Daily Report Wednesday, 10 October 2018
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 10 October 2018 and the information is correct at the time of publication (07:09 P.M., 10 October 2018). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS ANSWERS 4 Brineura 9 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Cervical Cancer: Screening 10 INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 4 Child Sexual Abuse Directors: Gender 4 Independent Panel Inquiry 10 Self-employed 4 General Practitioners: Self-employed: Older Workers 4 Merseyside 10 Small Businesses: Billing 5 General Practitioners: South Tyneside 11 Work Experience: Pay 5 Health Services: Standards 13 CABINET OFFICE 5 Horses: Slaughterhouses 14 Constitution Reform Group: Freedom of Information 5 Lung Diseases: Health Education 14 Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad 6 Mental Health Services: Children and Young People 15 EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION 7 Mental Health Services: Sexual Offences 15 Department for Exiting the European Union: Living Wage 7 Mental Health Services: Yorkshire and the Humber 16 FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 7 Obesity: Children 16 Iraq: Internally Displaced Paediatric Autoimmune People 7 Neuropsychiatric Disorders 16 Iraq: Politics and Government 8 Parc Prison: Mental Health Services 17 Israel: Palestinians 8 Pharmacy: Hampstead and USA: UNRWA 8 Kilburn 17 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 9 Preventive Medicine 17 Allergies: Medical Treatments 9 Prostate Cancer: Tomography 17 BAN2401 9 Rare Diseases: Drugs 18 Palestinians: Overseas Aid 26 HOME OFFICE 18 Palestinians: USA 26 Antisocial Behaviour: Young Rohingya: Refugees 26 People 18 INTERNATIONAL TRADE 27 Asylum: Housing 19 Trade Promotion: Liberia 27 Crimes of Violence 19 JUSTICE 27 Crimes of Violence: Armed Forces: Death 27 Conferences 20 Birmingham Prison 28 Deportation: Windrush Generation 20 Community Orders: Reoffenders 29 Domestic Violence: Children 21 Crime: Victims 30 Entry Clearances: Overseas Students 21 Ministry of Justice: Staff 31 Home Office: Staff 21 Ministry of Justice: Working Hours 31 Home Office: Working Hours 21 Prisoners' Release 31 Immigration: Windrush Generation 22 Sexual Assault Referral Centres: Finance 32 Police 22 NORTHERN IRELAND 32 Police Service of Northern Ireland 23 Northern Ireland Office: Living Wage 32 Police Stations: Closures 23 SCOTLAND 32 Police: ICT 23 Scotland Office: Living Wage 32 Police: Sick Leave 23 Scotland Office: Staff 33 Serious Violence Taskforce 24 Scotland Office: Working UK Visas and Immigration: Hours 33 Telephone Services 24 TRANSPORT 34 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 25 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Staff 34 Developing Countries 25 Driving: EU Law 34 Developing Countries: Nature Conservation 25 Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line 35 Developing Countries: Rule of Law 25 WORK AND PENSIONS 36 Developing Countries: Trade Housing Benefit: Social Promotion 25 Rented Housing 36 Overseas Aid: Private Sector 26 Personal Independence Payment 37 WRITTEN STATEMENTS 38 HOME OFFICE 43 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Publication of the INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 38 Government’s response to Competitiveness Council David Anderson’s review into (Internal Market, Industry, Deportation with Assurances 43 Research and Space), 27-28th Report of the Independent September 38 Reviewer of Terrorism Energy Policy 40 Legislation on the operation in 2017 of the Terrorism Acts DEFENCE 41 2000 and 2006, the Terrorism Future Accommodation Model 41 Prevention and Investigation DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND Measures Act 2011, and the SPORT 41 Terrorist Asset Freezing Etc. Act 2010 44 Contingent Liability for the British Board of Film INTERNATIONAL Classification (BBFC) as the DEVELOPMENT 44 Age Verification Regulator 41 EBOLA OUTBREAK IN THE EDUCATION 42 DRC: UPDATE ON UK RESPONSE 44 Government Asset Sale 42 JUSTICE 45 Justice and Home Affairs pre- Council statement 45
Notes: Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an oral question and has since been unstarred. ANSWERS
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
Directors: Gender Justin Madders: [174746] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential value to the UK economy of achieving a better gender balance on company boards. Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to a cohesive society, where everyone – no matter what their background – has the opportunity to enter into and progress at work and achieve on merit. Gender diversity in the workforce and in business leadership is good for company performance and productivity; it benefits investors, the wider economy and society as a whole. A report published by McKinsey in 2016 has estimated that bridging the UK gender gap in work has the potential to create an extra £150 billion on top of business-as-usual GDP forecasts in 2025. That is why we need our top companies to lead the way on this. The Government commissioned and supports the independent, business-led Hampton-Alexander Review to meet its targets of women holding 33% of senior leadership positions and 33% of board positions in FTSE350 companies by 2020.
Self-employed Justin Madders: [174745] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number of self-employed people (a) with and (b) without employees. Kelly Tolhurst: This data is available publicly here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentande mployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2018
Self-employed: Older Workers Justin Madders: [174744] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of self-employment among workers aged 65 and above. Kelly Tolhurst: This data is available publicly here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentande mployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/september2018
Small Businesses: Billing Bill Esterson: [174703] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to encourage businesses to become signatories to the Prompt Payment Code. Kelly Tolhurst: The Government supports the Prompt Payment Code as an industry-led and voluntary set of best-practice principles. We work closely with the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), who administer the Code, in encouraging organisations to sign up to the Code. Furthermore, the Department has now launched a call for evidence seeking views on how we can build on the government’s existing late payment policies, including the Prompt Payment Code, to drive an end to late payments.
Work Experience: Pay Justin Madders: [174739] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his Answer of 18 July 2018 to Question 163133 on Work Experience: Pay, what the timetable is for the public guidance to be updated. Kelly Tolhurst: The updated internship guidance will clarify the checks employers need to take to ensure compliance with the law. The update will be published shortly alongside other regular updates to the guidance entitled “Calculating the National Minimum Wage”. HMRC are continuing to write to employers advertising unpaid internships to help them understand National Minimum Wage law. Similarly, HMRC also engage with at- risk groups, with over 1.6 million text messages sent to workers, 1.3 million texts sent to working tax credit recipients, and 370,000 texts sent to apprentices. HMRC responds to 100% of worker complaints and also conducts proactive, targeted enforcement. In the 2017/18 financial year, HMRC identified £15.6 million in arrears for over 200,00 workers.
CABINET OFFICE
Constitution Reform Group: Freedom of Information Cat Smith: [169501] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many freedom of information requests the Constitution Group has received each year since 2015; and what proportion of such requests were (a) granted in full, (b) are still outstanding, (c) partially withheld and (d) fully withheld. Chloe Smith: The number of FOI requests received by Constitution Group since 2015, broken down by year, are as follows: 2015: 32 2016: 20 2017: 41 2018 (first quarter): 14 Cabinet Office records the outcome of cases, including the nature of the response and the statutory exemptions used, at the departmental level and these Cabinet Office statistics are published quarterly as part of the wider FOI performance of central government. In order to provide the level of detail requested for just Constitution Group, the Cabinet Office would need to review each individual request and this would exceed the threshold of cost and time. The Cabinet Office’s publishing of statistics on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, including the outcome of cases, can be found at the following weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad Tom Brake: [173936] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of removing the 15-year time limit on the right of British citizens living overseas to vote in UK parliamentary elections. Chloe Smith: British citizens living abroad retain strong links with the United Kingdom. Their stake in our country must be respected and this Government will not deny them the opportunity to have their say in the way their country is governed. The Government is committed to introducing “votes for life”, scrapping the rule that bars British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from voting. Glyn Davies’ Private Member’s Bill on Overseas Electors successfully passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 23 February 2018. A detailed Impact Assessment considering costing for the Overseas Electors Bill has now been published. EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION
Department for Exiting the European Union: Living Wage Gareth Snell: [174120] To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff in his Department that work (a) inside and (b) outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the Real Living Wage. Suella Braverman: I can confirm that all staff directly employed by the Department for Exiting the European Union are paid in line with the Government’s National Living Wage. All staff are based in London and are paid in line with the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. Gareth Snell: [174121] To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff in his Department that work (a) inside and (b) outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the London Living Wage. Suella Braverman: I can confirm that all staff directly employed by the Department for Exiting the European Union are paid in line with the Government’s National Living Wage. All staff are based in London and are paid in line with the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Iraq: Internally Displaced People Jack Lopresti: [174692] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the safety and security of internally displaced persons returning from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to the Nineveh Plains. Alistair Burt: Displaced people in all areas of Iraq continue to deal with significant challenges, including forced displacement, risk of eviction and a lack of access to services. A significant number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reside in Ninewa; recent updates from camps in the governorate suggest that the majority of issues are around poor access to electricity and water, whilst the main concerns for out-of-camp IDPs relate to need for healthcare services and cash assistance. UK officials closely monitor the humanitarian situation across the whole of Iraq. Overall there has been significant progress since the country was liberated from Daesh, with the number of IDPs now below two million, and the number of returnees over four million. If we are to see continued progress, it will be vital for the Government of Iraq to coordinate closely with the Kurdish Regional Government to ensure that IDPs continue to be able to return to areas such as the Ninewa Plains.
Iraq: Politics and Government Jack Lopresti: [174691] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Iraqi Government and (b) Kurdistan Regional Government on the effect of territorial disputes on reconstruction efforts in the Nineveh Plains. Alistair Burt: UK officials closely monitor the situation in Iraq and are in regular contact with Governors in provinces liberated from Daesh, and the Government of Iraq, including the Prime Minister's Office, to discuss issues such as territorial disputes in the Ninewa Plains. UK staff also coordinate with partners such as the UN's International Organisation for Migration to track conditions in areas of return, including indicators such as access to services, safety and security.
Israel: Palestinians Jim Shannon: [174719] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Norwegian Refugee Council on Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet with the Norwegian Refugee Council to discuss the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to get updates on the progress of the British funded legal aid programme. The programme supports Bedouin communities and Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in Area C of the West Bank to challenge decisions in the Israeli legal system.
USA: UNRWA Tom Brake: [173938] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the US Government on its decision to withdraw funding from the UN Relief and Works Agency. Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary discussed the issue of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with the Senior Adviser to the President, Jared Kushner, on 22 August. We are concerned about the impact of the US cutting its funding. The Government has recently increased its support to UNRWA. The UK has so far provided £57.5 million in funding this year for the Agency to help vulnerable Palestinian refugees, as well as £2 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to help provide Gazans with access to clean water and sanitation. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Allergies: Medical Treatments Jo Swinson: [173542] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is to resolve the national shortage of EpiPen 0.3mg Auto-Injectors. Steve Brine: Departmental officials are in regular contact with Mylan, the United Kingdom licensed supplier of Epipens, as there have been ongoing supply issues affecting this product. Supplies are currently available of the 0.3mg, although limited, and are being closely managed to ensure that pharmacies can obtain stock to fulfil prescription for patients. Mylan anticipates that supplies will stabilize in the fourth quarter of 2018.
BAN2401 Jim Shannon: [174056] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to make available on the NHS the drug BAN2401 for the prevention of Alzheimers. Steve Brine: We are aware that this drug, BAN2401 which is currently the subject of early clinical trials to test its efficacy and safety, does not have a marketing authorisation and is not routinely funded by the National Health Service. Following successful clinical trials, the company would be able to apply for a marketing authorisation for the product and it will be considered through the established topic selection arrangements for potential guidance development by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Brineura Mr Ivan Lewis: [173983] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make cerliponase alfa available to eligible children in advance of an agreement being signed between NHS and the manufacturer of the drug. Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently evaluating cerliponase alfa for use in the treatment of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2, through its highly specialised technologies programme. NICE published draft guidance on cerliponase alfa in February 2018 that does not recommend use of the drug as there is considerable uncertainty about the long-term effects of the drug. NHS England is in discussions with Biomarin, the manufacturer of cerliponase alfa, to seek to agree a managed access agreement (MAA) that may address the uncertainty and enable NICE to recommend the drug as value for money. Cerliponase alfa is not therefore currently routinely funded on the National Health Service, but NHS England and the company are working jointly to agree a MAA. In the absence of final guidance from NICE, clinicians can apply to NHS England for funding in exceptional cases through the individual funding request process.
Cervical Cancer: Screening Ms Angela Eagle: [174634] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2018 to Question 171297 on Cervical Cancer: Screening, what steps he is taking to increase take-up of cervical screening in the North West. Steve Brine: The Department, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England continue to work together to understand the reasons for the decline in cervical screening uptake and to support the National Health Service and local authorities (LAs) to address them. This includes access to timely and useful data for benchmarking; providing evidence on best practices to increase uptake among women who wish to be screened; using governance levers to advise the NHS and LAs; and working in partnership with commissioners, providers and charities. In August 2018, PHE published Cervical Screening: ideas for helping to improve access and uptake; the guidance is available to view at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-coverage-and- data/cervical-screening-ideas-for-improving-access-and-uptake
Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry Lisa Nandy: [174044] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2018 to Question 170887, whether his Department plans to provide a formal response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse's report on Child Migrant Programmes, published on 1 March 2018 which is separate to the planned response from the Home Office to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse's Interim Report, published on 25 April 2018. Matt Hancock: We are currently carefully considering the findings and recommendations made in the Child Migration Programmes report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and will respond in due course.
General Practitioners: Merseyside Ms Angela Eagle: [174630] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional GPs that will be needed in (a) Merseyside and (b) Wirral by 2020. Ms Angela Eagle: [174631] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the number of GP's has been in (a) the North West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Wirral and (d) Wallasey constituency in each of the last eight years. Steve Brine: The number of general practitioners (GPs) (headcount), excluding retainers, registrars and locums, for the North West, Merseyside and the Wirral is available in the attached table. Figures are not available for Wallasey. Due to changes in the data source, comparisons before and after 2015 should be treated with caution. The General Practice Forward View, published in April 2016, committed to strengthening the general practice workforce and increasing the number of doctors in general practice by 5,000 full time equivalents. NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside advises it has a number of schemes in place to increase the GP workforce. This includes international recruitment and GP retention programmes. There are currently seven GPs in the Wirral on the GP Retention Scheme which supports GPs to remain in practice who are only able to do a maximum of four clinical session per week and includes protected time for continuing professional development and educational support. NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside has also recently secured £323,000 additional funding for further retention schemes in the local area. In addition, the Wirral is being supported to develop a GP sessional register to encourage GPs who prefer locum working in the area to become part of the wider primary care team, with the intention that they will apply for permanent positions.
Attachments: 1. PQ174630,631 attached document [PQ174631 data table.docx]
General Practitioners: South Tyneside Mr Stephen Hepburn: [174641] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many practising GPs there were in (a) Jarrow constituency and (b) South Tyneside in each of the last five years. Steve Brine: The number of general practitioners (GP) (headcount), excluding retainers, registrars and locums, for NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group is available in the following table. Figures are not available for Jarrow. Due to changes in the data source, comparisons before and after 2015 should be treated with caution.
ALL GPS (EXCLUDING REGISTRARS, RETAINERS CENSUS DATE AND LOCUMS)
September 2013 105
September 2014 110 ALL GPS (EXCLUDING REGISTRARS, RETAINERS CENSUS DATE AND LOCUMS)
September 2015 96
September 2016 97
September 2017 97
March 2018 95
Source: NHS Digital Notes: 1. Figures as at 30 September or 31 March. 2. Prior to 2015 figures are sourced from National Health Application and Infrastructure Services GP Payments (Exeter) System. From 2015 figures are sourced from the workforce Minimum Dataset and include estimates for practices not submitting valid GP data. 3. Due to the change in data source, caution should be exercised when comparing figures prior to 2015 with those from 2015 onwards. 4. Locum data was not collected prior to 2015, so not all GP figures are available for this period. 5. Figures shown do not include GPs working in prisons, army bases, educational establishments, specialist care centres including drug rehabilitation centres and walk-in centres. Mr Stephen Hepburn: [174642] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people in (a) Jarrow constituency and (b) South Tyneside have access to an adequate number of GP surgeries; and if he will make a statement. Mr Stephen Hepburn: [174643] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time to see a GP in (a) Jarrow constituency, and (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) England was in each year since 2010. Steve Brine: The average waiting time for a general practitioner (GP) appointment is not collected or held centrally. In the 2018 GP patient survey 61.6% of respondents (who could remember whether or not they were able to get an appointment, and when they wanted the appointment) stated they saw or spoke to someone at a time they wanted to or sooner. NHS England is working with NHS Digital to consider ways of improving the availability and quality of GP data, including waiting times data. The Government has committed to improving access to general practice services by 2019. This includes ensuring there are sufficient routine appointments available at evenings and weekends to meet locally determined demand, alongside effective access to out of hours and urgent care services. The latest National Health Service planning guidance, issued by NHS England in February 2018, requires clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to provide extended access to general practice to their whole population by 1 October 2018, to ensure additional capacity is in place ahead of winter 2018. The General Practice Forward View (GP Forward View), published in April 2016, commits to increasing investment in General Practice by £2.4 billion a year by 2020/21 from £9.7 billion in 2015/16 to over £12 billion by 2020/21 – a 14% real- terms increase. This investment will improve patient care and access, and facilitate new ways of providing primary care. Commissioners of primary medical care services monitor practice catchment areas to ensure that all areas of the country have primary medical care cover, and through an annual review of every primary medical care contract are aware of local primary medical care capacity and how this meets demand. Practices are funded on a weighted population basis and therefore, where populations grow gradually, practices receive additional investment to take on new patients which allows them to grow to maintain services for patients. There has been a national trend in practices becoming larger, employing more staff and operating with a more diverse workforce in order to meet rising demand. NHS South Tyneside CCG advises it has a number of schemes in place which maximise the availability of GP appointments. This includes support to diversify the workforce, a well-developed “Think Pharmacy First” scheme in South Tyneside community pharmacies and an extended access service which has offered approximately 15,000 additional appointments over the last nine months. Electronic consultations are also currently being piloted in the area. NHS England Cumbria and the North East advises it also has a number of schemes in place to increase capacity in general practice. This includes a pilot of a tool to analyse workforce, capacity and demand and some CCGs are offering online consultations with more practices due to offer this service later this year. 45 practices have also received funding through the national resilience programme and the CCG has acquired funding for up to 25 GPs to take part in the Local GP Retention Fund to support retention of the workforce.
Health Services: Standards Sandy Martin: [174164] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the (a) effectiveness of local authority health scrutiny committees and (b) ability of those committees to identify decisions and practices in the local health sector which have subsequently been changed. Steve Brine: Local government plays a vital role in planning local health services and in scrutinising the local National Health Service’s plans for the delivery and the improvement of those services. Members are accountable to their electorate for their actions, and guidance and support is available to help them. The Independent Reconfiguration Panel is also available to help scrutiny committee’s oversight of the NHS.
Horses: Slaughterhouses Mr Roger Godsiff: [174614] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many horses were slaughtered in abattoirs in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017; and how many of those horses carried passports issued by Weatherbys. Steve Brine: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for the delivery of official controls in approved meat establishments (slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments) subject to veterinary control within the United Kingdom. 2016 –3,328 Soliped and Equidae were slaughtered 2017 –2,358 Soliped and Equidae were slaughtered The FSA does not record the number of horses slaughtered. These are recorded under the Soliped and Equidae category. This category includes horses, but other members of the Soliped and Equidae family are also included (mammals, members of which have a single functional digit although the second and third digits persist as splint bones, includes horses, wild horses, asses (donkeys) and zebras). 2016 – 143 had passports issued by Weatherbys 2017 – 127 had passports issued by Weatherbys Weatherbys passport numbers include: Weatherbys, Weatherbys Thoroughbred, Weatherby Ireland and Weatherbys Irish.
Lung Diseases: Health Education Ben Bradley: [174151] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to increase public awareness of the symptoms of (a) lung cancer and (b) respiratory conditions. Steve Brine: Public Health England’s Be Clear on Cancer campaigns raise the public’s awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, and are an important step in diagnosing cancers earlier. The Be Clear on Cancer Respiratory Symptoms campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of a persistent cough or inappropriate breathlessness as possible symptoms of lung disease, including cancer and encourages people to visit their doctor promptly. The campaign has run at a national level twice, in July to August 2016 and May to September 2017.
Mental Health Services: Children and Young People Alex Sobel: [174148] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients under the age of (a) 25 and (b) 16 have been referred out of the area for mental health treatment in each year since 2009. Matt Hancock: The information requested is not available.
Mental Health Services: Sexual Offences Luciana Berger: [174696] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Care Quality Commission's report, Sexual safety on mental health wards, published in September 2018, what plans he has to make additional funding available for Mental Health Trusts to train the workforce in safeguarding patients from sexual incidents in the ward setting. Luciana Berger: [174697] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Care Quality Commission's report, Sexual safety on mental health wards, published in September 2018, whether he plans to make additional funding available for Mental Health Trusts to promote joint-working between providers and other agencies such as the police. Matt Hancock: It is essential for staff, providers and national bodies to ensure the sexual safety of people using mental health inpatient settings. Sexual abuse of any kind is completely unacceptable. The Department and system partners have accepted the recommendations of the Care Quality Commission’s report on ‘Sexual Safety on Mental Health Wards’ in principle and are currently working together to plan for swift action to address the report’s findings, including considering financial resourcing. Health Education England (HEE) is committed to contributing to the education and training of staff to enable them to have the right skills, and confidence, to identify and effectively manage inpatient sexual safety incidents. In response to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report, HEE intends to develop a sexual safety core skills framework and develop an eLearning module on sexual safety. We expect allegations related to sexual incidents on mental health wards to be taken extremely seriously, and police should be informed as necessary. As the CQC report identified, joint working between providers and other agencies, such as the police, is vital. National partners, including the CQC, NHS Improvement, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, will be working together to contribute to implementation of the CQC’s recommendation that “Providers should work collaboratively with stakeholders, including patients, the police and safeguarding teams, to ensure that sexual safety incidents are taken seriously and addressed appropriately”.
Mental Health Services: Yorkshire and the Humber Alex Sobel: [174149] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time is for a mental health bed in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 2008-09. Matt Hancock: This information is not available.
Obesity: Children Johnny Mercer: [174785] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government's revised childhood obesity plan will make tackling noncommunicable diseases a priority. Steve Brine: Obesity is a leading cause of serious non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Many of the key measures in both chapters of our childhood obesity plan will have an impact on tackling obesity across all age groups. These include the soft drinks industry levy, sugar reduction and wider calorie reformulation programme, restricting promotions and calorie labelling in restaurants which will improve our eating habits and reduce the amount of sugar we consume.
Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Layla Moran: [174146] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disease. Matt Hancock: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disease (PANDAS) is currently a research and clinical area of interest for professionals working with children and young people. There is evidence that exposure to an infection can act as a trigger for some children to present acutely with a range of neurodevelopmental and mental health symptoms such as tics, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and eating problems etc. However, there is inconclusive research evidence to demonstrate that PANDAS is a discrete disease entity. It is therefore not listed as a diagnosis by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Parc Prison: Mental Health Services Luciana Berger: [174699] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the conclusions on mental health funding of the Independent Monitoring Board on HMP Parc. Matt Hancock: Healthcare is devolved in Wales therefore this is a matter for the Welsh Government and the National Health Service in Wales.
Pharmacy: Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq: [174796] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the proposed average payments to community pharmacies were in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency under the Pharmacy Access Scheme in (a) 2015-16 (b)2016-17 and (c) 2017-18. Steve Brine: The Pharmacy Access Scheme was introduced from December 2016 to maintain access to National Health Service pharmaceutical services in areas where the pharmacy’s closure would have the greatest impact on patient access. To be eligible for the scheme pharmacies had to be more than one mile away from the next nearest pharmacy and not within the top 25% of pharmacies by dispensing volume. The distance criteria were reduced to 0.8 miles for pharmacies, that applied to the NHS and were in the 20% most deprived areas, where continued access was deemed critical. Based on these criteria, there are no community pharmacies located in the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency that are eligible for payments under the Pharmacy Access Scheme.
Preventive Medicine Tulip Siddiq: [174797] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on prevention of ill health in (a) 2009-10 (b) 2014-2015 and (c) 2017-18. Steve Brine: Information on preventative health spend is not collected centrally.
Prostate Cancer: Tomography Karen Lee: [174834] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of Choline C-11 injection to meet the demand for PET scans for people with prostate cancer. Steve Brine: NHS England intends to review access to tracers that have a short half-life, such as 11C Choline, following the conclusion of the national Phase II Positron Emission Tomography- Computed Tomography procurement. It is expected that this work will be undertaken in early 2019. The clinical commissioning policy statement can be found at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Positron-emission- tomography-Computed-tomography-guidelines-all-ages.pdf
Rare Diseases: Drugs Mr Ivan Lewis: [173984] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to review NICE’s criteria for reviewing new medicines so that it ensures appropriate access to treatments by people with rare diseases. Steve Brine: The Department has no plans to review the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) criteria for assessing medicines. NICE is an independent body and is responsible for the methods and processes it uses in the development of its guidance. NICE’s methods and processes for the assessment of drugs have been carefully developed over time through extensive engagement with stakeholders and are internationally respected. NICE continues to keep its procedures under periodic review to ensure that they remain fit for purpose. All topics, including drugs for rare diseases, are considered through a rigorous topic selection process before formal referral to NICE to ensure that NICE guidance is appropriate and will add value. NICE assesses most significant new drugs through its technology appraisal programme and has been able to recommend a number of drugs licenced for the treatment of rare diseases for routine use on the National Health Service.
HOME OFFICE
Antisocial Behaviour: Young People David Simpson: [174015] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to prevent young people from committing anti-social behaviour. Victoria Atkins: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to prevent young people and others from committing anti-social behaviour. The legislation is designed to ensure that anti-social behaviour by young people is dealt with properly and proportionately. To support local agencies decide when and how to use these powers the Home Office refreshed its statutory guidance for frontline practitioners on the use of the statutory powers in December 2017.
Asylum: Housing Caroline Lucas: [174682] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to grant local authorities more (a) flexibility and (b) powers in overseeing how and where asylum seekers are housed in their areas. Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is committed to working co-operatively with local authorities and communities to ensure the sustainability of asylum accommodation contracts. Since September 2016 the Home Office has actively and extensively engaged with local authorities with a wide range of stakeholders across local government, statutory and third sector as part of the development of the new asylum accommodation contracts and the information obtained through this process has influenced the design of the future service provision. Currently, when properties are identified for procurement by one of the existing providers, we consult with LAs before asylum seekers are accommodated. A number of factors will be considered in terms of clustering the supported asylum population, such as cohesion and anti social behaviour. We will continue to engage with local authorities and the wider community throughout the procurement and implementation of the new contracts to offer flexibility where possible.
Crimes of Violence Louise Haigh: [174086] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) chief constables and (b) senior officers he met to discuss knife crime and serious violence between taking up his position and 12 September 2018. Victoria Atkins: Since taking up his position the Home Secretary has focused his efforts on reducing the level of serious violence including knife crime. To improve his understanding of the issues across the country, the Home Secretary has met with police officers of all ranks. In addition, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the National Police Chiefs Council lead for gangs, knife crime and county lines are both members of the Serious Violence Taskforce which is chaired by the Home Secretary. Crimes of Violence: Conferences Louise Haigh: [174084] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to host an International Violent Crime Symposium. Victoria Atkins: We will be holding an International Violent Crime Symposium later this Autumn in line with the commitment in the Serious Violence Strategy.
Deportation: Windrush Generation Kate Hollern: [156634] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the Windrush generation his Department has identified to date as having been deported as a result of its immigration policies. Caroline Nokes: The Department has been carrying out a review of all cases of Caribbean Commonwealth nationality, born before 1 January 1973, who have been removed and/or detained by the Home Office since 2002 (when the Casework Information Database (CID) was available across the immigration system) and sought to identify any individuals where there was an indication in the record that the individual could have been in the UK before 1973. The Home Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee on 21st August to provide an update on this work. This letter outlined that, so far, this review has identified 164 people who were detained and / or removed who told the Home Office they came to the UK before 1 January 1973. Of these, we have identified 18 people who stayed here permanently and who are the people we consider most likely to have suffered detriment because their right to be in the UK was not recognised and where the Department is most likely to have acted wrongfully in removed or detaining them. Eleven of these left the UK voluntarily and seven were detained. Letters of apology are being sent from the Home Secretary. A copy of this letter has been deposited in the House Library. This work is ongoing and the Home Secretary has committed to regularly updating the Home Affairs Select Committee on progress. These cases of removal and detention have happened over many years under successive governments, with cases spread roughly equally between 2002-2010, and from 2010 onwards. Of course, no matter how long ago the removal or detention case the Home Office will do whatever it can to address anything wrongful which has been done. Domestic Violence: Children Gloria De Piero: [174667] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the additional £8 million set out in the Victims Strategy, published in September 2018, Cm. 9700, allocated to support children who witness domestic abuse will come from existing budgets. Victoria Atkins: The £8 million comes from existing budgets. £20 million was allocated to victims of domestic abuse in the Spring Budget 2017, of which £8million was allocated to children affected by domestic abuse.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students Mr George Howarth: [173987] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of Universities UK on the UK’s post-study work system for international students have completed their study at a UK university. Caroline Nokes: We have regular discussions with Universities UK, as a key stakeholder representing a number of Tier 4 sponsors, on a range of issues including the UK’s post-study work offer for international students.
Home Office: Staff Catherine West: [174095] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff (a) are employed directly by (b) are seconded to and (c) work under contract to his Department. Victoria Atkins: Home Office publish monthly workforce management information on gov.uk - links provided below. This information has been summarised in the table 1 provided. 2010 to 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-and-salaries- series 2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management- information-2018
Home Office: Working Hours Catherine West: [174815] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the contracted hours are for the highest paid member of staff in his Department. Victoria Atkins: The Home Office has obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation and in law generally to protect personal data. The contractual terms and conditions for an employee are personal data between the employer and the employee as set out in the contract of employment. We cannot therefore comment on contracted hours for an individual employee. However, all Home Office contracts of employment comply with pre-modernised or modernised Civil Service terms and conditions as laid down by Cabinet Office. Senior Civil Service contracts are governed direct by Cabinet Office.
Immigration: Windrush Generation Mr David Lammy: [144786] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who contacted his Department's Taskforce for Windrush subsequently experienced (a) immigrant enforcement and (b) police action. Caroline Nokes: No one who has contacted the Department’s Taskforce for Windrush has subsequently experienced immigration enforcement action as a result of coming forward. We are very clear that information to taskforce will not be passed for enforcement. As at 17 May 2018, 7 individuals who have contacted the Windrush Taskforce, have also been identified as being wanted in connection to an on-going criminal investigation and have been referred to the Police. How the Police then decided to handle the matter is for them, and not something that the Taskforce are involved in, as it is not related to an immigration matter.
Police David Simpson: [174018] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) male and (b) female police officers were employed in each of the last five years. Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers employed, broken down by gender, by each Police Force Area in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical publication. Data on the number of police officers, including a breakdown of gender, as at 31 March each year and going back to March 2007, can be found in the accompanying Open Data Table: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362 /open-data-table-police-workforce.ods Police Service of Northern Ireland Louise Haigh: [174085] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings he had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service Northern Ireland between 30 April 2018 and 12 September 2018 to discuss the UK leaving the EU. Mr Nick Hurd: The Secretary of State for the Home Department was scheduled to meet the Chief Constable recently but was unable to do so. We are looking to rearrange the meeting. We continue to engage closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland at official level on all matters of mutual interest.
Police Stations: Closures David Simpson: [174019] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police stations have closed in each of the last four years. Mr Nick Hurd: I refer the Hon member to the UIN 141753 given on the 10 May 2018. The Home Office does not collect information on police station closures. It is for democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioners, working with Chief Constables, to determine the best use of resources to effectively serve and engage their communities and to build their trust and confidence.
Police: ICT Chi Onwurah: [174711] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to develop algorithms to assist in police investigations. Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office is developing new computer systems through its Biometrics Programme and National Law Enforcement Data Programme to replace the existing national police systems dealing with criminal records, intelligence, and biometrics. These systems will use more efficient and powerful algorithms than the current systems. The Home Office is also supporting a number of projects to improve computer systems at force level through the Police Transformation Fund.
Police: Sick Leave David Simpson: [174017] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have taken more than two weeks of sick leave as a result of injuries that occurred at work. Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the information requested centrally. The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of police officers on certified long-term sick absence as at 31st March each year. Long-term sickness includes any recognised medical condition, physical or psychological, as reported by the officer or a medical practitioner, which has lasted for more than 28 calendar days. These data are published in the annual ‘Police workforce’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales However, these data do not include the reason for the sick absence therefore the Home Office are unable to identify those on sick absence due to injuries occurred at work. The Home Office also collects information on the number of police officers on short/medium term sick absence as at 31st March each year. Short/medium term absence due to sickness includes officers on leave for 28 days or less. Again, these data do not include the reason for the sick absence. This information is published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in their Value for Money profiles, available here: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/our-work/value-for-money- inspections/value-for-money-profiles
Serious Violence Taskforce Louise Haigh: [174083] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings of the Serious Violence Taskforce he has chaired between 30 April 2018 and 12 September 2018. Victoria Atkins: The Serious Violence Taskforce has been established to oversee and drive implementation of Serious Violence Strategy launched in April. The Taskforce met for the first time on 26 April and the Home Secretary has chaired two meetings of the Taskforce on 11 June and 17 July. It is next due to meet on 22 October.
UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services Lyn Brown: [174654] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much (a) revenue and (b) operating income Visas and Immigration derived from chargeable calls to its contact centres from outside the UK in the last period for which figures are available. Caroline Nokes: The Home Office currently has a contract in place with Sitel UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (both UK and International). It is not possible to provide the data requested due to commercial sensitivity. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Developing Countries Daniel Kawczynski: [906956] What steps she is taking to promote trade for development. Penny Mordaunt: My Department is working with the Department for International Trade to ensure our trade policy benefits developing countries as well as the UK. We aim to deliver continuity in our trading arrangements with developing countries as we leave the EU, provide support to help countries trade, and explore options to expand our relationships in the future.
Developing Countries: Nature Conservation Mr Ranil Jayawardena: [906952] What discussions she has had with the Foreign Secretary on using Official Development Assistance to help protect endangered species. Harriett Baldwin: Ministers in my department, the Foreign Office, and Defra meet regularly, and together we are using UK ODA to fight the illegal wildlife trade. We are working to ensure the London Conference on the illegal wildlife trade this week will deliver tangible actions that help stamp out this destructive, billion dollar criminal industry.
Developing Countries: Rule of Law Andrew Selous: [906960] What assessment she has made of the effect of the application of the rule of law on levels of prosperity in developing countries. Harriett Baldwin: We believe the rule of law underpins open and fair societies and economies, where citizens, businesses and civil society can prosper. We undertook our own assessments in 2013 and 2015; and also use the 2017 World Bank Global Investment Competitiveness report to assess the evidence.
Developing Countries: Trade Promotion Mrs Pauline Latham: [906953] What steps she is taking to promote trade for development. Penny Mordaunt: My Department is working with the Department for International Trade to ensure our trade policy benefits developing countries as well as the UK. We aim to deliver continuity in our trading arrangements with developing countries as we leave the EU, provide support to help countries trade, and explore options to expand our relationships in the future. Overseas Aid: Private Sector Ms Marie Rimmer: [906957] What steps she is taking to ensure that private contractors in receipt of aid spending are held to the same safeguarding standards as charity and non-governmental organisation contractors. Penny Mordaunt: DFID holds all partners to the same high safeguarding standards. Private sector organisations must follow our Supply Partner Code of Conduct. It sets high, legally enforceable standards for ethical behaviour and compliance with human rights, including specific clauses on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid Jack Lopresti: [906958] What processes are in place to monitor UK aid spending in the Palestinian Territories. Alistair Burt: DFID continuously monitors UK aid spending in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We rigorously manage delivery partners according to the Supply Partner Code of Conduct, map the flow of funds through the delivery chain, and all our programmes are subject to independent audits. We evaluate and improve our programmes regularly through annual reviews.
Palestinians: USA Matthew Pennycook: [906954] What assessment she has made of the effect on Palestinian refugees of recent reductions in US aid. Alistair Burt: Proactive UK lobbying has helped reduce the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ (UNRWA) immediate financing shortfall. However, the withdrawal of US funding could exacerbate the future humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and threaten regional security. The UK Government has committed to provide £57.5 million to UNRWA this year.
Rohingya: Refugees Rushanara Ali: [906959] If her Department will provide additional funding to Rohingya refugees in preparation for the cyclone season. Alistair Burt: The UK has invested £12.6 million specifically in emergency preparedness before the cyclone season. The Bangladeshi government is experienced in responding to extreme weather events. We are working with the government and other partners to keep emergency preparedness a priority, to enhance coordination and to ensure the overall response builds resilience.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Trade Promotion: Liberia Chi Onwurah: [174714] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to promote trade relations between the UK and Liberia. Graham Stuart: The British Embassy in Monrovia and the DIT pan-Africa Trade Services Unit provide UK businesses who are present in Liberia, or are interested in doing business there, with help and advice. The British Embassy organised and sponsored UK-Liberia Investment events in November 2016 in Monrovia and in September 2017 in London, attended by UK and Liberian companies, Liberian Cabinet Ministers and the Liberian National Investment Commission. Our Embassy has also supported capability-building at the Liberian National Investment Commission, increasing its capacity to enter into Public Private Partnerships. Chi Onwurah: [174715] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many trade delegations there have been to Liberia in the last five years. Graham Stuart: There have been two trade delegations to Liberia. In September 2016, a trade delegation of UK meat exporters visited Liberia. In November 2016, the British Embassy organised and sponsored a UK-Liberia Investment workshop in Monrovia, attended by over 40 UK and Liberian companies. The President of Liberia attended the event.
JUSTICE
Armed Forces: Death Douglas Ross: [174142] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which body had responsibility for the investigation of military deaths in Scotland before the introduction of the Fatal Accident and Sudden Deaths (Scotland) Act 2016. Edward Argar: This is a devolved issue and is therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Birmingham Prison Mary Glindon: [174052] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of deploying detached duty public sector staff at HMP Birmingham in the next six months; and who will be responsible for paying that cost. Rory Stewart: HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has, since 20 August, exercised its right under the contract to step in and take over the running of HMP Birmingham for an initial period of six months. The additional cost of the step-in action, including HMPPS staff, has yet to be finalised. However, it, together with any reduction in the price for cells taken out of operational use, will be recovered from G4S in accordance with the contract. The deployment of staff between prisons on Detached Duty (DD) is a regular and normal part of prison resourcing. DD allocation is only planned three months in advance and therefore it is not possible to provide data for the next six months. The number of Prison Officers deployed on DD also varies from one week to the next in order to reflect operational circumstances. Tables 1,2, and 3 shows the proposed number of staff deployed to HMP Birmingham from each prison. Table 1 Prison Officers
Bure 2
Dartmoor 2
Exeter 1
Guys Marsh 2
Coldingley 1
Lewes 2
Brinsford 2
Brixton 3
Isis 2
Pentonville 1
Wandsworth 1
Bullingdon 1
Erlestoke 1 Cardiff 1
Swansea 1
Berwyn 1
Send 1
Low Newton 1
Foston Hall 2
Lindholme 1
Hull 1
Leeds 2
Moorland 1
Table 2 Custodial Managers
Stoke Heath 1
Bure 1
Stafford 1
Table 3 Physical Education Officers
Wakefield 1
Stoke Heath 1
Community Orders: Reoffenders Philip Davies: [174011] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offences were committed by offenders serving a community order in the last year for which information is available. Rory Stewart: From centrally held data it is not possible to separately identify ‘how many offences were committed by offenders serving a community order in the last year’, without incurring disproportionate cost. Crime: Victims Gloria De Piero: [174659] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what provisions will be made under the Government's Victim's strategy, published in September 2018, Cm. 9700 to support the mental health of victims. Edward Argar: We want to ensure victims have access to the support services they need to help them cope with and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime. The Victims Strategy sets out commitments to develop a new delivery model for victim support services; coordinating and combining funding for these services across government to increase its impact, and improving access between victim services, including third sector and statutory services. NHS England is prioritising the delivery of mental health services as part of their long term plan, to utilise the extra investment announced by the Prime Minister on 18 June 2018. This work is still under review and an announcement will be made in due course. Gloria De Piero: [174660] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to establish an Independent Violence Advocate as part of the Victim's Strategy, published in September 2018, Cm. 9700. Edward Argar: In the Victims Strategy published on 10 September, we committed to reviewing the current victims supporters landscape. Our review will enable us to identify any gaps in the services currently available to victims and ensure all victims of crime have access to the support and protections they need. We will await the outcome of the review before deciding whether further supporter roles are required. Gloria De Piero: [174663] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for the consultation on the victims' law. Gloria De Piero: [174664] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for how long the consultation on the victims' law will be open. Edward Argar: In the Victims Strategy, published on 10 September, we committed to bring forward proposals for a consultation on the detail of a Victims’ Law. As I said in this House, when announcing the publication of the Victims Strategy, we plan to consult in 2019. In taking this work forward we have already begun discussions with victims and victims groups. In undertaking a consultation we will follow Government guidance, which states that consultations should last for a proportionate amount of time for effective engagement. We will announce the length of time the consultation will be open when it is launched.
Ministry of Justice: Staff Catherine West: [174098] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff (a) are employed directly by (b) are seconded to and (c) work under contract to his Department. Edward Argar: As at June 2018, there were 68,202 FTE staff employed directly by the Ministry of Justice (including all its Agencies) and 4,599 FTE staff under contract to the department. Data are not held centrally on the number of secondments. These data are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management-information-moj.
Ministry of Justice: Working Hours Catherine West: [174818] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the contracted hours are for the highest paid member of staff in his Department. Edward Argar: The highest paid member of staff is a Senior Civil Servant (SCS) and SCS are contracted to work a minimum (over a 5 day week) either 41 or 42 hours, including daily meal breaks for one hour. The new model contracts was introduced on the 1st July 2013, which standardise the working hours to 42 hours which was applicable to all new staff as well as those staff being promoted into or within SCS, from that date forward.
Prisoners' Release Philip Davies: [174012] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2018 to Question 158711 on Prisoners' Release, which offence was committed in each of the cases of violence against the person and the case of sexual assault. Rory Stewart: Prison records indicate that the alleged offences involved in these five cases were: “affray” (in two cases), “assault” (in two cases), and “sexual assault”. There are strict rules and risk assessments before anyone is considered for temporary release and research suggests that people who get this time in the community are less likely to offend when they leave prison. Over 99% of temporary releases are completed successfully and most failures do not involve offending. Anyone breaking the rules faces extra time in prison. Sexual Assault Referral Centres: Finance Gloria De Piero: [174666] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the £8 million spending increase for sexual assault referral centres set out in the Victims' Strategy, published in September 2018, Cm. 9700, will come from existing budgets. Edward Argar: The Victims Strategy sets out commitments to ensure that victims of crime, including victims of sexual abuse, have access to the support services they need to help them cope with and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime. Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) are funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and commissioning responsibility is delegated to NHS England. The £8 million spending increase for SARCs set out in the Strategy is additional funding on top of the £31 million existing budget.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Office: Living Wage Catherine West: [174109] To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff in her Department that work (a) inside and (b) outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the Real Living Wage. Mr Shailesh Vara: No staff working for the Northern Ireland Office inside or outside Greater London is paid at a rate below the Real Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
SCOTLAND
Scotland Office: Living Wage Catherine West: [174110] To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff in his Department that work (a) inside and (b) outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the Real Living Wage. David Mundell: No staff that work in the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, located inside and outside Greater London, are paid below the Real Living Wage. The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government. Catherine West: [174810] To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff in his Department that work (a) inside and (b) outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the London Living Wage. David Mundell: No staff that work in the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, located inside and outside Greater London, are paid below the London Living Wage. The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government.
Scotland Office: Staff Catherine West: [174100] To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many staff (a) are employed directly by (b) are seconded to and (c) work under contract to his Department. David Mundell: The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government. No staff are on contracts directly with the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Specific details can be found in the staffing section of the Scotland Office Annual report 2017/18: Scotland Office Annual Report 2017/18
Scotland Office: Working Hours Catherine West: [174820] To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the contracted hours are for the highest paid member of staff in his Department. David Mundell: The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employers. TRANSPORT
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Staff Grahame Morris: [174684] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional staff required to work at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to cover work related to the UK leaving the EU. Chris Grayling: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been engaged in an ongoing process to ensure it has sufficient resource capability to deliver EU exit related work. Staff working in dedicated EU exit roles have principally been deployed from elsewhere in the DVLA or through wider Civil Service recruitment. Some DVLA staff are also working on EU exit related issues as part of their day to day roles, rather than being dedicated solely to EU exit work. Given the interactions between EU exit work and other priorities, the continuous review of business resourcing needs, and the adaptation of existing jobs, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of extra DVLA staff recruited to deal with EU exit related work.
Driving: EU Law Grahame Morris: [174685] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional staff required to issue and check International Driver Permits for drivers entering the UK from the EU member states after the UK leaves the EU. Chris Grayling: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: There is currently no requirement for visitors to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) to allow them to drive in the UK. After the UK leaves the EU, these arrangements are not expected to change. As a result, there will be no requirement to check IDPs for EU driving licence holders entering the UK. Grahame Morris: [174686] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many International Driver Permits have been issued to EU drivers and haulage companies in preparation for the UK leaving the EU to date. Chris Grayling: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: The UK Government is not responsible for issuing International Driving Permits (IDPs) to driving licence holders from other EU Member States. While we are a member of the EU, UK driving licences continue to be recognised by all EU Member States, so IDPs are not required for UK licence holders. The Government is seeking to ensure that UK motorists can continue to drive in the EU after we have left. The treatment of driving licences will depend on the outcome of the final agreement. If there is no agreement with the EU, both private and professional drivers may need an IDP, as well as their UK driving licence, to drive in the EU following the UK’s exit.
Grahame Morris: [174687] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of International Driver Permit checks that will be required for drivers who do not hold UK driving licenses who enter the UK from the EU after the UK leaves the EU. Chris Grayling: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: The UK does not currently require visitors to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) to allow them to drive here. After the UK leaves the EU, arrangements for drivers who do not hold a UK driving licence who are visiting or living in the UK will not change. As a result, there will be no requirement to check IDPs for EU driving licence holders entering the UK.
Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line Stephen Timms: [174597] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of services on the London Overground Barking-Gospel Oak line. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London, and it is for him to consider what, if any, assessment is made of the adequacy of services on the London Overground Barking - Gospel Oak line. Transport for London publishes a number of statistics on journey times and travel trends in its annual report “Travel in London”. Stephen Timms: [174598] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the availability of new trains on the London Overground Barking-Gospel Oak line, if he will direct Angel Trains to defer the transfer to West Midlands Trains of seven diesel trains currently subleased to Arriva Rail London. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: These diesel trains are leased by Angel Trains to West Midlands Trains (WMT). Transport for London is subleasing these trains from WMT until December, by when it expects new electric trains to be in service on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. Stephen Timms: [174599] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, he will direct Angel Trains to return to Arriva Rail London the diesel train previously sub-leased to that company for use on the Barking to Gospel Oak line until new electric trains are brought into service on that line. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 9 October 2018]: This diesel train is one of several leased by Angel Trains to West Midlands Trains (WMT). Transport for London is subleasing these trains from WMT until December, by when it expects new electric trains to be in service on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing Frank Field: [173519] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households are subject to the under-occupancy penalty in each constituency; what the average weekly reduction in income is for those households; and in how many of those households there is a claimant or partner who (a) receives (i) disability living allowance, (ii) personal independence payment and (iii) employment and support allowance and (b) has children. Justin Tomlinson: Figures on Housing Benefit spare room subsidy deductions in Great Britain are publically available through the DWP Stat-Xplore website. Both volumes and average deductions by parliamentary constituency are available, including broken down by whether or not the household has children. Stat-Xplore website: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml
Guidance for users is available at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html However, breakdowns by whether or not the claimant or partner also receives any of the specified disability benefits are not publicly available and so have been provided in the table attached. The Government has provided easements to allow an additional bedroom for couples and children who are unable to share a bedroom due to their disability or medical condition and are in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit, or where a non-resident overnight carer (or group of carers) is required for an adult, child or non-dependant adult on a regular basis.
Attachments: 1. Breakdowns table [Breakdown by whether or not claimant or partner also receives any of the specified disability benefits.docx] Personal Independence Payment Debbie Abrahams: [174062] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has published new guidance on the 10 yearly light touch review for personal independence payment claimants with severe conditions. Sarah Newton: In August 2018, we introduced updated guidance for case managers which will ensure that those who receive the highest level of support under Personal Independence Payment, and where their needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point. A copy of the award period guidance will be placed in the Library. The light touch review process and guidance itself has not yet been developed, but we aim to do so well in advance of the first such reviews taking place. We intend to consult with stakeholders as part of that process. WRITTEN STATEMENTS
BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space), 27-28th September Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Mr Sam Gyimah): [HCWS980] DAY ONE The first day of the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry) took place on 27 September 2018. The UK was represented by Katrina Williams, Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU. The legislative and non-legislative ‘A’ items were adopted; the UK abstained on a decision not to oppose the adoption of amendments to the Regulation on vehicle type approvals, and on the adoption of European seabass quotas. Regional policy and competitiveness The routine ‘Competitiveness Check-up’ on Day One focused on the role that greater convergence in productivity within Member States has to play in boosting the EU’s competitiveness. The UK joined others in support of so-called ‘Smart Specialisation’ strategies and their emphasis on innovation and comparative advantage. Some Member States welcomed the Commission’s intention to incorporate a regional element into the European Semester. Over lunch, Ministers also discussed the next Multi-annual Financial Framework in the context of competitiveness. Artificial Intelligence The Presidency identified priority areas for the EU on Artificial Intelligence (AI) relating to the uptake of technology, ethics and liability, and digital skills. The Commission confirmed its intention to publish an Action Plan by the end of the 2018 and recalled increased investment in AI proposed as part of the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes. An external speaker, Mr Michael Hirschbrich, urged Member States to cultivate a new, positive ‘data culture’ in Europe as a prerequisite for the EU to profit from the revolution in AI and machine learning. Germany felt this would be a challenge for the EU and would require public trust. Several delegations cautioned against over-regulating in this area and others argued that effective communication and realising the potential of new technologies in the delivery of public services would help to raise public trust and awareness. The UK outlined its investment plans for AI, its inclusive approach to digital skills, work to establish an independent Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, and noted the importance of regulatory cooperation in this area. Single Market Under Any Other Business, the Commission called for the full implementation of the Geoblocking Regulation and recalled the aims of a recent Communication on the Retail Sector. The Czech Republic and Latvia summarised the conclusions of events held this year to mark 25 years of the Single Market. Member States urged the Commission to produce a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of the remaining barriers to trade, particularly in the area of services. DAY TWO Day two of the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space) took place on 28 th September in Brussels. I represented the UK during the morning and lunch sessions of the Council. Katrina Williams, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UK’s Permanent Representation in Brussels took the UK’s seat during the afternoon session. Progress Report and Policy Debate on the Horizon Europe Package: Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021–2027 The Council started with a policy debate on the Horizon Europe Package: Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021–2027. The UK called for excellence to remain the key criterion for awarding Horizon Europe funding. The UK also suggested that space should become a separate cluster outside of “Digital and Industry”, and that the secure society cluster should be divided into two distinct clusters; one for “security” elements and one for “social sciences and humanities” elements. The UK also supported the Presidency’s approach to the debate surrounding the legal base of the Horizon Europe Specific Programme, agreeing that the aim should be to reach a timely conclusion on the Horizon package. Lunch Debate on the Horizon Europe Package – Exchange of views with EP Rapporteurs During the lunch debate the Council had an exchange of views with EP Rapporteurs Dan Nica and Christian Ehler. The UK made an intervention specifying UK’s priority areas for amendments and encouraging debate amongst MEPs at the first exchange of views on October 8 th . Strategic Planning process in relation to the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021-2027 The Council concluded with a policy debate on the Strategic Planning process in relation to the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021-2027. The UK made an intervention seeking to help find consensus in Council on the process and status of the plan, agreeing that broad areas for missions and partnerships should be set out in the Specific Programme and suggesting that the process for selecting specific missions and partnerships should also be included. The UK agreed that more detailed strategic content should be determined at a later date. Energy Policy Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark): [HCWS983] The Government remains committed to putting in place all the necessary measures to ensure that the UK can operate as an independent and responsible nuclear state upon the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom. We remain on track to have all the international agreements that the UK requires to ensure uninterrupted cooperation and trade in the civil nuclear sector ready for the end of March 2019. Significant progress in this area is marked by the signing of a new bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) with Australia on 21 st August. This is the second NCA to be signed with a priority third country in preparation for the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom, following the new bilateral agreement with the United States signed on 4 th May. The Government has completed its consultation on the draft Nuclear Safeguards Regulations which set out the detail of a new domestic civil nuclear safeguards regime. We are analysing responses to the consultation and will publish a formal response to the consultation in the Autumn. We expect to lay draft regulations before Parliament by the end of this year. The regulations, to be made under powers in the Energy Act 2013 and Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018, will enable a domestic nuclear safeguards regime to be established before the end of March 2019. In July, we set out details of our ambition to seek a close association with Euratom - specifically, through the negotiation of a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) between Euratom and the UK that is more comprehensive and broader than any existing agreement between Euratom and a third country. Simultaneously, we are ensuring that the necessary legislation is ready, and the civil nuclear industry is prepared for all potential scenarios, including the unlikely event that the UK leaves the EU and Euratom at the end of March 2019 without an agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario). We have laid a number of Statutory Instruments before Parliament on Euratom-related issues and have published a Technical Notice on civil nuclear regulation to support businesses and other interested parties in making informed plans and preparations for a no deal scenario. Today I will be depositing a report in the Libraries of both Houses that sets out further details on the overall progress on the Government’s implementation of its Euratom Exit strategy, including EU negotiations, domestic operational readiness, legislation and international agreements. This report is being laid in accordance with section 3(4) of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 and follows two voluntary quarterly updates to Parliament. The initial commitment to quarterly reporting on a voluntary basis was set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 11 th January 2018. Section 3(4) of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 provides for four statutory quarterly reporting periods in respect of which the Secretary of State must lay a report before Parliament. This is the first such report and covers the three-month reporting period from 26 th June until 26 th September. I plan to lay the next report on Euratom exit progress in January 2019. DEFENCE
Future Accommodation Model Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood): [HCWS982] It was previously announced that the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) was being developed with the intention of changing the way in which we provide accommodation to Service personnel to ensure that a career in the Armed Forces can be balanced better with family life. We are committed to making the changes necessary to enable our Armed Forces to work flexibly, reflecting the realities of modern life and to make a new accommodation offer to help more Service personnel live in private accommodation and meet their aspirations for home ownership. This commitment is being delivered through the FAM which aims to design and deliver a new accommodation model that improves and modernises aspects of the accommodation offer for Service personnel and better meets the enduring operational and financial needs of the Department. We had hoped to run a pilot towards the end of this year and remain committed to this policy principle, but the pilot scheme will now take place in 2019. This will allow the Ministry of Defence additional time to fully evaluate the scope of the pilot and better understand its impact on Service personnel, with a view to delivering the most effective model. The pilot, in 2019, will also allow us to continue to work closely with broader Departmental and cross Whitehall initiatives to support Service personnel accommodation. We value the input we have had from Service personnel, Front Line Commands and the Families Federations, and look forward to continuing to work with them on the implementation of FAM in the future. I will update the House in due course.
DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Contingent Liability for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) as the Age Verification Regulator Minister of State for Digital and Creative Industries (Margot James): [HCWS986] I am today laying a Departmental Minute to advise that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has received approval from Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) to recognise a new Contingent Liability which will come into effect when age verification powers under Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 enter force. The contingent liability will provide indemnity to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) against legal proceedings brought against the BBFC in its role as the age verification regulator for online pornography. As you know, the Digital Economy Act introduces the requirement for commercial providers of online pornography to have robust age verification controls to protect children and young people under 18 from exposure to online pornography. As the designated age verification regulator, the BBFC will have extensive powers to take enforcement action against non-compliant sites. The BBFC can issue civil proceedings, give notice to payment-service providers or ancillary service providers, or direct internet service providers to block access to websites where a provider of online pornography remains non-compliant. The BBFC expects a high level of voluntary compliance by providers of online pornography. To encourage compliance, the BBFC has engaged with industry, charities and undertaken a public consultation on its regulatory approach. Furthermore, the BBFC will ensure that it takes a proportionate approach to enforcement and will maintain arrangements for an appeals process to be overseen by an independent appeals body. This will help reduce the risk of potential legal action against the BBFC. However, despite the effective work with industry, charities and the public to promote and encourage compliance, this is a new law and there nevertheless remains a risk that the BBFC will be exposed to legal challenge on the basis of decisions taken as the age verification regulator or on grounds of principle from those opposed to the policy. As this is a new policy, it is not possible to quantify accurately the value of such risks. The Government estimates a realistic risk range to be between £1m - £10m in the first year, based on likely number and scale of legal challenges. The BBFC investigated options to procure commercial insurance but failed to do so given difficulties in accurately determining the size of potential risks. The Government therefore will ensure that the BBFC is protected against any legal action brought against the BBFC as a result of carrying out duties as the age verification regulator. The Contingent Liability is required to be in place for the duration of the period the BBFC remain the age verification regulator. However, we expect the likelihood of the Contingent Liability being called upon to diminish over time as the regime settles in and relevant industries become accustomed to it. If the liability is called upon, provision for any payment will be sought through the normal Supply procedure. It is usual to allow a period of 14 Sitting Days prior to accepting a Contingent Liability, to provide Members of Parliament an opportunity to raise any objections.
EDUCATION
Government Asset Sale The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Mr Sam Gyimah): [HCWS979] Today, I can confirm that the Government is announcing its intention to proceed with the second sale from the “plan 1” (i.e. pre-2012) English student loan book. The sale covers loans issued by English local authorities only under the previous (pre-2012) system, specifically those which entered repayment between 2007 and 2009, with a total face value of around £3.9bn. This is the second sale of the Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) loan book, and it is proceeding on the basis that there is a reasonable prospect of achieving value for money. It will only complete subject to market conditions and a final value for money assessment. As the Government has previously made clear, the position of all graduates, including those whose loans are part of a sale, will not change as a result of the sale. A sale will not alter the mechanisms and terms of repayment and sold loans will continue to be serviced by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) on the same basis as equivalent unsold loans. These protections mean that purchasers will have no right to change any of the current loan arrangements or to directly contact borrowers. Government has no plans to change, or to consider changing, the terms of pre-2012 loans. The sale terms are expected to include a number of warranties and indemnities for sale arrangers and investors, which give rise to contingent liabilities for Government. In this case, although there is specific statutory authority for the liability under the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008, I believe it is appropriate to notify Parliament before incurring these liabilities. As a matter of record I have placed a Departmental Minute in the Libraries of both Houses describing the contingent liabilities that the Department for Education will hold on behalf of Government as a result of this second sale of the pre- 2012 English student loan book. The maximum contingent liability against the Department for Education is unquantifiable and is expected to be in place for as long as there are outstanding securities. The House will also be informed if and when a sale is completed.
HOME OFFICE
Publication of the Government’s response to David Anderson’s review into Deportation with Assurances The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sajid Javid): [HCWS984] In November 2013, the then Home Secretary asked David Anderson QC to conduct a review of the framework of the UK’s Deportation with Assurances (DWA) policy, and to make recommendations on how the policy might be strengthened or improved, with particular emphasis on its legal aspects. My predecessor published Mr Anderson’s report and made copies available in the vote office on 20 July 2017. On announcing Mr Anderson’s report to this House, the then Home Secretary stated that the Government would respond through a Command Paper. I am pleased to be publishing this Command Paper today (Cm 9712). Copies will be available in the Vote Office. Report of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation on the operation in 2017 of the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006, the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011, and the Terrorist Asset Freezing Etc. Act 2010 The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sajid Javid): [HCWS985] Max Hill QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, has prepared a report on the operation in 2017 of the Terrorism Act 2000, the Terrorism Act 2006 the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011, and The Terrorist Asset Freezing etc Act 2010. In accordance with section 36(5) of the Terrorism Act 2006, I am today laying this report before the House, and copies will be available in the Vote Office. It will also be published on GOV.UK. I am grateful to Mr Hill for his report. I will carefully consider its contents and the recommendations he makes, and will respond formally in due course.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
EBOLA OUTBREAK IN THE DRC: UPDATE ON UK RESPONSE Secretary of State for International Development (Penny Mordaunt): [HCWS981] The current outbreak of Ebola was declared in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on 1 August. Following my Written Ministerial Statement of 14 September, I am updating the House on how the UK Government is continuing to support the response in DRC, and preparedness in neighbouring countries. DRC Outbreak Since my last update, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in this outbreak has continued to rise, and stood at 146 on 7 October. The geographic coverage has also widened, with confirmed cases near the Ugandan border on Lake Albert. On 29 September, the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the risk of national and regional spread of the outbreak from “high” to “very high”. The DRC Government, which is leading the response with the support of WHO, is preparing an extended response plan which will extend key activities for several months longer. As well as the response in the affected area, activities are also planned to support Ebola preparedness in other provinces across DRC. One of the key challenges is insecurity. Attacks by armed groups in the affected area have disrupted the response and remain a major risk. This instability, as well as the area’s significant commercial links with neighbouring countries, means that there is a large amount of cross-border movement by both commercial travellers and refugees. WHO has developed a regional plan to help neighbouring countries at risk from Ebola to prepare for any potential cases. UK Response My Department is ready to respond quickly and effectively to all kinds of sudden onset emergencies. That is why we maintain a central crisis reserve. In 2018/19, I have approved up to £20 million from this reserve to contribute to Ebola responses in the affected region. All donors have been asked not to announce figures for specific activities, to avoid putting implementing partners at risk from criminal elements. I hope the House will respect the need for discretion about this. Through the crisis reserve, the UK Government provided early funding to the existing outbreak response, and to the WHO regional preparedness plan for at-risk countries bordering DRC. We will also be funding key UN posts in these countries to ensure they are prepared to deal with cases of Ebola. In view of recent developments, we have increased our support, through WHO, for the response and preparedness activities in DRC and neighbouring countries. This funding will support a range of activities including surveillance, vaccinations, infection prevention and control, community engagement and safe and dignified burials. To help people affected by, or at risk from, Ebola is the right thing to do. It is also in our national interest to find ways of building resilience to such deadly diseases. Therefore I stand ready to approve additional support, if required. The UK Government is also drawing on all available scientific data about the latest outbreak. At present, it is not possible to make long-term projections about the course of the epidemic with any certainty but it is reasonable to assume that the outbreak will continue into 2019. We will continue to liaise closely with WHO and others to ensure that the available scientific evidence is reflected in scenario planning. The current response is deploying an experimental vaccine to contacts of infected people and frontline health workers. This vaccine was developed with support from UK Aid following the West Africa Ebola epidemic. In DRC, over 14,000 people – over 5,000 of whom are health workers – have been vaccinated during this outbreak so far. The UK is also supporting training in preparation for clinical trials of several of the new therapeutic drugs for Ebola. Public Health England assesses the risk of this outbreak to the UK as negligible to very low. They will continue to monitor and assess the outbreak closely. The UK Government remains at full readiness to respond should that risk change.
JUSTICE
Justice and Home Affairs pre-Council statement The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Gauke): [HCWS987] I will attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council for Justice Day on Thursday 11 October. Following the partial general approach already agreed at Council in June on Titles III, IV and V of the proposed Directive on Restructuring and Insolvency (discharge from insolvency, efficiency of procedures and data collection requirements), work has focused on the remaining Titles I, II and VI. These cover, subject matter and scope, measures on preventive restructuring frameworks and final provisions. In the light of the progress made, the Council will discuss a general approach on the Restructuring Directive. The UK supports the aims of the Directive to progress the objectives of the Commission’s Capital Markets Union Action Plan, and will support the general approach. The Council will discuss the proposed Regulation relating to improving law enforcement access to data held by communication service providers (E-Evidence). There will be a policy debate on the issue of whether a Member State should be notified when a production or preservation order is issued to a service provider based in their territory or where the person whose data is sought is based in their territory. The debate will focus on the Regulation, which the UK is not participating in. There will be an any other business item on Sale of Goods. There will be a presentation by the director of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (Michael O’Flaherty) following on from the publication of the FRA’s annual report on the fundamental rights situation in the EU, and in light of the event the FRA held across a wide range of fundamental rights topics last month (25-27 September). The Council will also be asked to discuss, and potentially adopt, Council Conclusions on the EU’s latest annual report on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. There will also be a discussion on free and fair elections (including freedom from personal data misuse and cyber incidents), focussing on the upcoming European Parliament elections. The UK’s exit from the EU will mean that we will not be taking part in future European Parliamentary elections. There will be a lunch time discussion covering EU financing for justice. The UK does not participate in the current Justice Programme (2014-2020) and will be a third country when the next Justice Programme and the other programmes likely to be discussed enter into force. The UK will consider its participation as a third country in due course. The Commission will provide an update on the planned preparatory steps on the legal and organisational measures to be taken to make the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) operational. The UK does not participate in the EPPO.
Ministers will exchange views on ways to reinforce judicial cooperation in criminal justice through mutual recognition tools, including the European Arrest Warrant and European Investigation Order. The UK values our cooperation under these tools and will highlight our commitment to the principle of mutual recognition and the importance of close operational working between Member States to ensure that they function efficiently. The Home Secretary will attend the JHA Council for Interior Day on 12 October. There will be a policy debate on the proposed Regulation to amend the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation which aims to reinforce the EU’s Integrated Border Management strategy and further protect the external borders by providing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency with a standing corps of 10,000 staff with executive powers, their own equipment and the ability to act in third countries. This is a Schengen building measure which the UK does not participate in. The Council will discuss the proposed recast of the EU Returns Directive. The UK chose not to participate in the current version of this Directive. The UK will need to decide whether to participate in this recast. The Council will discuss developments under the comprehensive approach on migration. The Presidency will focus on the Common European Asylum System, cooperation with North African countries on a range of migration issues including Search and Rescue disembarkations, and work to tackle organised immigration crime. The UK supports work to strengthen the EU’s external borders and to intensify relationships with key third countries in order to break smuggling networks and ensure that protection is given to those most in need. The Council will discuss proposed EU JHA funding programmes for the next (2021-27) Multiannual Financial Framework. These programmes will commence after the UK’s exit from the EU and the end of the envisaged Implementation Period. The UK will not be participating in any future programmes as a Member State. The UK will consider options to participate as a third country on a case by case basis where there is benefit to the UK. There will be further debate on the reform of the Common European Asylum System, including the issues of solidarity, responsibility and relocation in the context of the Dublin IV proposal, in which the UK is not participating.