have any fossil fuel subsidies. The Government sees clear benefits from climate, domestic energy security and budgetary stability perspectives, of phasing out such subsidies internationally. Therefore, where helpful, we will continue to aid the global effort to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. The UK remains a strong supporter of the G20 commitment to rationalise and phase out, over the medium term, inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption. You may also be aware that my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that the UK will support the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Communique - which is to be presented at the Climate Change negotiations in Paris later this year - calling for more action on this matter.

The Government recognises the vital role that networks play in meeting our low-carbon ambitions. It is for Ofgem, as the independent regulator, to allocate funding to network companies for grid upgrades. In the latest 8-year regulatory price controls Ofgem has allowed funding of up to £21.5bn [1] for electricity transmission and £24.6bn [2] for electricity distribution to expand, replace and maintain the networks.

[1] 2009-10 prices

[2] 2012-13 prices

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, has consulted on allowing greater anticipatory investment in electricity distribution networks. It expects to publish its views and next steps by the end of September. The consultation and responses are available at:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/quicker-and-more-efficient-distribution-connections.

The Government is committed to working closely with industry and consumer groups on a new value for money approach to the future policy framework for energy efficiency, learning lessons from past approaches. The Government is also committed to keeping energy bills as low as possible as part of a long-term, coherent and affordable policy framework. The longer-term future of ECO will be part of these discussions around a new, better-integrated policy and we will formally consult on changes to ECO regulations at the appropriate moment. In the meantime we have been and will continue to engage with stakeholders about all aspects of a new policy framework including accessibility of funding for community groups. The Government has also commissioned an independent review led by Peter Bonfield to investigate consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement of energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes and to ensure that the system properly supports and protects consumers.

Alongside its specific manifesto commitment of insulating a million more homes over the next five years, supporting our commitment to tackle fuel poverty, this Government is also committed to keeping energy bills as low as possible as part of a long-term, coherent and affordable policy framework. We are also guided by our legally binding objectives on tackling fuel poverty and carbon, which require us to cut the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the period 2023-2027, which we will do as cost effectively as possible, and to enable as many fuel poor homes as reasonably practicable to reach energy efficiency Band C by 2030.

A list of providers who received funding to deliver apprenticeships in the Science and Maths Sector Subject Area and apprenticeship participation on these frameworks (Academic Year 2013/14) has been provided in the attached document.

British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, citizens of the Republic of Ireland, and EU citizens, are entitled to vote in local elections in England (provided they are also resident here and meet other eligibility criteria). The Government has no plans to extend the franchise for local elections to include any other resident foreign nationals.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQs 109552, 107140 and 907859.

We have an ongoing programme of engagement designed to reach vulnerable audiences and those who are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 guidance is available across multiple channels in a range of alternative formats, and can be found through the gov.uk accessibility statement. We have supported third parties and local support networks to deliver more detailed information for bespoke enquiries. For example, when the wearing of face coverings became mandatory for certain indoor environments, the Government produced and shared new communications to aid public understanding of groups who might be exempt. These measures were taken to ensure appropriate enforcement of regulations and to mitigate potential abuse of disabled people for perceived non-compliance.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Further to the answers given to PQs 37724 and 37725 on 27 April 2020, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government has developed a national campaign to provide information, guidance and reassurance to the public.

The campaign spans owned, earned and paid-for channels, including local radio and TV, to maximise reach and engagement. We are constantly reviewing our use of each of these channels and amending campaign activity accordingly to ensure our messaging reaches as many people as possible.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

I have nothing further to add to my answer to the Hon Member during my oral statement of 3 July.