Tim Farron

No formal assessment has been made of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy’s report and we have no plans to adopt these recommendations. Action Radiotherapy’s flash survey will be taken into consideration alongside existing programmes of work. Health Education England’s Cancer Workforce Plan commits to the expansion of capacity and skills across six professions by 2021, including clinical radiology.

During the pandemic, the National Health Service has significantly increased the use of new radiotherapy methods to deliver targeted treatment in fewer hospital visits. Maximising capacity and minimising patient time in hospital, particularly through the use of fewer fractions, remain important in the recovery of cancer services. In addition, £32 million has been made available from the Spending Review 2020 to support the replacement of radiotherapy equipment in 2021-22.

No formal assessment has been made of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy’s report and we have no plans to adopt these recommendations. Action Radiotherapy’s flash survey will be taken into consideration alongside existing programmes of work. Health Education England’s Cancer Workforce Plan commits to the expansion of capacity and skills across six professions by 2021, including clinical radiology.

During the pandemic, the National Health Service has significantly increased the use of new radiotherapy methods to deliver targeted treatment in fewer hospital visits. Maximising capacity and minimising patient time in hospital, particularly through the use of fewer fractions, remain important in the recovery of cancer services. In addition, £32 million has been made available from the Spending Review 2020 to support the replacement of radiotherapy equipment in 2021-22.

No formal assessment has been made of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy’s report and we have no plans to adopt these recommendations. Action Radiotherapy’s flash survey will be taken into consideration alongside existing programmes of work. Health Education England’s Cancer Workforce Plan commits to the expansion of capacity and skills across six professions by 2021, including clinical radiology.

During the pandemic, the National Health Service has significantly increased the use of new radiotherapy methods to deliver targeted treatment in fewer hospital visits. Maximising capacity and minimising patient time in hospital, particularly through the use of fewer fractions, remain important in the recovery of cancer services. In addition, £32 million has been made available from the Spending Review 2020 to support the replacement of radiotherapy equipment in 2021-22.

Citizens of a European Union country, and their family members who were lawfully residing in the United Kingdom by 31 December 2020 will keep their right to healthcare on the same basis as UK residents, as long as they meet the ordinary residence test. From 1 July 2021, they must have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

An individual who is eligible to apply to the EUSS but who has not submitted an application by 30 June 2021 will be chargeable. If they receive and pay for relevant services, and then later make a late application which is granted, they will not be refunded for the earlier treatment.

In 2016, we set up the first waiting time standard for children and young people eating disorder services so that 95% of children with an eating disorder will receive treatment within one week for urgent cases and within four weeks for routine cases. Under the NHS Long Term Plan, extra funding is going into children and young people's community eating disorder services every year, with £53 million per year from 2021/22. This extra funding will enhance the development of more than 70 new or improved community eating disorder teams covering the whole of the country.

For adults, we will invest an extra £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness, such as eating disorders, by 2023/24. In addition, we announced that in 2021/22 the NHS will receive an additional £500 million, which will support people with a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders. Of this, £79 million will be used to significantly expand children’s mental health services, including allowing 2,000 more children and young people to access eating disorder services and £58 million to bring forward the expansion of integrated primary and secondary care for adults with severe mental illness, including eating disorders.

NHS England has also announced additional early intervention services for young people aged 16 to 25 years old with eating disorders in 18 areas across the country, so young adults seeking support could be contacted within 48 hours and begin treatment within two weeks.

While funding provided for eating disorder services is not ringfenced, NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to work with mental health leads from local systems, Health Education England and other partners across the health system to support local services and help ensure the funding flows to these services as intended.

The funding and provision of health services, including eating disorder services, are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups and they have the flexibility to allocate funding according to local need. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with partners across the health system to support local services and help ensure the funding flows to these services as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. NHS England and NHS Improvement will review system plans against expected trajectories, seek assurance on any major divergences and establish recovery plans where needed.

Since 2016, extra funding has been provided for children and young people's community eating disorder services, with £41 million in 2019/20 and £53 million in 2021/22. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with partners across the health system to support local services and help ensure the funding flows to these services as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan.

During COVID-19, NHS England and NHS Improvement advised all areas to continue prioritisation of service delivery and mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on this vulnerable group. We announced that in 2021/22 the National Health Service will receive an additional £500 million, which will support people with a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders.

Of this extra funding £79 million will be used to significantly expand children’s mental health services, including allowing 2,000 more children and young people to access eating disorder services and £58 million to bring forward the expansion of integrated primary and secondary care for adults with severe mental illness, including eating disorders. In addition, NHS England announced additional early intervention services for young people aged 16 to 25 years old with eating disorders in 18 areas across the country.

The information requested is held at local sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) or integrated care system (ICS) level.

In 2019/20 and 2020/21 transformation funding was made available to twelve ‘early implementer’ sites to test, evaluate and refine new models of integrated primary and community care for adults with severe mental health problems. Of these, eight sites focussed on transforming care for adults with eating disorders. The eight sites were Hertfordshire and West Essex STP; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough STP; Cheshire and Merseyside STP; South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS; Herefordshire and Worcestershire STP; North East London STP; North West London STP; and Somerset STP.

NHS England and NHS Improvement is testing four-week waiting time standards as part of the delivery of new models of integrated primary and community mental health care. Twelve early implementer sites were selected in 2019-20 to pilot the new models over 2 years and test four-week waiting times as part of this transformation.

Timescales for publication of this early implementer learning is under review as the pandemic significantly impacted the timeline for these early implementer sites. However testing has now resumed in all sites and learning is being collated at a national level. These insights will be fed into the national CRS programme.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Funding allocations for services is a decision for local service providers, though cancer funding continues to be a priority.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Funding allocations for services is a decision for local service providers, though cancer funding continues to be a priority.

The Department has no plans to publish further documents specifically on National Health Service surge capacity and triage. The Department continues to work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, including on the planning guidance for the service for 2021- 2022.

The Department has no plans to publish NHS England’s 2017 ‘NHS Surge and Triage’ document as publication would, at this time, prejudice the conduct of public affairs.

The Government’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 contained the commitment to spend £300 million on dementia research over the five years to March 2020. This commitment was delivered a year early with £344 million spent on dementia research over the four years to 31 March 2019. We are currently working on ways to significantly boost further research on dementia at all stages on the translation pathway including medical and care interventions.

When assessing the public interest in publication of the Exercise Cygnus report, the Department sought advice from across Government on whether any part of the report was being used to develop policies to respond to COVID-19 or contained detail that might, if released during current pandemic, introduce uncertainty relating to our COVID-19 response.

Based on this advice, the cross-Government decision was made that publication was in the public interest and the full report of Exercise Cygnus was published on 20 October 2020.

The Health Infrastructure Plan set out the Government’s approach to long-term investment in our healthcare system to ensure staff and patients continue to have access to world class facilities. In line with this, the Department provided both the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust with £3.7 million each of seed funding to kick-start their schemes and to support both trusts in their development of plans for improving facilities for the staff and patients of the their communities, looking at potential rebuild options for the Royal Preston Infirmary, the Lancaster Royal Infirmary and Furness General Hospital.

The two neighbouring trusts have been, and continue to, work in close collaboration to develop different options for how to proceed that represent the best outcome for the area as a whole, which may include an option for two separate hospitals. These plans are in the early stage of their development and when developed further, will be subject to public consultation as an integral part in developing the collective and cohesive strategy.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have produced guidance for different organisational sectors aimed at making their workplaces COVID-19-secure; this includes specific guidance for the performing arts, which is available at GOV.UK.

When and where national and local restrictions permit the opening of theatres and concert halls, performers must wear a face covering at all times other than when in the course of their employment or in the course of providing their services, for example during rehearsals and performances. Members of the public in these venues must wear face coverings; as must staff in indoor areas where they are likely to come into contact with customers.

The Government will keep the face covering regulations under review and will take further action if needed.

The document ‘Exercise Cygnus Report: Tier One Command Post Exercise Pandemic Influenza 18 to 20 October 2016’, published on 20 October 2020, is the complete report of the exercise setting out all the lessons identified.

The Radiotherapy Dataset does not collect data on delayed or cancelled radiotherapy treatments relating to COVID-19 or have a count of patients who may be in a cancer treatment backlog.

The Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Transformation Programme for Lancashire and South Cumbria has as its goal to define an integrated emotional and mental health offer for 0-25 year olds. The initial phase of the programme has resulted in a redesigned model of emotional and mental health services based on the THRIVE model for 0-19 year olds, which has been co-produced with service users and carers. Phased implementation of this model is planned to begin from February 2021.

From April 2021, the intention is to commence work to define the offer for 0-25 year olds that reaches across mental health services for children, young people and young adults, providing an integrated approach across health, social care, education and the voluntary sector.

Public Health England was commissioned by the Department to organise, deliver and evaluate Exercise Cygnus. ‘Exercise Cygnus Report: Tier One Command Post Exercise Pandemic Influenza 18 to 20 October 2016’, published on 20 October 2020, is the complete report of the exercise setting out all the lessons identified.

The Government does not routinely publish reports on exercises. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a degree of public interest in the report of Exercise Cygnus.

Prior to publishing the report on Exercise Cygnus and its outcomes, the Department engaged with officials from a range of Government departments and agencies to determine whether publication during the current pandemic was in the public interest. The Department took a cautious approach to publication because of the risk that the response to the current pandemic could be negatively impacted.

NHS England and NHS Improvement and Public Health England are jointly developing a Radiotherapy Data Set (RTDS) Partnership which will be a multi-year agreement to use and enhance the RTDS so that it supports both radiotherapy networks and NHS England and NHS Improvement to improve services and quality. The partnership has a number of workstreams including improving data reporting; developing data to support reductions in variations in access and support clinical care excellence; and developing the knowledge base on outcomes relating to innovative and specialist radiotherapy treatments.

A variety of aggregated data and analyses of the RTDS are available at the following link:

https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/radiotherapy

The Government accepted all 22 recommendations of Exercise Cygnus and actions have been taken forward on all them as part of our pandemic preparedness plans, working across Government and with stakeholders. Specifically, these actions included:

- working across the whole of Government and with the devolved administrations to develop draft legislation to support the response to a future influenza pandemic; and

- improving plans within health and care sectors to flex systems and resources to expand beyond normal capacity levels.

Due to the nature of Exercise Cygnus, we have no plans to publish further details of how and when these actions have been taken forward as releasing the information could prejudice the safeguarding of national security.

Future National Health Service capital funding will be determined as part of the Department’s multi-year settlement at the next Spending Review.

Future National Health Service capital funding will be determined as part of the Department’s multi-year settlement at the next Spending Review.

NHS England is committed to monitoring cancer waiting times on a provider level and publishes monthly statistics on cancer waiting times and treatments. These can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

Restoring full operation of all cancer services is a key commitment of the COVID-19 response, as set out in NHS England’s letters dated 10 June and 31 July 2020 at the following links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/second-phase-of-nhs-response-to-covid-19-for-cancer-services/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/07/20200731-Phase-3-letter-final-1.pdf

In July 2020, 95.1% of patients with a decision to treat a first treatment of cancer received treatment within 31 days.

Since 13 June, single adult households - in other words adults who live alone or with dependent children only - can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to stay two metres apart.

From 4 July people can meet in groups of up to two households (a support bubble counts as one household) in any location - public or private, indoors or outdoors, in any setting and this includes staying overnight. All those in a support bubble can spend time together inside each other’s homes and can act as if they live in the same household.

People in a support bubble do not need to observe social distancing guidelines when they spend time with each other but should limit indoor meetings so are only meeting one other household at a time, in addition to a support bubble (if they have one). There is no limit on the size of either household.

Since 13 June, single adult households - in other words adults who live alone or with dependent children only - can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to stay two metres apart.

From 4 July people can meet in groups of up to two households (a support bubble counts as one household) in any location - public or private, indoors or outdoors, in any setting and this includes staying overnight. All those in a support bubble can spend time together inside each other’s homes and can act as if they live in the same household.

People in a support bubble do not need to observe social distancing guidelines when they spend time with each other but should limit indoor meetings so are only meeting one other household at a time, in addition to a support bubble (if they have one). There is no limit on the size of either household.

Since 13 June, single adult households - in other words adults who live alone or with dependent children only - can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to stay two metres apart.

From 4 July people can meet in groups of up to two households (a support bubble counts as one household) in any location - public or private, indoors or outdoors, in any setting and this includes staying overnight. All those in a support bubble can spend time together inside each other’s homes and can act as if they live in the same household.

People in a support bubble do not need to observe social distancing guidelines when they spend time with each other but should limit indoor meetings so are only meeting one other household at a time, in addition to a support bubble (if they have one). There is no limit on the size of either household.

The data requested is not currently available.

NHS England and NHS Improvement expect that all radiotherapy providers will be able to deliver Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer as well as lung, lymph node and non-spine bone oligometastatic disease by March 2021.

As set out in the ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan’ published on 10 April, we have taken a centralised approach to the procurement of PPE, to limit the potential for different parts of the health and social care sector to compete against each other and push prices up further

The Government has set up a cross-Government PPE sourcing unit, now staffed by over 400 people, to secure new supply lines from across the world and has published rigorous standards against which purchases will be made.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of civil servants working on development and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine because it is a cross-Government effort, covering all aspects of vaccine development and delivery, and includes people from a wide range of departments and organisations, led by the new Vaccines Taskforce.

This includes, but is not limited to, civil servants in the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for International Development, Her Majesty’s Treasury and Cabinet Office. This is in addition to people in the Medical Research Council looking at early stage Research and Development, the National Institute for Health Research supporting clinical trials, the Office for Life Sciences on working with industry, and those in Public Health England working on areas such as vaccine procurement, contracting, and training.

Mental health support is currently available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for National Health Service and social care staff. All keyworkers, including NHS and social care staff, can access ‘Our Frontline’. ‘Our Frontline’ is a collaboration of charities providing 24 hours a day, seven days a week one-to-one mental health support, via call or text, from a trained respondent.

NHS and social care staff can also access a free wellbeing support helpline, available 7am-11pm, providing emotional support and onward signposting to specialist financial advice, bereavement care and coaching. If health and care staff call outside of these hours, they will be able to speak confidentially to a Samaritans volunteer.

The pursuit of safe and effective COVID-19 treatments is a cross-Government effort from people in UK Research and Innovation looking at early stage research and development, to those in the National Institute for Health Research supporting clinical trials, and the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England overseeing medicine supply, manufacturing and procurement strategies.

The Therapeutics Taskforce is driving forward, expediting and co-ordinating efforts to research, produce and distribute safe and effective COVID-19 treatments to patients as soon as possible.

We estimate that there are at least 50 civil servants (27.4 full-time equivalents) working across the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and PHE on the development and deployment of treatments for COVID-19. It is not possible to segregate this figure for anti-viral drugs only.

COVID-19 is a new disease and we are continually reviewing the emerging scientific evidence.

Due to a lack of evidence around how COVID-19 may affect pregnant women, we, as a precaution, encourage pregnant women to carefully follow social distancing advice and to have an individual discussion with their employers about their working arrangements.

We have discussed, and will continue to discuss, the evidence around COVID-19 and pregnancy with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and other experts.

We recognise that it is important for women to consider their own individual circumstances with their obstetrician or midwife and with their employer in terms of safely managing their pregnancy and work environment.

We have established a web portal for manufacturers of tests from any country to register their interest in supplying COVID-19 tests to the United Kingdom. Through our work in Pillar 5 on the UK Industrial Strategy, we are supporting a number of earlier-stage UK-based companies to develop their clinical evidence bases, obtain regulatory approval, and commercialise their offers.

Once a company registers a test via the online portal, it is reviewed by a panel of clinical experts. The most promising tests are put forward for independent clinical evaluation.

We have published Target Product Profiles for Serology testing, which we continually update, to inform the market of our testing requirements. Through our web portal and crowd sourcing challenge platform, we also flag the types of innovation in Molecular testing that we are trying to identify.

As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom-based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations.

The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of/access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. Details of this work can be found in the links below. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-items-of-ppe-for-frontline-staff-from-new-business-partnerships

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/70-million-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-workers-through-new-industry-deal

As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom-based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations.

The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of/access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. Details of this work can be found in the links below. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-items-of-ppe-for-frontline-staff-from-new-business-partnerships

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/70-million-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-workers-through-new-industry-deal

As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom-based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations.

The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of/access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. Details of this work can be found in the links below. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-items-of-ppe-for-frontline-staff-from-new-business-partnerships

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/70-million-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-workers-through-new-industry-deal

As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom-based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations.

The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of/access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. Details of this work can be found in the links below. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-items-of-ppe-for-frontline-staff-from-new-business-partnerships

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/70-million-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-workers-through-new-industry-deal

As of 15 May, over 13,000 businesses have contacted the Government with offers of help on supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). Many are related to the manufacture of PPE for the National Health Service and care sectors, a vast majority of which we are taking forward, predominantly from United Kingdom-based companies but also including multinational companies. Some offers were not progressed due to financial and capability considerations.

The Department engages directly with potential manufacturers to qualify and prioritise the opportunity, based on availability of/access to raw supplies, lead-times to manufacture, and other commercial considerations. Product prototypes are submitted to a Technical Product Review process, to ensure they meet essential health, safety and quality standards for PPE. Financial due diligence and fraud prevention measures are also undertaken, after which the Department can contract with the manufacturer.

Lord Deighton is leading the Government’s efforts to secure sufficient PPE and ensure this gets to where it is needed. He is also driving forward coordination of the end-to-end process design and manufacture of new domestic PPE supplies. As at 15 May, the Department has entered into contract and placed orders with eight manufacturers to provide millions of items of PPE products to the National Health Service and carers. Details of this work can be found in the links below. The volumes will increase in the coming weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-more-items-of-ppe-for-frontline-staff-from-new-business-partnerships

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/70-million-face-masks-for-nhs-and-care-workers-through-new-industry-deal

In response to calls from a number of local resilience forums (LRFs), we arranged to extend our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply route to LRFs to help local government distribute stock to smaller social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.

In the week beginning 6 April we issued 37 million items of PPE across 38 local resilience Forums LRFs. All LRFs would have received their allocation by 13 April which was made in two drops.

The level of PPE provided to each LRF in the original allocation, was determined by the number of people within each area, adjusted for the number of people aged 70 and over. Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.

We are monitoring stock levels and usage and working to restock some LRFs with the most urgent clinical need. It is important that LRFs return their data reports to help us identify those in need of an urgent restock.

In response to calls from a number of local resilience forums (LRFs), we arranged to extend our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply route to LRFs to help local government distribute stock to smaller social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.

In the week beginning 6 April we issued 37 million items of PPE across 38 local resilience Forums LRFs. All LRFs would have received their allocation by 13 April which was made in two drops.

The level of PPE provided to each LRF in the original allocation, was determined by the number of people within each area, adjusted for the number of people aged 70 and over. Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.

We are monitoring stock levels and usage and working to restock some LRFs with the most urgent clinical need. It is important that LRFs return their data reports to help us identify those in need of an urgent restock.

In response to calls from a number of local resilience forums (LRFs), we arranged to extend our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply route to LRFs to help local government distribute stock to smaller social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.

In the week beginning 6 April we issued 37 million items of PPE across 38 local resilience Forums LRFs. All LRFs would have received their allocation by 13 April which was made in two drops.

The level of PPE provided to each LRF in the original allocation, was determined by the number of people within each area, adjusted for the number of people aged 70 and over. Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.

We are monitoring stock levels and usage and working to restock some LRFs with the most urgent clinical need. It is important that LRFs return their data reports to help us identify those in need of an urgent restock.

In response to calls from a number of local resilience forums (LRFs), we arranged to extend our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply route to LRFs to help local government distribute stock to smaller social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.

In the week beginning 6 April we issued 37 million items of PPE across 38 local resilience Forums LRFs. All LRFs would have received their allocation by 13 April which was made in two drops.

The level of PPE provided to each LRF in the original allocation, was determined by the number of people within each area, adjusted for the number of people aged 70 and over. Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.

We are monitoring stock levels and usage and working to restock some LRFs with the most urgent clinical need. It is important that LRFs return their data reports to help us identify those in need of an urgent restock.

In response to calls from a number of local resilience forums (LRFs), we arranged to extend our personal protective equipment (PPE) supply route to LRFs to help local government distribute stock to smaller social care providers and other vital services where they have been unable to obtain PPE through their usual routes and have an urgent need.

In the week beginning 6 April we issued 37 million items of PPE across 38 local resilience Forums LRFs. All LRFs would have received their allocation by 13 April which was made in two drops.

The level of PPE provided to each LRF in the original allocation, was determined by the number of people within each area, adjusted for the number of people aged 70 and over. Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.

We are monitoring stock levels and usage and working to restock some LRFs with the most urgent clinical need. It is important that LRFs return their data reports to help us identify those in need of an urgent restock.

The Government is working rapidly to increase the number of tests that can be conducted by Public Health England and the National Health Service in laboratories. Key worker tests are starting, with hundreds of staff to be tested. This test, for NHS frontline workers, which will confirm whether or not an individual has COVID-19, will make a huge difference to the ability of frontline staff to do their job and to overall capacity.

As of 14 April, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak we have delivered over 923 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to 58,000 different health and care settings including National Health Service trusts, general practitioners, pharmacies and community providers. This includes:

- 173 million masks;

- 163 million aprons;

- 1.3 million gowns; and

- 440 million pairs of gloves.

We have provided PPE equipment to over 26,000 care homes including home care and hospices across the country. Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, over 48 million PPE items have been delivered.

We are working around the clock to give the NHS and the wider social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. We have brought together the NHS, industry and the armed forces to create a new nationwide PPE distribution network, delivering critical PPE supplies to those who need it.

We have a 24 hours a day, seven days a week helpline for those experiencing supply disruption with business as usual ordering channels. Where there may be any shortages, we act on this immediately. Local Resilience Forums are also supporting care homes, hospices, home care and primary care in getting hold of PPE equipment.

Preserving the health, safety and wellbeing of staff is critical as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. National Health Service and social care workers over 70 should only be self-isolating if they have symptoms or are in the extremely vulnerable category.

However, people over the age of 70 are advised to minimise social contact where possible.

For staff members in this category, the NHS will support staff to stay well and at work. NHS and social care organisations should make adjustments to enable this wherever possible. Adjustments may include working remotely or moving to a lower risk area.

The following tables show counts of finished delivery episodes for Westmorland General Hospital, Lancaster Royal Infirmary and Furness General Hospital site of treatment, for the years 2009-10 to 2018-19.

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

In October 2019, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust was awarded £34 million funding to improve buildings and infrastructure. This includes at Westmorland General Hospital, where the volume of day surgery work will be increasing. Two new surgical operating theatres are being built, as well as a refurbishment of the existing operating theatres.

In addition the Helme Chase maternity unit will also undergo modernisation this year. Plans are still being developed but are likely to include relocating some clinical activity conveniently close to the main hospital entrance, and relocating some internal administrative departments and patient record areas within the hospital. Neither of these will affect the service offered to patients.

In 2019, the Government launched a new Health Infrastructure Plan which includes £100 million to support 21 major projects (covering 34 hospitals) develop their schemes to be delivered in a second phase of major hospital rebuilds (HIP2), as part of our plan to build 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years. This includes £5 million for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. This business case development will include review of service delivery and opportunities for improvements in infrastructure across the Morecambe Bay, including Westmorland General Hospital.

Future National Health Service capital funding will be provided for as part of the Department’s multi-year settlement at the next capital review.

In October 2019, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust was awarded £34 million funding to improve buildings and infrastructure. This includes at Westmorland General Hospital, where the volume of day surgery work will be increasing. Two new surgical operating theatres are being built, as well as a refurbishment of the existing operating theatres.

In addition the Helme Chase maternity unit will also undergo modernisation this year. Plans are still being developed but are likely to include relocating some clinical activity conveniently close to the main hospital entrance, and relocating some internal administrative departments and patient record areas within the hospital. Neither of these will affect the service offered to patients.

In 2019, the Government launched a new Health Infrastructure Plan which includes £100 million to support 21 major projects (covering 34 hospitals) develop their schemes to be delivered in a second phase of major hospital rebuilds (HIP2), as part of our plan to build 40 new hospitals over the next 10 years. This includes £5 million for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. This business case development will include review of service delivery and opportunities for improvements in infrastructure across the Morecambe Bay, including Westmorland General Hospital.

Future National Health Service capital funding will be provided for as part of the Department’s multi-year settlement at the next capital review.

Westmorland General Hospital has seen many changes to improve patient care and experience over the last 10 years including:

- The refurbishment and expansion of the Cardiac Lab;

- A new DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) scanner facility;

- The development of a Breast Screening Unit;

- The refurbishment of one of the Theatres;

- Improvements to the layout of the Urgent Treatment Centre;

- The opening of a new Oncology day unit;

- The development of the Endoscopy Unit to make it JAG (Joint Advisory Group) accredited;

- A new café in the entrance of the hospital;

- New LED lighting throughout the hospital;

- Improvements to radiology rooms and reception;

- A new water purification system for the Renal Unit;

- A new unit for muscular skeletal therapy; and

- A new unit for macular care.

Official statistics for elective waiting times, known as Referral to Treatment (RTT), are fully compliant with the Statistical Code of Practice (that is, they meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value) and are designated as National Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

The Department receives assurance from NHS England on the accuracy of hospital waiting times. NHS England currently collects and publishes the monthly national waiting times data, carrying out aggregate-level validation checks. Where issues are identified at provider-level, NHS England will work with providers to ensure data errors are rectified. The Standard Contract put in place by NHS England obliges providers to comply with national information standards and data submission requirements. All trust annual governance statements from April 2015 must include an explicit statement on how the trust will assure waiting time data quality, accuracy and risks.

NHS England update RTT recording and reporting guidance when changes are required. The last update was August 2017 and an update is planned by NHS England for the start of 2020/21. New data on waiting times is published every month at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2019-20/

There is also general guidance available on waiting times on the NHS England web page at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/

Official statistics for elective waiting times, known as Referral to Treatment (RTT), are fully compliant with the Statistical Code of Practice (that is, they meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value) and are designated as National Statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

The Department receives assurance from NHS England on the accuracy of hospital waiting times. NHS England currently collects and publishes the monthly national waiting times data, carrying out aggregate-level validation checks. Where issues are identified at provider-level, NHS England will work with providers to ensure data errors are rectified. The Standard Contract put in place by NHS England obliges providers to comply with national information standards and data submission requirements. All trust annual governance statements from April 2015 must include an explicit statement on how the trust will assure waiting time data quality, accuracy and risks.

NHS England update RTT recording and reporting guidance when changes are required. The last update was August 2017 and an update is planned by NHS England for the start of 2020/21. New data on waiting times is published every month at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2019-20/

There is also general guidance available on waiting times on the NHS England web page at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/

Currently no estimate has been made.

In October 2015, NHS England committed to investing £130 million to fund the modernisation of radiotherapy across England. This has ensured that older linear accelerators (LINACs - radiotherapy machines) being used by hospitals are being upgraded or replaced, giving cancer patients access to the latest leading edge technology regardless of where they live. Over 80 machines have been replaced or upgraded.

No estimate has been made.

This information is not held centrally.

NHS England produced a stocktake, which included age, of linear accelerators in full clinical use in 2016 as part of the Equipment Modernisation programme, which enabled 80 machines to be replaced or upgraded. Further work to update this stocktake is underway to reflect both the impact of the Equipment Modernisation programme and any local changes.

This information is not available in the format requested.

It is intended that the specialist eating disorder service in South Cumbria, which will include one to one and family-based therapies, will commence in April 2020. This is dependant on a number of factors, including consultation with existing staff and recruitment of new staff.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to the National Health Service developing comprehensive crisis pathways so that 24 hour, age appropriate mental health crisis care is available across England, via NHS 111, by 2023/24.

The information is not held centrally in the format requested.

The prevention of further human rights violations against the Rohingya remains a priority for the British Government. It is our view that further violations can only be prevented by addressing the underlying causes of the crisis, specifically through the implementation of the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission and through ensuring there is accountability for the atrocities that took place. We continue to engage the Myanmar Government and regional governments on these issues. In October 2019, Baroness Sugg during her visit to Myanmar raised with ministers the plight of refugees and pushed for faster progress with the remaining Rakhine Advisory Commission recommendations. The UK has also shone a spotlight on violations by the Myanmar military by co-sponsoring resolutions on Myanmar at the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019, and at the UN General Assembly in December 2019.

The Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) is intended to encourage investment into social enterprises. Since 2014, about 110 social enterprises and trading charities have used the scheme, raising £11.2 million.

The Government keeps all taxes and reliefs under review in order to ensure they continue to meet policy objectives and represent value for money for taxpayers. The Government committed to a full review of SITR within two years of its expansion, and published a Call for Evidence last year on the use of the scheme to date. A Summary of Responses will be published in due course alongside a decision on the policy’s future.

Under current VAT rules, the installation of water and wind turbines is subject to the standard rate of VAT. However, the installation of other energy saving materials that generate domestic energy, such as solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, are subject to the reduced rate of VAT when certain conditions are met.

Although there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.

Under current VAT rules, the installation of water and wind turbines is subject to the standard rate of VAT. However, the installation of other energy saving materials that generate domestic energy, such as solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, are subject to the reduced rate of VAT when certain conditions are met.

Although there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.

The decision to furlough an employee must ultimately be agreed to by both the employer and employee. If an employee is concerned that their employer is not claiming on their behalf, they should speak with their employer in the first instance, then with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Where it is permitted and does not go against public health guidance, businesses may wish to ask their employees to continue working as usual. Maintaining economic activity where possible will help towards creating a robust economic recovery as the UK emerges from this pandemic.

The Government seeks, as far as possible, to protect people’s jobs and incomes. This is an unprecedented jobs retention scheme and the Government has been working hard to set out further details on the scheme. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is open to any individual who was on an employer’s PAYE payroll on 19 March 2020. Full details can be found in the guidance available at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme and www.gov.uk/guidance/work-out-80-of-your-employees-wages-to-claim-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme, which provides answers to these questions.

The decision to furlough an employee must ultimately be agreed to by both the employer and employee. If an employee is concerned that their employer is not claiming on their behalf, they should speak with their employer in the first instance, and then with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Where it is permitted and does not go against public health guidance, businesses may wish to ask their employees to continue working as usual. Maintaining economic activity where possible will help economic recovery as the UK emerges from this pandemic.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help firms that have been severely affected by coronavirus to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. The scheme is open to all UK employers providing they have created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020 and have a UK bank account. Employers do not need to place all their employees on furlough.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme does not subsidise part-time work. It is designed to support individuals who would otherwise have been made redundant and it also protects public health by minimising the number of non-key workers outside of their homes on a regular basis. The Government has strengthened the welfare system to support those whose hours change, including an increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and the working tax credit basic element.

Insurance is not an appropriate product where a risk has already materialised, or where it is overwhelmingly likely that a risk will occur. For this reason, where businesses did not already have an appropriate policy that covers government-ordered closure or unspecified notifiable diseases, insurance is not a suitable tool for the Government to cover the financial losses due to COVID-19.

The Government recognises that businesses who do not have appropriate insurance cover will require support from elsewhere. That is why the Chancellor set out a package of support in the Budget, on 17 March, and on 20 March, which includes measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.

The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector about its contribution to handling this unprecedented situation.

In addition, the Chancellor has made clear that, for those businesses which have an appropriate policy covering pandemics, the Government’s medical advice of 16 March is sufficient to allow businesses to make a claim against their insurance, provided the other terms and conditions in their policy are met. We recognise that most businesses have not purchased insurance that covers pandemic-related losses. Any affected businesses should note the government’s full package of support.

The FCA’s rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not

reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.

The Business Secretary will write to all Local Authorities by the end of the week with information on the small business grant scheme, and to encourage them to prepare to deliver this quickly. Detailed guidance for Local Authorities will follow by 1st April, and Local Authorities will then write to all eligible businesses with information on how to claim this grant.

We will give small businesses in the retail, hospitality or leisure sectors a higher grant of £25,000 per business if they have a property that has a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000. Properties in those sectors with a rateable value of £15,000 or less will receive a £10,000 grant even if they are not eligible for small business rates relief. It will be administered in the same way as the small business grant scheme.

The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses and individuals affected by Covid-19, and remains committed to doing whatever it takes to support the economy as necessary.

UK VAT registered businesses, including charities, can defer VAT payments due with their VAT returns between now and the end of June. No UK VAT registered business will have to make a VAT payment alongside their VAT return to HMRC in that period. They will have until the end of the financial year to repay.

The Government will also give all eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England a 100% business rates holiday for the next 12 months. The Government also extended the support available to individuals and businesses, including a package of government-backed and guaranteed loans, which make available an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of GDP.

For Income Tax Self-Assessment, payments due on the 31st of July 2020 will be deferred until the 31st of January 2021.

Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, employers (including charities) can put workers on temporary leave and the government will pay them cash grants of 80% of their wages up to a cap of £2,500 a month, providing they keep the worker employed. They will receive the grant from HMRC, covering the cost of wages backdated to 1 March 2020.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be available for those unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with government advice; this is on top of the Prime Minister’s announcement that SSP will be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals. Support will be available through Universal Credit and Contributory Employment and Support Allowance for those not eligible for SSP.

HMRC have scaled up their Time to Pay offer to all taxpayers, including charities, who are in temporary financial distress as a result of Covid-19 and have outstanding tax liabilities. Taxpayers can contact HMRC’s dedicated Covid-19 helpline to get practical help and advice on 0800 0159 559.

The Chancellor will continue to review and make further announcements as events unfold if required.

Banks and building societies are ready and able to support consumers impacted by COVID-19. On 17 March, the Chancellor announced on behalf of the sector that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers that are financially struggling. This will enable affected borrowers to more easily defer their mortgage payments for up to 3 months. Customers who are concerned about the current financial situation should get in touch with their lender at the earliest possible opportunity. The benefits system is ready to assist renters with their housing costs if they find their incomes disrupted by coronavirus.

Following urgent discussions with the banking industry, the mortgage payment holiday of up to 3 months announced on 17 March will be extended to landlords whose tenants are experiencing difficulty due to coronavirus. Lenders have also agreed to a three-month moratorium on residential and buy to let possession action to start immediately to provide customers with reassurance that they will not have their homes repossessed at this difficult time.

The government has announced that to further protect renters, emergency legislation will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period. At the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account the tenant’s individual circumstances.

The Chancellor also announced tax cuts of nearly £20bn for British businesses. Budget announced that eligible properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, with a rateable value of less than £51,000, would pay no business rates this year. The Chancellor’s announcement of 17 March goes further and provides those businesses an additional cash grant of up to £25,000 per business. It also extends the business rates holiday to all eligible properties in those sectors, irrespective of rateable value, so that all businesses in retail, hospitality or leisure will pay no business rates for 12 months.

Budget announced government will provide £3,000 grants to 700,000 SMEs. This grant is now increased to £10,000.

In response to Recommendation 6 from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, the department is launching a learning programme over the summer, with full implementation from autumn 2021.

To develop the approach and learning content we have conducted a training needs analysis which examined the learning needs of our staff and enabled consultation with key stakeholders. In line with Wendy Williams’ requirements set out in the Comprehensive Improvement Plan, we engaged with external stakeholders to shape the learning products.

We plan to launch the first stage of learning activity this month. This will be a series of pages linking to historical Windrush related resources on the Home Office intranet page, available to all Home Office staff members. This follows increased and extended consultation, which was considered necessary ahead of the launch.

Consultation, scoping and build is underway to develop the full range of bite-sized, blended learning products with experts from external organisations and academia informing content design and considerations.

Further materials and resources will become available for staff across the summer period to build momentum and boost conversations. These products are designed as a pre-curser to the full launch from beginning of Quarter 3.

The number of refugees we resettle every year depends on a variety of factors including local authorities’ capacity and the extent to which Community Sponsorship continues to thrive.

This year the recovery from the pandemic will be a significant factor affecting capacity. We continue to work closely with our partners to assess their capacity for resettlement in the months ahead.

The Home Office has received more than 5.6 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), as of 31 May 2021. We encourage anyone eligible for the EUSS to apply before the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications by those EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK by the end of the transition period, to secure their rights in UK law.

We launched a further wave of UK advertising in mid-May to ensure EU citizens and their family members are aware of the deadline and know they need to apply. This builds on the successful campaign already delivered – with £7.9 million having now been invested in such activity – with targeted adverts currently appearing on social media, website banners, catch up TV and radio.

Communications activity after 30 June will emphasise the Home Office will accept late applications from those with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline and point to the support available to those who need it.

Engagement with stakeholders, local authorities and employers will continue to raise awareness of the EUSS. In addition, the network of 72 organisations across the UK, funded by the Home Office through to 30 September 2021 with £22 million of funding, will continue to engage with vulnerable groups and help them to apply.

From 1 July, right to work and right to rent checks will change and EEA citizens will be required to demonstrate eligibility through evidence of their immigration status, rather than their nationality.

Where an EEA citizen, who was resident here before the end of the transition period, has reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS application deadline, they will be given a further opportunity to apply.

We will be updating our guidance and communicating with employers and landlords shortly to set out the support available, and ensure they are clear on the steps they should take from 1 July.

The Home Office publishes data on the number of applications for asylum in the UK, broken down by nationality, in its quarterly Immigration Statistics release. The number of applications made by Eritreans in each year are available in the Immigration Statistics, Asy_01c:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/961749/asylum-summary-dec-2020-tables.xlsx

All asylum and human rights applications from Eritrean nationals are carefully considered and assessed on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.

Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw. The Eritrean Country Policy and Information Notes (available on gov.uk) outlines our position.

Refugees can access the same NHS health services as UK citizens, including mental health services.

The Emergency Services Network (ESN) has activated seven Extended Area Services sites in Scotland so far, this means that the sites are connected to the ESN network and are capable of housing commercial networks. Six of the sites are in conjunction with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) which is funded by the Scottish Government. EAS has a further 17 sites in progress with SFT, with another four going live in the next 6-8 weeks, good progress is being made with the SFT and Scottish Government in the delivery and activation of these sites. EAS is also in the process of building and activating the remaining 99 sites which form the 123 EAS site coverage in Scotland. These are made up mostly of greenfield sites with 24 site shares also being utilised.

The Home Office is unable to state how many and what proportion of substantive asylum interviews were conducted by video conference or how many asylum decisions were made without a substantive interview as the Home Office does not publish this information

However, the Home Office does publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at This data can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2020/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlement

The Home Office is unable to state how many and what proportion of substantive asylum interviews were conducted by video conference or how many asylum decisions were made without a substantive interview as the Home Office does not publish this information

However, the Home Office does publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at This data can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2020/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlement

The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient capacity, in the right places and that it provides value for money.

The Home Office has acquired the former Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham and will open it as an immigration removal centre for women by the autumn. Initial discussions with the planning authority have taken place and work has commenced at the site. An Equality Impact Assessment will be completed as part of this programme of work.

In order to meet operational needs and demands we will continue to operate the immigration removal estate in a flexible manner.

We expect the highest standards from our providers, who are expected to conduct regular checks across the accommodation estate. The Home Office have access to providers’ systems to monitor compliance.

Throughout the pandemic, the ability to inspect accommodation in the usual way has faced some understandable logistical challenges, however we have robust systems in place to monitor and ensure continued accordance with the high standards of service we and those we accommodate expect.

Asylum seekers can also raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated by Migrant Help. The Home Office and our providers receive feedback on complaints raised through our regular dialogue with Migrant Help, which enables attention to be focussed on any areas of concern.

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services contracts (AASC) have a robust performance management system, against which providers are expected to deliver. Where performance falls short of the required standard, failures are recorded and can result in the award of points and, ultimately, service credits being applied. Providers’ performance is monitored closely by dedicated staff in each contract area, who are in daily contact with them.

This is supplemented by a formal governance process which includes quarterly Strategic Review Management Boards and monthly Contract Management Groups. Service credits and subsequent improvement plans are discussed and monitored as part of this process.

We expect the highest standards from our providers, who are expected to conduct regular checks across the accommodation estate. The Home Office have access to providers’ systems to monitor compliance.

Throughout the pandemic, the ability to inspect accommodation in the usual way has faced some understandable logistical challenges, however we have robust systems in place to monitor and ensure continued accordance with the high standards of service we and those we accommodate expect.

Asylum seekers can also raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated by Migrant Help. The Home Office and our providers receive feedback on complaints raised through our regular dialogue with Migrant Help, which enables attention to be focussed on any areas of concern.

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services contracts (AASC) have a robust performance management system, against which providers are expected to deliver. Where performance falls short of the required standard, failures are recorded and can result in the award of points and, ultimately, service credits being applied. Providers’ performance is monitored closely by dedicated staff in each contract area, who are in daily contact with them.

This is supplemented by a formal governance process which includes quarterly Strategic Review Management Boards and monthly Contract Management Groups. Service credits and subsequent improvement plans are discussed and monitored as part of this process.

A draft ethical decision-making model has been produced and this is now being tested with different teams across the Home Office.

The sites at Penally and Napier are being used to accommodate single, adult males. All asylum seekers are subject to an initial screening process by UK Visas and Immigration, which includes security and safeguarding checks and we are taking great care to ensure that those with identified vulnerabilities are moved to appropriate accommodation. We will also take swift action in relation to any new safeguarding issues that emerge (for example the identification of previously unknown vulnerabilities).

Further checks are made, to confirm suitability for transfer to the accommodation, before individuals are moved to sites and asylum seekers will be briefed by the accommodation provider in advance of their move.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum applications and initial decisions on applications are published in table Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets, which include a breakdown on unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) and year of application or initial decision.

Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate up to September 2020. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘summary tables’. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on asylum and resettlement.

Immigration Statistics will be updated on February 25^th 2021 which will include data up to December 2020.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

In line with Wendy Williams’ recommendation, the Home Office has commissioned the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) to undertake an independent review of the Home Office complaints system and provide advice on improvements.

The Home Office is also looking at the roles of Independent Complaints Examiners in other government departments. We will provide an update on next steps in due course.

As outlined in the Comprehensive Improvement Plan on 30 September 2020, the Home Office is consulting with the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group on how best to advance this recommendation to ensure the function works independently and effectively.

The Windrush Cross-Government Working Group brings together key stakeholders and community leaders with representatives from a number of government departments.

This Government has made it clear that we are embarking on an ambitious programme to fix our broken asylum system to make it firm and fair. As the Home Secretary said in her Conservative Party Conference speech, we will seek to stop abuse of the system while ensuring it is compassionate towards those who need our help, welcoming people through safe and legal routes.

Section 3 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (the Act) sets out a statutory obligation to review the ways in which protection claimants, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), who are in an EU member state are able to enter the United Kingdom lawfully. As a part of this review, the statutory obligation includes a public consultation on legal routes for UASC in the EU seeking to join family in the UK.

The Act includes a requirement to lay a statement before Parliament by 10 February 2021 providing further details of the review and consultation.

This Government has made it clear that we are embarking on an ambitious programme to fix our broken asylum system to make it firm and fair. As the Home Secretary said in her Conservative Party Conference speech, we will seek to stop abuse of the system while ensuring it is compassionate towards those who need our help, welcoming people through safe and legal routes.

Section 3 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (the Act) sets out a statutory obligation to review the ways in which protection claimants, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), who are in an EU member state are able to enter the United Kingdom lawfully. As a part of this review, the statutory obligation includes a public consultation on legal routes for UASC in the EU seeking to join family in the UK.

The Act includes a requirement to lay a statement before Parliament by 10 February 2021 providing further details of the review and consultation.

The new Immigration Rules make provision for the refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the basis of rough sleeping. The new rule will apply on a discretionary basis to non-EEA citizens from 1 December 2020 and to newly arriving EEA citizens from 1 January 2021. The provision will be used sparingly and only where individuals have repeatedly refused support offers such as accommodation and are engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour.

A person is expected to leave the UK if their leave is cancelled or refused. If they do not choose to leave voluntarily we may enforce their removal. They will not be subject to deportation action which is reserved for foreign national offenders with serious and persistent criminality as well as for reasons of national security.

The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service, operated by Migrant Help is a single integrated and national service for asylum seekers.

The AIRE service will provide advice and guidance to service users on the asylum process, their rights and signposting different services.

It will also provide asylum seekers with a single point of contact, independent from the accommodation providers and the Home Office, to report issues.

AIRE are contracted to provide information on the availability of legal advice and representation and signposting of Service User’s to the Legal Aid Agency, where appropriate upon induction into temporary accommodation.

We are working with Migrant Help to pilot additional measures for legal aid signposting in temporary accommodation, including Napier and Penally.

The new Immigration Rules make provision for the refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the basis of rough sleeping. The new rule will apply on a discretionary basis to non-EEA citizens from 1 December 2020 and to newly arriving EEA citizens from 1 January 2021. The provision will be used sparingly and only where individuals have repeatedly refused support offers such as accommodation and are engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour.

A person is expected to leave the UK if their leave is cancelled or refused. If they do not choose to leave voluntarily we may enforce their removal. They will not be subject to deportation action which is reserved for foreign national offenders with serious and persistent criminality as well as for reasons of national security.

As outlined in the Comprehensive Improvement Plan on 30 September 2020, the Home Office will be consulting with the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group on how to take forward the Migrants’ Commissioner role.

The Working Group brings together key stakeholders and community leaders with representatives from a number of government departments, to support the delivery of solutions for the Windrush generation.

The Home Office is exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims. Alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are also exploring with third-party suppliers, through a proof of concept, to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required as a temporary, short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced.

At this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility of using third party resource to support asylum interviewing, however the name of the third-party supplier who is assisting with the proof of concept is commercially sensitive at this stage.

Any future service, beyond a proof of concept, would be subject to an appropriate commercial process subject to any recommendations being agreed to do so. Any future service would increase interview throughput, help rebalance the system, but also speed up decision making, reduce the number of outstanding cases and support costs.

The Home Office will evaluate the success of the proof of concept pilot by conducting an evaluation once we have completed the proof of concept exercise. The evaluation will include a lessons learnt exercise, inform findings and conclusions on any future service requirement.

To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, third-party interviewing officers will complete a bespoke training package, delivered by the qualified asylum operations training team, that has been designed specifically to meet their needs. Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role. The Home Office is not planning to disclose to a claimant if they have been interviewed by a third party rather than a Home Office employee as we expect the experience to equal the existing high standards already in place.

To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.

The Home Office is exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims. Alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are also exploring with third-party suppliers, through a proof of concept, to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required as a temporary, short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced.

At this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility of using third party resource to support asylum interviewing, however the name of the third-party supplier who is assisting with the proof of concept is commercially sensitive at this stage.

Any future service, beyond a proof of concept, would be subject to an appropriate commercial process subject to any recommendations being agreed to do so. Any future service would increase interview throughput, help rebalance the system, but also speed up decision making, reduce the number of outstanding cases and support costs.

The Home Office will evaluate the success of the proof of concept pilot by conducting an evaluation once we have completed the proof of concept exercise. The evaluation will include a lessons learnt exercise, inform findings and conclusions on any future service requirement.

To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, third-party interviewing officers will complete a bespoke training package, delivered by the qualified asylum operations training team, that has been designed specifically to meet their needs. Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role. The Home Office is not planning to disclose to a claimant if they have been interviewed by a third party rather than a Home Office employee as we expect the experience to equal the existing high standards already in place.

To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.

All asylum seekers have access at all times to Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE), a single, integrated service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help.

The AIRE service provides advice and guidance to asylum seekers on the asylum process, their rights and signposts different services.

This includes information on the availability of legal advice and representation, including legal aid, upon induction into temporary accommodation.

The Home Office is exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims. Alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are also exploring with third-party suppliers, through a proof of concept, to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required as a temporary, short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced.

At this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility of using third party resource to support asylum interviewing, however the name of the third-party supplier who is assisting with the proof of concept is commercially sensitive at this stage.

Any future service, beyond a proof of concept, would be subject to an appropriate commercial process subject to any recommendations being agreed to do so. Any future service would increase interview throughput, help rebalance the system, but also speed up decision making, reduce the number of outstanding cases and support costs.

The Home Office will evaluate the success of the proof of concept pilot by conducting an evaluation once we have completed the proof of concept exercise. The evaluation will include a lessons learnt exercise, inform findings and conclusions on any future service requirement.

To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, third-party interviewing officers will complete a bespoke training package, delivered by the qualified asylum operations training team, that has been designed specifically to meet their needs. Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role. The Home Office is not planning to disclose to a claimant if they have been interviewed by a third party rather than a Home Office employee as we expect the experience to equal the existing high standards already in place.

To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.

The Home Office is exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims. Alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are also exploring with third-party suppliers, through a proof of concept, to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required as a temporary, short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced.

At this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility of using third party resource to support asylum interviewing, however the name of the third-party supplier who is assisting with the proof of concept is commercially sensitive at this stage.

Any future service, beyond a proof of concept, would be subject to an appropriate commercial process subject to any recommendations being agreed to do so. Any future service would increase interview throughput, help rebalance the system, but also speed up decision making, reduce the number of outstanding cases and support costs.

The Home Office will evaluate the success of the proof of concept pilot by conducting an evaluation once we have completed the proof of concept exercise. The evaluation will include a lessons learnt exercise, inform findings and conclusions on any future service requirement.

To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, third-party interviewing officers will complete a bespoke training package, delivered by the qualified asylum operations training team, that has been designed specifically to meet their needs. Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role. The Home Office is not planning to disclose to a claimant if they have been interviewed by a third party rather than a Home Office employee as we expect the experience to equal the existing high standards already in place.

To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.

To help reduce the potential spread of Covid 19, in March 2020 the Home Office placed a temporary suspension on the long-standing requirement for fresh asylum claims to be submitted in person in Liverpool. The suspension was brought in as a measure to reduce travel and direct contacts between applicants and officials. It was permitted instead for evidence relating to a fresh claim to be submitted electronically or through the post.

There are no current plans to make the suspension on in-person appointments for fresh asylum claims a permanent arrangement. The situation is kept under regular review, though it is not expected that in-person appointments will resume in the near future.

We take the wellbeing of asylum claimants extremely seriously and have put in place a range of measures to register asylum claims in a safe way for claimants and officials in response to COVID 19.

Asylum in the UK should continue to be sought at the first available opportunity, this means on arrival, at a port of entry. For those who have failed to claim on arrival, or whose circumstances have changed since arrival, can lodge a claim at an in-country location – this is usually by appointment at the Asylum Intake Unit (AIU) in Croydon.

The asylum registration process requires the enrolment of biometrics (photographs and fingerprints) to complete immigration and security checks against Home Office systems. This process requires attendance in person and cannot be undertaken remotely.

The AIU in Croydon has continued operate throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, however in line with Government COVID 19 guidance and restrictions, additional regional locations have been temporarily introduced to ensure asylum seekers are able to safely register their claims. The asylum screening and registration process has been temporarily abridged to minimise in person contact and limit travel required but remains under ongoing review. The AIU and the regional registration locations all facilitate social distancing for the safety of claimants and officials.

Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing, and we are considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The findings of the review will be announced once the work has been completed.

Covid-19 has created both challenges and the opportunity to explore new working practices for the Home Office. Whilst certain documents have been accepted electronically, we consider it is likely we will still need to see certain original document where appropriate in the future.

However, business practices are kept under review and new ways of working which have been implemented to cope with current restrictions, where they have been successful, may be continued beyond the current Covid-19 related restrictions.

There are no plans to change the current application process for Destitute Domestic Violence Concession cases.

Covid-19 has created both challenges and the opportunity to explore new working practices for the Home Office. Whilst certain documents have been accepted electronically, we consider it is likely we will still need to see certain original document where appropriate in the future. However, business practices are kept under review and new ways of working which have been implemented to cope with current restrictions, where they have been successful, may be continued beyond the current Covid-19 related restrictions.

The Home Office has begun to reuse previously enrolled biometrics in limited circumstances where they are suitable for such use. This includes some students who apply for visas under the new points-based immigration system, to manage the specific demand placed on our resources and to free up biometric enrolment facilities for other applicants. We will consider how best to widen our use of previously enrolled biometrics in due course.

There is already published, independent evidence showing that good economic conditions and essential services can create an incentive for people to choose to go to a particular country illegally. This is because it is easier to work under such conditions – and we cannot ignore that access to the labour market is among the reasons that so many people choose to come to the UK illegally, rather than remain in any of the countries through which they transit.

That is why it is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.

Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. This is under review; it is crucial we take the time to get this right and we are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The Home Office will be happy to discuss the content of the review once it has been completed.

There is already published, independent evidence showing that good economic conditions and essential services can create an incentive for people to choose to go to a particular country illegally. This is because it is easier to work under such conditions – and we cannot ignore that access to the labour market is among the reasons that so many people choose to come to the UK illegally, rather than remain in any of the countries through which they transit.

That is why it is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.

Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. This is under review; it is crucial we take the time to get this right and we are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The Home Office will be happy to discuss the content of the review once it has been completed.

The Home Secretary is considering the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s report on Family Reunion Applications and it will be laid in Parliament as soon as possible.

ICIBI reports can only be laid before Parliament when both houses are sitting.

The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

We take the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously.

As part of our response to COVID-19, we have introduced regional intake units to allow asylum claims to be registered in a safe way that adheres to social distancing guidance and minimises travel.

The introduction of the regional intake units in Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Leeds, Solihull and Cardiff, is a temporary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these changes do not represent a new operating model. These are contingency measures put in place to allow asylum claims to be registered in a safe manner and ensure those that are at immediate risk of destitution can access support.

Room sharing take place in a number of sectors and is not limited to supported asylum seekers.

There asylum accommodation contracts set out clearly when room sharing can take place and the numbers of people sharing rooms is minimal.

There are currently no plans to end room sharing for unrelated asylum seeking adults.

The decision to suspend the cessation of support will be reviewed before the end of June.

A comprehensive cessation plan, on how to recommence support cessations and evictions is being worked through with discussions with Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders, which included members of the voluntary and community sector.

Generally, upon receipt of a “positive” cessation a person is given 28 days’ notice and is referred to the Department of Work and Pensions to apply for benefits if they require them and to Local Authorities for housing assistance. During the Covid 19 crisis newly granted refugees have been continuing to receive support and accommodation while their applications to mainstream benefits have been considered.

All people currently accommodated within our accommodation can receive advice on asylum support and have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help. They can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day on a freephone number if they need assistance or guidance.

We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.

The decision to suspend the cessation of support will be reviewed before the end of June.

A comprehensive cessation plan, on how to recommence support cessations and evictions is being worked through with discussions with Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders, which included members of the voluntary and community sector.

Generally, upon receipt of a “positive” cessation a person is given 28 days’ notice and is referred to the Department of Work and Pensions to apply for benefits if they require them and to Local Authorities for housing assistance. During the Covid 19 crisis newly granted refugees have been continuing to receive support and accommodation while their applications to mainstream benefits have been considered.

All people currently accommodated within our accommodation can receive advice on asylum support and have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help. They can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day on a freephone number if they need assistance or guidance.

We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.

The decision to suspend the cessation of support will be reviewed before the end of June.

A comprehensive cessation plan, on how to recommence support cessations and evictions is being worked through with discussions with Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders, which included members of the voluntary and community sector.

Generally, upon receipt of a “positive” cessation a person is given 28 days’ notice and is referred to the Department of Work and Pensions to apply for benefits if they require them and to Local Authorities for housing assistance. During the Covid 19 crisis newly granted refugees have been continuing to receive support and accommodation while their applications to mainstream benefits have been considered.

All people currently accommodated within our accommodation can receive advice on asylum support and have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help. They can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day on a freephone number if they need assistance or guidance.

We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.

The Home Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are in touch regularly about these issues and are keeping the situation under review to consider if further measures are needed.

The Government has provided £1.6 billion of additional funding to local authorities to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including stepping up support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable.

Using the General Power of Competence set out in s.1 Localism Act 2011, local authorities may provide support to a person who is ineligible for assistance due to immigration status.

Additionally, the Home Office has confirmed in light of the pandemic, anyone who would normally cease to be eligible for accommodation because their asylum claim and any appeal has been resolved, is being allowed to remain in their current accommodation for at least the next three months. This applies both to those who have been refused asylum and granted asylum.

All people in asylum accommodation have been provided with guidance and advice on Covid-19 in a language they understand to help them self-isolate, including spotting the symptoms and hygiene guidance.

Asylum Operations have put in place the appropriate measures to safeguard our people and those using our services against the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. We are continuing to make decisions on cases where we have already interviewed the claimant, or we have sufficient information to allow us to make a decision.

We remain committed to ensuring that all asylum seekers are given the opportunity to consult a legal representative, so that those who are seeking protection, can access good quality immigration advice from qualified legal representatives, to ensure their asylum claim is presented properly and in a timely manner.

We will continue to review the situation in light of COVID-19 and our approach may change as things develop further. Asylum Operations may have to limit the services provided, but will seek to ensure the most vulnerable are protected and prioritised.

The Home Office is updating guidance and processes in accordance with Public Health England advice in relation to the Covid-19 outbreak to ensure people can continue to access essential systems.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 16 March, and Public Health England (PHE) advice in relation to COVID-19, Home Office Immigration Enforcement are reviewing the frequency with which people need to report. While this goes ahead, we have temporarily deferred reporting.

We will continue to contact all those who report via SMS text message with details of their future reporting dates and will keep this under review in light of the ongoing situation.

The Extended Area Service (EAS) is a critical part of the new Emergency Services Network (ESN). It will ensure that there is ESN coverage in the most rural and remote parts of Great Britain. The EAS programme consists of 292 masts and delivery is well under way. The EAS network is already being built, where possible, to support commercial operators, and we agree that this proposal is a valuable opportunity to enhance the benefit of Government programmes to deliver improved connectivity across the country.

In respect of the EAS sites in question I can give the following updates:

a. The site in Kentmere is currently in the preliminary build stage. There are existing high voltage overhead power lines in close proximity to the site so we are currently working to divert those prior to start of construction.

The current forecast date for completion of build is August 2020.

b. The site Longsleddale is currently in build and we are forecasting completion by end the of March 2020 with power on site forecasted to be June 2020.

c. The site in Langdale is at a National Trust campsite in Great Langdale and is currently at the acquisition stage. The current build completion forecast is March 2021, providing negotiations around the acquisition of the site remain are completed in good time.

The Home Office is focusing efforts on getting the infrastructure builds completed as quickly as possible. The sites are expected to be activated for ESN purposes closer to the time at which they are required, given that significant operational costs are incurred once the sites are live.

The site in Kentmere will be a lattice structure and will be capable of housing Mobile Network Operators equipment to offer a commercial service once built, however, it is a matter for EE whether they elect to offer a commercial service from the site. The Sites in Longsleddale and Langdale will be monopole structures, due to planning restrictions, and will only offer a commercial service to Mobile Network Operator EE should they wish to activate it.

The primary purpose of the ESN infrastructure planned for Kentmere, Longsleddale and Langdale is that it will ensure that Britain’s Emergency Services have reliable communications coverage in these areas. However, once the infrastructure has been delivered, we will seek wherever possible to make it available to the mobile operators to offer a commercial service. As a result, the areas of Kentmere, Longsleddale and Langdale may benefit from improved commercial mobile coverage.

The Extended Area Service (EAS) is a critical part of the new Emergency Services Network (ESN). It will ensure that there is ESN coverage in the most rural and remote parts of Great Britain. The EAS programme consists of 292 masts and delivery is well under way. The EAS network is already being built, where possible, to support commercial operators, and we agree that this proposal is a valuable opportunity to enhance the benefit of Government programmes to deliver improved connectivity across the country.

In respect of the EAS sites in question I can give the following updates:

a. The site in Kentmere is currently in the preliminary build stage. There are existing high voltage overhead power lines in close proximity to the site so we are currently working to divert those prior to start of construction.

The current forecast date for completion of build is August 2020.

b. The site Longsleddale is currently in build and we are forecasting completion by end the of March 2020 with power on site forecasted to be June 2020.

c. The site in Langdale is at a National Trust campsite in Great Langdale and is currently at the acquisition stage. The current build completion forecast is March 2021, providing negotiations around the acquisition of the site remain are completed in good time.

The Home Office is focusing efforts on getting the infrastructure builds completed as quickly as possible. The sites are expected to be activated for ESN purposes closer to the time at which they are required, given that significant operational costs are incurred once the sites are live.

The site in Kentmere will be a lattice structure and will be capable of housing Mobile Network Operators equipment to offer a commercial service once built, however, it is a matter for EE whether they elect to offer a commercial service from the site. The Sites in Longsleddale and Langdale will be monopole structures, due to planning restrictions, and will only offer a commercial service to Mobile Network Operator EE should they wish to activate it.

The primary purpose of the ESN infrastructure planned for Kentmere, Longsleddale and Langdale is that it will ensure that Britain’s Emergency Services have reliable communications coverage in these areas. However, once the infrastructure has been delivered, we will seek wherever possible to make it available to the mobile operators to offer a commercial service. As a result, the areas of Kentmere, Longsleddale and Langdale may benefit from improved commercial mobile coverage.

We held a public consultation on the draft statutory guidance on measures in the Offensive Weapons Act, which included the sale and delivery of bladed articles, bladed products and corrosives from the 15^th August 2019 to the 9^th October 2019. The responses to that consultation have been considered and we will shortly be publishing the Government response alongside final statutory guidance ahead of commencement of the measures in the Act.

We have a comprehensive and ongoing programme of engagement with businesses of all sizes, across the UK, to ensure they fully understand their obligations as employers of EU nationals.

We have made it clear there is no requirement for employers to differentiate between those with settled and pre-settled status. EU citizens continue to be able to use their passport or national identity card to evidence their right to work and this will not change until 30 June 2021.

Employers must not discriminate between those who have been granted a status under the EU Settlement Scheme and those who have not.

Further guidance on right to work checks after 30 June 2021 will be issued in due course.

On 17 June 2019, the former Home Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to refugee resettlement by announcing a new, global scheme, which will begin in 2020 and aims to resettle in the region of 5,000 refugees in its first year of operation. It is right that we continue to offer safe and legal routes to the UK for the most vulnerable refugees, for whom resettlement is the only durable solution. Detailed plans for resettlement in future years have not yet been confirmed.

The Home Office are unable to provide the number of substantive asylum interviews that were conducted in total and by video conference in 2019, as this information is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

In order to ensure that resident EEA nationals and their family members understand how and by when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home Office has put in place a comprehensive communications and engagement plan, using all available channels to reach our audiences – such as marketing, presentations, email updates, toolkits and webinars.

The Home Office has delivered a £4 million marketing campaign to encourage resident EEA nationals to apply and further campaign activity is planned. Alongside this campaign activity, we have also undertaken extensive engagement and outreach with stake-holder groups, including employers, local authorities and community organisations. No-one will be left behind, which is why we are working in partnership with representatives of vulnerable groups and other experts to make sure everyone knows what they need to do and has the right level of support.

Government has invited unitarisation proposals from Cumbria, Somerset and North Yorkshire; councils in these areas have been developing ideas about restructuring local government in their areas for some time, and had requested such invitations. It is right that they should now have the opportunity to make proposals for new unitary councils. If Parliament approves the implementation of any such proposal, it is likely that the new unitary councils would be established from 1 April 2023, and hence most of the implementation work councils will be undertaking will be in 2022/23.

Any reform of an area’s local government is most effectively achieved through locally led proposals, put forward by those who best know the area and who are best placed to assess the benefits, including savings as well as resource and implementation requirements.

Government has invited unitarisation proposals from Cumbria, Somerset and North Yorkshire; councils in these areas have been developing ideas about restructuring local government in their areas for some time, and had requested such invitations. It is right that they should now have the opportunity to make proposals for new unitary councils. If Parliament approves the implementation of any such proposal, it is likely that the new unitary councils would be established from 1 April 2023, and hence most of the implementation work councils will be undertaking will be in 2022/23.

Any reform of an area’s local government is most effectively achieved through locally led proposals, put forward by those who best know the area and who are best placed to assess the benefits, including savings as well as resource and implementation requirements.

Bailiffs have been asked not to enforce evictions across England whilst the new, toughened national restrictions apply from 5th November. The only exceptions to this will be the most egregious cases, including cases of illegal occupation, fraud, where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in social housing and where a property is unoccupied following the death of a tenant. We also intend to introduce an exemption for extreme pre-Covid rent arrears and will provide more detail in due course.

Together with the pause on evictions starting in December, this means that evictions will not be enforced in England until the 11 January at the earliest, except in the most serious circumstances. We believe this strikes the right balance between prioritising public health and supporting the most vulnerable renters, whilst ensuring landlords can access and exercise their right to justice for the most serious cases.

To further protect renters over winter, we legislated in August to increase notice periods to 6 months in all but the most serious circumstances. This means that most tenants served notice now would not be asked to leave until at least May 2021.

We have worked closely with the judiciary on new court arrangements to ensure appropriate support to all parties as the courts restart possession proceedings. These arrangements include new court rules which require landlords to set out any information they are aware of in relation to how their tenant, or any dependent of their tenant, has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic when bringing a possession claim to court. Landlords are also required to notify the court and their tenant where they wish to continue pursuing a possession claim that was already in the system before 3 August. These new arrangements apply in all courts across all tiers.

The listing of the cases is a matter for the judiciary, but they will be prioritising the most serious cases, including anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, and extreme rent arrears. Again, this will apply across all tiers of local COVID alert areas.

Prior to the introduction of national restrictions, the Government had announced additional surge funding to support areas moving into the second alert level as well as the third. Areas moving into the Tier 2 (alert level ‘high’) will receive £3 per person, with a further £5 per person (totalling £8 per person) provided for areas moving into Tier 3 (alert level ‘very high’).

In addition to this, on Thursday 22 October the Government announced details of the further £1 billion of financial support for local authorities to support their communities through this pandemic. This further support reaffirms the Government’s continued support to councils during this unprecedented time. Over £900 million will be provided in an un-ringfenced grant in line with previous tranches of funding, recognising local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the major COVID-19 service pressures in their local area – including supporting renters.

This brings the total funding given directly to councils during the pandemic, so far, to £6.4 billion. This includes £4.6 billion in un-ringfenced funding, £1.1 billion from the Infection Control Fund, and £300 million to support Test and Trace, as well as funding allocated to councils from the new Local Alert Level system and a number of grants to support communities and vulnerable people.

These measures build on the Government’s major economic package of support to help renters continue to meet their housing costs. This includes the Chancellor’s recent announcement to extend the Job Retention Scheme to March 2021 and over £9 billion boost to the welfare system, including an extra £1 billion to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they cover the lowest 30 per cent of market rents.

There are no plans to require landlords to record eviction notices at the point of delivery; this information is not collected centrally by the government and we have made no assessment of the merits of increasing data collection in this way.

To further protect renters, the measures in the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that landlords must now give 6 months’ notice except in the most serious cases.

To gather data, we work closely with the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunal Service to monitor possession proceedings. The Ministry of Justice publishes national statistics on possession actions in county courts by private and social landlords. This includes statistics on claims, orders, warrants and possessions.

The Department also conducts regular surveys such as the annual English Housing Survey and the English Private Landlord Survey to gather data. These include questions regarding ending a tenancy and the reasons for it, and both the English Housing Survey and English Private Landlord survey will be published next year.

Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. It is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement and the department does not hold data on its use.

The External Wall System (EWS1) and process is designed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) with mortgage lenders to assist with valuation of high-rise residential buildings. Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. It is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement. The Government does not support the blanket use of EWS1, especially for lower rise blocks. We are encouraging lenders to accept a broader range of evidence to assure themselves of a building’s safety. This could include a fire risk assessment that includes external walls, a recent building control certificate, or other assurances of the building’s safety the building owner can provide.

Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. It is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement and the department does not hold data on its use.

Ministers and officials had recent meetings with leaseholder groups and Housing Associations to explore these challenges.

The EWS1 process is not a Government policy or regulatory requirement and the Government does not support a blanket approach in EWS1 use for lower risk properties. Some lenders do not require an EWS1 form, and others seek them for a greater range of buildings than the process was designed for. We are encouraging lenders to accept a broader range of evidence to assure themselves of a building’s safety. This could include a fire risk assessment that includes external walls, a recent building control certificate, or other assurances of the building’s safety the building owner can provide.