Wendy Chamberlain

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 38882 on 27 April 2020 and to PQ 1802 on 29 January 2020.

Departments are responsible for addressing their portfolio of risks as identified in the National Risk Register, working with a wide range of stakeholders to coordinate, enact and test appropriate plans.

The Government has not issued a ministerial direction to require local authorities to keep electoral registers in a standardised digital format. However, the issue of a common standard for electoral register data has been discussed previously at meetings between the Parliamentary Parties Panel and Cabinet Office officials.

This Panel is run by the Electoral Commission and gives representatives of the main political parties a forum to discuss issues affecting them. More information can be found at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/who-we-are/how-we-make-decisions/party-panels

The Government has not issued a ministerial direction to require local authorities to keep electoral registers in a standardised digital format. However, the issue of a common standard for electoral register data has been discussed previously at meetings of the Parliamentary Parties Panel.

This Panel is run by the Electoral Commission and gives representatives of the main political parties a forum to discuss issues affecting them. More information can be found at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/who-we-are/how-we-make-decisions/party-panels

Chequers is run and managed by an independent trust. Details of any renovation works are a matter for the Chequers Trust.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the written Ministerial Statement laid on Tuesday 7 January 2020, HCWS21, available on the Parliament website.

I refer the Hon Member to the written Ministerial Statement laid on Tuesday 7 January 2020, HCWS21, available on the Parliament website, which lays out the action taken by the Cabinet Office to limit the impact of the breach and to ensure it does not happen again.

I refer the Hon Member to the written Ministerial Statement laid on Tuesday 7 January 2020, HCWS21, available on the Parliament website, which lays out the action taken by the Cabinet Office to limit the impact of the breach and to ensure it does not happen again.

The UK Government has been clear that the issue of local voting rights of EU citizens living in the UK needs to be considered alongside the rights and interests of British expats living abroad.

The rights of EU citizens to vote and stand in local elections will not immediately change on exit from the EU. We are seeking reciprocal bilateral agreements to maintain this right. The Government has already signed reciprocal bilateral agreements with Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg to guarantee local voting and candidacy rights for UK nationals in those states. Together these three voting rights treaties protect the rights of a third of UK nationals living in EU Member States.

In that context the Government can confirm that resident EU citizens will be able to vote and stand in the May 2020 local elections in England (including London Assembly elections) and the May 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales. Those elected to office will be able to serve their full term and this will also apply to those elected before 2020.

The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for the franchise in local elections in Wales and elections to the Nationals Assembly for Wales. The UK Government is responsible for the franchise in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.

It is not appropriate to comment on any legal advice the Government receives. The Cabinet Office is cooperating fully with the Information Commissioner, to which it reported itself.

The Disabled Students’ Premium is allocated by the Office for Students (OfS) each year.

The budget for the disabled students premium in academic year 2020/21 is £39.7 million.

In his strategic guidance letter to the OfS in January this year, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, asked the OfS to continue to prioritise allocations for the student premium.

All government departments are considering how their plans need to change in light of the risk of a recession linked to the impact of COVID-19. DFID is working with the FCO and other ODA spending departments to assess how to manage the 0.7% commitment this year. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work.

DFID’s Annual Report and Accounts is due to be published on 14 July and will set out baseline programme budgets for 2020/21 spend by DFID spending unit.

DFID is working with the FCO and other ODA spending departments to assess how to manage the 0.7% commitment this year, in light of the risk of a fall in Gross National Income. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work.

DFID do not hold a central contingency budget and have not requested any funding from the central exchequer reserve held by HM Treasury.

The UK ODA Crisis Reserve is an annual allocation of £500 million. This consists of a £200 million un-allocated reserve and a £300 million re-deployable reserve. This enables ?exible, quick and effective cross government responses to crises as they happen as set out in the UK Aid Strategy published in 2015. We do not report on expenditure drawn down from the ODA Crisis Reserve.

Since the Main Estimates were published in May this year, HMG has had to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated risks to the UK economy. All government departments are considering how their plans need to change in light of COVID-19.

We have committed up to £764 million of UK Aid to combat COVID-19 and reinforce the global effort to find a vaccine. We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impact of this pandemic in the developing world.

The UK has committed £145 million, roughly 19% of the £764 million, to the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan. Details of which countries are included in the GHRP can be found here.

We have also adapted over one hundred existing bilateral health and humanitarian programmes, and close to two hundred existing social protection, economic, governance, conflict and other programmes, across 35 countries and regions relevant to the COVID-19 response.

At the forefront of global efforts to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, the UK has provided £764 million of UK aid toward ending the pandemic as quickly as possible. This includes funding to vulnerable countries, like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and to global organisations like the WHO, and investment in rapid diagnostics and vaccines.

Within DRC, UK programmes are supporting health facilities to respond to the virus and support the most vulnerable to maintain access to food. Existing humanitarian, health and economic development programmes are also addressing needs arising from the impact of COVID-19. This includes support to UNICEF.

I recognise both the important place that religious belief has for many people around the world affected by COVID-19 and the role that faith leaders are playing in the response.

The Ebola Crisis has shown that faith groups are amongst the first to respond and can play an effective role in the behaviour change essential to slow the spread, reduce infection, illness and death of epidemics.

Faith groups are key policy and delivery partners for DFID. We are committed to working with and alongside faith-based actors to meet the challenges posed to both the UK and internationally by COVID-19.

DFID is taking forward a structured approach to working with UK and international civil society organisations, including faith-based actors. This is incorporating strategic and technical discussions to help inform the sector’s response to the pandemic. Specifically, Baroness Sugg has chaired round table discussions with the Chief Executive Officers from key civil society organisations, including faith-based organisations. This has been to update the sector on DFID’s COVID-19 response to date, engage with concerns across the sector, and explore how to mitigate the threats posed by COVID-19 to sector resilience.

Lord Ahmad also hosted a round table with faith leaders and faith-based development organisations on 8 June to discuss how we can work together more effectively on the response to COVID-19.

DFID has pledged new funding for civil society organisations, including faith-based organisations, to support the response. This includes £20 million through the Rapid Response Facility, which includes funding for Christian Aid; up to £30 million of new grants through the next round of the UK Aid Direct programme, and significant funding through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition.

Faith-based organisations can receive funding through multilateral organisations, as downstream partners as part of the UK’s response, and through our country office network.

We have been reviewing our programme portfolio in light of the COVID-19 response, enabling us to identify existing activities which can already support the response and others that can be adapted or scaled up, such as our support to health systems and humanitarian crises.

The Government will implement these changes in the most cost effective way possible. While we anticipate there may be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, it is not the primary goal of the merger of these two Departments. This is primarily about bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK’s influence around the world. By aligning our efforts, the merger will maximise our influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world’s efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.

Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. The ambition, vision and expertise of DFID staff will be at the heart of the new department – taking forward the work of UK aid, which will remain central to our mission. There will be no compulsory redundancies.

Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. There are no plans to close DFID’s office in Scotland, where staff play a vital role in ensuring UK aid delivers results for the world’s poorest and represents value for money for UK taxpayers.

The UK is at the forefront of the global response to COVID-19. We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impact of this pandemic in the developing world. We have committed up to £764 million of UK Aid to combat COVID-19 and reinforce the global effort to find a vaccine.

Our funding is supporting a range of initiatives and partners to ensure it can reach those who need it the most. This includes £75 million for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help lead international efforts to stop the spread of the virus and access critical medical supplies; £55 million to International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeals to provide medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics, and build quarantine areas and disinfection facilities; and a range of support to NGOs.

The WHO and UNICEF are working with governments to identify requirements and ensure that supplies, including the critical medical equipment for oxygen therapy, reach those in need.

The UK Government’s funding to UNICEF is in support of its global COVID-19 appeal. Through the appeal, UNICEF will contribute to both outbreak control and mitigation of the collateral impacts of the pandemic, including interruptions to water and sanitation, health, nutrition, education, protection and essential social services for children, women and vulnerable populations.

It is anticipated that all funding received from both the UK Government and other donors will be fully utilised by 31 December 2020, in line with the current appeal. In providing these funds to UNICEF, DFID did not require that a specific amount be channelled to NGOs. However, DFID welcomes the vital role that NGOs will continue to play in service delivery through multilaterals, and we are pleased that some UN agencies, such as UNICEF, are seeking to simplify their processes for NGO partners to help ensure funding reaches them more swiftly. We will be working with the UN and DFID’s country offices to increasingly better understand and track eventual flows to NGOs in-country.

All of DFID’s aid activities reported to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are screened against the gender equality policy marker. This is a measurement of the proportion of aid that supports gender equality and women’s empowerment. An activity can be marked as ‘principal’ if gender equality is the main objective of the programme, or as a ‘significant’ if gender equality is an important and deliberate objective, but not the principal reason for undertaking the programme.

DFID’s spend on bilateral allocable activities targeting gender equality is made publicly available through the OECD statistics portal. For example, in 2018 £4.2 billion of DFID’s total bilateral spend was marked principal or significant (66%).

These world-leading investments are delivering results at scale. Between 2015 and 2019, DFID reached 50.6 million women of childbearing age, children under 5 and adolescent girls through our nutrition-relevant programmes and supported 5.8 million girls gain access to a decent education. Last year, UK aid helped 23.5 million of the world’s poorest women and girls access to vital, voluntary family planning.

NGOs are key policy and delivery partners for DFID and we are committed to working with the sector to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. CSOs including NGOs and charities deliver roughly one quarter of DFID programmes around the world. A total of 40 charities and NGOs are receiving funding from the Department for International Development’s (DFID) £20 million humanitarian support package, announced in April, or the £100 million global hygiene partnership with Unilever, unveiled in March.

DFID is providing £24.4 million as part of our Unilever partnership to Action Aid, The African Medical and Research Foundation, PSI, Save the Children, Oxfam, WaterAid, International Rescue Committee, World Vision, Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor.

Through DFID’s Rapid Response Facility, £18 million of DFID funding is supporting Action Against Hunger, CARE, Christian Aid, GOAL, Humanity & Inclusion and Norwegian Refugee Council to provide healthcare, water and sanitation, food and shelter to meet the basic needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis.

Through the Humanitarian 2 Humanitarian network and its host Danish Refugee Council, £2 million of DFID funding will support 14 partners to manage information on the virus and share this with global partners, and to communicate facts to communities across Africa, the Middle East and beyond. These partners are: Fondation Hirondelle, Ground Truth Solutions, the New Humanitarian, CDAC Network, ACAPS, CartONG, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap, Map Action, Evidence Aid, Sphere, Red R UK, Humanitarian Academy for Development, Atlas Logistique and Insecurity Insight.

In country a significant proportion of existing DFID programmes are implemented directly through NGO partners and we expect NGOs will play a significant role in our country level COVID response. Many NGOs will also receive funding as part of DFID’s significant investment in the multilateral response to COVID-19. Collating the full list of organisations in receipt of funding for COVID-19 work from existing programmes or as downstream partners would take a disproportionate amount of time to extract.

Since March 2020 there have been no additional budget allocations to individual country offices, but we have adapted over one hundred existing bilateral health and humanitarian programmes, and close to two hundred existing social protection, economic, governance, conflict and other programmes, across 35 countries and regions relevant to the COVID-19 response. For some programmes this included moving funding from programme components less relevant to the COVID-19 response to increase funding to those that are most in need. Many of these programmes are delivered in part or wholly through NGOs.

We have committed up to £764 million of UK aid to combat COVID-19 and to reinforce the global effort to find a vaccine. £296 million of this has been provided to support the global health response and vulnerable countries. This includes support to UK charities and international organisations to help reduce mass infections in developing countries.

The UK is a key donor to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and have already contributed £75 million to help the organisation lead international efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic, including: global coordination; planning for country level preparedness and response; global procurement and supply; the science and research and development agenda; and communications. This £75 million is going towards the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) and includes £10 million to the flash WHO appeal announced in February and March 2020 and a further £65 million for the SPRP was announced in April 2020. The SPRP outlines the public health measures that need to be taken to support countries to prepare for and respond to COVID-19. Funding that is provided to countries is allocated to NGOs when and as needed based on the individual country context. This funding will be spent this calendar year. The UK’s funding for the WHO is based on our assessment of the organisation’s needs and we continue to keep this under review.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations are key partners for DFID in responding to the unprecedented challenges arising from COVID-19. We know that in many places NGOs will be best placed to meet the needs of those most vulnerable and at risk. CSO including NGOs and charities deliver roughly one quarter of DFID programmes around the world. A total of 40 charities and NGOs will receive funding from DFID’s £20 million humanitarian support package or the £100 million global hygiene partnership with Unilever. NGOs are also receiving £24 million of extra funding through the DFID COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition.

The UK Government’s funding to UNHCR is in support of its global COVID-19 appeal. Through the appeal, UNHCR will support refugees and IDPs, through scaling up of health and water, sanitation and hygiene preparedness, and response interventions.

It is anticipated that all funding received from both the UK Government and other donors will be fully utilised by 31 December 2020, in line with the current appeal. Given the global nature of this pandemic, UK funding to UNHCR’s appeal is pooled with that of other donors and is therefore not earmarked for any specific implementing partner whether they be NGOs, local government etc. Given UNHCR’s presence in over 130 countries, it is best placed to determine the specific needs in each country, as well as which implementing partner is best placed to deliver these needs.

However, given the important role that NGOs and civil society organisations can play in tackling COVID-19, UNHCR has undertaken a review of its existing procedures related to partnership management and issued additional internal guidance to simplify and expedite collaboration where appropriate.

My officials continue to liaise with UNHCR on all aspects of its COVID-19 response, including its work with NGOs and civil society organisations.

The UK Government’s funding to the World Food Programme (WFP), is in support of its global COVID-19 appeal. WFP is setting up a platform of services to enable the health and humanitarian communities (including NGOs) to deliver support to the most vulnerable populations. So far, 39 NGOs have used WFP’s cargo and passenger services.

WFP has established eight international strategic consolidation hubs to support global movement of cargo. These hubs will be connected to regional staging areas in East, West and Central Africa, Central America, Asia and the Middle East.

WFP is setting up air transport links between strategic hubs and regional staging areas to ensure the predictable and sustained movement of life-saving humanitarian and medical cargo.

WFP operates passenger air services to ensure that humanitarian and medical staff are not restricted by commercial transport closures and can reach the areas where they are most needed.

Due to the increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, worldwide movement restrictions and the grounding of commercial transport systems, WFP also set up global medical evacuation services for the whole humanitarian community.

The WFP appeal is for USD $965 million; this is 9% funded with $85 million in confirmed contributions, of which the UK has contributed 22%.

The UK Government has committed £10 million of UK aid to UNFPA in support of its global COVID-19 appeal, through the Global Humanitarian Response Plan. Through the appeal, UNFPA will address the needs of women and girls impacted by COVID-19, including strengthening health systems to deliver sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services, and plugging gaps in the availability of SRH supplies caused by coronavirus.

It is anticipated that all funding received from both the UK Government and other donors will be fully utilised by 31 December 2020, in line with the current appeal. DFID welcomes the vital role that NGOs will continue to play in service delivery through multilaterals, and we are pleased that some UN agencies, such as UNFPA, are seeking to simplify their processes for NGO partners to help ensure funding reaches them more swiftly. We will be working with the UN and DFID’s country offices to understand, improve and track eventual flows to NGOs in-country.

The UK is at the forefront of the global response and has publicly committed up to £744 million of UK aid so far to support the global efforts to combat the outbreak of COVID-19. This is split across three areas 1) £276 million to support UN, NGOs and Red Cross efforts to build resilience in vulnerable countries 2) £318 million to find a vaccine, new drugs and therapeutics and 3) £150 million to support countries facing the economic shock of COVID-19.

This is on top of our work to pivot much of our existing activity to provide health, humanitarian and economic support where it is needed most. This ongoing exercise includes close collaboration with our existing partners on their ability to operate and adapt their programmes during the pandemic.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are key partners for DFID in our response to COVID-19 and we have pledged new funding specifically for CSOs to support our work to tackle the virus. This includes funding allocated through the Rapid Response Facility and significant funding through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition. In addition, International Non-Government Organisations will receive funding through multilateral organisations as downstream partners as part of the UK’s response. As DFID’s country network adapts programming to respond to COVID-19, country teams are considering how they can do this through partners, including through CSOs. For example, in Sudan and Nepal, preparedness and response plans will support both UN and CSO operations.

We are working flexibly with existing civil society partners to respond to the pandemic, maintain delivery of essential programmes and manage the impacts on organisations and staff. DFID is also offering support to all suppliers, including civil society, in line with the provisions of the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note and associated guidance for grants, which allows for relief on services and goods provided in the UK, to DFID aid programmes as a last resort and on a case-by-case basis for DFID contracts and grants. UK-based CSOs are also eligible for the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The expertise, resilience and flexibility of our supply partners, both in the private sector and civil society, is vital to deliver UK aid to protect the most vulnerable in the world’s poorest countries.

DFID is currently reviewing its entire portfolio and assessing the expected impact of COVID-19 on our programmes, both in-country and centrally, and prioritising (in this order) the health and humanitarian response; livelihoods, social protection, and support to the governments of vulnerable countries. Many of these programmes are delivered in part or wholly through NGOs. We are assessing each of our programmes to evaluate their contribution to these objectives and for opportunities to adapt them to support the COVID-19 response.

Decisions on allocating funds through the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) are being made in relation to the wider DFID COVID19 response. We will keep the funding under review as we do with all our humanitarian interventions. DFID is also adapting its programmes across its country network to respond to COVID-19 and has committed significant new funding through the multilateral system. We expect NGOs to play a key role in delivery through both these channels, and indeed recognise that in many places NGOs will be best placed to meet the needs of those most vulnerable, at risk and hard to reach. In addition, extra funding has been allocated to NGOs through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition.

DFID is engaging with supply partners to address the challenges posed to them and DFID-funded projects by COVID-19. We will work collaboratively with supply partners to find pragmatic solutions to support both our partners and continuation of our programmes where appropriate.

DFID is offering support to suppliers and partners where this is appropriate, in line with the UK government position and will apply the provisions of the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note and associated guidance for grants, which allows for relief on services and goods provided in the UK, to DFID aid programmes as a last resort and on a case-by-case basis for DFID contracts and grants.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are key partners for DFID in our response to COVID-19. We have pledged new funding specifically for civil society, including UK-based CSOs, to support the international COVID-19 response, including £20 million, the majority of which will be allocated through the Rapid Response Facility, and funding through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition. The Small Charities Challenge Fund is open for grant applications from small UK-based development charities.

Aside from new opportunities to gain funding through grants and contracts, there are no plans for DFID to support organisations it does not fund. UK-based CSOs are also eligible for the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the global south are key partners for DFID. Many of DFID’s programmes support local CSOs in order to deliver humanitarian and development outcomes, including providing humanitarian support to tackle the spread and consequences of COVID-19. As DFID’s country network adapts programming to respond to COVID-19, country teams are considering how they can do this through partners, including local CSOs.

In addition to direct funding from DFID, there are funds available through our global multilateral support, with southern-based CSOs acting as delivery partners. A key funding avenue is the Country-Based Pooled Funds, to which DFID is a major donor. CSOs receive significant funding through these. COVID-19 allocations have been made through these funds, including in Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan so far. We expect further allocations soon.

The UK government’s manifesto committed to build on existing efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children by 2030. Our support for the poorest countries to strengthen their health systems, scale up quality health services and achieve universal health coverage is central to this commitment. We will continue to discuss plans for publication of the health system strengthening position paper with our civil society colleagues, who have contributed valuable feedback to earlier drafts.

Our support for low-income countries to scale up quality health services and achieve universal health coverage is central to the UK government’s manifesto commitment to build on existing efforts to end preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children by 2030. Publication of the health systems strengthening position paper must therefore be coordinated with other information on how the UK government will deliver this manifesto commitment. We are committed to publishing the health systems strengthening position paper but the exact month cannot be determined until this other information is available.

Details of the UK’s Official Development Assistance spend on health are published in Statistics on International Development. Our reporting is based on internationally agreed Organisation for Co-operation and Development - Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) codes, as part of our commitment to transparent reporting of development assistance in a way that permits international comparisons. We do not currently collect the information disaggregated between physical and mental health as these are not categories within the OECD-DAC codes.

We are focused on ending the preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children. We work to strengthen countries’ health systems, including for both physical and mental health, towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, which will enable us to lead the way in helping countries to tackle diseases such as malaria and Ebola.

As with all such Government events, the full costing will be available in due course. 2020 UK ODA spend, including for this Summit, will be reported in Statistics on International Development, published by DFID in Autumn 2021.

As with all such Government events, the full costing will be available in due course. 2020 UK ODA spend, including for this Summit, will be reported in Statistics on International Development, published by DFID in Autumn 2021.

The number of disability employment advisers employed by the department in March:-

2018 was 465

2019 was 441

2020 was 546

2021 was 479

Please note that we only have figures back to March 2018 because around that time we updated our business systems and any figures before this update are no longer available. The demand for DEA’s in March 2020 was 500 and this coming year is 1000 so we will be recruiting extra staff to meet this target by March 2022.

The government will boost the number of specialist advisers dedicated to helping disabled jobseekers to secure and stay in work, with an additional 315 Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) roles to be in jobcentres across the UK by May 2021.

At August 2020, there were 1,103,080 men and 483,540 women in receipt of new State Pension (figures rounded to nearest 10).

It is not possible to provide further accurate detail.

As research into the long-term health symptoms and impacts of COVID-19 is ongoing, we are collaborating across Government to monitor emerging evidence and consider our response.

People living with a condition arising from exposure to the COVID-19 virus can access the financial support that is available through Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit and New Style ESA. They are also able to access Personal Independence Payment in the same way as other people with long-term health conditions or disabilities. Disability benefits do not include or exclude by condition, instead they look at the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability. People may be able to claim ESA or Pension Credit depending on their individual circumstances.

Claimants are offered additional support where appropriate alongside signposting to independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. They can also get help through the Government funded Help to Claim scheme as well as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Citizens Advice Scotland to support them in receiving the benefits they are entitled to.

Whilst it is possible for Remedial Orders to make retrospective changes, Orders are subject to detailed consultation and Parliamentary Scrutiny before they become law. The detail of the proposed changes will be set out in the Remedial Order when it is laid before the House.

No estimates have been made for the cost of an automated approach and there are no plans for this as each instance can be complex.

The Universal Credit (Earned Income) Amendment Regulations 2020 were laid in October 2020, so for cases affected by this issue, monthly earnings can be reallocated to another assessment period. To support this, we have designed a tool which interacts with the Universal Credit Service to allow the redistribution of earnings where appropriate, with guidance having been issued to staff to ensure that where an issue is identified, the correct remedial action is taken.

Automated identification of affected claimants is expected to be implemented in early 2021. This will allow us to proactively correct Universal Credit awards before they are paid without the claimant needing to raise the issue.

The Job Entry Targeted Support programme went live in England and Wales on 5 October 2020 and will run for a period of 18 months, with capacity to support 263,560 participants. The Job Entry Targeted Support programme in Scotland began on 25 January 2021, also has a duration of 18 months, and has capacity to support 22,000 participants

Circa 7% of the 13,500 work coaches are planned to be deployed in Scotland.

The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to delivering improvements to the benefit system for claimants that are nearing the end of their lives and is working across Government to bring forward proposals following the evaluation.

As at 29 January 2021 8,863 Work Coaches have started in the Department.

Information regarding the legacy debt accrued under the Child Support Agency (CSA) that has been written off in cases which were transferred and held on Child Maintenance Service (CMS) systems is available on Gov.UK.

Chapter 2: Main Stories, and bullet point 3 refers.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-september-2020-experimental/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-data-to-september-2020-experimental

Paragraph 6 refers entitled. ‘CSA debt written off’.

We are considering the judgement and will bring forward necessary Orders in due course.

The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive at work. We received a good response from a range of stakeholders. The Government is considering the timing of the response in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that a response will be available shortly.

I confirm that Part 3 of the Pension Schemes Bill does not contain any provision which would enable it to have retrospective effect.

The information requested is not available. On 29^th October 2020 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2018 to 2019”. This provided figures on the value of some unclaimed benefits in Great Britain. However, sub-national figures are not published because of small sample sizes.

On 29^th October 2020 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2018 to 2019”. The full report is available online.

For Great Britain, the following estimates are available for 2018/19:

Pension Credit: Up to £1.8 billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed;

Housing Benefit: Up to £3.4 billion of available Housing Benefit went unclaimed;

Income Support / Income-related Employment and Support Allowance: Up to £1.2 billion of available Income Support / Income-related Employment and Support Allowance went unclaimed.

Estimates are not available for other DWP benefits, including Universal Credit.

There is no change to the period of assessment for Universal Credit. The Court of Appeal ruled that the way the Department calculated Universal Credit awards involving earnings in an assessment period was a correct application of the regulations, but called on it to consider the impact on the specific cases of those paid calendar monthly who are affected by ‘a non-banking day salary shift’.

The legislation we laid on 20^th October, and which came into force on 16^th November, revises those arrangements and provides a remedy that satisfies the Court of Appeal Judgment in the case of Johnson and Others. The Court of Appeal’s Judgment affects a small minority of claimants in very specific circumstances and the estimated cost is expected to be minimal.

There is no change to the period of assessment for Universal Credit.

The Court of Appeal’s Judgment in the case of Johnson and others affects a small minority of claimants in very specific circumstances and the estimated cost is expected to be minimal. Those affected receive two calendar monthly payments of earnings in one assessment period and may lose out if they are entitled to a work allowance. We know that this issue can occur when a claimant’s monthly pay date and the last day of their assessment period are close together.

The legislation we laid on the 20^th October, revises those arrangements and provides a remedy that satisfies the Court of Appeal Judgment in the case of Johnson and Others. This legislation came into force on 16^th November and means that in future for cases affected by this issue, monthly earnings will be reallocated to another assessment period, which means that only one set of earnings will be taken into account rather than two, and certain claimants will be able to benefit from any applicable work allowance.

There is no change to the period of assessment for Universal Credit.

The Court of Appeal’s Judgment in the case of Johnson and others affects a small minority of claimants in very specific circumstances and the estimated cost is expected to be minimal. Those affected receive two calendar monthly payments of earnings in one assessment period and may lose out if they are entitled to a work allowance. We know that this issue can occur when a claimant’s monthly pay date and the last day of their assessment period are close together.

The legislation we laid on the 20^th October, revises those arrangements and provides a remedy that satisfies the Court of Appeal Judgment in the case of Johnson and Others. This legislation came into force on 16^th November and means that in future for cases affected by this issue, monthly earnings will be reallocated to another assessment period, which means that only one set of earnings will be taken into account rather than two, and certain claimants will be able to benefit from any applicable work allowance.

There is no change to the period of assessment for Universal Credit.

The Court of Appeal’s Judgment in the case of Johnson and others affects a small minority of claimants in very specific circumstances and the estimated cost is expected to be minimal. Those affected receive two calendar monthly payments of earnings in one assessment period and may lose out if they are entitled to a work allowance. We know that this issue can occur when a claimant’s monthly pay date and the last day of their assessment period are close together.

The legislation we laid on the 20^th October, revises those arrangements and provides a remedy that satisfies the Court of Appeal Judgment in the case of Johnson and Others. This legislation came into force on 16^th November and means that in future for cases affected by this issue, monthly earnings will be reallocated to another assessment period, which means that only one set of earnings will be taken into account rather than two, and certain claimants will be able to benefit from any applicable work allowance.

Information on the number of people (i) receiving a payment for Carer’s Allowance and (ii) have an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance is published and available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance for users is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html

Information on the number of people (i) receiving a payment for Carer’s Allowance and (ii) have an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance is published and available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk

Guidance for users is available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html

No such estimate has been made.

Carer’s Allowance is taken into account in the calculation of Universal Credit in the same way as the benefits it replaced.

Universal Credit includes an additional amount for carers at the rate of £162.92 per monthly assessment period. This amount recognises the additional contribution and responsibilities associated with caring.

The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive at work. The consultation closed in October 2019. We received a good response from a range of stakeholders and are now considering the timing of the response in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that a response will be available by the end of the year.

Background

The consultation ‘Health is everyone’s business: proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss’ ran between July – October 2019 and included proposals across four major policy areas:

1. Amend the legal framework to encourage early action to support individuals when they are absent from work and to facilitate more conversations to agree effective workplace modifications;

2. Reform of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) so that it is better enforced, more flexible, and support the lowest paid employees;

3. Measures to improve availability of high-quality, cost-effective occupational health (OH) services for employers; and

4. Advice and support from government for employers to understand and act on their responsibilities

We received a good response from a range of stakeholders.

The Department continues to work across government on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, decisions about which will be made at the Spending Review.

The Department continues to work across government on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, decisions about which will be made at the Spending Review.

There are currently 639 Jobcentres across the UK. DWP is evaluating the existing estates capacity and exploring options for new, temporary, premises to respond to the increased demand for services across the UK. Parliament will be updated once firm decisions are made on any new premises.

The 2019/20 Access to Work statistics show that over 43,000 people with disabilities and health conditions are receiving tailored and flexible support to do their job.

During this period Access to Work has continued to expand its reach to underrepresented groups including those with Mental Health conditions, seeing the highest ever number of people approved for support: up 95% on the previous year.

Full details of Access to Work expenditure is published here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/915547/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2020-tables.ods

The Access to Work grant scheme has recently been extended in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, and now includes support for working from home, travel costs where public transport cannot be used, and for personal protective equipment. We’re currently delivering a communications plan to promote the extended flexible Access to Work offer and aim to reach disabled people through various communications channels. We’ve very recently promoted the flexible offer through national DWP/Local JCP social media channels, through a proactive press release, and amongst key stakeholders through newsletters and articles. In addition to these channels, we will continue to communicate through our Disability Confident employer network (18k+ employers), to our employer partnership and job centre plus teams to promote the Access to Work grant scheme available throughout the coronavirus outbreak. We’ll be monitoring the requirement for future communications to promote Access to Work dependent on the demand for grants. This will be ongoing throughout the remainder of this year and into 2021.

We are encouraging employers to create a range of opportunities through the Kickstart Scheme for all young people aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of long–term unemployment including those who have disabilities. Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches will identify those young people most in need of the extra support offered by the Kickstart Scheme. We encourage organisations that work with disabled young people to take part in the Scheme, acting as a Kickstart gateway for their networks of small and medium employers, to encourage and support young people into a number of careers. This will help ensure that there is nothing to exclude young disabled people, or any disadvantaged groups, from accessing the Kickstart Scheme.

DWP also offers a range of support programmes including Access to Work and Disability Confident to advise and support employers looking to take on disabled jobseekers – this support can be accessed through local Jobcentres.

I refer the Hon Members to the answer I gave on 1 July 2020 to Question UIN 63208:

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-23/63208/

Public Health England (PHE) has secured 58 specialised ultra-low temperature freezers for the storage of potential COVID-19 vaccines which require ultra-low temperature storage. The ultra-low temperature freezers are located in two national storage facilities in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, in readiness for the commencement of a COVID-19 immunisation programme that will support activity across the United Kingdom. This does not include any ultra-low temperature freezers previously announced by the Scottish Government.

At a regional level, the National Health Service has made preparations, including sourcing ultra-low temperature storage to support local delivery.

The location of the facilities is not being disclosed publicly in order to maintain the integrity of the sites.

Public Health England (PHE) has secured 58 specialised ultra-low temperature freezers for the storage of potential COVID-19 vaccines which require ultra-low temperature storage. The ultra-low temperature freezers are located in two national storage facilities in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, in readiness for the commencement of a COVID-19 immunisation programme that will support activity across the United Kingdom. This does not include any ultra-low temperature freezers previously announced by the Scottish Government.

At a regional level, the National Health Service has made preparations, including sourcing ultra-low temperature storage to support local delivery.

The location of the facilities is not being disclosed publicly in order to maintain the integrity of the sites.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions 116658, 116659 and 116660.

Public Health England has secured 58 specialised Twin Guard ultra-low temperature freezers which provide sufficient storage for approximately five million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines which require ultra-low temperature storage. The cost of the purchase of the ultra-low temperature freezers is commercially sensitive. The ultra-low temperature freezers are in the United Kingdom, fully operational, and located in national storage facilities both in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, in readiness for the commencement of a COVID-19 immunisation programme. The freezers are not portable.

Public Health England has secured 58 specialised Twin Guard ultra-low temperature freezers which provide sufficient storage for approximately five million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines which require ultra-low temperature storage. The cost of the purchase of the ultra-low temperature freezers is commercially sensitive. The ultra-low temperature freezers are in the United Kingdom, fully operational, and located in national storage facilities both in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, in readiness for the commencement of a COVID-19 immunisation programme. The freezers are not portable.

Public Health England has secured 58 specialised Twin Guard ultra-low temperature freezers which provide sufficient storage for approximately five million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines which require ultra-low temperature storage. The cost of the purchase of the ultra-low temperature freezers is commercially sensitive. The ultra-low temperature freezers are in the United Kingdom, fully operational, and located in national storage facilities both in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, in readiness for the commencement of a COVID-19 immunisation programme. The freezers are not portable.

The 119 testing line is currently working to introduce an SMS service.

The Coronavirus Testing Contact Centre can be contacted on 119 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 0300 303 2713 in Scotland between the hours of 7am – 11pm, seven days a week. The service can be accessed by people with hearing or speech difficulties by calling 18001 119 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or 18001 0300 303 2713 in Scotland. There is a service for deaf people to speak to the Contact Centre using a sign language interpreter. This operates via a video link. More information on how to access the service is available at the following link:

www.interpreternow.co.uk

There are also pathways for non-digital users to book a test through the Contact Centre.

For those that do not speak English as a first language, the Contact Centre uses the Language Line interpreter service and staff are trained to manage language barriers, including through use of this service.

The Department does not routinely publish reports on exercises.

The National Health Service and Public Health England’s capacity is predominantly comprised of ‘closed’ platforms, which use proprietary reagents, and the demand for proprietary test kits is significantly greater than global supply leading to world-wide shortages in the United Kingdom and other countries. We have addressed these challenges by increasing global allocation from suppliers, increasing use of open platforms and increasing use of low throughput ‘desk top’ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines. Through this work we now have test kits for over 100,000 tests a day and are continuing to work with industry and other partners to increase the availability of COVID-19 test kits.

We do not publish this information. Official Development Assistance spending fluctuates throughout the year and is monitored regularly by HM Treasury and DFID in order to meet the 0.7% target.

Following the conclusion of each calendar year, DFID publish UK aid spend in Statistics on International Development (SID). Provisional SID's are published in the spring and a final publication is produced in the autumn. The SID series are designated as National Statistics publications. The most recent publication can be found in the link below, on provisional statistics of UK Aid spend in 2019:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-provisional-uk-aid-spend-2019

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing forecasts of the economy and public finances. HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the economy or public finances. The latest official forecast of Gross National Income (GNI) was published by the OBR on 11 March 2020. The Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment is linked to the size of the economy, so the level of ODA spend is likely to decrease this year.

The government will publish this information in due course.

The International Tax Enforcement (Disclosable Arrangements) Regulations 2020 implement an EU Directive known as DAC 6. The UK is obliged to implement this Directive during the transition period.

The Government will keep the Regulations under review. Further legislative action may be appropriate in light of the outcome of negotiations with the EU on the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

The Government remains committed to tax transparency and will continue to apply international standards on transparency and exchange of information.

The Home Office has agreed to provide £2.5m of Special Grant funding to Dyfed-Powys Police in respect of these costs up to September 2021.

The Home Office will continue to regularly move small numbers of people out of Penally into suitable dispersal accommodation in line with business as usual processes and will continue to route new people into Penally in line with public health guidance.

The Home Office will continue to regularly move small numbers of people out of Penally into suitable dispersal accommodation in line with business as usual processes and will continue to route new people into Penally in line with public health guidance.

The Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes have worked intensively with the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed-Powys Police and other partners as we have stood up and are now operating on the site.

The site at Penally was immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and is safe, warm, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.

Clearsprings Ready Homes is also taking action where appropriate to augment what is in place, taking account of feedback from service users and others, for example by providing additional heating and entertainment. Work with local faith leaders to provide further support and provision to meet religious needs is also underway.

An independent rapid review was also recently conducted to assure ourselves of the extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to safeguard the health and safety of asylum seekers during the pandemic. The Home Office is currently reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of the review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations in due course.

The Penally training camp is temporary, contingency accommodation whilst we continue to address the issues putting pressure on our asylum system.

At present, the Home Office will continue to regularly move small numbers of people out of Penally into suitable dispersal accommodation in line with business as usual processes and will continue to route new people into Penally in line with public health guidance.

It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as practicable.

In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation, we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to support those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘Move-on’ from asylum accommodation.

We expect the highest standards from our providers and dispersed accommodation provided must be fit for purpose and complaint with the Decent Homes Standard, in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing legislation.

All Asylum seekers in dispersal accommodation have their essential needs and costs met by the Home Office and the contracted providers– such as heating, electric and water and a weekly cash allowance.

Our providers are contracted to respond to and rectify maintenance issues between 4 hours and a 21-day period depending on the category of the issue. Further information can be found here in the statement of requirements: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf

All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns or maintenance issues with their dispersal accommodation. The AIRE provider is then responsible for referring the report of the maintenance issue to the Provider, through a designated point of contact.

Our providers have put in place a range of measures and additional support to enable households to comply with public measures on social distancing and self-isolation. This has included food parcels and other items for people who are unable to leave the house, provision of telephony for those who are isolating and do not have a telephone, as well as increased welfare contact for those who are isolating.

For those in dispersal accommodation, service user essential living needs - including for cleaning and sanitary items - are met through a weekly cash allowance which has been increased during the pandemic.

The Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes have worked intensively with the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed-Powys Police and other partners as we have stood up and are now operating on the site.

The site at Penally was immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and is safe, warm, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.

Clearsprings Ready Homes is also taking action where appropriate to augment what is in place, taking account of feedback from service users and others, for example by providing additional heating and entertainment. Work with local faith leaders to provide further support and provision to meet religious needs is also underway.

An independent rapid review was also recently conducted to assure ourselves of the extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to safeguard the health and safety of asylum seekers during the pandemic. The Home Office is currently reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of the review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations in due course.

The Penally training camp is temporary, contingency accommodation whilst we continue to address the issues putting pressure on our asylum system.

At present, the Home Office will continue to regularly move small numbers of people out of Penally into suitable dispersal accommodation in line with business as usual processes and will continue to route new people into Penally in line with public health guidance.

It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as practicable.

In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation, we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to support those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘Move-on’ from asylum accommodation.

We expect the highest standards from our providers and dispersed accommodation provided must be fit for purpose and complaint with the Decent Homes Standard, in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing legislation.

All Asylum seekers in dispersal accommodation have their essential needs and costs met by the Home Office and the contracted providers– such as heating, electric and water and a weekly cash allowance.

Our providers are contracted to respond to and rectify maintenance issues between 4 hours and a 21-day period depending on the category of the issue. Further information can be found here in the statement of requirements: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf

All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns or maintenance issues with their dispersal accommodation. The AIRE provider is then responsible for referring the report of the maintenance issue to the Provider, through a designated point of contact.

Our providers have put in place a range of measures and additional support to enable households to comply with public measures on social distancing and self-isolation. This has included food parcels and other items for people who are unable to leave the house, provision of telephony for those who are isolating and do not have a telephone, as well as increased welfare contact for those who are isolating.

For those in dispersal accommodation, service user essential living needs - including for cleaning and sanitary items - are met through a weekly cash allowance which has been increased during the pandemic.

The Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes have worked intensively with the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed-Powys Police and other partners as we have stood up and are now operating on the site.

The site at Penally was immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and is safe, warm, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.

Clearsprings Ready Homes is also taking action where appropriate to augment what is in place, taking account of feedback from service users and others, for example by providing additional heating and entertainment. Work with local faith leaders to provide further support and provision to meet religious needs is also underway.

An independent rapid review was also recently conducted to assure ourselves of the extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to safeguard the health and safety of asylum seekers during the pandemic. The Home Office is currently reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of the review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations in due course.

The Penally training camp is temporary, contingency accommodation whilst we continue to address the issues putting pressure on our asylum system.

At present, the Home Office will continue to regularly move small numbers of people out of Penally into suitable dispersal accommodation in line with business as usual processes and will continue to route new people into Penally in line with public health guidance.

It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as practicable.

In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation, we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to support those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘Move-on’ from asylum accommodation.

We expect the highest standards from our providers and dispersed accommodation provided must be fit for purpose and complaint with the Decent Homes Standard, in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing legislation.

All Asylum seekers in dispersal accommodation have their essential needs and costs met by the Home Office and the contracted providers– such as heating, electric and water and a weekly cash allowance.

Our providers are contracted to respond to and rectify maintenance issues between 4 hours and a 21-day period depending on the category of the issue. Further information can be found here in the statement of requirements: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf

All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help where they can raise any concerns or maintenance issues with their dispersal accommodation. The AIRE provider is then responsible for referring the report of the maintenance issue to the Provider, through a designated point of contact.

Our providers have put in place a range of measures and additional support to enable households to comply with public measures on social distancing and self-isolation. This has included food parcels and other items for people who are unable to leave the house, provision of telephony for those who are isolating and do not have a telephone, as well as increased welfare contact for those who are isolating.

For those in dispersal accommodation, service user essential living needs - including for cleaning and sanitary items - are met through a weekly cash allowance which has been increased during the pandemic.

In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to temporarily use hotels and other contingency accommodation, to fulfil our statutory obligations towards asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute whilst their claims are considered.

MOD has given permission to use Penally Training Camp for 12 months, but the use of this facility is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.

In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to temporarily use hotels and other contingency accommodation, to fulfil our statutory obligations towards asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute whilst their claims are considered.

MOD has given permission to use Penally Training Camp for 12 months, but the use of this facility is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.

In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to temporarily use hotels and other contingency accommodation, to fulfil our statutory obligations towards asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute whilst their claims are considered.

MOD has given permission to use Penally Training Camp for 12 months, but the use of this facility is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.

Refugees, asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers can register for and receive primary care free of charge in the same way as any other patient in any nation of the UK.

At Penally Training camp the Home Office have worked closely with the Local Health Board in Pembrokeshire to ensure that arrangements are in place for asylum seekers to access health care as required.

Refugees, asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers can register for and receive primary care free of charge in the same way as any other patient in any nation of the UK.

At Penally Training camp the Home Office have worked closely with the Local Health Board in Pembrokeshire to ensure that arrangements are in place for asylum seekers to access health care as required.

We are fixing a broken asylum system and creating a new one which will be fairer and firmer and compassionate towards those who need our help.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the length of time to process asylum claims but we are determined to clear the backlog, speed up decisions and prevent people becoming stuck in the system for long periods of time.

We are working to streamline cases and have already made significant progress in prioritising cases with acute vulnerability, those in receipt of the greatest level of support including, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, and those that require a reconsideration.

Asylum Operations has developed a recovery plan focused on returning interviews and decisions back to pre-COVID-19 levels as soon as possible. We are also seeking to secure temporary resources to assist from within the Home Office and other government departments, along with other potential options.

The current global pandemic has presented us with significant challenges when it comes to the provision of asylum accommodation, including sourcing sufficient suitable accommodation to meet demand.

The use of hotels and wider government facilities are a short-term measure and we are working to move people to longer-term dispersal accommodation as soon as it becomes available.

Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites: the Penally Training Camp in Pembrokeshire and the Napier Barracks in Kent. These sites were immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and are safe, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.

The Home Office have undertaken a number of assessments at the Penally Camp; Equality Impact, Fire, Evacuation controls/plans and Infection controls – including for Covid 19. A rapid review of asylum accommodation was undertaken with the assistance of Human Applications who conducted a ‘deep dive’ on our approach to initial accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic. We continue to work closely with the Welsh Health leads and if necessary, conduct an internal evaluation of asylum support provision in Penally with any recommendations being actioned accordingly.

It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as reasonably practical, we are hoping to commence moves for small numbers of people out from week commencing 18^th January, however our immediate priority is to ensure that we continue to meet our legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers and ensure their safety and wellbeing.

A rapid review of asylum accommodation came out of a series of Cabinet Office COVID-19 taskforce visits to asylum accommodation and a recommendation that the Home Office conduct a ‘deep dive’ on our approach to initial accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Home Office is reviewing the recommendations of the rapid review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.

We have not changed the requirements for naturalisation: it has always been a requirement for a person to have been in the UK lawfully during the residential qualifying period.

EEA Regulations set out the requirements which individuals need to follow if they wish to reside here lawfully before attaining permanent residence. For example, in the case of students or the self-sufficient – but not those who were working here – the possession of comprehensive sickness insurance has always been a requirement.

Our customer guidance explains this position.

The British Nationality Act allows us to exercise discretion over this requirement in the special circumstances of a case. The nationality application form and guide encourage applicants to give us relevant information to help us do that.

We have not changed the requirements for naturalisation: it has always been a requirement for a person to have been in the UK lawfully during the residential qualifying period.

EEA Regulations set out the requirements which individuals need to follow if they wish to reside here lawfully before attaining permanent residence. For example, in the case of students or the self-sufficient – but not those who were working here – the possession of comprehensive sickness insurance has always been a requirement.

Our customer guidance explains this position.

The British Nationality Act allows us to exercise discretion over this requirement in the special circumstances of a case. The nationality application form and guide encourage applicants to give us relevant information to help us do that.

All UK Visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the UK Immigration Rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules, which set out the requirements to visit the UK. These requirements apply to all visitors to the UK and the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that they satisfy the immigration rules.

Information on the number and proportion of grants and refusals of visitor visas is published in the Home Office’s quarterly Immigration Statistics, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2019.

All UK Visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the UK Immigration Rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules, which set out the requirements to visit the UK. These requirements apply to all visitors to the UK and the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that they satisfy the immigration rules.

Information on the number and proportion of grants and refusals of visitor visas is published in the Home Office’s quarterly Immigration Statistics, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2019.

Scotland Office Ministers have regular engagement with Scottish Government Ministers, on a variety of matters in a range of subject areas and are happy to be approached by Scottish Ministers on further engagement. This is supplemented by official engagement between Scottish Government officials and officials in the department.

Scottish Government Ministers attended the vast majority of the UK Government’s Ministerial Implementation Groups on the Economy, Health and the Public Sector. Supplemented by other Ministerial engagement, there have been more than 60 Ministerial meetings and extensive official engagement since March. Ministers from this department also attended those meetings.

My most recent meeting with Scottish Ministers was on Tuesday 23 June ahead of the PM’s statement to the House of Commons. This was attended by, amongst others, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the First Minister of Scotland.