Daily Report Friday, 16 February 2018

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 16 February 2018 and the information is correct at the time of publication (04:30 P.M., 16 February 2018). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/

CONTENTS ANSWERS 8 Banks: Government BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Assistance 19 INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 8 Cash Dispensing: Fees and Companies: Registration 8 Charges 20 Company Accounts 9 Climate Change Levy: Exemptions 20 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Companies: Registration 20 Brexit 10 Corporation Tax 22 Department for Business, Corporation Tax: Exemptions 25 Energy and Industrial Strategy: Corporation Tax: Fines 27 Land 11 Cryptocurrencies 29 Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate 11 Electronic Commerce: Taxation 29 Employment: Telephone Services 12 En+ Group: London Stock Exchange 30 Energy: Billing 13 Enterprise Investment Scheme Energy: Meters 14 and Seed Enterprise Energy: Overseas Trade 15 Investment Scheme 30 Energy: Prices 15 Insurance: Terrorism 31 Fireworks: Prosecutions 17 Money Laundering: EU Law 31 GKN: Melrose 17 Pensions: Personal Savings 32 Insurance: Terrorism 18 Poverty: Children 32 Modern Working Practices Public Sector: North East 32 Review 18 Royal Bank of Scotland: Small TREASURY 19 Businesses 33 Bank Services: Fees and Sanctions: Democratic Charges 19 Republic of Congo 33 Treasury: Brexit 34 Gaming Machines 48 Treasury: Land 34 Health 49 Type 45 Destroyers: Healthy Living Ministerial Procurement 35 Group 49 DEFENCE 35 HMS Victory 50 Armed Forces: Housing 35 National Lottery: Tickets 51 Army: Redundancy 36 National Security China: Ballistic Missile Communications Unit 51 Defence 36 EDUCATION 51 Defence Equipment: Adult Education: Public Procurement 37 Expenditure 51 HMS Victory 37 Apprentices: North Cornwall 52 Merlin Helicopters 37 Apprentices: Small Businesses 52 Military Bases: Brecon 38 Apprentices: STEM Subjects 53 Military Bases: Nurseries 38 Arts: Education 54 Military Bases: Security 40 Department for Education: Ministry of Defence Police 40 Brexit 54 Ministry of Defence: Brexit 41 Department for Education: Land 55 Ministry of Defence: Chemring Group 41 English Language: Education 55 Ministry of Defence: Contracts 42 Foster Care: Minority Groups 56 Navy: Redundancy 42 Foster Care: Payments 56 Reserve Forces: Scotland 42 Foster Care: Recruitment 57 Territorial Army: Greater Free Schools: Greater London 43 Manchester 57 Trident Submarines 43 Further Education: Social Mobility 57 Type 23 Frigates 44 Graduates: Bexley 58 Warships 44 Higher Education: Strikes 59 Warships: Repairs and Maintenance 45 Literacy: Disadvantaged 59 Wrecks: South East Asia 47 Physical Education: Teachers 59 DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND Pre-school Education: First Aid 60 SPORT 47 Pupils: Eating Disorders 60 Department for Digital, Pupils: Sanitary Protection 61 Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit 47 School Leaving: North Food: Waste 76 Cornwall 62 Foxes: Urban Areas 77 Schools: Finance 63 Heathrow Airport: Inland Schools: LGBT People 64 Waterways 77 Schools: Mental Health Horse Riding 77 Services 64 Ivory: Sales 78 Sex and Relationship Livestock: Transport 78 Education 65 Plastic Bags: North Cornwall 79 Special Educational Needs 65 Plastics: Beaches 79 Special Educational Needs: Complaints 65 Poultry 80 Students: Loans 66 Scientific Review Group 80 Students: North Cornwall 67 Smoke Control Areas 80 Universities: Mental Health Supermarkets: Plastic Bags 81 Services 67 Tree Planting 81 University Technical Colleges 68 Water Companies: Tax Young People: Politics 68 Avoidance 81 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND EXITING THE EUROPEAN RURAL AFFAIRS 69 UNION 82 Air Pollution 69 British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries 82 Animal Products: Imports 70 Immigration 82 Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control 70 FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 83 Capita 71 Anguilla: Companies 83 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit 72 China: Christianity 83 Department for Environment, Conflict, Stability and Security Food and Rural Affairs: Child Fund 83 Care Vouchers 73 Diplomatic Service: Religious Department for Environment, Freedom 84 Food and Rural Affairs: Land 73 Eastern Europe: Overseas Aid 84 Diesel Vehicles 74 Foreign and Commonwealth Electronic Training Aids 74 Office: Brexit 85 Energy: Waste 74 Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Child Care Vouchers 85 Floods: Insurance 75 Foreign and Commonwealth Food: Production 76 Office: Land 85 Gaza: Violence 86 Companies: Guernsey 99 Hezbollah 86 Counter-terrorism: Finance 99 Iran: Nuclear Weapons 86 Domestic Violence: Refuges 100 Iran: Religious Freedom 87 European Asylum Support Israel: Gaza 87 Office 100 Israel: Technology 87 Hezbollah 100 Lebanon: Diplomatic Relations 88 Home Office: Brexit 101 Magna Carta Fund for Human Home Office: Contracts 101 Rights and Democracy: Home Office: Land 101 Religious Freedom 88 Home Office: Written Middle East: Peace Questions 102 Negotiations 89 Homosexuality 102 Osman Kavala 89 Immigrants 103 Religious Freedom 90 Immigrants: Children 103 Russia: Nuclear Weapons 92 Immigration Bail 103 South Sudan: Sanctions 93 Key Forensic Services: Sri Lanka: Human Rights 93 Insolvency 104 Zimbabwe: Commonwealth 94 Nuisance Calls 105 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 94 Passports 105 Accident and Emergency Prisoners: Females 105 Departments: Greater London 94 Refugees: Syria 106 Ambulance Services: Greater Slavery 106 London 94 UK Visas and Immigration: Department of Health and Correspondence 107 Social Care: Brexit 94 HOUSE OF COMMONS Doctors 95 COMMISSION 107 Doctors: Sexual Offences 95 Members 107 Geriatrics 96 HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND Health: Telford and Wrekin 96 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 109 Hospitals: Consultants 97 Antisemitism 109 Hospitals: Parking 98 Housing: Broadband 109 HOME OFFICE 98 Housing: Construction 110 Asylum: Employment 98 Ministry of Housing, Borders: Personal Records 98 Communities and Local Government: Brexit 110 Carillion 99 Owner Occupation 111 Trade Remedies Authority: Parks 111 Public Appointments 120 Planning 112 UK Trade With EU 120 Planning Permission: USA: Visas 121 Recreation Spaces 112 JUSTICE 121 Private Rented Housing: Abortion 121 Tenants 112 Aiding and Abetting 122 Sand: South East 113 Amey 122 Sleeping Rough 113 Amey and Carillion 124 Supported Housing 114 Birmingham Prison: Civil INTERNATIONAL Disorder 124 DEVELOPMENT 114 Capita 124 Africa and Bangladesh: Courts 125 Leprosy 114 Courts: Fines 126 Department for International Development: Brexit 115 Courts: ICT 126 Developing Countries: Courts: Video Conferencing 126 Education 115 Criminal Cases Review Developing Countries: Commission 128 Religious Freedom 115 Domestic Violence 129 Independent Commission for Electronic Tagging 130 Aid Impact 116 Employment Tribunals Overseas Aid: Corruption 116 Service: Fees and Charges 130 Prosperity Fund 117 Family Courts: Domestic South Africa: Water 117 Violence 130 INTERNATIONAL TRADE 118 Gov Facility Services 131 Board of Trade: Northern Immigration: Appeals 131 Ireland 118 Interserve 132 Department for International John Worboys 132 Trade: Child Care Vouchers 118 Judgements: Appeals 133 Israel: Agriculture 118 Juries 133 Israel: Medicine 119 Juries: Translation Services 134 Members' Interests 119 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Revenue and Customs: Punishment of Offenders Act Disclosure of Information 119 2012 134 Trade Remedies Authority 120 Ministry of Justice: Brexit 134 Ministry of Justice: Carillion 135 East Coast Rail Franchise: Ministry of Justice: Child Care Incentives 147 Vouchers 136 First Transpennine Express 147 Ministry of Justice: FV Solstice 148 Consultants 136 High Speed 2 Railway Line: Ministry of Justice: Contracts 137 Expenditure 148 Ministry of Justice: Land 138 Minibuses: Licensing 149 Ministry of Justice: Public Motor Vehicles: Insurance 149 Expenditure 139 Public Transport: Yorkshire Offenders: Rehabilitation 139 and the Humber 150 Peter Gross 140 Railways: Compensation 151 Prison Officers: Recruitment 140 Railways: Devon 151 Prison Service: Training 140 Railways: Expenditure 152 Prisons: Drugs 140 Railways: Fixed Penalties 152 Prisons: Repairs and Railways: Franchises 153 Maintenance 141 Railways: Procurement 153 Prisons: Vandalism 142 Railways: York 154 Probation Hostels 142 Severn River Crossing: Tolls 154 Reoffenders: Females 143 Transport: North of England 155 Sexual Offences: Transport: Per Capita Costs 156 Rehabilitation 144 West Coast Railway Line 157 NORTHERN IRELAND 145 WALES 157 Northern Ireland Office: Brexit 145 Wales Office: Brexit 157 Northern Ireland Office: Child Care Vouchers 145 Wales Office: Child Care Vouchers 157 TRANSPORT 145 WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 158 Department for Transport: Brexit 145 Disability: Mental Health 158 Department for Transport: Employment: Equality 158 Child Care Vouchers 146 Pupils: Bullying 159 Department for Transport: Sexual Harassment 159 Land 146 WORK AND PENSIONS 160 Diesel Vehicles: Pollution Department for Work and Control 146 Pensions: Brexit 160 East Coast Rail Franchise 147 Employment and Support Allowance: Correspondence 160 Funerals: Fees and Charges 161 Shared Ownership: Carers 163 Independent Assessment MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS 165 Services: Complaints 161 TREASURY 165 Mesothelioma: Compensation 162 Sanctions: Democratic Poverty: Children 162 Republic of Congo 165

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

Companies: Registration Dame Margaret Hodge: [126614] To ask Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in how many cases where HMRC raised objection to the striking off of a company by the Register of Companies was that objection acted upon by the Registrar of Companies in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; in how many such cases was additional tax revenue raised as a result of that objection in each such year; and how much additional revenue was raised as a consequence in each such year. Andrew Griffiths: Please find figures below for the number of HMRC Objections to the dissolution process actioned by Companies House in each of the financial years requested. Please note that all HMRC objections received are actioned.

PERIOD NUMBER OF HMRC OBJECTIONS ACTIONED.

2012-2013 109,821

2013-2014 90,947

2014-2015 59,336

2015-2016 94,280

2016-2017 107,372

Please note: The information provided forms part of Companies House’s management information and is unaudited. Therefore, it is subject to change and should be used for indicative purposes only. HMRC do not separately estimate the tax gap due to companies being struck off. However, the HMRC Trust Statement contains figures for tax written off each year. Around 90% of the amounts written off relate to insolvencies. These figures differ from those provided by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the answer to PQ UIN 126607 for a number of reasons. In particular, timing differences in the recognition of objections from HMRC, situations where the application to strike off has been abandoned by the time HMRC’s objection is processed and cases where HMRC are required to issue multiple objections in respect of the same winding up due the length of time involved. Company Accounts Nigel Mills: [126699] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies did not file an (a) financial statement and (b) annual return or confirmation statement on time in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17. Nigel Mills: [126700] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies that did not file an (a) financial statement and (b) annual return or confirmation statement on time in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17 did so at a later date. Nigel Mills: [126701] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies were issued with penalty notices as a result of a failure to file (a) financial statements and (b) an annual return or confirmation statement on time in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17; and what the value was of those penalties. Nigel Mills: [126702] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of penalties issued to companies as a result of a failure to file (a) financial statements or (b) and annual return or confirmation statement on time in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17 was paid by those companies. Nigel Mills: [126703] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of penalties levied to companies that failed to file their (a) financial statements and (b) annual return or confirmation statement on time were outstanding at the end of (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17. Nigel Mills: [126704] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much and what proportion of penalties levied to companies that failed to file (a) financial statements and (b) an annual return or confirmation statement on time were written off as bad debts in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17. Nigel Mills: [126705] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many companies were classified as dormant in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015- 16 and (v) 2016-17. Nigel Mills: [126707] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff his Department employed to check that companies filed financial statements to comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and other relevant legislation and regulation in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Nigel Mills: [126709] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what checks his Department makes on the financial statements presented to Companies House before they are accepted as meeting the requirements of the Companies Acts 2006 and other relevant legislation. Nigel Mills: [126711] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff were employed to assess whether companies filed annual returns of confirmation statements that complied with the (a) requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and (b) other appropriate legislation and regulation in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17. Andrew Griffiths: This information is currently being researched. I will place this in the Libraries of the House as soon as the information is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126825] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Andrew Griffiths: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 2017/18 - BEIS received £35.1m of this funding. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 2018/19 and 2019/20 – £1.5bn in each year. BEIS is currently working with HM Treasury to determine its allocation for 2018/19, with the aim of reaching agreement soon. Departmental allocations for 2019/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 2020/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Land Jack Lopresti: [126398] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Richard Harrington: The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's vision to create an efficient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable estate whose performance matches the best of the private sector. As a Government we are delivering this vision, ensuring that the estate is fit for purpose, is frequently reviewed and aligned to the Estate Strategy, and is managed in an efficient and effective way. The current landholdings of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed. The information is correct at time of publication.

LAND IN HECTARES ENGLAND SOUTH WEST

Department for Business, 67 13 Energy and Industrial Strategy

Agencies 89 25

Non-departmental public 28,618 2,838 bodies

Total 28,774 2,876

Of the total land the Department holds in England, 54 hectares are currently declared as surplus, none of which are in the South West. These figures include agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate Tulip Siddiq: [126332] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (a) how much funding was allocated to and (b) how many full time equivalent staff have been employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate since 2016. Tulip Siddiq: [126565] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding has been allocated from the public purse to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate since 2016; and how many FTE staff that inspectorate has employed on an annual basis since that date. Andrew Griffiths: The table below details the budget for the Employment Agency Standard’s (EAS) Inspectorate and the number of staff employed by EAS since 2016:

EMPLOYMENT AGENCY NUMBER OF FULL TIME STANDARD INSPECTORATE EQUIVALENT STAFF FOR EACH YEAR BUDGET YEAR

2015/16 £500,000 11

2016/17 £500,000 11

2017/18 £725,000* 12

*The increase in budget was provided to purchase new IT systems to increase casework productivity and support EAS’ intelligence capability. Full information regarding the activity of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate can be found in in their annual reports. These can be found at the following location: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-agency-standards-eas- inspectorate-annual-reports

Employment: Telephone Services Tulip Siddiq: [126572] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many calls the Pay and Work Rights helpline received in 2016-2017; and how much funding that helpline received in each year between 2015 and 2017. Andrew Griffiths: Since April 2015, the Acas Helpline has been, in addition to their usual services, answering queries previously handled by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline (PWRH). This includes calls on the National Minimum Wage, working for an employment agency, working hours, rest breaks and holidays, agricultural workers’ rights and working for a gangmaster. Anyone who has any questions about their employment rights or workplace issues is now able to obtain this information in one place by contacting the Acas Helpline. The cost of running Acas Helpline Services, including advice provided by telephone and digitally, are:-

YEAR COST (£ THOUSANDS)

2014/15 £13,191

2015/16 £13,748 YEAR COST (£ THOUSANDS)

2016/17 £14,162

The Acas helpline answered 886,929 calls in 2016/17 on employment matters. 115,151 queries were recorded relating to topics previously handled by the former Pay and Work Rights Helpline.

Energy: Billing Deidre Brock: [126928] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's most recent estimate is of the proportion of an average domestic energy bill which results from the cost of adherence to a Government policy; and if his Department will publish figures on such costs in each of the past ten years. Claire Perry: BEIS published analysis of the impact of energy and climate change policies on average household energy bills in 2012 and 2016 as part of the Clean Growth Strategy on 12 October 2017. This information is presented in table 1. In summary, the cost of policies (including carbon costs) delivering cleaner energy, support for vulnerable households and investing in upgrading our buildings accounted for around 12% of an average household dual fuel bill in 2016. However, these costs were on average estimated to be more than offset by savings from improvements to the energy efficiency of people’s homes, delivering a net saving of £14 on average in 2016. Table 1: Average impact of energy and climate change policies on household dual fuel bills

POLICY COSTS (AS POLICY ENERGY NET IMPACT OF REAL 2016 £ SHARE OF BILL) EFFICIENCY SAVINGS POLICIES

2012 £126 (10%) -£128 -£2

2016 £147 (12%) -£161 -£14

Source: Data from figure 11 of the Clean Growth Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/651916 /BEIS_The_Clean_Growth_online_12.10.17.pdf. Deidre Brock: [126929] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage energy suppliers to provide simpler bills for domestic customers. Claire Perry: Ofgem, as the energy regulator, are responsible for deciding what information suppliers have to provide on energy bills. Too much detailed information on energy bills is not always an effective way to engage with consumers who can find this too complex or confusing. Ofgem are therefore introducing a principles based approach which allows bills to be simplified, with information made available elsewhere in a way which works for consumers. This approach recognises the different preferences consumers have for how they receive information, and balances protection for consumers with greater room for flexibility and innovation in the future. Ofgem are also conducting trials, the first of which concluded in autumn last year, to uncover what works in engaging consumers, without irritating them. These trials will be scaled up and rolled out nationally if successful.

Energy: Meters Deidre Brock: [126925] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on trends in switching of the implementation of the price cap for pre-payment meter energy customers; and if he will publish switching rates among these customers for each of the last twelve months for which figures are available. Claire Perry: Ofgem’s safeguard tariff includes a degree of ‘headroom’, to allow suppliers to offer competitive deals beneath the level of the cap and incentivise switching. BEIS publish quarterly domestic energy switching statistics provided by Ofgem. The latest data published in December 2017 shows 1,284,000 electricity meters and 1,110,000 gas meters switched energy supplier in Q3 of 2017. We do not hold data that provides a breakdown of the number of switches by payment type. Deidre Brock: [126931] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what allowance it made for the average cost to suppliers of installing a smart meter when setting the pre-payment meter price cap. Claire Perry: Ofgem are responsible for setting the safeguard tariff (or ‘price cap’) for pre-payment meter customers. The methodology used for setting the level of the cap is based on calculations of wholesale costs, network costs, policy costs, operating costs, and costs specifically associated with prepayment meters. This includes the costs and benefits of smart metering. Further details are available on Ofgem’s website: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/gas/retail-market/market-review-and- reform/implementation-cma-remedies/safeguard-tariff-or-price-cap. Energy: Overseas Trade Nigel Dodds: [126900] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the ten largest global markets are for UK energy (a) exports and (b) imports. Claire Perry: In 2016, the ten largest global markets for UK energy (that is volumes traded of: coal, primary oils and oil products, gas, electricity and renewables) were:

RANK EXPORTS IMPORTS

1 The Netherlands Norway

2 Belgium The Netherlands

3 Germany Russia

4 United States Qatar

5 China United States

6 Irish Republic Belgium

7 France Nigeria

8 South Korea Algeria

9 Spain Saudi Arabia

10 Canada Sweden

Data sources: Data from Digest of UK Energy Statistics and HM Revenue and Customs.

Energy: Prices Deidre Brock: [126926] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of its proposal for an energy price cap on levels of customer switching. Claire Perry: As set out in the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill, Ofgem would be required to set the level of the price cap in a way such that, amongst other things, it would maintain incentives for switching and enable effective competition. The price cap would be lifted once the conditions for effective competition are in place in accordance with the process in draft clause 6. Deidre Brock: [126927] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department plans to take to withdraw evergreen tariffs in the domestic energy market. Claire Perry: The Government has published the draft Domestic Gas & Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill which would require Ofgem to impose a tariff cap on domestic standard variable and default tariffs with limited exemptions. This will ensure that customers on these tariffs do not pay unjustifiably high prices. A number of suppliers are working to reduce the number of their customers on these types of tariffs through better engagement. Deidre Brock: [126933] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of an energy price cap on delivery of (a) switching rates and (b) other effects of the introduction of smart meters. Claire Perry: Ofgem would set the level of the price cap in a way such that, amongst other things, it would maintain incentives for switching and enable effective competition. The draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill is clear that Ofgem must take into account an efficient supplier’s ability to finance its activities. This would include the rollout of smart meters, which is a requirement of their supply licence. Deidre Brock: [126934] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons his Department's impact assessment for the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill does not include quantitative data on the effect of a price cap on (a) investment in the energy sector and (b) customers. Claire Perry: As set out in the Impact Assessment for the draft Bill, the costs and benefits will depend on the detailed methodology the independent regulator Ofgem adopts to set the level of a tariff cap. The Government does not wish to pre-judge Ofgem’s work in establishing the methodology by including quantified analysis of the costs and benefits in the Impact Assessment. Deidre Brock: [126935] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of implementation of proposals in the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill on delivery of the (a) Energy Company Obligation and (b) Warm Homes Discount. Claire Perry: Obligated energy suppliers will have to meet their targets under the Energy Company Obligation and Warm Home Discount regardless of the implementation of the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill. Deidre Brock: [126936] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Competition and Markets Authority, (b) Ofgem and (c) energy suppliers on proposals regarding the right of energy companies to appeal in the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill. Claire Perry: BEIS Ministers and officials meet stakeholders to discuss a range of issues. The draft Bill would place a new duty on Ofgem to implement a cap on standard variable and default tariffs, and energy companies would be able to challenge Ofgem’s decision on the setting of the cap by way of judicial review. The Government believes that a Court is capable of considering these matters.

Fireworks: Prosecutions Grahame Morris: [126916] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many prosecutions there have been under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 in the last five years. Andrew Griffiths: The Ministry of Justice has provided the following information: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for offences under the Fireworks Regulations 2004, from 2006 to 2016 (latest available data), can be viewed in the attached table. Court proceedings data for 2017 are planned for publication in May 2018.

GKN: Melrose Lucy Allan: [126799] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to protect (a) jobs and (b) operations at GKN Telford, in respect of Melrose Plc’s proposed takeover of that company. Richard Harrington: While this is a commercial matter for the companies involved, Government is closely monitoring the situation. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has spoken on an impartial basis to both companies. Takeovers of publicly listed companies in the UK must abide by the Takeover Code, which sets out an orderly framework for how takeovers must be conducted, and earlier this month new changes to the Code were introduced that will give companies subject to a bid more time to prepare their response. Ministers can only intervene in mergers on public interest grounds, covering national security, financial stability or media plurality. Darren Jones: [126992] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effect on domestic defence supply chains of the takeover of GKN by Melrose. Andrew Griffiths: While this is a commercial matter for the companies involved, Government is closely monitoring the situation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has spoken on an impartial basis to both companies. Takeovers of publicly listed companies in the UK must abide by the Takeover Code, which sets out an orderly framework for how takeovers must be conducted, and earlier this month new changes to the Code were introduced that will give companies subject to a bid more time to prepare their response. Ministers can only intervene in mergers on public interest grounds, covering national security, financial stability or media plurality.

Insurance: Terrorism Neil Coyle: [126857] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings his Department has held with providers of terrorism insurance in the last 12 months. Andrew Griffiths: BEIS Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/beis-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel- and-meetings

Modern Working Practices Review Bill Esterson: [127098] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125698, what his timetable is for the publication of his response to the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices. Andrew Griffiths: As I announced in the House on 7th February 2018, the Government has published its full response to the Taylor Review, setting out how we intend to develop further the strength of the UK labour market and ensure it meets the challenges and opportunities presented by new ways of working and innovative business models. Copies of the Government response and the four consultations have been placed in the Libraries of the House. TREASURY

Bank Services: Fees and Charges Thangam Debbonaire: [126769] To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government is taking steps to prevent people from incurring debt as a result of overdraft charges. John Glen: Decisions on overdraft fees and charges are a commercial matter for firms. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires firms to treat their customers fairly and has broad and robust powers to enforce breaches of its rules. In its July 2017 review of high-cost credit, the FCA concluded that it had concerns about both arranged and unarranged overdrafts. On 31 January 2018 the FCA published an update on its review, confirming it had seen evidence of consumer harm and would be undertaking further analysis to identify the extent of that harm, and how it might be resolved. The FCA has committed to publishing the results of this analysis in May 2018. The FCA also confirmed that overdrafts would be considered as part of its wider Strategic Review of Retail Business Banking Models and that it would look to consult on any further remedies towards the end of 2018, taking into account the findings of the Strategic Review. The Government supports the FCA’s work in this area and will continue to work with it to ensure that all consumers who use high-cost credit products are treated fairly.

Banks: Government Assistance Chris Ruane: [126919] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2018 to Question 121718 on Banks: Government Assistance, how much in funding from the public purse was allocated to each UK bank in (a) grants and (b) loans since 2007. John Glen: I refer the Honourable Gentleman to my previous answer, that the Office for Budget Responsibility published an assessment of the fiscal impact of government interventions in the financial sector since the financial crisis in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The latest EFO, published in November 2017, gives the total and individual cost of financial sector interventions in table 4.4. The Bank of England regularly publishes data on its ongoing market schemes on its website. The latest quarterly data (Q3 2017) by participating financial institutions for the Funding for Lending Scheme is at: www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/funding- for-lending-and-other-market-operations and for the Term Funding Scheme at: www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/quantitative-easing-and-the-asset-purchase- facility. The British Business Bank, through its Investment Programme, has committed £30m to Shawbrook Bank and £30m to Atom Bank. Further information can be found in the British Business Bank’s Annual Report at: https://annualreport2017.british-business- bank.co.uk/uploads/documents/BBB_AR_2017_Tagged.pdf

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges Chris Ruane: [126910] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the ratio of fee- charging and free-to-use cash dispensers in the 100 most deprived wards in England. John Glen: There are currently around 70,000 ATMs in the UK, 55,000 of which are free to use. Government has not made an estimate of the ratio of fee charging and free to use cash dispensers in in the 100 most deprived wards in England. However, LINK, the scheme behind the UK’s ATM network, publishes data showing the number of free- to-use ATMs and pay-to-use ATMs available in each Parliamentary Constituency on its website https://www.link.co.uk/initiatives/financial-inclusion/.

Climate Change Levy: Exemptions Alex Cunningham: [126387] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.47 of Autumn Budget 2017 on ensuring climate change levy exemptions for businesses that operate mineralogical and metallurgical processes remain operable after EU exit, what steps he has taken to clarify the definition of the exemptions in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2018-19. Robert Jenrick: Legislation amending the legal definition of the exemptions will be included in Finance Bill 2018-19 which will be introduced after Budget 2018 in the autumn. The legislation will be published in draft this summer.

Companies: Registration Dame Margaret Hodge: [126603] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies HMRC received in the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Mel Stride: The number of notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies received by HM Revenue and Customs in the relevant years was:

YEAR NUMBER OF NOTICES

2012/13 403,700

2013/14 427,290

2014/15 449,433 YEAR NUMBER OF NOTICES

2015/16 478,952

2016/17 498,432

Dame Margaret Hodge: [126607] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies HMRC raised an objection to in the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Mel Stride: The number of notices of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies to which HMRC raised an objection in the relevant years was:

YEAR NUMBER

2012/13 121,711

2013/14 101,334

2014/15 *

2015/16 93,195

2016/17 94,386

* the information needed to obtain the full figure for 2014/15 is not held centrally by HMRC as the process of making the objection changed during the year. These figures differ from those provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on PQ UIN 126614 for a number of reasons. These include timing differences in the recognition of objections from HMRC, situations where the application to strike off has been abandoned by the time HMRC’s objection is processed and cases where HMRC are required to issue multiple objections in respect of the same winding up due the length of time involved. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126613] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what five reasons HMRC has most frequently given in objection to the striking off of a company from the Register of Companies in each tax year since 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. Mel Stride: For reasons of taxpayer confidentially, HM Revenue and Customs does not give Companies House a reason for objecting to the striking off of a company from the Register of Companies. HM Revenue and Customs writes to the company explaining why an objection has been made. The precise reasons can vary from case to case. Some common reasons are:  that the company owes money to HM Revenue and Customs;  that an intervention is being conducted into the Corporation Tax or other tax affairs of the company;  that a Corporation Tax return is outstanding or  that there is a linked avoidance case in litigation.

Corporation Tax Dame Margaret Hodge: [126581] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC made of the number of companies liable for corporation tax in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; how many such companies were sent a corporation tax return for an accounting period ending in each of those years; how many submitted the corporation tax return (i) within the required time limit and (ii) after the limit in each of those years; and how many such companies were not sent a corporation tax return or a reminder to submit one in each of those years. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126584] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many corporation tax returns were requested of companies by parliamentary constituency in which their registered office was located in the tax year 2015-15; and of those requests how many returns were received by parliamentary constituency. Mel Stride: The table below sets out the number of taxpayers with Corporation Tax (CT) payable for 2012-13 to 2015-16. Corporation Tax is only payable for those companies with a taxable profit. The latest year for which figures are available is 2015-16. These figures are available in Table 11.3 of the Corporation Tax National Statistics publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/corporation-tax-number-of- companies-income-allowances-tax-liabilities-and-deductions

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Number of 1,030,748 1,115,416 1,229,502 1,369,397 taxpayers with Corporation Tax payable

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sends a notice to file a Company Tax return to every company which it believes to be active, so with any possibility of having a CT liability. A notice to file a return is for an accounting period of up to one year and is sent to a company in the month following the end of the period. The time limit for submitting the return is one year after the end of the period, but some returns are received after the time limit. HMRC sent the following number of notices to file in respect of accounting periods ending in the following years:

YEAR NUMBER OF NOTICES TO FILE (THOUSANDS)

2012/13 1,980

2013/14 2,102

2014/15 2,431

2015/16 2,733

2016/17 3,020

The figures include more than one notice for some companies, for example ones that are recently incorporated. This represents HMRC’s estimate of the number of companies that might be within the charge to CT. The information in respect of the number of returns submitted within the required time limit, number of returns submitted after the limit, the number of companies not sent a CT return or a reminder to submit is not centrally collated by HMRC. Information on the number of notifications to file by parliamentary constituency is not readily available. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126583] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many corporation tax payers submitted a corporation tax return to HMRC in respect of an accounting period ending in the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; how many of those tax payers declared profits giving rise to corporation tax liability in each such year; what the combined (i) monetary value of such profits and (ii) associated liability for corporation tax was in each such year; how many returns declared a loss in each year; what the combined monetary value of such losses was in each such year; if he will provide that information by parliamentary constituency based upon the registered address of the company for 2015-16; and if he will make a statement. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126586] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the sum total of corporation tax paid based on the registered office of companies by parliamentary constituency was in the tax year 2015-16. Mel Stride: The information in respect of the number of returns submitted is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The table below sets out the number of companies declaring gross taxable trading profit, the monetary value of gross taxable trading profit, the number of companies with Corporation Tax payable and the monetary value of Corporation Tax payable for 2012-13 to 2015-16. The latest year for which figures are available is 2015-16.

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Number of 1,159,805 1,259,504 1,386,764 1,515,709 companies with Gross taxable trading profit

Monetary value of 309,373 332,247 365,720 378,602 Gross taxable trading profit (£m)

Number of 1,030,748 1,115,416 1,229,502 1,369,397 companies with Corporation Tax payable

Corporation tax 40,270 39,563 42,833 43,419 payable (£m)

These figures are available in Table 11.3 of the Corporation Tax National Statistics publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/corporation-tax-number-of- companies-income-allowances-tax-liabilities-and-deductions The table below sets out the number of companies declaring gross trading losses for 2012-13 to 2015-16. The latest year for which figures are available is 2015-16.

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Number of 305,269 324,182 335,000 358,802 companies with no income or just Gross trading losses

Monetary value of 91,514 82,511 67,433 78,093 Gross trading losses (£m)

The table attached sets out the number of companies declaring gross taxable trading profit, the monetary value of gross taxable trading profit, the number of companies with gross trading losses, the monetary value of gross trading losses, the number of companies with Corporation Tax payable and the monetary value of Corporation Tax payable by parliamentary constituency for 2015-16.

Attachments: 1. PQ table [180207 PQ table.pdf] Dame Margaret Hodge: [126587] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies were not sent corporation tax returns in respect of their accounting periods ending in each of the tax years (a) 2012- 13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; and what the five most common reasons were for why such requests were not made. Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not send a corporation tax return to companies. HMRC sends a notice to file a company tax return to every company which it believes is within the charge to Corporation Tax. HMRC does not hold centrally collated information in respect of companies that were not sent a notice to file. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Notices to file were sent to the following number of companies in respect of accounting periods ending in the years shown:

YEAR NUMBER OF COMPANIES (THOUSANDS)

2012/13 1,980

2013/14 2,102

2014/15 2,431

2015/16 2,733

2016/17 3,020

The five most common reasons why companies were not sent a notice to file were  the company was dormant,  The company was exempt,  the company was not yet within the charge to CT,  the company had ceased trading, or  where HMRC did not hold a valid registered office address.

Corporation Tax: Exemptions Dame Margaret Hodge: [126616] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the companies that were incorporated registered for corporation tax in each of the years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; how many of those companies were granted exemption from filing corporation tax returns in each of those years as a result of information provided during the registration process; how many of those companies were granted that exemption on the grounds of being dormant; and how many enquiries were raised each year by HMRC into those companies that did not register for corporation tax on the grounds that it was suspected that they were trading; and how many of those enquiries in each year showed that the company in question was trading, by registered office address of the companies in question sorted by parliamentary constituency in respect of the year 2015-16. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126618] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a standard period of exemption from filing corporation tax returns was granted to companies which claimed to be dormant in the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and () 2016-17; and for what reasons that period of exemption was chosen. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126619] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average duration of an exemption from filing corporation tax returns granted to a company that claimed to be dormant was in the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Mel Stride: All companies that are on the Register of Companies are automatically registered for Corporation Tax at HMRC by virtue of a daily data feed from Companies House to HMRC. The numbers registered for each year were:-

2012-13 486,512

2013-14 536,534

2014-15 588,741

2015-16 614,332

2016-17 648,632

Companies are required by law (Section 55 Finance Act 2004) to notify HMRC when they come within the charge to the tax and there is a penalty for failure to do so (Paragraph 2 Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998). A company must deliver a return if it receives a notice from HMRC requiring it to do so. HMRC issues notices to companies that it believes to be active, and thus within the charge to the tax because they are active. A company must inform HMRC if it has become chargeable to corporation tax but has not received a notice requiring it to deliver a return. The period for which a company might not be active depends on the circumstances of the company. HMRC reviews companies treated as inactive on a risk basis. Where HMRC suspects that a company that was treated as inactive has come within the charge to Corporation Tax but has not informed HMRC, a notice requiring a return to be delivered is sent to the company. HMRC does not keep a central record of how many notices requiring a return are sent in such cases. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126620] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many inquiries into the suspected abuse of dormant company status for corporation tax purposes were undertaken in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; and how many abuses of that status were discovered with what revenue recovered as a result of those inquiries in each of those years. Mel Stride: Where HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) suspects that a company that was treated as inactive has come within the charge to Corporation Tax but has not informed HMRC, a notice requiring a return to be delivered is sent to the company. HMRC does not keep a central record of how many notices requiring a return are sent in such cases.

Corporation Tax: Fines Dame Margaret Hodge: [126615] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates were made of the revenue forgone by the public purse from (a) corporation tax, (b) income tax, (c) National Insurance contributions, (d) value added tax and (e) other taxes as a result of companies being struck from the Register of Companies in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15, (iv) 2015-16 and (v) 2016-17; what that data is by registered office of the companies giving rise to the loss for 2015-16. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126622] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the monetary value of corporation tax penalties for late submission of tax returns charged but not paid were in each of the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126623] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what value of penalties due by companies for failing to submit a corporation tax return was outstanding at the end of (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126624] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of corporation tax penalty notices for the late submission of corporation tax returns were written off as irrecoverable debt in each of the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17. Mel Stride: HMRC do not separately estimate the tax gap due to companies being struck off. However, the HMRC Trust Statement contains figures for tax written off each year. Around 90% of the amounts written off relate to insolvencies. The remainder of the information requested is not held centrally by HMRC. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126621] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many penalty notices were issued in respect of the late submission of corporation tax returns in each of the tax years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17; and what the monetary value of those penalties was in each of the years in question, by registered office address of the companies in question and by parliamentary constituency in respect of the year 2015-16. Dame Margaret Hodge: [126625] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many of the penalty notices issued to companies as a result of their failure to submit a corporation tax return on time in each of the years (a 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16 and (e) 2016-17 were withdrawn as a result of successful appeals by the companies to whom they were issued; what value of penalties were cancelled as a result of such appeals in each such year; and if he will make a statement. Mel Stride: The number of companies issued with penalty notices as a result of their failure to submit a Company Tax Return on time in the relevant years was:

YEAR NUMBER OF COMPANIES

2012-13 229,016

2013-14 230,063

2014-15 236,692

2015-16 258,555

2016-17 289,393

The information in respect of the remaining elements in these questions is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Cryptocurrencies Mr Barry Sheerman: [126959] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will incorporate consumers who hold digital currencies into the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987. John Glen: As with all policies, the Government keeps its policy towards digital currencies under review. The Government recognises the significant benefits that digital currencies and the related technology could bring, as well as potential challenges. The Government is monitoring the situation, and believes any regulation should be proportionate and risk-based.

Electronic Commerce: Taxation Stephen Gethins: [126500] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on tax receipts of consumers choosing to buy items online from non-UK domiciled firms. Mel Stride: HMRC has estimated the amount of VAT foregone by sellers on online marketplaces was between £1bn and £1.5bn in 2016-17, and is attributed to both UK-based and overseas sellers. Stephen Gethins: [126501] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on HMRC using internet service provider data to calculate and process sales tax on goods bought by consumers. Mel Stride: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed. Stephen Gethins: [126502] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of HMRC using internet service provider data to calculate and process (a) VAT and (b) corporation tax. Mel Stride: HMRC has a comprehensive set of data-gathering powers which it uses for a range of compliance and operational purposes. They gather data from a range of intermediaries and third parties, operating both online and in the traditional economy. HMRC keeps both its powers and its use of them under review. Stephen Gethins: [126503] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from civil society organisations on HMRC using internet service provider data to calculate and process sales tax on goods bought by consumers. Mel Stride: The Government receives a large number of representations from a wide range of organisations as part of the policy development process.

En+ Group: London Stock Exchange Sir Mike Penning: [126460] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of whether the listing of EN+ Group on the London Stock Exchange adheres to his Department's guidelines on such listings; and if he will make a statement. John Glen: HM Treasury does not provide guidelines for companies seeking to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Companies seeking to admit securities to the Official List must apply to the Financial Conduct Authority, in its role as the UK Listing Authority (UKLA). For listed companies, the UKLA monitors and enforces compliance with the Listing Rules.

Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme Mr Alister Jack: [126962] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Enterprise Investment Scheme and the (b) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme. Mel Stride: HM Treasury recently conducted a thorough assessment of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) as part of the Patient Capital Review (PCR). The PCR consultation Financing Growth in Innovative Firms along with the government response, published at Autumn Budget 2017, can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/financing-growth-in-innovative-firms Mr Alister Jack: [126963] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses have participated in the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme since the inception of those programmes. Mel Stride: HMRC publishes reports on the number of companies that have participated in the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Since the inception of these schemes, 26,355 companies have participated in EIS and 6,665 companies in SEIS. Further information about the take-up of these schemes up to the end of 2015/16 (the most recent figures) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/enterprise-investment-scheme-seed- enterprise-investment-scheme-and-social-investment-tax-relief-statistics-october- 2017

Insurance: Terrorism Neil Coyle: [126858] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings his Department has held with terrorism insurance providers in the last 12 months. John Glen: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts- and-overseas-travel The government remains in regular discussion with the insurance industry, Pool Re and other interested parties on the provision of terrorism insurance in the UK.

Money Laundering: EU Law Dame Margaret Hodge: [126911] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects to implement the EU's fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive fully in the (a) UK and (b) Gibraltar once the UK has left the EU. John Glen: Provisional political agreement was reached at EU-level on amendments to the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive in December 2017. The Government anticipates that they will be published in the Official Journal of the EU in summer of this year with Member States then having 18 months to transpose the amendments after they enter into force.The Government expects that the transposition deadline for these amendments will fall after the date on which the UK ceases to be a member of the EU. Whether we are legally required to transpose the amendments will therefore depend on the negotiated outcome over the terms of the Implementation Period.Whether Gibraltar is legally required to transpose the Directive will similarly depend upon the negotiated outcome over the terms of the Implementation Period. Pensions: Personal Savings James Frith: [126457] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have withdrawn their retirement savings from a private pension in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the long-term effect of the early withdrawal of those retirement savings on the retirement incomes of those people. John Glen: Between Q2 2016 and Q1 2017, individuals accessed over £6.4 billion from defined contribution pension pots through 1.4 million payments. Early evidence collected by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HMRC suggests that individuals are making decisions to cash in small pots while drawing down a steadier income stream from larger pension pots. However, as of March 2017, 5.8 million defined contribution pots eligible for withdrawal, or 80% of all eligible pots, remained untouched. Overall it is too early to draw definitive behavioural lessons from the data that is currently available on withdrawals from defined contribution pots, given that pension freedoms have only been in place for little over two years. The FCA is also undertaking a review of the post-freedoms retirement market and published its Retirement Outcomes Review interim report in July 2017. The final report is due to be published in the first half of 2018. The Government welcomes the FCA’s work in this area, awaits the publication of the final report, and will carefully consider any recommendations contained within it.

Poverty: Children Kate Osamor: [126853] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February to Question 125706, on Poverty: Children, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the freeze on (a) child benefit and (b) child tax credits on child poverty in the last seven years. Elizabeth Truss: The proportion of people in absolute poverty is at record lows. Since 2010 there are 600,000 fewer people in absolute poverty, including 200,000 fewer children. Work is the most effective way out of poverty and unemployment has not been lower since 1975. From 2008 to 2015, average earnings grew by 12%, whereas most working- age benefits increased by 21%.

Public Sector: North East Catherine McKinnell: [126735] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has conducted any risk assessments on public service contracts held with private sector contractors in the North East. Robert Jenrick: Any public-sector body contracting for goods and/or services has an obligation to carry out an appropriate risk assessment as part of the procurement process. Furthermore, both the Cabinet Office and the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) carry out their own risk assessments of suppliers providing common goods and services to the public sector under their framework agreements.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Small Businesses Bill Esterson: [127049] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 6 February 2018, Official Report column 1388, Point of Order whether there are discrepancies between the summary and the full contents of the section 166 report on RBS's treatment of small business customers; and if he will make a statement. John Glen: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its final summary of the independent review of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) treatment of small and medium-sized enterprise customers transferred to its Global Restructuring Group (GRG). The review is a matter for the FCA, which is operationally independent of Government. The FCA announced it is investigating the matters arising from the review and focusing on whether there is any basis for it to take further action. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further whilst this process is ongoing.

Sanctions: Democratic Republic of Congo Helen Goodman: [126713] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) individuals, (b) corporations and (c) other entities had assets frozen (i) in the UK, (ii) in the British Overseas Territories and (c) by UK-based institutions as a result of the sanctions applied to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017, and what estimate he has made of the value of those assets. John Glen: The approximate aggregate value of funds frozen in the UK (under EU Regulation 1183/2005 Democratic Republic of Congo) was £ 580,000,000 at the close of business on 30 September 2016. The figures for the 2017 round of UK frozen funds reporting are in the process of being finalised and as such are not currently available. The frozen funds continue to belong to the individuals and entities listed under the Regulation and are not seized or otherwise held by HM Government. The figure is provided on an aggregate basis so as not to indirectly disclose the value of funds held by particular individuals or entities. British Overseas Territories adopt all Sanctions listings that the UK do, to be in line with international standards. The specific information on the number of people or entities who have assets frozen in the overseas territories lies with the individual territories themselves.

Treasury: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126838] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Elizabeth Truss: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18 – HMT itself received £6m of this funding. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working to determine HMT’s allocation for 18/19 and we are aiming to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review.

Treasury: Land Jack Lopresti: [126391] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies, and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England, and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Robert Jenrick: The UK Government is a significant landowner. The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's vision to create an efficient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable estate whose performance matches the best of the private sector. As a Government we are delivering this vision, ensuring that the estate is fit for purpose, is frequently reviewed and aligned to the Estate Strategy, and is managed in an efficient and effective way. The current landholdings of HM Treasury are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed. The information is correct at time of publication.

LAND IN SQUARE METRES* ENGLAND SOUTH WEST

Department 24,540.33 0

Agencies 0 0

Non-departmental public 0 0 LAND IN SQUARE METRES* ENGLAND SOUTH WEST bodies

Total 24,540.33 0

The core department owns property that it both occupies and sublets to agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other government departments. Of the total land HM Treasury holds in England, zero hectares are currently declared as surplus. These figures include agencies and non-departmental public bodies. * We have interpreted this PQ to require information regarding freehold property only. No information quantifying hectares is available as HM Treasury’s property comprises only buildings.

Type 45 Destroyers: Procurement Mr Kevan Jones: [126654] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue accrued to the public purse in the form of (a) corporation tax, (b) personal tax and (c) National Insurance from the Ministry of Defence’s Type 45 programme. Mr Kevan Jones: [126655] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has accrued to the public purse in the form of (a) corporation tax, (b) personal tax and (c) National Insurance from the Ministry of Defence’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier programme to date. Mr Kevan Jones: [126656] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has accrued to the public purse in the form of (a) corporation tax, (b) personal tax and (c) National Insurance from the Ministry of Defence’s Astute submarine programme to date. Mel Stride: The requested amounts are not available as HMRC does not know how much taxable profits of companies and/or how much earnings of workers relate to the work they did for these programmes rather than other things.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Housing Mr Kevan Jones: [126331] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2018 to Question 124091, how many letters his Department received on concerns or complaints relating to service accommodation issues in the last five years. Mr Tobias Ellwood: I refer the hon. Member to answer 124091 in which I confirmed that nine letters had been recorded as having been received addressed to the Secretary of State for Defence from Service personnel and their dependants relating to service accommodation issues in the last two years. An additional two letters are recorded as having been received for the five year period requested. Further letters have been received by the Department through Ministerial Correspondence, however the Department is unable to confirm how many have been received as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Army: Redundancy Mr Kevan Jones: [125751] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army service leavers from (a) Infantry, (b) Royal Artillery, (c) Royal Corps of Signals, (d) Army Medical Services, (e) Adjutant General's Corps, (f) Royal Armoured Corps, (g) Army Air Corps, (h) Royal Engineers, (i) Royal Logistics Corps, (j) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and (k) Intelligence Corps (i) chose to be selected for redundancy and (ii) did not choose to be selected for redundancy were made redundant from the armed forces between September 2011 and June 2014. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of Army Service leavers who were made redundant between September 2011 and June 2014, broken down to applicant/non-applicant and Arm/Service is shown in the attached table.

Attachments: 1. Army Service Leavers [Army Service Leavers.docx]

China: Ballistic Missile Defence Mr Kevan Jones: [126970] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the announcement by China's Ministry of National Defence that it successfully tested a land-based mid-course missile interception system on 5 February 2018. Mr Tobias Ellwood: We continue to monitor and make assessments on these and other foreign missile capabilities that could pose a threat to UK interests both now and in the future. For reasons of safeguarding national security we do not comment on specific assessments. Defence Equipment: Procurement Mr Kevan Jones: [126325] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons exchange rates used by his Department in respect of costs associated with the Equipment Plan do not reflect the market rates at the date of that plan. Mr Tobias Ellwood: Ministry of Defence Head Office directs the use of standard exchange rate assumptions for forecasting 10-year costs across the Department. The full cost of required foreign currency at forecast exchange rates is recognised separately in the Department's budgetary planning process with a provision allocated corporately for the difference between costs at forecast rates and planning assumption rates. This mechanism ensures that the total forecast cost of foreign currency is recognised and managed in the context of the overall financial position of the Department, while allowing individual budget holders to focus on managing foreign currency demand rather than reacting to exchange rate changes. Mr Kevan Jones: [126326] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changes in exchange rates on the affordability of the Equipment Plan. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence considers the impact of foreign exchange as part of its routine financial management and builds appropriate levels of contingency into the Defence budget and equipment plan.

HMS Victory Mr Kevan Jones: [126987] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the battery of bronze cannon cast for the Royal Navy by the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich which were carried aboard HMS Victory 1744 were included in the gifting of the vessel to the Maritime Heritage Foundation. Mr Tobias Ellwood: In January 2012, the then Secretary of State for Defence transferred HMS VICTORY 1744 and all that is connected with the ship, situated in the immediate vicinity of where she is lying, to the Maritime Heritage Foundation upon trust. This would include the brass cannon dispersed around the wreck site.

Merlin Helicopters Mr Kevan Jones: [126367] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to re-establish air-to-air refuelling capability for the Agusta Westland Merlin HC4/4A helicopter fleet. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The potential to air-to-air refuel Merlin HC4/4A helicopters will continue to be reviewed but I am withholding further detail as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Military Bases: Brecon Stephen Doughty: [126435] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected date for completion of the transfer of HQ160 Brigade (Army) from Brecon to St Athan is. Mr Tobias Ellwood: As set out in the Better Defence Estates Strategy, announced by the former Secretary of State on 7 November 2016 (Official Report, column 1286), the Headquarters 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales will be relocated within Wales from Brecon Barracks before the planned disposal of that site by 2027. Further details have yet to be confirmed.

Military Bases: Nurseries Tulip Siddiq: [126454] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military units have received funding for childcare infrastructure from fines levied on banks in the LIBOR case. Mr Tobias Ellwood: In autumn 2013 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that up to £20 million of LIBOR fines would be provided to the Ministry of Defence in support of infrastructure improvements to childcare settings on the Defence Estate. The following childcare settings received funding:

Sunshine day nursery, Brize Norton

RAF Lossiemouth childcare centre

Medmenham early years, Medmenham

Benson children and family services (4children)

RAF Coningsby nursery and kids club, RAF Coningsby

CYP and Family welfare centre, High Wycombe

Maple Leaf day care, RAF Digby

RAF Valley

Norton Manor Camp, RM Taunton

Woodentots Nursery, HMS Collingwood Dhekelia early years, Dhekelia

Jumbles crèche, Ayios Nikolaos

Episkopi early years, Episkopi

Akrotiri first steps, Akrotiri

Blackdown pre-school, Blackdown

Invicta Park, Maidstone

Thorney Island nursery, Thorney Island

Chetwynd Barracks pre-school, Chilwell

Colchester Garrison pre-school and nursery

Caterpillas, Tidworth

Perham Down pre-school, Perham Down

The Haig day nursery

Noah's Ark under-fives, Bulford

Sunshine under 5's centre. Chester

Honeypots under 5's centre, Weeton

Rhyme Times, Lisburn

Quetta Park pre-school, Church Crookham

Sandhurst Station nursery, Sandhurst

Bovington nursery school, Bovington

Warminster Garrison nursery, Warminster

Dolly Mixtures pre-school and crèche, Credenhall

Dolly Mixtures pre-school and crèche, Hereford

Chetwynd Teddies nursery, Chilwell

Kinloss day care centre, Kinloss

Wimberley Estate childcare centre, Inverness

Little Jimmies playgroup, Blandford

Stepping Stones pre-school, Strensall

Busy Bees, Wimbish Yellow Ribbon pre-school, Ripon

The Beehive, York

In addition to the £20 million, the following LIBOR grants for improvements to childcare facilities have been awarded: £24,000 for St. Nicholas Pre-School and Nursery, Colchester Garrison. £1.9 million for new buildings for pre-school age children of Special Air Service personnel. £1.85 million awarded to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for planned childcare improvements in the following locations: South Cerney, Woodbridge, Pirbright, Worthy Down, Abingdon and Andover.

Military Bases: Security Mrs Madeleine Moon: [126687] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department determines the level of security to be set at each of its establishments; and if he will make a statement. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) sets policy for the range of security measures required to protect its people, infrastructure and equipment on MOD establishments. Local implementation to mitigate security risks is dependent on the threats and vulnerabilities of individual sites. Mrs Madeleine Moon: [126688] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's establishments have changed their security requirements in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence Police Stewart Malcolm McDonald: [127005] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officers were employed by the Ministry of Defence Police in each year since 2010. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The strength number for the Ministry of Defence Police as at 31 March for each year since 2010 is: 2010 - 3,464 2011 - 3,302 2012 - 2,949 2013 - 2,660 2014 - 2,497 2015 - 2,503 2016 - 2,520 2017 - 2,570 Rosie Cooper: [127063] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Institute of Naval Medicine developing a bespoke fitness assessment for the Ministry of Defence Police. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Institute of Naval Medicine determined options for a Ministry of Defence Police occupational fitness standard following a study undertaken during 2014. There are no current plans to commission any further work from the Institute of Naval Medicine on this matter. Rosie Cooper: [127071] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the relevance of College of Policing fitness standards for Ministry of Defence Police officers. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence Police is committed to adopting national policing standards as set by the College of Policing in order to fulfil the Ministry of Defence requirement and to meet its agreed commitments to the national Strategic Armed Policing Reserve and Operation Temperer.

Ministry of Defence: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126840] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Mr Tobias Ellwood: How much the Ministry of Defence plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU over the next five years is still being decided.

Ministry of Defence: Chemring Group Mr Kevan Jones: [126977] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Chemring is eligible for new contracts with his Department while that company remains under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence gives careful consideration to a number of factors when considering supplier bids. This includes convictions as well as the supplier's capability and capacity to deliver the contract.

Ministry of Defence: Contracts Ross Thomson: [125224] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected costs to the public purse are which arise from his Department's contracts with on-base facility providers in each of the next five years. Mr Tobias Ellwood: This information is not held in the format requested.

Navy: Redundancy Mr Kevan Jones: [125752] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RN service leavers who (a) chose to be selected for redundancy and (b) did not choose to be selected for redundancy were made redundant from the armed forces between September 2011 and June 2014. Mr Kevan Jones: [125753] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF Service leavers who (a) chose to be selected for redundancy and (b) did not choose to be selected for redundancy were made redundant from the armed forces between September 2011 and June 2014. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The requested information is provided in the attached tables.

Attachments: 1. Royal Air Force Redundancies [PQ125753-RAF Redundancies.docx] 2. Royal Navy Redundancies [PQ125752-Royal Navy.docx]

Reserve Forces: Scotland Martin Docherty-Hughes: [127089] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of all UK Armed Forces reserve units based in Scotland. Mr Tobias Ellwood: A list containing the main Royal Navy/Royal Marines and Royal Air Force Armed Forces Reserve units based in Scotland is provided below.

RESERVE UNIT LOCATION

Royal Navy HMS SCOTIA MOD Caledonia, Rosyth, Dundee, Fife

HMS DALRIADA Govan, Glasgow RESERVE UNIT LOCATION

Royal Marine RMR Scotland HQ MOD Caledonia, Rosyth, Govan, Glasgow (collocated with RNR Unit), Dundee, Fife, Aberdeen

Royal Air Force 2622 Squadron (Highland) RAF Lossiemouth, Lossiemouth

612 Squadron (County of Leuchars, St Andrews Aberdeen)

603 Squadron (City of Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh Edinburgh)

602 Squadron (City of Kings Park, Glasgow Glasgow)

For a list of the Army Reserve units based in Scotland I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State for Defence, Earl Howe, to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, in the House of Lords on 26 July 2017 to question HL866. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers- statements/written-question/Lords/2017-07-17/HL866/

Attachments: 1. HL866 - Army Units in Scotland [20170726_HL866_Army_Units_in_Scotland.docx]

Territorial Army: Greater London Marsha De Cordova: [126556] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the London Regiment Territorial Army centre on St John's Hill in Battersea constituency. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The London Regiment provides highly trained infantry soldiers to reinforce the five regiments of the Foot Guards on operations all over the world. There are no plans to change the current occupation or usage of St Johns Hill Army Reserve Centre.

Trident Submarines Mr Kevan Jones: [126895] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many stages of investment there will be as part of the Dreadnought submarine programme; and what the future phases of construction will entail. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review confirmed that the Dreadnought Programme would move away from a traditional single 'Main Gate' approach, as it was deemed inappropriate for a programme of this scale and complexity, and instead would operate a staged investment programme. The first of these stages, Delivery Phase 1, started in September 2016; and construction formally began in October 2016 with the cutting of steel for the first submarine. The number of investment stages throughout the 20 year acquisition programme will be defined as the build progresses. The phases of Dreadnought construction comprise: major steelwork being formed into units; installing and outfitting of systems and plant; integration and testing of systems; and sea trials culminating in acceptance into service.

Type 23 Frigates Mr Kevan Jones: [126330] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spend on the integration of GWS 35 Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile systems with the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigate fleet. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The integration of Sea Ceptor is carried out as part of a wider package of combat system upgrades to the Type 23 Frigates during a scheduled maintenance period. Precise expenditure on the Sea Ceptor integration element is not separately identifiable but is estimated to be in the order of £1 million per ship.

Warships Jamie Stone: [125596] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet, excluding the aircraft carriers, were at sea on the first of each month in 2016. Mr Tobias Ellwood: At sea has been interpreted as referring to ships outside a port or harbour. Royal Navy records show that the following number of ships (excluding aircraft carriers) were at sea on the first of each month during 2016.

MONTH NUMBER OF SHIPS AT SEA

January 5

February 16

March 23

April 10

May 15 MONTH NUMBER OF SHIPS AT SEA

June 16

July 17

August 10

September 15

October 15

November 14

December 13

Notes: 1. Other vessels may be alongside in the United Kingdom or foreign ports. 2. Full records are not available for P2000 Fast Inshore Patrol Craft. 3. The number of Royal Navy vessels at sea will change on a daily basis.

Warships: Repairs and Maintenance Jamie Stone: [126588] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 January 2016. Jamie Stone: [126590] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 February 2016. Jamie Stone: [126591] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 March 2016. Jamie Stone: [126593] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 April 2016. Jamie Stone: [126595] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 May 2016. Jamie Stone: [126597] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 June 2016. Jamie Stone: [126600] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 July 2016. Jamie Stone: [126602] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 August 2016. Jamie Stone: [126604] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 September 2016. Jamie Stone: [126605] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 October 2016. Jamie Stone: [126608] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 November 2016. Jamie Stone: [126611] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships of the Royal Navy surface fleet excluding its aircraft carriers were under repair or being refitted on 1 December 2016. Mr Tobias Ellwood: Royal Navy ships may conduct a repair at any time, whether deployed at sea or alongside. It is therefore not possible from available records to determine the number of vessels conducting a repair on any particular day. The number of ships (excluding aircraft carriers) that were designated as in refit on the first of each month during 2016 as follows:

MONTH NUMBER OF SHIPS IN REFIT

January 5

February 5

March 5

April 6

May 6

June 6 MONTH NUMBER OF SHIPS IN REFIT

July 6

August 6

September 6

October 6

November 6

December 6

Notes: 1. Full records are not available for P2000 Fast Inshore Patrol Craft.

Wrecks: South East Asia Mr Kevan Jones: [126986] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy warship wrecks have been damaged or destroyed by illegal salvage in the Java Sea and other waters in South East Asia; and what the extent of the damage to each vessel is. Mr Tobias Ellwood: Regrettably the Ministry of Defence is aware of unauthorised salvaging and damage to HMS EXETER, HMS ELECTRA and HMS ENCOUNTER in the Java Sea and to HMS REPULSE and HMS PRINCE OF WALES lying off the Malaysian Coast in the South China Sea. We are aware that HMS EXETER and HMS ENCOUNTER have been almost completely salvaged, while HMS ELECTRA, HMS REPULSE and HMS PRINCE OF WALES have been partially salvaged. The Government views any desecration as totally unacceptable. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to engage with local and regional authorities to ensure that our position is made clear on the desecration of these sites and that appropriate action is taken. We will provide support for any action against such activity when we are able to do so.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126827] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Tracey Crouch: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18. My Department received £9m of this funding in 17/18. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Gaming Machines Carolyn Harris: [126949] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to (a) respond to the consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures and (b) set out the Government’s position on reducing the stake on B2 machines. Carolyn Harris: [126950] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government estimates the losses people accrue on B2 machines; and if he will make a statement. Carolyn Harris: [126952] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take account of the findings of report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research on B2 machines in reaching a decision on reducing the stake for such machines. Tracey Crouch: Category B2 gaming machines generated around £1.8bn in revenue to the betting industry in 2016/17. However, players can access other types of gaming machine content on B2 gaming machines in betting shops (primarily B3) so we know that of this £1.8bn, a proportion (around 30%) is attributable to other gaming machine content. This is because industry data is categorised under the highest category of game available on that particular terminal. For example, if a terminal offers category B2 and B3 games, operators attribute all revenue to the B2 machine category. We therefore estimate that in total players lost approximately £1.2bn on B2 gaming machines in 2016/17 (detail can be found in the consultation impact assessment at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655970 /Impact_Assessment_- _Consultation_on_proposals_for_changes_to_Gaming_Machines_and_Social_Resp onsibility_Measures.pdf ). More information on patterns of play on B2 gaming machines can be found at the following link: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/Statistics-and- research/Statistics/Cross-venue-machines-data.aspx The consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures closed on 23 January. We will consider the CEBR report and other relevant information submitted as part of the consultation before arriving at final decisions and the Government will publish its response in due course.

Health Justin Tomlinson: [126821] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of Sport England’s Wellness Hub initiative; and if he will make a statement. Tracey Crouch: The setting and environment in which sport and physical activity takes place has a big impact on the likelihood of people taking part, and continuing to take part, in the activity. As set out in government's Sporting Future strategy, government is committed to investing in facilities that are designed and built around customer need and that reflect people's preferences for how they want to engage with sport and physical activity. The strategy is clear that Sport England investment in major sports and physical activity facility projects should include a presumption in favour of co- locating sports and physical activity facilities with other types of community facilities to make it easier for people to get active. Government has received representations on the Wellness Hub proposal from Sport England and ukactive and is working with both organisations to understand the implications of the proposal and how best to take this forward.

Healthy Living Ministerial Group Justin Tomlinson: [126819] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how often the Inter- Ministerial Group on Healthy Living plans to meet; and whether his Department plans to publish the minutes of those meetings. Tracey Crouch: Sporting Future: A Strategy for an Active Nation, published in December 2015, made the commitment to a more joined-up approach to delivery and funding for sport and physical activity, putting in place the structures needed to make this happen including a cross government ministerial group which will meet regularly to drive implementation. Sporting Future - Second Annual Report published last month confirmed that government is establishing an Inter-Ministerial Group on Healthy Living, to be co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Health and Social Care. The Group will be meeting for the first time in early 2018. Information relating to the proceedings of Inter-Ministerial Groups, including minutes of their proceedings, is not disclosed to encourage full and frank dialogue in such meetings.

HMS Victory Mr Kevan Jones: [126988] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which expert bodies and experts in historic artillery were consulted by his Department during the preparation of the Deed of Gift for HMS Victory 1744 which gifted the wreck to the Maritime Heritage Foundation in order to obtain an appropriate commercial value for the battery of bronze cannon which were carried aboard that vessel and were thus Crown property and Crown assets; and what financial value those experts ascribed to those cannon. Michael Ellis: No expert bodies or experts in historic artillery were consulted by my department on the commercial value of the bronze cannon during the preparation of the Deed of Gift for HMS Victory 1744. Mr Kevan Jones: [126989] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has been told that the Maritime Heritage Foundation has a commercial salvage contract with American treasure hunting company Odyssey Marine Exploration which would allow Odyssey and the Maritime Heritage Foundation to sell artefacts from the wreck of HMS Victory 1744, including the personal property of the crew; and whether such sales under such a contract are contrary to Government policy for historic shipwrecks under the Annex to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Michael Ellis: DCMS is aware that a contract exists between the Marine Heritage Foundation (MHF) and Odyssey Marine Exploration and that MHF has also confirmed that there is no contractual arrangement with OME concerning any artefacts which may be recovered from the wreck of HMS Victory, which were not passed to MHF pursuant to a Deed of Gift dated 12 January 2012 between the Ministry of Defence and MHF. If any such artefacts are found, they will be notified to the Receiver of Wrecks to be dealt with according to law. MHF have also confirmed that the contract with OME does not require at any time in the future the de-accession or sale by MHF of artefacts from the wreck which, with their associated archive, will remain together as a single assemblage wherever possible. The UK Government has adopted the Key Management Principles in the Annex to the UNESCO Convention as best practice in the management of underwater archaeological and historic sites and this includes provisions regarding the incompatibility of commercial exploitation of cultural heritage for trade or speculation. National Lottery: Tickets Mr Alister Jack: [126961] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of National Lottery tickets sold in the last 12 months. Tracey Crouch: The Department receives a weekly breakdown of sales for all National Lottery games from the Gambling Commission. The data provided are given as total value of sales, rather than numbers of tickets sold. This data is not shared publicly for reasons of commercial confidentiality. However, data on sales are published three months in arrears by Camelot, these can be found at: http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/about-us/reporting

National Security Communications Unit Jo Stevens: [126980] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister about the national security communications unit. Margot James: We have had no discussions with the Prime Minister about the national security communications unit. This unit is part of the Cabinet Office. DCMS will continue to work closely with the unit and with wider Cabinet Office colleagues. Jo Stevens: [126982] To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he had with stakeholders prior to the establishment of the National Security Communications Unit. Margot James: The National Security Communications Unit is part of the Cabinet Office. DCMS will continue to work closely with the unit and with wider Cabinet Office colleagues.

EDUCATION

Adult Education: Public Expenditure John Mann: [127048] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the underspend against his Department's adult education budget in the academic year 2016- 17. Anne Milton: The underspend against the mainstream participation element of the Adult Education Budget for the 2016 to 2017 academic year was £63 million. This was less than 5 per cent of the total contracted value. A portion of the underspend was reallocated within the further education sector, providing the opportunity for providers to expand provision through growth bids, funding over delivery in providers who exceeded their delivery aims, and support other provision. This excludes growth deals and other funding support because these programmes are managed on a financial year basis.

Apprentices: North Cornwall Scott Mann: [126511] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of young people in north Cornwall ,took up an apprenticeship after completing GCSEs, in each year since 2010. Anne Milton: The table attached shows the number and proportion of pupils who completed key stage 4 (including GCSEs) in North Cornwall and took up an apprenticeship the following year as part of at least two terms’ education, employment or training. Information on destinations in academic years 2010-11 to 2015-16 is given. This is the most recent data available. Destinations data for all of England is provided for comparison. Information on pupil destinations is published annually on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations.

Attachments: 1. 126511 Table [126511 Table.xlsx]

Apprentices: Small Businesses Jim Fitzpatrick: [126555] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allocating funding from the apprenticeship levy to support apprenticeships in SMEs. Anne Milton: The apprenticeship levy is paid by employers with a payroll of over £3 million a year. These employers are able to spend funds they have paid into the levy through their apprenticeship service account. All other employers use funds that have been allocated to providers, who offer apprenticeship training. We have recently awarded hundreds of providers across the country with initial awards totalling around £485 million to deliver apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers. Non-levy paying employers benefit from government co- investment of 90 per cent of apprenticeship training and assessment costs. 100 per cent of the cost of training is paid for small employers, with fewer than 50 employees, who take on apprentices who are 16 to 18 years old, 19 to 24 year old care leavers or 19 to 24 year olds with an Education and Health Care Plan. From April 2018, we will allow eligible levy-paying employers to transfer up to 10 per cent of the annual value of funds entering their digital accounts to other employers, including smaller businesses. By 2019/20 annual investment in apprenticeships in England will be £2.45 billion, double what was spent in 2010-11, ensuring that all employers can access high quality apprenticeships training. Lucy Allan: [126640] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to promote apprenticeship programmes to small and medium-sized businesses. Anne Milton: Through the National Apprenticeship Service, we are working closely with employers of all sizes in growing their apprenticeship programmes and to help them make the most effective decisions for their organisation. Our relaunched apprenticeships campaign aims to help increase the number of vacancies created by employers of all sizes. It encourages small and medium-sized businesses to recruit apprentices and upskill their current workforce through apprenticeships. Radio advertising is supported by targeted digital, telemarketing activity, public relations and social media activity. It will continue to support employers to create new vacancies and publicise these on the ‘Find an Apprenticeship’ website. Links to the two apprenticeships campaign websites can be found at – one for employers: https://hireanapprentice.campaign.gov.uk/, and one for apprentices: https://www.getingofar.gov.uk/. All UK employers with an annual pay bill of £3 million or more, pay 0.5 per cent of their pay bill to invest in apprenticeship training. We have led a major awareness- raising campaign over the past year, alongside HM Revenue and Customs. This ensures all levy-paying employers, whatever their size, are aware of both their obligations to pay the levy, and the opportunity to spend their investment through registering for an apprenticeship service account. We are providing ongoing support for smaller levy-payers via telephone to encourage them to invest their levy funds through registering for an apprenticeship service account.

Apprentices: STEM Subjects Lucy Allan: [126639] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships in STEM industries have been taken up since 2010. Anne Milton: The table attached shows the number of apprenticeship starts in ‘Construction, Planning and the Built Environment’, ‘Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies’, ‘Information and Communications Technology’ and ‘Science and Mathematics’ sector subject areas for each academic year since 2009/10. This data is published in the ‘FE data library: apprenticeships’ which can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships.

Attachments: 1. Number of apprenticeship starts since 2009/10 [126639 attachment.docx]

Arts: Education Alex Sobel: [127006] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase funding for arts in schools. Nick Gibb: In addition to general funding schools receive to deliver the curriculum, the Government specifically funds music education hubs and other arts-related programmes to ensure that every child has access to a high quality arts education. The Government announced almost £400 million of funding in the period 2016-20 for a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes to improve access to the arts for all children, regardless of their background, and to develop talent across the country. This includes £300 million for music education hubs in 2016-20, £58 million in 2016-18 for the Music and Dance Scheme, which allows exceptionally talented children to attend specialist music and dance institutions, and more than £8 million in 2016-18 for cultural education programmes including Saturday Art and Design Clubs, the National Youth Dance Company and the BFI’s Film Academy programme.

Department for Education: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126828] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Anne Milton: At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made £3 billion of additional funding available across government over 2018/19 and 2019/20 – £1.5 billion in each year. The Department for Education are currently working with HM Treasury to assess if the department requires additional funding for 2018/19 and aim to agree this soon. HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit – £412 million for the Department for International Trade, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union over the parliamentary session at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300 million across a number of other departments from the reserve in 2017/18. Departmental allocations for 2019/20 will be agreed later on in the new financial year and decisions on funding in 2020/21 and beyond will be decided at the next spending review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Department for Education: Land Jack Lopresti: [126397] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Anne Milton: The landholdings of the department are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed. The information is correct at time of publication: Size of the freehold of the Department for Education’s land holdings in England as at 5 February 2018

ALL LAND (HECTARES) SURPLUS LAND (HECTARES)

England South-West England South-West

Department 10.69 0.00 0.00 0.00

Agencies 94.72 6.88 0.88 0.00

Non- 160.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 departmental public body

Total 265.74 6.88 0.88 0.00

Note: figures are rounded to two decimal places. Details of the department's surplus land holdings are published on the register of surplus land and can be viewed at: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/epimstransparency.

English Language: Education Tulip Siddiq: [126564] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding the Skills Funding Agency has provided for ESOL Plus Mandation courses since 2016; and how much such funding is forecast to be spent in 2018. Anne Milton: ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Plus Mandation refers to specified funding that was discontinued in 2015 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The department’s data showed that the numbers being referred to provision were significantly lower than originally envisaged. The government continues to provide full funding for unemployed job seekers to improve their English, through a provider’s Adult Education Budget. Other learners are eligible for 50 per cent funding of course costs. In the academic year 2016-17, the government supported 114,100 ESOL learners using funds from the Adult Education Budget. Providers have the freedom and flexibility to deliver ESOL provision to best meet local needs.

Foster Care: Minority Groups Marsha De Cordova: [126380] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of foster carers from minority communities. Nadhim Zahawi: The cultural, ethnic, linguistic or religious background is among a number of considerations that a local authority must consider when placing a child. The priority is that the child is safe and with a carer who is able to meet their individual needs. Local authorities have a duty to ensure they have sufficient placements that meet the needs of their looked after children. The National Fostering Stocktake, an independent review of the fostering system in England, has now concluded. It considered the recruitment and retention of foster parents. The department will carefully consider any recommendations made by the review and by the Education Select Committee. The government’s response will be published this spring.

Foster Care: Payments Marsha De Cordova: [126382] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the use of retainer fees in increasing foster carer retention. Nadhim Zahawi: Fostering is a challenging role that requires skill and dedication from those who foster. Recruiting and retaining foster parents with the skills, motivation and resilience to meet the diverse needs of the children in their care is crucial. Whilst the department has not assessed the use of retainer fees specifically in increasing retention, the National Fostering Stocktake, an independent review of the fostering system in England, considered the recruitment and retention of foster parents. The department will carefully consider any recommendations made by the review and by the Education Select Committee. The government’s response will be published this spring. Foster Care: Recruitment Marsha De Cordova: [126381] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to increase the recruitment of foster carers with skills in working with young people with disabilities or special educational needs. Nadhim Zahawi: Local authorities have a duty to ensure they have sufficient placements that meet the needs of their looked after children and the department is committed to ensuring foster parents have the support and skills they need to meet the diverse needs of the children in their care, including children and young people with disabilities or special educational needs. The National Fostering Stocktake, an independent review of the fostering system in England, has now concluded. It considered the recruitment and retention of foster parents, including the support they receive. The department will carefully consider any recommendations made by the review and by the Education Select Committee. The government’s response will be published this spring.

Free Schools: Greater Manchester Lucy Powell: [127057] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the Regional Schools Commissioner or her staff visited (a) Collective Spirit Free School in Oldham and (b) the Manchester Creative Studio in each year that those schools were in operation. Nadhim Zahawi: I refer the hon. member for Central Manchester to the answer I gave on 7 February 2018 to Question 126340: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written- questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-02-02/126340/.

Further Education: Social Mobility David Evennett: [126914] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage further education providers to promote social mobility. Anne Milton: The department’s plan for improving social mobility through education, ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’, was published in December 2017. For further education, the key actions were the creation of high quality technical education through the introduction of T Levels; measures to drive up the quality of apprenticeships; investment in the sector through initiatives, including the £15 million Strategic College Improvement Fund; and the new £170 million Institutes for Technology. These measures will particularly benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds, by making sure they are able to gain the skills that are in demand from employers. Further information, along with details of other related measures, can be found in the plan which is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving- social-mobility-through-education.

Graduates: Bexley David Evennett: [126181] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the number of people from (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) Bexley Borough who graduated from university in the 2016-17 academic year. Mr Sam Gyimah: [Holding answer 9 February 2018]: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes information on enrolments and qualifications obtained at UK higher education institutions. HESA published the latest statistics, referring to the 2016/17 academic year, on 11 January 2018 and this information is available at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/11-01-2018/sfr247-higher-education-student-statistics. The number of qualifiers from higher education courses in the 2016/17 academic year who were domiciled in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) Bexley local authority prior to study has been provided in the table. Higher Education qualifiers 1)2)3) by location of domicile prior to study 4) UK Higher Education Institutions Academic year 2016/17

BEXLEYHEATH AND CRAYFORD ACADEMIC YEAR CONSTITUENCY BEXLEY LOCAL AUTHORITY

2016/17 765 2,095

Source: DfE analysis of the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s (HESA) Student Record 2016/17 Notes: 1) Figures are based on the HESA qualifications obtained population ( https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/definitions/students ). 2) Includes qualifiers from both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study. 3) All numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five. 4) Constituency and local authority are derived from the student’s postcode prior to study. Higher Education: Strikes Jonathan Reynolds: [126874] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration he has given to refund tuition fees to students whose lectures are cancelled as a result of strike action by lecturers. Mr Sam Gyimah: Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous institutions. Responsibility for handling student complaints, in the first instance, is a matter for the relevant HE provider. In addition, HE providers have responsibilities under consumer law, and the obligation for meeting these lies with the individual HE providers. The Competition and Markets Authority has produced guidance for providers on how they can meet their responsibilities under consumer law. This includes ensuring students are provided with clear and transparent terms and conditions and providers have accessible, clear and fair complaints procedures.

Literacy: Disadvantaged David Evennett: [126913] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to raise literacy standards amongst children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Nick Gibb: This Government has made improving literacy standard a priority, and has reformed the national curriculum with a stronger focus on phonics teaching to ensure that pupils are given the best start with their reading. The introduction of the pupil premium provides schools with additional money to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities. Since its introduction in 2011, the difference in the relative attainment of disadvantaged pupils and their peers has reduced in both primary and secondary phases. The 2016 Progress in International Reading Study showed that nine year olds in England had achieved their highest ever scores in reading. The improvement is mainly due to the narrowing of the gap for lower attaining pupils and to a significant improvement in boys’ performance. The development of a new Centre of Excellence for Literacy Teaching and a national network of 35 English hubs across the country will support more children from disadvantaged backgrounds master the basics of reading in primary school.

Physical Education: Teachers Justin Tomlinson: [126905] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of teachers specialising in physical education. Nick Gibb: The latest available information shows that, as at November 2016, there were 23,500 teachers of physical education in state funded secondary schools. Of these 88.5% had a relevant post A level qualification. Equivalent information is not available for primary schools. The source of this information is the School Workforce Census which is an annual survey collected in November each year. The information above is published in Table 12 of the statistical release, School Workforce in England, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november- 2016.

Pre-school Education: First Aid Tulip Siddiq: [126453] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his Department’s policy for all nursery staff to undertake compulsory paediatric first aid training. Nadhim Zahawi: It is not the Department for Education’s policy for all staff working in a nursery to have paediatric first aid (PFA) training. The statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) says that there must be at least one person with a full PFA certificate available at all times. All newly qualified entrants to the early years workforce, who have completed a level 2 and/or level 3 early years qualification, must also have either a full or emergency PFA certificate within three months of starting work, to be included in the required staff to child ratios at level 2 or level 3 in an early years setting. The statutory framework for the EYFS can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework- -2.

Pupils: Eating Disorders Steve Double: [126946] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that information and support is provided on eating disorders for pupils in secondary schools. Nick Gibb: To support schools the Government funds the PSHE Association to provide guidance to schools on how to teach pupils in all four key stages about mental health. The guidance includes age appropriate advice on teaching about eating disorders in secondary school. The Government made a manifesto commitment that all pupils should learn about mental wellbeing and the mental health risks of the internet. The Department is currently conducting a thorough engagement process on the scope and content of Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and on the future status of Personal Social, Health and Economic Education. Decisions on further action to deliver the commitment will be made in the light of the outcome of the engagement process. The Government has also funded information for school staff. MindEd is a free online portal that provides training for all adults working with children and young people about specific mental health problems. It includes specific information on eating disorders. To improve access to specialist support for eating disorders, the Government has made available an additional £1.4 billion for children and young people’s mental health services. This includes £150 million specifically targeted at improving support for young people with eating disorders. The Government is also consulting on the green paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision. It includes proposals for mental health support teams to provide more trained support for young people with mental health issues and to improve access to specialist support where it is needed.

Pupils: Sanitary Protection Alex Sobel: [126999] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure all school students have access to sanitary products. Alex Sobel: [127000] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to reduce period poverty among 14 to 21 year olds. Nadhim Zahawi: No girl should be held back from reaching her potential because of her background or gender; this is why our current Sex and Relationships Education guidance encourages schools to make adequate and sensitive arrangements to help girls cope with menstruation. Schools are best placed to identify and address the needs of their pupils, and have discretion over how they use their funding and can make sanitary products available to disadvantaged pupils if they identify this as a barrier to attainment or attendance. We support schools in addressing the needs of disadvantaged pupils through the provision of the Pupil Premium, equivalent to almost £2.5 billion of additional funding this year alone. For students over 16, the 16-19 Bursary Fund can be used to support students from vulnerable groups and those who may face financial hardship to participate in education. As a government, we are helping millions of families meet the everyday cost of living and keep more of what they earn. We are helping more people provide for themselves – with 3 million more people in work compared to 2010. We have introduced the National Living Wage, doubled free childcare to help support parents with the cost of bringing up children and cut income tax, leaving a basic rate taxpayer over £1,000 better off every year than in 2010. We also continue to spend around £90 billion a year supporting people including those who are out of work or on a low income. We strongly support cutting VAT to zero on sanitary products and that is why the Finance Act 2016 included legislation to make this happen. However, we cannot do this under current EU law, so we are charging five per cent VAT – the lowest possible rate. We’re awarding £15 million a year to women’s charities through the Tampon Tax Fund – equivalent to the amount of VAT raised from the sale of women’s sanitary products. In the current round of Tampon Tax Funding, we have identified period poverty as a sub-theme in the general programme and have welcomed applications which address this issue.

School Leaving: North Cornwall Scott Mann: [126512] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of young people in north Cornwall did not complete secondary education to GCSE level in each year since 2010. Nick Gibb: The closest information the Department publishes is the percentage of pupils, at the end of Key Stage 4, who passed at least one GCSE or equivalent qualification; this is published in the Key Stage 4 statistical first releases[1]. The remaining percentage from this figure are those who did not pass any qualifications. The Department publishes these figures at a local authority level, the closest available figures to ‘north Cornwall’ are those for ‘Cornwall’. There have been some methodological changes over the years, details of these are available in the main text and footnotes of each statistical first release[2]. [1] Figures for 2009/10 – 2014/15 are available within ‘table 16’ of the additional/local authority tables in the ‘revised’ publications from https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4 (table 15 for 2013/14). The ‘any passes’ column provides the figures. For 2015/16 – 2016/17, the figures are available from https://www.compare-school- performance.service.gov.uk/download-data (select the year, Local authority (Cornwall), ‘Final key stage 4’ (revised, for 2016/17) and download the Excel file. The column ‘PTANYQ_PTQ_EE’ is required; figures for Cornwall are in the row labelled as rectype 4, the figures for England are labelled rectype 7. Rectype is found in column A. [2] In the revised publications for each year, from https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4, the SFR text and main national tables contain an explanation of how the figures are generated for that year. These changes mean that figures between years can not always be directly compared. Schools: Finance Marsha De Cordova: [126657] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that benchmarking data is promptly available to schools so that they can report their spend to governors using such data in line with his Department's guidance. Nadhim Zahawi: Benchmarking data for local authority maintained schools, relating to the 2016-17 financial year, will be published on the Schools Financial Benchmarking tool later this month available at: https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/. Benchmarking data for academies and academy trusts for the 2016/17 academy financial year will be published in the summer term. The department has made improvements to the data collection and internal publication processes that will improve the timeliness of updates to the Schools Financial Benchmarking tool in the future. These improvements include online data collections, streamlined validation and automated data uploads. Bim Afolami: [126920] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average yearly expenditure (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each year since 2010. Nick Gibb:

YEAR PRIMARY EXPENDITURE SECONDARY EXPENDITURE

2011 £1,005,000 £5,273,000

2012 £1,041,000 £5,151,000

2013 £1,098,000 £5,400,000

2014 £1,166,000 £5,562,000

2015 £1,246,000 £5,499,000

2016 £1,320,000 £5,557,000

The 2011 and 2012 data only include local authority (LA) maintained schools, all other years combine academies and LA maintained schools. As these figures are at school level they are sensitive to changes in average school size. Schools: LGBT People Paul Blomfield: [126715] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all schools teach awareness of LGBTQ issues in an age-appropriate manner. Nick Gibb: We expect schools to ensure that teaching is relevant to all children and young people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). LGBT issues can be covered by schools within the curriculum and the current Sex and Relationship Education statutory guidance (2000) states that we expect all schools to ensure that young people, whatever their developing sexuality or gender identity, feel that the subject is relevant to them, and sensitive to their needs. All schools must comply with the Equality Act (2010). The Government Equalities Office launched a £3 million programme from 2016-2019 to prevent and address homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools. The programme will support thousands of teachers to better identify homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, and to support LGBT pupils. Following the passage of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the teaching of Relationships Education in primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education in secondary schools will be mandatory. As part of the current call for evidence, we are working with teachers, parents, experts and others to develop age-appropriate subject content, including on mental health, keeping safe online and LGBT issues.

Schools: Mental Health Services Paul Blomfield: [126718] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to provide additional resources to schools to support the mental health of their students. Nick Gibb: Schools have an important role to play in supporting the mental health of pupils. On 4 December 2017, the Government published the green paper, Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision. We are consulting on proposals which will be supported by over £300 million of funding. Up to £95 million of this money will be used to fund training for Designated Senior Mental Health Leads in schools, which will cover effective ways to establishing a whole school approach to promoting and supporting good mental health. Schools also need access to trained and clinically supervised support for pupils with mental health issues. The Government will provide £215 million over three years to fund new clinically supervised Mental Health Support Teams to work closely with designated senior mental health leads in schools to provide evidence based help for pupils with mild to moderate mental health needs. It will also support mental health awareness training for all schools. This preventative approach will provide earlier intervention, to help prevent mental health problems from developing. It will also provide a better link to specialist NHS mental health services.

Sex and Relationship Education Carolyn Harris: [126776] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will include child early forced marriage and female genital mutilation in his Department's review of relationship and sex education. Nick Gibb: The Department is conducting a comprehensive engagement exercise to determine the scope and design of relationships education, relationships and sex education and personal, social, health and economic education, with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This has included meeting with organisations with expertise in forced marriage and female genital mutilation, including Forward and the End Violence Against Women Coalition. The outcome of this engagement and online call for evidence will determine the development of regulations and statutory guidance for the new subjects.

Special Educational Needs James Frith: [126458] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2018 to Question 123606, on special education needs, how much was spent on the training and SEND leadership programme in the last two years; and which bodies and local authorities have been involved in that training. Nadhim Zahawi: The costs of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities leadership programme form part of the department’s contract with the Delivering Better Outcomes Together consortium, led by Mott MacDonald, with the Council for Disabled Children and the National Development Team for Inclusion. We are unable to provide a detailed breakdown of pricing within the contract, as the information is commercially in confidence. A list of the local authorities and their partner organisations which have participated in the programme is attached.

Attachments: 1. A list of the LA & their partner organisations [126458 - table.docx]

Special Educational Needs: Complaints Tulip Siddiq: [126322] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints his Department has received about local authorities on (a) education, health and care plans, and (b) the local offer, under sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996. Tulip Siddiq: [126563] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints he or his predecessors have received in relation to local authorities acting on (a) Education, Health and Care Plans and (b) the Local Offer under the provisions of sections 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996. Nadhim Zahawi: The department receives correspondence from parents, including complaints. To differentiate complaints from other correspondence relating to special educational needs and disability would require a significant update to our correspondence management system.

Students: Loans Andrew Gwynne: [126223] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department made of the potential merits of resuming the process of selling the student loan book prior to the decision being announced on 31 October 2017. Mr Sam Gyimah: [Holding answer 9 February 2018]: Selling financial assets, like student loans, where there is no policy reason to retain them, and value for money can be secured for the taxpayer, is an important part of the government’s plan to repair the public finances. Throughout the sale process, the government regularly assessed whether a sale would represent value for money for the taxpayer, using guidance set out in HM Treasury’s Green Book. In the months leading up to the sale, the government and its advisers monitored market conditions closely to ensure that there was an appropriate market window to execute the transaction. At the point of resuming the process, market conditions were supportive of securitisation issuances, and feedback from investors confirmed there would be sufficient market capacity to buy the assets. Pursuant to section 4 of the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008, a report on the sale arrangements was deposited in the House Libraries on 7 December 2017 (deposit reference DEP2017-0778) and is available at: https://www.parliament.uk/depositedpapers. Andrew Gwynne: [126225] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to introduce any (a) new financial penalties or (b) changes to interest rates relating to the Governments decision to resume the process of selling part of plan 1, English student loan book, announced on 31 October 2017, and if he will make a statement. Mr Sam Gyimah: [Holding answer 9 February 2018]: The government has been clear throughout the sale process that borrowers, including those whose loans have been sold, will not be affected by the sale. The sale arrangements ensure that the sale does not and cannot in any way alter the mechanisms and terms of repayment. Sold loans will continue to be serviced by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Student Loans Company on the same basis as unsold loans. Purchasers have no right to change any of the current loan arrangements or to directly contact borrowers.

Students: North Cornwall Scott Mann: [126510] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of young people in north Cornwall who completed A-Level studies enrolled in university courses in each year since 2010. Mr Sam Gyimah: The attached table shows the number and proportion of students that were at the end of 16‑18 study (taking A level or other level 3 qualifications) in North Cornwall and progressed to study at a UK Higher Education Institution for at least two terms in a given academic year. Information on destinations in academic years 2010-11 to 2015-16 is given. This is the most recent data available. Destinations data for all England are provided for comparison. Information on pupil destinations is published annually on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations.

Attachments: 1. Students with sustained destinations at UK HEIs [126510 - Students with sustained destinations at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) after 16-18 study, state-funded mainstr.docx]

Universities: Mental Health Services Alex Sobel: [127015] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department provides to universities on the provision of mental health services. Mr Sam Gyimah: The department is working closely with Universities UK (UUK) on the ongoing programme of work on mental health in higher education. UUK has worked in partnership with the Institute for Public Policy Research to strengthen the evidence base on mental health in higher education and launched their Step Change programme on 4 September 2017. The Step Change framework offers detailed guidance to higher education institutions (HEIs), including a strategy checklist for university leaders ( http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and- analysis/stepchange/Pages/checklist.aspx ). The Children and Young People’s Mental Health green paper, open for consultation until 2 March 2018, outlines government’s plans to set up a new national strategic partnership focused on improving the mental health of 16-25 year olds – encouraging more coordinated action, experimentation and robust evaluation of mental health services. As autonomous and independent organisations, it is for HEIs to determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students. Each institution will be best placed to identify the needs of their particular student body, including taking actions in line with any legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

University Technical Colleges Dr David Drew: [126293] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the (a) annual budget of and (b) the cost of build or refurbishment of each University Technical College in the most recent financial year. Nick Gibb: The Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Department accounts, which include capital expenditure on Free Schools, Studio Schools and University Technical Colleges (UTC), are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-funding-agency-annual- report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, we do not disclose the Department’s capital budgets for individual schools. The costs of individual schools, including land purchase costs are also not disclosed before completion and overall costs are finalised. Capital funding for open Free Schools, UTCs and Studio Schools, where costs have been finalised, are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding-for-open-free-schools. Additional finalised capital data is due to be published in the coming months.

Young People: Politics Paul Blomfield: [126716] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to empower young people to engage in politics. Nick Gibb: Citizenship education is in the national curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4. As a result of the national curriculum review, the Government revised the programmes of study to ensure pupils are taught the core knowledge of citizenship at Key Stages 3 and 4. The new programmes of study came into effect in September 2014. The programmes of study are designed to prepare pupils to play a full part in society, and are organised around core knowledge about democracy, government, and how laws are made and upheld. The programmes of study also require schools to prepare pupils to manage their money well and make sound financial decisions. In addition, both Citizenship GCSE and Political Studies A-level are available for study with the number of those sitting the latter increasing in 2017.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution Jim Fitzpatrick: [126553] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government's proposals for a clean air strategy will include (a) a commitment not to exceed World Health Organisation recommended limits on particulate matter and (b) a target to reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution. Alex Cunningham: [126647] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to include a commitment to reach World Health Organization limits on particulate matter in its new clean air strategy. Alex Cunningham: [126648] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to include a target on decreasing premature deaths from air pollution in its new clean air strategy. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The evidence of health impacts from particulate matter (PM) is particularly strong and the Government is already taking action to reduce emissions of harmful PM. The UK has signed up to ambitious new targets to reduce emissions of PM2.5 as well as four other damaging pollutants (ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and sulphur dioxide) by 2020 and 2030. The Government is aiming to cut early deaths from air pollution by half. The Statutory Instrument committing these targets to law was laid on 1 February. We will publish a Clean Air Strategy, which will set out plans to meet these targets, for consultation in 2018. We are currently calling for evidence on domestic solid fuel use, one of the largest emissions sources of PM. Householders and businesses are being asked for their views on proposals to cut harmful emissions caused by domestic fuel burning. Defra works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care and Public Health England to develop a strong evidence base on the health impacts of air pollution and to provide health advice during episodes of elevated air pollution. We are carefully considering public health measures. Alex Cunningham: [126644] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce a public health campaign on air pollution. Alex Cunningham: [126645] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to ensure that the air pollution alert system provides effective warnings to (a) children, (b) medical patients and (c) schools. Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are committed to making sure the best independent evidence and information on air pollution is available to the public. Defra publishes extensive air quality information on its UK-AIR website: https://uk- air.defra.gov.uk. Publicly available information on this website includes daily air pollution forecasts and hourly monitoring data. Health advice is provided when pollutant levels are elevated. During episodes of elevated air pollution Defra works closely with Public Health England and a network of health charities to ensure that key health messages are communicated to people who are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, in addition to communicating through our normal digital channels.

Animal Products: Imports Neil Coyle: [126412] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department is making on developing its policy on imposing a ban on lion trophy imports. Dr Thérèse Coffey: All imports of African lion hunting trophies currently require both a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) export permit from the country of origin and an import permit issued by the relevant EU Member State. A permit will only be issued if the applicant can demonstrate that the import will not be detrimental to the conservation of the species. Defra is looking carefully at hunting trophy imports of lions and other species to ensure that they do not impact on the sustainability of these species in the wild.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control Bill Wiggin: [126969] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the 100 holdings in High Risk Bovine TB control area in England that were interferon gamma tested in 2017 were so tested on account of (a) being located in an area that had completed two years of successful badger population control, (b) there being clear evidence that repeated skin testing has failed to resolve a TB breakdown and (c) the APHA veterinary investigation concluding that the most likely transmission route for the affected herd was contact with infected cattle and that measures were in place to prevent further spread of disease from that source. George Eustice: The number of holdings in the high risk area of England that underwent interferon gamma testing in 2017 on account of: 26 68

0 6 * This criterion for interferon gamma testing was announced in 2017 but was not effectively implemented by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) until January 2018, as agreed with Defra TB Programme. This allowed resources to be focussed on the delivery of interferon gamma testing in the culling areas, which was the policy priority. ** These include, for instance, discretionary ad hoc interferon gamma testing of holdings affected by ‘explosive’ TB breakdowns, in order to inform APHA decisions about possible slaughter of whole herds or specific management groups of cattle.

Capita Jon Trickett: [125901] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many contracts his Department holds with Capita; and what the value of those contracts is. George Eustice: Defra has a zero value contract with Capita to supply contingent labour which was a call off from a Crown Commercial Services Framework. The responsibility for the management of the supplier in these call off arrangement lies with CCS not Defra. The following table details the amount Defra has spent on the contract with Capita for contingent labour.

2017/18APRIL- CONTRACT 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 DECEMBER TOTAL

Contingent £70,660 £2,323,884 £3,211,830 £2,715,195 £3,019,382 £11,340,951 Labour

Defra has a contract with Capita to deliver a system for the Electronic Movement Reporting System for Sheep, Goats and Deers which has a total value of £4,620,370. Defra is party to a number of contracts with Fera Science Ltd (Fera), a Joint Venture between Defra and Capita. The key contracts on the Fera Science Ltd framework at inception were: CONTRACT TOTAL VALUE TO 31/03/2020

Plant and Bee Health Services £28,100,000

Specialist Services and Facilities (Wildlife £16,600,000 Facility and Food Safety Laboratories)

Total £44,700,000

Variable services are also commissioned annually from Fera under the framework agreement. From the start of the contract (01/04/2015) to date spend for the following additional services is as follows:

CONTRACT TITLE VALUE

Applied Research and Development Services £5,900,000

Additional Plant and Bee Health Services £850,000

Total £6,750,000

Standalone contracts with Fera outside the framework:

CONTRACT TITLE VALUE

Authent-Net £32,000

VitiSmart £139,000

Total £171,000

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126829] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. George Eustice: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18 - Defra received £67m of this funding to support our comprehensive EU exit programme of projects and other activities. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126320] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare vouchers scheme. George Eustice: Our data from January 2018, shows that there are 395 people currently using the childcare vouchers scheme in Defra.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Land Jack Lopresti: [126396] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. George Eustice: The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's objective to deliver an effective approach to estates management. Defra follows the aims of that strategy. The current landholdings of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed of. The information is correct at time of publication.

LAND IN HECTARES ENGLAND SOUTH WEST

Defra 388.36 46.98

Non-departmental public 36,133.39 6,395.35 bodies

Total 36,521.75 6442.33

Of the total land the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs holds in England, 280.29 hectares is currently declared as surplus. These figures include three non-departmental public bodies – Environment Agency, Natural England National Nature Reserve estate and Kew Gardens. Land and buildings used by Defra ’ s Agencies are held by Defra and are reported under the Defra return.

Diesel Vehicles Alex Cunningham: [126643] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to introduce a scrappage scheme for diesel vehicles owned by people on low incomes. Dr Thérèse Coffey: On 22 November 2017, the Government launched a consultation on additional measures to support individuals and businesses affected by local nitrogen dioxide plans. Options considered include retrofitting vehicles, support for car clubs, vehicle scrappage and improved public transport offers. The consultation closed on 5 January 2018 and the Government will publish a response in due course.

Electronic Training Aids Sue Hayman: [126358] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning the sale and use of electric shock collars. Sue Hayman: [126359] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to meet animal welfare, veterinary and behaviour organisations to discuss the dangers of electric shock-based dog training. George Eustice: We have updated the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs to the effect that if anyone uses training techniques that include physical punishment they risk being prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal The Secretary of State is meeting the Kennel Club and the Hon. Member for Aberdeen South to discuss this issue on 20 February.

Energy: Waste Alex Sobel: [126130] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of waste to energy facilities compared to general landfill. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra published “Energy recovery for residual waste, a carbon based modelling approach” in 2014, which set out to identify the critical factors that affect the environmental case for energy from waste (EfW) in comparison to landfill from a carbon perspective, and the sensitivity of that case to those factors. The critical factors include the efficiency of the EfW plant; the volume and efficiency of landfill gas collection; the carbon intensity of electricity production offset by EfW and the proportions of the biogenic and fossil-derived content of residual waste. The study notes that, reducing the proportion of fossil-derived materials such as plastics going to EfW through actions such as increased recycling can improve its environmental performance relative to landfill in terms of carbon. The study also found that, under the current waste composition, landfill would only be environmentally preferable to EfW if the EfW plant had a net electrical efficiency of 11.7%. As set out in Defra’s 2013 paper on incineration of municipal solid waste, the typical net electrical efficiency of an incinerator only recovering electricity is 27%, further increasing with the utilisation of heat. The paper can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/incineration-of-municipal-solid-waste The Government remains of the view that EfW is generally better than landfill in terms of environmental impact. We are in the process of developing a new Resources and Waste Strategy, which will aim to ensure we have the right mix of infrastructure for waste that maximises its value as a resource and minimises its environmental impact. The “Energy recovery for residual waste, a carbon based modelling approach” can be found here: http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None& Completed=0&ProjectID=19019

Floods: Insurance Rachael Maskell: [126050] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government is making on devising a flood insurance plan for leasehold properties similar to Flood Re. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is aware of a small number of examples of leasehold properties at high flood risk that are citing high premiums for buildings insurance. The Government and Association of British Insurers (ABI) and BIBA have committed to monitoring the market for properties which are out of scope for Flood Re. A clear decision was taken that Flood Re is not able to provide support for those landlords or management companies with commercial insurance, which would include leasehold blocks of flats that contain 4 or more units; if individual leaseholders are responsible for securing their own buildings insurance then they are eligible for Flood Re. Leasehold blocks containing 3 units or fewer where the freeholder(s) lives in one of the units to be insured would be eligible if they meet the qualifying eligibility criteria. Leaseholders are already eligible for contents insurance under Flood Re. We are following with interest a new service being provided by a BIBA broker which offers to formally vary leasehold agreements in order to give the leaseholder a possible solution by offering individual policies to insure the structure of their property, thus allowing the leaseholder to access Flood Re. Rachael Maskell: [126051] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on devising a flood insurance scheme, along the lines of Flood Re, for the owners of small businesses. Dr Thérèse Coffey: There are a small number of small businesses at high flood risk in recently flooded communities that struggle to access affordable insurance. A British Insurance Broker Association (BIBA) insurance product, launched in December 2016, provides flood insurance for small businesses that have struggled to access it to-date. It also provides insurance against the excess of a policy, which was taken up 1,100 times in the first 12 months. The Government is also working closely with the insurance and building industries to help support small businesses to become more resilient to flooding, stopping water entering the property and speeding recovery when it does. The Government has no plans to devise a flood insurance scheme, along the lines of Flood Re, for the owners of small businesses. There is not sufficient evidence to justify the cross subsidy that would be required of other businesses.

Food: Production Mr Barry Sheerman: [126991] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the environment by producing more food locally. George Eustice: The Government recognises the value that high-quality, locally produced food has to consumers, the environment and the economy. In October 2017, the Government launched a new web market that food producers can use to promote their products to public sector bodies to increase public procurement of nutritious local food. We have set out our intention to publish a command paper on the future of domestic agriculture policy later this spring. The paper will set out our proposals for the future of agriculture and the opportunities for farmers in all sectors. We look forward to receiving views from across industry.

Food: Waste Dr David Drew: [126194] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2018 to Question 117906 if he will issue a call for evidence on the viability of setting a target for reducing the amount of food waste that is incinerated. Dr Thérèse Coffey: There are no plans to issue a call for evidence.

Foxes: Urban Areas Sir Hugo Swire: [123560] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential health risks caused by the urban fox population; and if he will make a statement. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Foxes can carry a range of parasites and diseases relevant to the health of people and domestic pets. There is, however, no evidence that foxes are a major risk to public health, or to pet dogs in England. Britain is currently rabies-free and measures are in place to keep it that way.

Heathrow Airport: Inland Waterways Adam Afriyie: [126771] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to expand Heathrow airport on the (a) environmental and (b) financial cost to operators and owners of waterways and canals in the areas surrounding Heathrow. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency (EA) has not yet made a detailed assessment of the effect of proposals to expand Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) is currently working on its detailed proposal and once this is submitted the EA will assess it. The EA will be responding to the first phase of HAL’s public consultation which was launched on 17 January 2018. The EA will not be able to assess the detailed proposals until HAL submit their application for a Development Consent Order, which they expect to do by the end of 2019.

Horse Riding Dame Caroline Spelman: [R] [126856] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on the equestrian sector of the UK leaving the EU. George Eustice: We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. The Government’s priority for the equine sector in the context of leaving the EU, remains to ensure the continued movement of horses between the UK and EU, with the minimum of delay and bureaucracy, whilst at the same time providing appropriate disease control and welfare protection from Day 1 of EU Exit onwards. We have been working through a number of options in this area, considering a wide range of stakeholder views, and intend to embark on an extensive period of stakeholder engagement.

Ivory: Sales Liz McInnes: [124616] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent online sales of illegal ivory. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The National Wildlife Crime Unit assists law enforcers in their investigations and helps prevent and detect wildlife crime, including cybercrime related to the illegal sale of ivory. The issue of online sales was raised in response to our recent consultation on banning UK sales of ivory. We are considering this carefully, along with other issues, in developing the Government’s response to the consultation. Several online retailers have voluntarily banned the sale of ivory online.

Livestock: Transport Dr David Drew: [126649] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the value was of the live export of animals to the EU in each of the last five years for which figures are available. George Eustice: The value of live animal exports to the EU is estimated in the HMRC Overseas Trade statistics. The data for 2017 is not complete and only captures January to November.

2017 (JAN- £ 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOV)

Live Bovines 430,200 4,170,852 4,177,330 3,474,672 3,580,019

Live Swine 81,973 - - 3,360 19,418

Live Sheep and Goats 7,008,540 17,107,733 17,073,492 17,825,461 14,345,500

Live Horses 168,422,740 186,647,948 214,531,100 221,715,064 182,084,204

Live Poultry 50,103,111 41,764,297 53,484,735 69,411,788 63,341,534

Live Fish 5,911,064 5,400,239 4,075,328 6,711,044 8,639,103

Other live animals 17,166,674 16,093,367 15,805,511 17,824,004 18,076,036 2017 (JAN- £ 2013 2014 2015 2016 NOV)

Total 249,124,302 271,184,436 309,147,496 336,965,393 290,085,814

Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

Plastic Bags: North Cornwall Scott Mann: [126514] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the amount raised by retailers in north Cornwall since the introduction of the five pence charge for single use carrier bags. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra does not hold information specific to regional data as this is not a legal requirement. In total, the charge has raised approximately £95 million from retailers towards good causes since it was introduced in October 2015. The proceeds have been donated to causes covering the arts, education, environment, health, heritage and sports as well as local causes chosen by customers or staff.

Plastics: Beaches Alex Sobel: [126123] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce plastic pollution on beaches. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Studies have shown that the majority of waste plastic on beaches is made up of fragmented pieces which have been in the sea for a long time and broken down. Some of the plastic on English beaches will come from non-UK sources. The Environment Agency (EA) will work with Water Companies to improve collection of plastic in the sewerage network. The EA also works with local councils and other bodies to reduce fly tipping, including in coastal areas. I also refer the honourable Member to the reply previously given on 23 January 2018, PQ 123722, with respect to the EA’s recent announcement of £750,000 for a new, dedicated team to tackle plastics pollution in the South West of England. As part of the work of this new team the EA will encourage partnerships with groups for beach cleaning. Poultry Alex Sobel: [126479] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to encourage poultry farmers to keep their animals in free range environments. George Eustice: All poultry farms are protected by comprehensive animal health and welfare legislation. The Government fully supports consumer choice and the requirement for clear labelling on egg packaging provides the information for consumers to make that choice. We are currently consulting on a new statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens, which provides improved and up-to-date guidance for owners and keepers on how to comply with legislation relating to all permitted production systems. This reflects the latest scientific and veterinary advice and should lead to enhanced laying hen welfare.

Scientific Review Group Dr Rupa Huq: [126209] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it his policy for the UK to continue to participate in the Scientific Review Group after the UK leaves the EU. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiations. As part of these negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States our future status and arrangements with regard to EU bodies. As the UK leaves the EU, one of our core objectives is to continue to collaborate with European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.

Smoke Control Areas Philip Davies: [126545] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the annual budget has been for the enforcement of smoke control areas for each year since 1992 for which data is available; and if he will make a statement. Dr Thérèse Coffey: Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of smoke control areas. Defra does not hold information on the amount which has been spent by local authorities on enforcement action. Supermarkets: Plastic Bags Michelle Donelan: [126295] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that supermarket bags for life are made from fabric rather than plastic. Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government has no specific plans to ensure that supermarket bags for life are made from fabric rather than plastic. All bags have environmental impacts during their life cycle. The charge for single use plastic bags aims to encourage the re-use of all bags and thereby reduce waste and littering. Our 25 Year Environment Plan sets out measures to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042.

Tree Planting Mr Jim Cunningham: [125838] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Department did not meet the target to plant 11 million trees by 2015; and if he will make a statement. Dr Thérèse Coffey: There was no target to plant 11 million trees by 2015. The 2010 Conservative manifesto said “in addition to ongoing woodland creation, we will launch a national tree planting campaign, planting up to one million new trees in the next Parliament.” In the years from 2010-2015, it is estimated that through CAP funds, approximately 11 million trees were planted. The 2015 and 2017 manifestos both committed to planting 11 million trees over the course of the expected five-year parliaments to which the manifestos related.

Water Companies: Tax Avoidance Holly Lynch: [126684] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of water utility companies that use (a) off-shore financial arrangements and (b) tax havens. Dr Thérèse Coffey: According to data compiled by Ofwat, the following regulated water companies have offshore finance structures registered in the Cayman Islands: Affinity Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water. All of these offshore finance structures are UK resident for tax purposes. Thames Water and Yorkshire Water have both recently announced their intention to close their offshore finance structures. EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries Hywel Williams: [126675] To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting EU associated citizenship for UK citizens as a negotiating position. Mr Robin Walker: We are content to listen to proposals from the EU on associated citizenship for UK nationals however, to date, this has not been formally proposed to the UK in negotiations. EU treaty provisions state that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State. We have secured a deal that will safeguard the rights of UK nationals living in the European Union, so that they can continue living their lives broadly as they do now. Details of this agreement, which gives more certainty about residence, healthcare, pensions and other benefits, can be found in the Joint Report published in December. As we move forward into the next phase of negotiations we will continue to work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

Immigration Jeremy Lefroy: [126871] To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) Norway, (b) Switzerland, (c) Iceland and (d) Liechtenstein on (i) their citizens resident in the UK and (ii) UK citizens resident in those countries after the UK leaves the EU. Mr Steve Baker: The UK’s published policy paper, ‘Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU’, stated that we would discuss similar arrangements with Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The Prime Minister reiterated this to the Norwegian Prime Minister in October and in her letter to EU citizens on 11 December 2017. We have already started constructive official-level scoping talks with all four countries and both the UK and the EFTA states are keen to reach agreement as soon as possible. It is our intention that all EEA and Swiss nationals in the UK, and UK nationals living across the EEA and Switzerland can continue living life broadly as they do now. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Anguilla: Companies Dame Margaret Hodge: [126915] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2017 to Question 115638 on Anguilla: Companies, what the timetable is for Anguilla’s register of beneficial ownership to be published; and what support the Government is providing to assist Anguilla in publishing that register. Sir Alan Duncan: As set out in my response to PQ 115638, we have committed to provide financial support to Anguilla to create an electronic search platform providing access to beneficial ownership information, as well as support in drafting underpinning legislation. The process for establishing a beneficial ownership system has been delayed by the impact of and need to recover from Hurricane Irma. The Government of Anguilla has now produced a draft beneficial ownership bill which is currently being revised to take into account stakeholder comments. We expect Anguilla's beneficial ownership platform to be in place by Autumn 2018. In the interim, Anguilla will continue to respond to any requests for information from UK law enforcement authorities.

China: Christianity Nigel Dodds: [126739] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of China on the reported detention of Christians in re-education camps in Xinjiang Province. Mark Field: We are aware of recent reports that individuals are being detained in political re- education camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the Chinese authorities. To date we have not discussed these specific reports with the Chinese authorities: however my officials will continue to monitor the situation in Xinjiang closely. We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in China, particularly in Xinjiang. We raised our concerns with the Chinese authorities at the last UK/China Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 27 June 2017.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund Tulip Siddiq: [126307] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to local (a) councils and (b) governance structures overseas through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. Alistair Burt: The cross-Government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), working to the direction of the National Security Council, supports efforts to tackle fragility in over 70 conflict-affected countries. Details of programmes are available via the CSSF's programme and annual review summaries: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-cssf. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a delivery Department, undertaking a range of programming, the majority of which involves work with local governance structures, including local council equivalents. For example, in Iraq programmes support governorates to improve service delivery to citizens; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, programming is improving local-level security and justice institutions; and in Pakistan we are building more inclusive parliamentary processes.

Diplomatic Service: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [126803] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make Religious and Freedom of Religion or Belief Literacy training compulsory for diplomats serving in countries where violations are most prevalent. Mark Field: A specific course in Religion and Diplomacy is available to FCO staff designated to take up roles where an understanding of religion is key to their work. We will keep attendance at the course under review, but so far we do not see a need to make this training mandatory. The FCO also runs seminars on specific themes. For example, Bishop Jonathan Goodall spoke to the FCO about Orthodox Christianity and foreign policy.

Eastern Europe: Overseas Aid Liam Byrne: [126846] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what projects the Good Governance Fund has supported since its inception; and what projects it will fund in the 2017 - 22 Parliament. Sir Alan Duncan: Since its inception in 2015, the Good Governance Fund (GGF) has supported around 250 projects in the five GGF recipient countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Bosnia and Serbia). These projects have all been in line with UK National Security Council (NSC) priorities for the countries concerned and have focussed on reform to business environment, governance, anti-corruption and judicial reform and media freedom. Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126837] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Sir Alan Duncan: Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT) has already allocated departments an additional nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for the Department for International Trade, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Department for Exiting the European Union over the parliament in the Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18. At Autumn Budget 2017 HMT made another £3bn additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HMT to determine our allocation for 18/19 and aim to agree this soon.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126310] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare voucher scheme. Sir Alan Duncan: As at 31 January 2018, 179 UK-Based employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office make use of the childcare voucher scheme.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Land Jack Lopresti: [126408] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Alistair Burt: The current landholdings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are shown in the table below. The information is correct at time of publication.

LAND IN HECTARES ENGLAND SOUTH WEST

[Department] 36 hectares Nil

[Agencies] Nil Nil

[Non-departmental public Nil Nil bodies]

Total 36 hectares Nil

Of the total land the FCO holds in England, no land is currently declared as surplus. There is no land held in the South West. The other FCO sites are leasehold, as are all sites of the FCO’s agencies and non-departmental public bodies (as listed in the table above).

Gaza: Violence Jack Lopresti: [126384] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question HL4713, on Gaza: Politics and Government, and the Answer of 11 January 2018 to Question 120721, on Israel: Gaza, what methods his Department has used to call upon that administration to refrain from violence. Alistair Burt: We have not had any contact with the administration in Gaza: the UK retains a policy of no contact with Hamas in its entirety.

Hezbollah Paul Scully: [126411] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the role of Hezbollah in the Middle East peace process. Alistair Burt: We are aware of Hassan Nasrallah's recent calls for a Palestinian intifada. The UK deplores all forms of incitement, including any comments that could stir up hatred and prejudice. We continue to urge all sides to avoid engaging in, or encouraging, any type of action and language that makes it more difficult to achieve a culture of peaceful coexistence and a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons Ian Paisley: [127037] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment the Government has made of the effect on stability in the Middle East of Iran's ballistic missile programme. Alistair Burt: We have significant concerns about Iran's ballistic missile programme, which contributes to its destabilising role in the region. Iran has conducted ballistic missile activity which is inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231. We have raised our concerns with the Iranian Government, including during the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Tehran in December. We also continue to work with the relevant UN bodies to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and we urge all partners to report concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile programme to the UN Security Council. Iran: Religious Freedom Nigel Dodds: [126743] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made on respect for (a) freedom of religion and (b) other fundamental freedoms in Iran. Alistair Burt: Iran's human rights record continues to be of serious concern to the UK. This includes persecution of religious minorities, as well as concerning trends such as the continued use of the death penalty, restrictions on freedom of expression and limits on freedom of assembly. We regularly raise human rights with the Iranian Government at all levels, on 11 January, the Foreign Secretary discussed Iran's response to the recent Iran protests with Foreign Minister Zarif, emphasising that international obligations on human rights should be observed.

Israel: Gaza Ian Paisley: [127036] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Middle East Peace Process of renewed rocket firings from Gaza into Israel. Alistair Burt: We are gravely concerned by the increase in rocket fire since December 2017. Rocket attacks threaten the daily lives of Israelis indiscriminately and make achieving peace more difficult. We call on all parties to refrain from violence and to commit to a negotiated solution to end the conflict.

Israel: Technology Jim Shannon: [126893] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to strengthen trade cooperation with Israel in the high tech sector. Alistair Burt: The UK is a close friend of Israel and we enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship, built on decades of cooperation between our two countries across a range of fields such as education, hi-tech research, business, arts and culture. Trade between our countries is at record levels. The British Government helped to establish the UK- Israel Tech Hub, a non-profit organisation based in Tel Aviv and London, to help British companies looking for cutting-edge innovation or Israeli start-ups seeking to grow through the UK. Over the last 5 years the Tech Hub has generated deals worth £62 million. Lebanon: Diplomatic Relations Jack Lopresti: [126385] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the strength of the diplomatic relationship between Lebanon and (a) the US, (b) Canada, (c) the Netherlands, (d) the Arab League and (e) the Gulf Cooperation Council. Alistair Burt: We have not made any such recent assessments.

Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [126804] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what positive outcomes for freedom of religion or belief were achieved from Magna Carta Fund funding in 2016-17. Mark Field: There have been a number of positive outcomes for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) from projects supported through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy in financial year 2016-17. These include: A project delivered by the Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) Hardwired Inc has promoted tolerance in secondary school curricula in 50 schools in Iraq, Morocco and Lebanon. The Kurdish Regional Government has also asked for it to be shared with all children in their region. The NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide is running a project to support human rights defenders in a number countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This project is raising awareness at the national, regional and international level of the unique challenges human rights defenders campaigning for FoRB face in South and Central Asia. The project is advocating for better protection for them by state authorities. A project run by the Salzburg Global Seminar is increasing the capacity of institutions with educational missions in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to combat extremism, prevent genocide and promote tolerance. There is particular emphasis on Rwanda, South Africa and Cambodia. The Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy was also used to support projects to promote FoRB and tolerance in Burma, Tunisia, Egypt, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. These projects have strengthened civil society actors in those countries. A project carried out by Cumberland Lodge has promoted greater understanding of FoRB issues and challenges amongst overseas students in the UK. This is sensitising them to these matters before their returning to their native countries where it is hoped they will act as informal advocates for human rights, including FoRB. Mr Gavin Shuker: [126805] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects in which countries were funded from his Department's Magna Carta Fund to support freedom of religion and belief in 2016-17. Mark Field: Her Majesty's Government places great importance on defending and promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy is one of the tools we use to achieve this goal. In 2016-17 we funded the following projects that supported freedom of religion or belief:  Creating Advocates for Freedom of Religion or Belief in developing countries (including, India and Indonesia)  Defending Freedom of Religion or Belief in South And Central Asia (including in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).  Upholding Freedom Of Expression and Promoting Stable Pluralistic Societies In the MENA region (including Egypt).  Promoting Social Stability and Security through Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief in Central Asia (Tajikistan & Turkmenistan) Due to sensitivities, we are unable to disclose details of all our projects to support freedom of religion or belief.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations Ben Lake: [126304] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Central Council to suspend the Oslo agreement on progress towards a peace settlement. Alistair Burt: The UK notes that the recommendations made by the Palestinian Central Council on 15 of January were non-binding. The Palestinian Authority continues to recognise the State of Israel and support a two-state solution. We continue to encourage the Palestinian leadership not to implement this recommendation. We urge all parties to promote non-violence, and engage constructively towards a two-state solution as the only basis for a sustainable settlement to the conflict.

Osman Kavala John Mann: [127058] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will take steps to seek the release of Osman Kavala from prison in Turkey. Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not taken action directly relating to Osman Kavala's case. We regularly raise human rights concerns both in public and privately and have long encouraged Turkey to work towards the full protection of human rights, particularly on freedom of expression. Whilst we have recognised the Turkish government's right to act against the perpetrators of the coup attempt in 2016 and those involved in terrorism, we have always stressed that this must be done in a proportionate, justified manner and in line with Turkey's democratic principles and international human rights obligations. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and I have all raised these concerns with the Turkish government.

Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [126668] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timetable is for the publication of the Government’s freedom of religion or belief strategy. Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is developing a work-plan and has a "toolkit" which supports our work to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The toolkit is published and can be seen at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516 /Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf. The work-plan addresses activity at multilateral human rights fora and in our bilateral diplomatic engagement with other states, as well as project work. Because of the sensitivities of some of the material contained, it would not be appropriate to publish the work. Mr Gavin Shuker: [126669] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what way his Department is using the responses from HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners to its correspondence on their work to advance freedom of religion or belief in order to inform his Department's work in that area. Mark Field: The responses we recieved from Her Majesty's Ambassadors and High Commissioners to our letters of 27 October 2017 and 28 November 2017 set out the main current and planned activities of their respective Embassies and High Commissions in the defence and promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). Officials will follow the progress of these activities and will evaluate outcomes in due course. Mr Gavin Shuker: [126670] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many and which HM Ambassadors and High Commissioners responded to the letters that his Department sent asking them to report on their work to advance freedom of religion or belief. Mark Field: So far ten heads of mission have formally responded to the letters Lord Ahmad and I sent. We have received substantive replies from Embassies or High Commissions in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Mr Gavin Shuker: [126672] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to use information from Stabilisation Unit meetings on enhancing understanding of freedom of religion or belief to inform (a) Government programmes and (b) the work of UK overseas posts to improve the way in which patterns of religious persecution are tackled. Mark Field: The Stabilisation Unit works with Government Departments to facilitate cross- government conflict assessments which seek to understand the key characteristics of conflicts. Freedom of religion or belief is considered as part of this framework where relevant. These assessments inform wider Government programming, policy making ,and posts are able to draw on them to inform their programme work. Mr Gavin Shuker: [126673] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to feed information gathered from roundtable meetings with civil society on freedom of religion or belief into its policy and programmes. Mark Field: The FCO minister of state with responsibilities for human rights, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, has hosted two roundtables to date. The first, on 23 October, looked at Burma in the light of the Rohingya crisis. The second, on 12 December, examined the role of women in tackling religiously motivated violent extremism. These roundtables have been excellent opportunities to hear the perspectives and insights of faith leaders. Jim Shannon: [126758] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make freedom of belief a priority policy for his Department. Mark Field: The protection of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a priority of Her Majesty's Government's foreign policy and will continue to be so. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and Officials regularly raise individual cases and highlight practices and laws that discriminate against people on the basis of their religion or belief. The United Kingdom also actively promotes FoRB through multilateral diplomacy. At the last session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Kingdom worked to maintain consensus on the adoption and implementation of the European Union sponsored Resolution on 'Freedom of Religion or Belief' and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation sponsored Resolution on 'Combating Religious Intolerance'. Through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, the FCO also continues to support a number of projects to promote tolerance. Current projects include work to promote religious tolerance through secondary school curricula in Iraq, Morocco and Lebanon. Jim Shannon: [126759] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish the Government's freedom of religion or belief strategy. Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is developing a work-plan and has a “toolkit” which guides our work to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The toolkit is published and can be seen at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/561516 /Freedom_of_Religion_or_Belief_Toolkit_-_2016.pdf The work-plan is for internal use only and there are no plans to publish it. Jim Shannon: [126760] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how his Department is using the responses from Ambassadors and High Commissioners to its letters on what they are doing to advance freedom of religion or belief to inform his Department's work in that area. Mark Field: The responses received from Her Majesty's Ambassadors and High Commissioners to our letters of 27 October 2017 and 28 November 2017 set out the main current and planned activities of their respective Embassies and High Commissions in the defence and promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The responses give examples of how those Embassies and High Commissions are using a variety of diplomatic and programme tools to further defend and promote FoRB. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Policy Unit will follow the progress of activities set out in those responses, and will evaluate outcomes in due course.

Russia: Nuclear Weapons Mr Kevan Jones: [126974] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of claims by the President of Lithuania that Russia has the nuclear-capable Iskander missile system permanently deployed in its exclave of Kaliningrad. Sir Alan Duncan: We are aware of the claims made by the President of Lithuania regarding Russian deployments to Kaliningrad. We are unable to confirm these claims but we remain concerned at Russia's ongoing military modernisation in Kaliningrad which risks raising tensions. NATO's posture will remain proportionate and defensive in nature. We will continue to encourage Russia to engage constructively on military issues of concern through NATO-Russia dialogue. It is in our mutual interest to reduce the risk of misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation.

South Sudan: Sanctions Dr David Drew: [127086] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to ensure the maintenance of the (a) arms embargo and (b) sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council on South Sudan. Harriett Baldwin: We strongly support the UN sanctions regime on South Sudan, and played a leading role in the recent implementation of EU sanctions, announced on 2 February, to discourage the obstruction of the peace process. While the EU and the US both have arms embargoes in place, there is currently no UN arms embargo on South Sudan. The UK strongly supports the implemention of a UN arms embargo, and we are working towards this with our international partners.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights Kate Osamor: [126850] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the delivery of commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1. Mark Field: The UK is closely monitoring delivery of the commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, in collaboration with the UN, international partners, Government of Sri Lanka and civil society. I raised commitments most recently with Foreign Minister Marapana by telephone on 8 February. During my visit to Colombo and Jaffna in October 2017 I also discussed the importance of the Sri Lankan government meeting its obligations in full under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, which rolled over the commitments made under 30/1. Among these were establishing transitional justice mechanisms, including a credible accountability process for those most responsible for violations and abuses during Sri Lanka's civil war and the return of military held civilian land, particularly in the predominantly Tamil north and east. The UK continues to support the Government of Sri Lanka in its efforts to promote reconciliation and human rights. The UK is also providing Sri Lanka with £6.6 million of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding over three years, to include support for police reform and training, reconciliation and peace building, and demining in the north of the country. Zimbabwe: Commonwealth Hugh Gaffney: [126762] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to support and encourage the re-admittance of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth. Harriett Baldwin: The UK is willing to support Zimbabwe's re-admittance to the Commonwealth provided it meets the criteria for membership, particularly in relation to human rights, good governance and the rule of law. The holding of free and fair elections in the country must be a prerequisite. I made this clear to President Mnangagwa during our meeting on 2 February. The first step for re-entry to the Commonwealth would be for Zimbabwe to indicate to the Commonwealth Secretariat that it would like to return. Any decisions on membership are made by consensus by all Commonwealth member states.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London Sir Michael Fallon: [126696] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS emergency treatment centres are located inside the London congestion charge zone. Stephen Barclay: NHS Improvement has confirmed two hospitals with emergency treatment centres are located inside the London congestion charge zone. These are St Thomas’ Hospital, with accident and emergency (A&E) and Urgent Care Centre (UCC) facilities and Guy’s Hospital, which contains a standalone UCC but no A&E.

Ambulance Services: Greater London Sir Michael Fallon: [126697] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ambulance crew are based inside the London congestion charge zone. Stephen Barclay: This information is not collected centrally.

Department of Health and Social Care: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126835] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Stephen Barclay: As announced at the Autumn Budget 2017, HM Treasury is making £3 billion of additional funding available over the next two years - £1.5 billion in both 2018/19 and 2019/20 – so that departments and the devolved administrations can continue to prepare effectively for Brexit. We are currently working with HM Treasury and Department for Exiting the European Union to establish what we need to prepare effectively, and what additional funding should be supplied – HM Treasury will aim to agree 2018/19 allocations early this year. Funding requirements for 2019/20 will be affected by progress in negotiations with the EU and will therefore be decided at a later date. Additional funding received from the Reserve will be set out at Supplementary Estimates in the usual way.

Doctors Tom Pursglove: [126909] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full-time equivalent doctors there were in the NHS in (a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1995, (d) 2000, (e) 2005, (f) 2010 and (g) 2015. Stephen Barclay: NHS Digital data for monthly workforce statistics is not comparable to figures before 2009 due to a change in data collection methods. NHS Digital publishes workforce statistics, and the following table shows the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) hospital and community health service (HCHS) doctors that were employed by the National Health Service in October in 2010 and 2015.

YEAR HCHS DOCTORS (FTE)

October 2010 97,103

October 2015 104,719

Source : NHS Digital monthly workforce statistics

Doctors: Sexual Offences Mrs Anne Main: [126767] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the ability of General Medical Council to investigate cases of sexual misconduct within the profession. Stephen Barclay: All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC) ‘Good Medical Practice’. To maintain their licence to practise, a doctor must demonstrate, through the revalidation process, that they work in line with the principles and values set out in this guidance. Serious or persistent failure to follow this guidance will put their registration at risk. In this guidance, the GMC explain how doctors can put these principles into practice, that they must maintain the trust of patients and the public, and must never make a sexual advance towards a patient or display sexual behaviour. If an allegation is made about a doctor who may not meet the professional standards required, the GMC has a duty to investigate and take action to safeguard the health and well-being of the public. In serious cases fitness-to-practise proceedings can result in doctors being removed from the medical register.

Geriatrics Mr Ben Bradshaw: [126899] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a sufficient number of specialist trainees and consultants in geriatric medicine to deliver good patient outcomes. Stephen Barclay: Nationally, there has been a 35% increase of consultants in geriatric medicine since May 2010. As set out in ‘Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future: A draft health and care workforce strategy for England to 2027’, Health Education England is working with Royal Colleges, arm’s length bodies and others, to determine the numbers required for medical specialty training to produce the consultants and general practitioners of the future. Locally, responsibility for staffing levels, including the number of consultant posts, rests with individual National Health Service trusts and their boards who are best placed to decide how many staff they need to provide a given service.

Health: Telford and Wrekin Lucy Allan: [126637] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) total and (b) per capita funding from his Department's budget on (i) health and (ii) mental health in England was spent in (A) Telford constituency and (B) Wrekin in the last 12 months; and where Telford and Wrekin are ranked in England for such spending. Stephen Barclay: NHS England allocates funding to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), rather than to individual constituencies. The level of funding a CCG receives is informed by the estimation of the relative health needs of local areas, based on a set of funding formulae. These formulae produce a target allocation, or 'fair share', for each area based on a complex assessment of factors such as demography, morbidity, deprivation, and the unavoidable cost of providing services in different areas. As the need for different types of health services varies, there are separate formulae for each of the CCG core responsibilities, specialised services and primary medical care. NHS England does not allocate budgets for specific services such as mental health. CCGs determine the level of expenditure appropriate for their population, based on their assessment of local health needs. The figures for Telford and Wrekin CCG’s total expenditure on health and mental health, and this as a proportion of NHS England’s budget in 2016-17, is presented in the table below.

TELFORD AND WREKIN CCG 2016/17

Total expenditure £229.5 million

Total expenditure as a proportion of NHS 0.22% England’s budget

Total expenditure on mental health £23.8 million

Total expenditure on mental health as a 0.25% proportion of NHS England’s mental health budget

Hospitals: Consultants Mr Ben Bradshaw: [126898] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the NHS consultant workforce. Stephen Barclay: There has been a 28% increase of consultants in post since May 2010 to October 2017. Building on this, ‘Facing the Facts – Shaping the Future – a draft health and care workforce strategy for England to 2027’ sets out actions being taken to ensure sufficient supply of doctors across all grades and specialties, including a historic expansion of 1,500 undergraduate medical school places from 2019 and reform of postgraduate medical education to better support the development of the doctors of tomorrow. Locally, responsibility for staffing levels, including the consultant workforce, rests with individual National Health Service trusts and their boards who are best placed to decide how many staff they need to provide a given service. Hospitals: Parking Lisa Nandy: [126738] To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS trusts comply with guidance on patient, visitor and staff parking. Stephen Barclay: The National Health Service patient, visitor and staff car parking principles (first published in August 2014 and then updated in October 2015), set out a nationally consistent approach to determining car parking policies, making clear the rules which NHS trusts should follow when making decisions about car parking. However, the provision of parking spaces and the level of any charges that are made to use them are matters for individual NHS trusts locally. NHS organisations are responsible locally for their own policy on car parking, taking into account operational circumstances and community interests.

HOME OFFICE

Asylum: Employment Mr Roger Godsiff: [111061] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of allowing asylum seekers to work while their application is progressing. Caroline Nokes: Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in the UK unless their claim has been outstanding for at least 12 months through no fault of their own. The policy is designed to protect the resident labour market so that access to employment is prioritised for British citizens and lawful residents, including those granted refugees status. We have no plans to change this policy.

Borders: Personal Records Sir Edward Davey: [9653] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department was officially informed of the data collected by transport operators at exit checks between April 2015 and April 2016. Caroline Nokes: Exit checks data in the form of Advance Passenger Information (API) or Travel Document Information (TDI) for outbound travel has been received from all in-scope scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes since 8 April 2015. The available statistics under the Exit Checks programme has previously been published by the Office of National Statistics in August 2016 and August 2017 on the .GOV.UK website and via the library of the House. Carillion Holly Lynch: [126676] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Carillion was responsible for the delivery of any contracts for police forces across the country; and if she will make a statement. Mr Nick Hurd: Carillion are responsible for delivering contracts to policing, these contracts are direct between police forces and Carillion. The HO have liaised with all police forces and have been provided with assurance from policing that effective business continuity plans are in place.

Companies: Guernsey Dame Margaret Hodge: [126912] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects Guernsey’s register of beneficial ownership to be published; for what reasons publication has not yet taken place; and what support the Government is providing to assist Guernsey in publishing that register. Mr Ben Wallace: The Crown Dependencies are separate jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments. The UK Government works closely with the Crown Dependencies, on transparency issues. Our priority is the implementation of the new bilateral arrangements concluded with them in 2016. Under these arrangements, the Crown Dependencies have committed to establish, where they have not already done so, central registers of beneficial ownership information or similarly effective systems and to give UK law enforcement and tax authorities near real-time access to beneficial ownership information on corporate and legal entities incorporated in their jurisdictions. Nevertheless, it remains the Government’s ambition for public registers to become the global standard. If this happens, we would expect the Crown Dependencies to follow suit.

Counter-terrorism: Finance Ian Austin: [2788] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of the 2017-18 Counter Terrorism Policing and Protective Security Grant budget has been allocated to (a) North West CTU, (b) North East CTU, (c) SE CTU, (d) WM CTU, (e) London (SO15), (f) South West CTIU, (g) Wales CTIU, (h) Eastern CTIU, (i) East Midlands CTIU, (j) Scotland CTIU and (k) Northern Ireland CTIU. Mr Ben Wallace: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the Hon Member for West Ham on the 27th June 2017, UIN 787. Domestic Violence: Refuges Lucy Allan: [126638] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on ensuring the availability of safe accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence. Victoria Atkins: Home Office Ministers are working very closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to find a sustainable future for refuges and other forms of safe accommodation, in order that we meet the specialist needs of all those fleeing domestic abuse In addition, the Home Secretary regularly discusses issues relating to all Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) at the VAWG Inter-Ministerial Group.

European Asylum Support Office Tulip Siddiq: [126569] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what personnel support has been provided by her Department to the European Asylum Support Office since 2016. Caroline Nokes: The information is published in the Explanatory Memoranda and is provided in the links below: http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/files/2017/07/10294_17.pdf http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/files/2017/10/12019_17.pdf

Hezbollah John Howell: [126775] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of proscribing the political wing of Hezbollah as a result of the comments made by Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem that the organisation does not maintain a military and a political wing. Mr Ben Wallace: The UK distinguishes between the political and military wings of Hizballah. The UK proscribed Hizballah’s External Security Organisation in March 2001 and in 2008 the proscription was extended to Hizballah’s military apparatus. We do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription. Home Office: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126839] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if she will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Caroline Nokes: Leaving the EU has created a programme of work for the Home Department. For the financial year 2017-’18, HM Treasury allocated £60m to fund the Department’s preparations. We are still discussing future year funding with HMT.

Home Office: Contracts Afzal Khan: [126609] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of ensuring all of her Department's contracts tendered after the UK leaves the EU are in compliance with EU Procurement Directives. Caroline Nokes: The current public procurement rules will continue to apply until the UK has left the EU following the successful conclusion of exit negotiations. The longer-term opportunities for our procurement regulations are being considered carefully.

Home Office: Land Jack Lopresti: [126400] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much land (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West;, and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Victoria Atkins: The UK Government is a significant landowner. The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's vision to create an efficient, fit-for-purpose and sustainable estate whose performance matches the best of the private sector. As a Government we are delivering this vision, ensuring that the estate is fit for purpose, is frequently reviewed and aligned to the Estate Strategy, and is managed in an efficient and effective way. Of the total land the Home Office holds in England, 8.6 hectares is currently declared as surplus, none of which are in the South West. These figures include agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Details of the department's surplus land holdings are published on the register of surplus land: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/epimstransparency Home Office: Written Questions Deidre Brock: [121560] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer to Question 4342 on Border Force: Staff, tabled on 11 July 2017; and when she plans to answer Question 106287 on the Licensing Act 2003, tabled on 6 October 2017. Victoria Atkins: Question UIN 4342 on Border Force: Staff was answered on 11th January 2018 and question UIN 106287 on the Licensing Act 2013 was answered on 15th January 2018. Holly Lynch: [124311] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to Question 115815, tabled by the hon. Member for Halifax on 27 November 2017. Mr Nick Hurd: UIN 115815 was answered on the 14th February 2018.

Homosexuality Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [126558] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to criminalise the practice of gay conversion therapy. Victoria Atkins: This Government is clear that a person’s sexual orientation is not an illness to be cured and we are not prepared to see such activity continue either in the regulated professional sector or outside of it. The Government has already taken steps to prevent the practice of gay conversion therapy in the UK. We have worked with the main registration and accreditation bodies for psychotherapy and counselling practitioners to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to put a stop to this bogus treatment. We do not currently have plans to introduce new criminal offences for practising gay conversion therapy, but we are keeping the issue under close review. In 2017, the Government Equalities Office carried out a survey of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the UK, which included several questions about gay conversion therapy. The survey received more than 100,000 responses, making it one of the largest surveys of LGBT people’s experiences ever conducted. The results of the survey are currently being analysed and the Government’s response will be published later this year. Due to the significant response rate to the survey, we believe this data will give us a much better view of the scale and significance of conversion therapy in the UK, and it will allow us to investigate further the steps that Government as a whole could take to address this issue. Immigrants Helen Hayes: [126634] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have limited leave to remain, who (a) are prohibited from working and (b) are not eligible for access to public funds. Caroline Nokes: No Recourse to Public Funds is the default condition for grants of leave to remain in most categories. Data is not held in the requested format, and to establish whether a migrant did not or did not have the no recourse to public funds, or prohibition from working condition applied would require individual examination of records. This would incur disproportionate cost. However, total grants of leave to remain can be found in table ex_01_q in the Home Office’s Immigration Statistics July to September release, available for download at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release with the data tables at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration- statistics-july-to-september-2017-data-tables

Immigrants: Children Carolyn Harris: [126854] To ask the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, how biometric data relating to migrant children collected by the police is shared with Immigration Enforcement; whether there is a memorandum of understanding between Hertfordshire Police and Immigration Enforcement on that matter; and for what purposes other than safeguarding children may such data be used. Caroline Nokes: The Safeguarding Strategy on Unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children, published in November 2017. This information is available on www.gov.uk at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656425/UAS C_Safeguarding_Strategy_2017.pdf

Immigration Bail Sir Edward Davey: [126818] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect the repeal of section 4(1) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will have on the number of people who are released from immigration detention on immigration bail. Caroline Nokes: The repeal of section 4(1) is not expected to have any discernible effect on the number of people released from immigration detention on immigration bail Paragraph 9 of Schedule 10 to the 2016 Act contains powers to provide accommodation to people released from detention on bail and to those who require it in order to avoid a breach of their Article 3 rights. Additionally, individuals granted immigration bail who are asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers can access support provided under sections 95 or 4(2) of the 1999 Act if they would otherwise be destitute and meet the normal eligibility criteria. Immigration offenders who can leave the UK to avoid a breach of their human rights are expected to do so.

Key Forensic Services: Insolvency David Hanson: [127021] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the collapse of Key Forensic Services. David Hanson: [127022] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who will be responsible for the provision of forensic science services following the collapse of Key Forensic Services; and how much financial support will be given to establish that provider. David Hanson: [127023] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on police forces of the collapse of Key Forensic Services. David Hanson: [127024] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pending cases Key Forensic Services was handling in each police force area prior to its collapse. David Hanson: [127025] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces have ongoing case work with Key Forensic Services. Mr Nick Hurd: Key Forensic Services (KFS) appointed administrators on 30 January 2018. At the time there were around 2,000 pending cases, and around 30 police forces affected. The administrators have issued a statement that the company is continuing to trade. I welcome the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ swift action to minimise the impact on the criminal justice system and protect the evidence for live cases. With Home Office support they are working on a plan to ensure that the evidence KFS holds continues to be properly and professionally managed in accordance with the standards set by the Forensic Science Regulator. It is estimated that work to complete current cases will take around two months. Work is also underway to assess short-term, capacity within the forensic science market.

Nuisance Calls Holly Lynch: [115815] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the police response to reports of an 0800 number making repeated threatening phone calls. Mr Nick Hurd: The Government takes the issue of malicious or threatening calls very seriously. Individuals who receive such calls are advised to report it to their phone provider. If such calls are reported to the police it is for chief constables to decide how best to deploy resources to respond to the matter. It is for the directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to hold the local chief constable to account for the performance of the force on behalf of the public.

Passports Martin Whitfield: [127060] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the cost of postal passport applications the same cost as for online applications. Caroline Nokes: When considering passport fees, Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) adheres to HM Treasury guidance, Managing Public Money, which states that fees should be set at levels to recover the full cost of providing the service and that generally no one set of customers should subsidise the cost for other customers. In making the new passport fee proposals HMPO carefully assessed the costs of providing each of the services provided and the proposals do reflect the fact that processing online applications is significantly cheaper than those associated with handling postal paper applications. In line with the Treasury Guidance HMPO will review fee levels annually to ensure all fees are set appropriately including costs relating to postal and online applications.

Prisoners: Females Carolyn Harris: [126875] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her polices of the report by the Prison Reform Trust, Domestic abuse as a driver to women’s offending, published on 4 December 2017, that 57 per cent of women sent to prison are victims of domestic abuse. Victoria Atkins: The Government's Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, backed by £100 million of dedicated funding, sets out the importance of meeting the needs of those with complex needs, which can include female offenders who are also survivors of VAWG, and who may experience additional barriers to accessing support. As part of the Government’s major programme of work to transform our approach to domestic abuse we will work with partners to improve our response to female offenders who have been victims of abuse. This will include consideration of the recommendations in the Prison Reform Trust report.

Refugees: Syria Tulip Siddiq: [126567] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to encourage the participation of local authorities in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Caroline Nokes: Local authority participation in refugee resettlement is voluntary. We are grateful to those who have welcomed refugees into their communities, arranging accommodation and supporting their integration under this and other schemes to date, and will continue to work closely with local authorities and Strategic Migration Partnerships to encourage participation and convert pledges into resettlement places for refugees. The Home Office publishes the number of resettlements under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme as part of the Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration- statistics-quarterly-release. A quarterly breakdown of this scheme’s resettlements by local authority is also available from October 2015 onwards. This data can be found in the Asylum data tables volume 4 on sheets as19q and as20q.

Slavery Tulip Siddiq: [126948] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps the Government has taken to raise public awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking. Victoria Atkins: The Government continues to use communications as an essential means of raising public awareness of modern slavery. Building on the success of the 2014 ‘Slavery Happens Here’ campaign, the Home Office has carried out tailored communications activity to raise awareness of modern slavery in high-risk communities in the UK and overseas, most recently in Nigeria. In September 2017, Crimestoppers and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority launched a joint campaign to encourage the public to spot the signs of modern slavery and to report any suspicions to Crimestoppers.The Home Office also posts regularly about how to identify and report modern slavery on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram social media channels. In October 2017, the Government published awareness raising and victim identification guidance for public sector staff as well as signposting public sector organisations to training resources on modern slavery. In August 2017, the National Crime Agency held a media briefing to raise awareness of modern slavery and the response. As a result, the Modern Slavery Helpline received an unprecedented number of calls that month. In January 2018 the National Crime Agency launched the Invisible People exhibition which uses striking images by an award-winning photographer to portray the signs of slavery and inform the public how to report it. The display of modern slavery material in public areas is also a Government priority. Border Force, in collaboration with the Modern Slavery Helpline, has led a digital and print modern slavery campaign across UK ports and airports nationwide. The campaign provides advice and guidance about modern slavery for passengers and encourages greater disclosure to officers by vulnerable potential victims or passengers who may have seen something suspicious.

UK Visas and Immigration: Correspondence Gareth Thomas: [126768] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when UK Visas and Immigration plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Harrow West of 19 December 2017 regarding Mr Kyei of Harrow. Caroline Nokes: The UK Visas and Immigration MP Account Management team responded to Mr Thomas’s enquiry on 17 January. A copy of this response has been resent to his office on 7 February.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members Sir David Amess: [126177] To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether there are any plans to alter the in-House guiding system offered to Members; and if he will make a statement. Tom Brake: During 2017 a review of the operating model for guided tours at Parliament was undertaken. This was because the contract with the current supplier of guides for paid-for tours (Blue Badge Guides) comes to an end in October 2018. Blue Badge Guides are not the only option on offer to the public, so therefore a holistic review of all guided tours at Parliament was undertaken. The review sought to make improvements to the current model, and to ensure Parliament gets value for taxpayers’ money across all its tour guiding activities. This includes democratic access (Member tours), currently delivered by in-house guides, and paid for tours on Saturdays and during recess periods. The review recommended a change to the current model. At present, different types of tour are taken by separate guide pools, all on different rates of pay and with variable contractual relationships with Parliament. The new model will create a core team of House employed, full-time and part-time tour guides who are able to deliver all tours, including both income generating commercial tours and constituents’ tours booked through Members. These will be good quality jobs, and ensure that visitors have an excellent experience. Blue Badge Guides could apply for the posts in the new House Service. This recommendation was approved by managers in both Houses and subsequently endorsed by the Administration Committee on 27 November 2017 and the House of Commons Commission on 18 December 2017. The House of Lords Services Committee endorsed the recommendation following their meeting on 23 November 2017. The benefits that will be realised through the adoption of the new model are:  The opportunity to build a dedicated team of specialists who will be ambassadors for Parliament.  The operating model will provide substantive full and part time roles for new and existing staff who will be able to access the full employment benefits of working at the Houses of Parliament – rather than outsourcing at a significantly higher cost. Furthermore, the use of casual contracts will cease.  Visitor Services will introduce new recruitment strategies to increase the diversity of the guide pool. Visitor Services are looking into options such as apprenticeships to offer further employment opportunities.  The new model represents better value for money by both achieving efficiencies (cost and operational) and enabling opportunities for further public engagement through a richer programme of talks, tours and events with a dedicated Parliamentary team.  There will be more opportunity to quality assure all types of tour to the same high standard – commercial and democratic – with greater management control, ensuring content is distinct by tour type and audience in order to deepen public engagement with Parliament.  The above benefits will be realised whilst achieving a modest financial saving in comparison to the current model. This saving will be reinvested to increase Parliament’s public engagement in Westminster and in constituencies. The new model operating model will come into effect by the end of October 2018. The above applies to the operating model only, it does not affect the booking process for tours.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Antisemitism Nigel Dodds: [126747] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK in each year since 2010; and what steps his Department is taking to tackle such attacks. Mrs Heather Wheeler: Statistics published by the Home Office and available on the website https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2016-to- 2017 provide details on the number of hate crimes, although anti-Semitic attacks are not recorded separately. Figures published annually by the Community Security Trust show a disturbing increase in anti-Semitic incidents, with a total of 1,382 incidents reported in 2017. That is why the UK became the first country to formally adopt the International Holocaust Memorial Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. It provides a series of practical examples on how anti-Semitism manifests itself in the 21st century. In addition, Government has provided over £13.4 million (17/18) to ensure the security of Jewish faith schools, synagogues and communal buildings. We believe the best way to tackle anti-Semitism is through effective implementation of the UK’s strong legislation against racial and religious discrimination and racially and religiously motivated crime. We also have a strong relationship with the Jewish community which has been built on the solid work of the Cross-Government working group on tackling anti-Semitism. This ensures that we are aware of any issues and concerns of the Jewish community and can respond quickly.

Housing: Broadband Gloria De Piero: [126289] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many representations his Department has received in respect of new-build properties lacking access to superfast broadband during the last five years. Dominic Raab: The information requested would require a detailed search of our records and could only be provided at disproportionate costs. Housing: Construction John Healey: [126930] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to reconcile the data tables published in (a) net additional dwellings and (b) housebuilding; new build dwellings. Jake Berry: The Department has recently undertaken a programme of work that (a) confirmed the accuracy and coverage of the annual housing supply; net additional dwellings estimate against other similar statistics and (b) explored the coverage of the quarterly house-building release. The programme involved detailed discussions with a range of organisations, including the official producers of housing statistics in the other UK countries, the devolved administrations and with the Office for Statistics Regulation. Officials in the Department have met the National House-Building Council and the associations representing approved inspectors and local authorities, to promote comprehensive data collection and plan to publish strengthened guidance and definitions. We have implemented a new data collection system to make it faster and easier for building control starts and completions to be submitted. We will report progress on further improving the coverage of the quarterly data in the statistical release. John Healey: [126932] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to (a) collect and (b) publish his Department;s Housing supply: net additional dwellings statistics by tenure. Dominic Raab: My Department publishes statistics showing the total dwelling stock in England each year, which can be found at the following link. These estimates are based on the latest census count incremented annually with the net additional dwelling statistics. The dwelling stock estimates also provide a split by tenure that takes account of the net increases in supply and also changes between tenure such as Right to Buy sales. http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local- government/series/dwelling-stock-including-vacants

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126841] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Jake Berry: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for EU Exit: £412 million for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300 million across a number of departments from the Reserve in 2017-18. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3 billion of additional funding available over 2018-19 and 2019-20 – £1.5 billion in each year. We have not bid for any of this funding to date. Departmental allocations for 2019-20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 2020-21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Owner Occupation John Healey: [127028] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the number of home-owning households by age group for each region of England, in each year since 2009-10 for which information is available. Dominic Raab: The department does not publish this information.

Parks Dr David Drew: [126296] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to meet with the Local Government Association to discuss the preservation of public parks. Dr David Drew: [126532] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has recently met with the Local Government Association to discuss (a) the maintenance of public parks and (b) new funding arrangements to preserve the network of parks. Rishi Sunak: The Local Government Association is a member of the ‘Parks Action Group’ and works closely with officials in my Department to discuss activity to safeguard and enhance parks and green spaces for future generations. As the Minister with responsibility for parks and green spaces, I intend to meet with the ‘Parks Action Group’ early this year. Planning Chris Ruane: [126917] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many s215 notices were used by each local authority in each of the last seven years. Dominic Raab: This information is not collected centrally. Local authorities have a discretionary power under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to deal with derelict land and buildings.

Planning Permission: Recreation Spaces Scott Mann: [126966] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to introduce a minimum level of access to outside space, be it communal gardens or private, as a condition of granting planning permission to medium and large- scale developments. Dominic Raab: The Government believes that good design is fundamental to creating healthy, safe, inclusive, accessible and attractive places, where people genuinely want to live, and which can cater for all members of the community. In the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) the Government makes clear its commitment to high quality and inclusive design. The NPPF also encourages the use of design tools and processes which assess and improve the design of new development, including Building for Life 12 and design review Following proposals consulted on in the Housing White Paper, the revised NPPF will be published for consultation before Easter, and this will incorporate strengthened policies on design.

Private Rented Housing: Tenants Peter Kyle: [126786] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that private tenants are aware of their rights. Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that tenants are aware of their rights and already produces a range information and advice for prospective and existing tenants. In the Housing White Paper 2016, the Government reaffirmed the commitment to improve safeguards in the private rented sector so both tenants and landlords are aware of their rights and responsibilities. To improve the information available, we have created and updated a series of consumer-focused online ‘how to’ guides. These guides will help educate and empower potential or existing renters, landlords and property agents so they are confident in making informed decisions and know where to go for support. They will help tenants, landlords and property agents to understand their rights and responsibilities by providing a single source of information for rules, regulations and advice. We plan to publish the new and updated guides on Gov.uk shortly.

Sand: South East Tom Tugendhat: [126413] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of trends in the demand for silica sand in south- east England in the last 10 years in order to predict future demand. Tom Tugendhat: [126414] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance the Government provides to mineral planning authorities on calculating the need for silica sand extraction over the period of a Minerals and Waste Local Plan. Tom Tugendhat: [126787] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that areas with comparatively small deposits of silica sand contribute to local and national needs for the mineral in a sustainable way. Tom Tugendhat: [126788] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what purpose the Government plans to use silica sand extracted from sites in Kent. Dominic Raab: Planning for industrial minerals is a matter for minerals planning authorities. The National Planning Policy Framework asks that minerals planning authorities should plan for a steady and adequate supply of industrial minerals by providing a stock of permitted reserves to support the level of actual and proposed investment required for new or existing plant and the maintenance and improvement of existing plant and equipment, of at least 10 years for individual silica sand sites, and at least 15 years for silica sand sites where significant new capital is required. National Planning Practice Guidance states that the required stock of permitted reserves for each silica sand site should be based on the average of the previous 10 years sales, and that the calculations should have regard to the quality of sand and the use to which the material is put.

Sleeping Rough Alex Sobel: [127001] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on achieving the Government's commitment to halve rough sleeping by 2022. Mrs Heather Wheeler: The recently established Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce will design and drive forward the implementation of our cross-government strategy to achieve our commitment of halving rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminating it altogether by 2027. This strategy will include a timeline and action plan for meeting this commitment. We have also brought together a panel of external experts through the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel, who will be working closely with the Taskforce in developing the strategy to achieve our manifesto commitments. The Government has already taken important steps to prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping. This includes, allocating over £1 billion in funding through to 2020 and taking forward the most ambitious legislative reform in this area in decades, the Homelessness Reduction Act, which will mean people will get the help they need sooner.

Supported Housing Melanie Onn: [126981] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government of 18 January 2018, Official Report, column 450WH, on supported housing, if he will publish the evidential basis for the timeframe reflecting the nature of support provided and an individual's journey and outcomes. Mrs Heather Wheeler: In defining the timeframe we sought the advice and views of a wide range of providers and stakeholders. We also took the sector Task and Finish groups views into account. We are continuing to listen to the sector and are considering feedback through the current consultation which closed on 23 January.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa and Bangladesh: Leprosy Jim Shannon: [126903] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle leprosy in (a) Africa and (b) Bangladesh. Alistair Burt: DFID supports the Livelihoods and Food Security in Leprosy-Affected Communities programme in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, through the Leprosy Mission England and Wales. The programme seeks to improve the livelihoods and food security of thousands of people living below the poverty line, with a particular focus on people affected by leprosy, other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and disabilities. DFID also supports Reaching the Unreached: A participatory approach empowering women to prevent disability as a result of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis programme in rural Bangladesh, through LEPRA. At a global level DFID funds the WHO to achieve progress towards their WHO 2020 targets on leprosy. DFID is also helping countries so that they are better able to detect and treat all causes of ill health, including leprosy.

Department for International Development: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126830] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if she will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Harriett Baldwin: EU Exit is an all-of-government operation and the Department for International Development is doing detailed work with departments to prepare for the upcoming negotiations by understanding the risks and opportunities of leaving the EU and coordinating planning. My department has no current plans for any spends on projects that relate to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years.

Developing Countries: Education Nigel Dodds: [126897] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the planned outcomes are from increased public investment in the UK global education fund. Harriett Baldwin: The UK Government is leading the way in providing quality education for children around the world. On 2 February the International Development Secretary attended the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) replenishment conference in Dakar, where she announced that the UK would contribute £225m to the next phase of GPE. This means that our annual contribution to the GPE will increase by almost 50% to £75m per year. The funding will be used to keep 880,000 children in school each year for three years - over half of whom will be in fragile or conflict affected states; train 170,000 teachers; build 2400 new classrooms; and distribute more than 20 million new textbooks. We will continue to drive improvements to GPE delivery and 30% of our funding will be conditional on results.

Developing Countries: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [126674] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how her Department conducts due diligence assessments and evaluates its partners’ commitment to UK Partnership Principles and to promoting freedom of religion or belief when determining the funding of governments and organisations. Harriett Baldwin: In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision. DFID contractual and grant arrangements used for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief. Jim Shannon: [126761] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what (a) due diligence and (b) evaluation her Department conducts of its partners' commitment to (i) the Partnership Principles and (ii) promoting freedom of religion or belief when allocating her Department's funding to governments. Harriett Baldwin: In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision, for example by providing aid through civil society organisations rather than through government bodies.

Independent Commission for Aid Impact Preet Kaur Gill: [126444] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that Government departments with responsibility for spending money from (a) the Prosperity Fund and (b) other aid budgets respond to inquiries from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact. Harriett Baldwin: ICAI’s mandate to scrutinise all UK Government Aid is clearly articulated in the UK Aid Strategy. This has been reiterated across government at all levels, including Ministerial, and the importance of positive engagement is emphasised in guidance to UK ODA spending departments. In addition, the Prosperity Fund is overseen by a Ministerial Board which meets regularly, with Lord Bates representing DFID. The Board sets the strategic priorities for the Fund, which include the requirements to comply with ICAI reviews.

Overseas Aid: Corruption Damien Moore: [126402] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the proportion of UK aid that is lost to corruption each year; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce the amount of such aid that is lost to corruption. Harriett Baldwin: DFID publishes all confirmed fraud on its external website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international- development/about), where details of substantiated fraud losses, before and after recovery actions, are shown. DFID takes a robust approach to the recovery of UK taxpayers’ funds and has achieved high recovery rates over recent years.

Prosperity Fund Preet Kaur Gill: [126442] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the conclusions of the Prosperity Fund’s first Annual Report. Harriett Baldwin: The Prosperity Fund is a key part of the UK Aid Strategy and complements DFID’s own economic development funding: supporting economic reform to stimulate growth that creates productive jobs and private sector investment; and that helps eradicate poverty. A DFID minister has a permanent seat on the Prosperity Fund’s ministerial board. Preet Kaur Gill: [126443] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the implications for the work of the Prosperity Fund of the concerns raised by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s February 2017 review of that fund in respect of its transparency, quality and limited focus on poverty reduction for the purposes of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015. Harriett Baldwin: The ICAI Rapid Review of the Prosperity Fund acknowledged the significant progress made to date and the recommendations on areas for improvement were constructive. Work has continued since early 2017 to respond to the ICAI recommendations and to build a strategic portfolio that matches UK government priorities. The Prosperity Fund published an Annual Report and financial data for 2016/17, and will continue to publish information, working to meet the government commitment of ‘good’ on the Aid Transparency Index by 2020. All Prosperity Fund Official Development Assistance spend will comply with the International Development Act, and with the Gender Equality (2014) and the Official Development Assistance Target (2015).

South Africa: Water Alex Sobel: [127004] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to provide humanitarian assistance to South Africa to help respond to the water shortage in Cape Town. Harriett Baldwin: We, and UK experts in London and in Cape Town, are in ongoing discussions with the Western Cape provincial and Cape Town municipal governments about how UK expertise and companies could collaborate with the South African authorities to address the short and long term water challenges. There have been no requests for humanitarian assistance and we have no plans to provide it.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Board of Trade: Northern Ireland Nigel Dodds: [126455] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations he has received on the number of advisers appointed to the Board of Trade representing Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. Graham Stuart: No representations have been received on this issue. Advisers to the Board of Trade are selected through Civil Service processes, with the Board being convened by the President of the Board of Trade. The role of Advisers to the Board of Trade, drawn from across the UK, was publically announced by the Department for International Trade on 12 October 2017.

Department for International Trade: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126317] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare voucher scheme. Graham Stuart: The Department for International Trade (DIT) provide childcare vouchers for staff employed in the UK through a salary sacrifice scheme operated by the provider Edenred. As of January 2018, DIT have 65 employees registered to receive childcare vouchers through the scheme.

Israel: Agriculture Ian Paisley: [127030] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to increase trade in the agricultural technology sector with Israel. Ian Paisley: [127033] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to strengthen trade cooperation in the high-tech sector with Israel. Graham Stuart: The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship, and we are committed to strengthening that relationship. We have a dedicated team based in our Embassy in Tel Aviv which actively promotes trade cooperation between UK and Israeli companies. We have also established a UK-Israel Tech Hub, which helps to create partnerships between British companies and world class Israeli innovators across a wide range of tech sectors, including agriculture.

Israel: Medicine Ian Paisley: [127029] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to increase trade in medical research and development with Israel. Graham Stuart: The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship, and we are committed to strengthening it. We have a dedicated team in our Embassy in Tel Aviv which actively promotes UK-Israel trade. They have succeeded in increasing the export of medical devices to Israel. The UK-Israel Tech Hub, based at the Embassy, helps to create tech and innovation partnerships across several sectors, including healthcare. One of their projects, the UK-Israel Dangoor Healthcare Initiative, aims to create a pipeline of digital innovation for the NHS. There is also extensive bilateral collaborative medical research between the UK and Israel.

Members' Interests Bill Esterson: [126968] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126037 on Members' interests, what the evidential basis is for his assessment that the hon. Member for Corby was impugned. Graham Stuart: As highlighted in my answer to the hon. Member for Sefton Central on 5 February, UIN 126037, I refer to the oral contribution of the Member for Sefton Central of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 233.

Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information Bill Esterson: [126877] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126040 on Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information, for what reason a request for information from HMRC must be defined in legislation. Graham Stuart: Information held by HMRC is subject to strict statutory control under the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). This restricts sharing of information by HMRC to specified purposes. Any request for information from HMRC not already specified in the CRCA 2005 must therefore have a statutory gateway in order to allow HMRC to share that information.

Trade Remedies Authority Bill Esterson: [126971] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2015 to Question 126039 on Trade Remedies Authority, what his Department's definition is of a timely manner. Graham Stuart: At the conclusion of an investigation where the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) recommends measures to my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade, it is important that there is no undue delay in the decision to apply measures to protect UK industry from unfair trade or unforeseen surges in imports. However in some cases, this decision may involve complex considerations, and it is important that a strict time pressure does not compromise such considerations, such as national security.

Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments Bill Esterson: [126972] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126038 on Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments, if he will make it his policy that appointments to the Trade Remedies Authority are subject to pre- appointment hearings by the International Trade Select Committee. Graham Stuart: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy on 5 February 2018, UIN 126038.

UK Trade With EU Barry Gardiner: [126798] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125208 on UK trade with EU, which of the EU free trade agreements and other EU preferential arrangements listed have been prioritised by his Department. Graham Stuart: We are committed to securing continuity in the effect of existing EU free trade agreements and other EU preferential arrangements before the provisions of these agreements cease to apply to the UK. We are discussing with our trading partners how continuity is best achieved, we have had positive reactions from partner countries to our approach so far. None of the over 70 nations with which we have held discussions have any interest in disrupting trade flows, or in erecting barriers to trade where none currently exist. Hywel Williams: [126832] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Graham Stuart: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18 - we received £58.5m of this funding in total in 16-17 and 17-18. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

USA: Visas Mr Edward Vaizey: [126790] To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to raise the relaxation of visa restrictions for UK musicians performing in the USA in negotiations on a potential trade deal. Graham Stuart: It’s too early to say what would be covered in a future trading arrangement with the USA. We want an agreement that will help both UK and US businesses to trade with each other effectively. We will consider market access barriers across all sectors and identify where we can collaborate to promote trade.

JUSTICE

Abortion Tulip Siddiq: [126573] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people in England and Wales have been convicted of offences under ss58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in respect of abortions in each year since 2016. Lucy Frazer: The number of offenders found guilty of an offence under Sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, in England and Wales, can be found in the Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly- december-2016). In 2016, there was only one conviction and that was made under Section 59 of the Act. Data for 2017 is not yet available. This will be published in May 2018.

Aiding and Abetting Andrew Gwynne: [126306] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) official in his Department have held meetings with external stakeholders on the joint enterprise in the last six months. Dr Phillip Lee: No meetings have taken place in the last six months, between Ministry of Justice Ministers or officials, and external stakeholders on joint enterprise.

Amey Richard Burgon: [126291] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contribution of Michael Spurr, Chief Executive, HM Prisons and Probation Service to the Justice Select Committee on 24 January 2018, HC 751, whether he plans to increase funding to Amey for maintenance contracts in prisons. Lucy Frazer: Our current focus is on securing improvements to the operational delivery of the contracts with Amey, including through strengthened contract management and oversight, to make sure we are obtaining good value for money. Richard Burgon: [126292] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contribution of Michael Spurr, Chief Executive, HM Prisons and Probation Service to the Justice Select Committee on 24 January 2018, HC 751, whether Amey has produced an improvement plan for its work in the prisons where it manages maintenance. Lucy Frazer: Private providers play an important role in maintaining the prison estate. Performance of all providers is closely monitored and we will not hesitate to take action where standards fall short. Our current focus is on securing improvements to the operational delivery of the contracts with Amey, including through strengthened contract management and oversight. We will therefore be writing to Amey to request performance improvement plans for fails in meeting the agreed performance targets (KPIs) for a period of time. HMPPS and Amey Management have regular Core groups to discuss any missed KPIs and improvement plans. Richard Burgon: [126495] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) staff at managerial level, (b) maintenance workers, (c) qualified plumbers and (d) qualified electricians are employed by Amey in each prison for which that company holds the outsourced maintenance contract. Lucy Frazer: Please see the attached table. The range of services provided by Amey differ by prison, therefore Amey’s resourcing levels reflect those services provided.

Attachments: 1. PQ126495 - Client Headcount Report [PQ126495 Client Headcount Report 6th Feb 18.xlsx] Richard Burgon: [126529] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on how many companies Amey has subcontracted elements of its prison maintenance work to; and for each of those subcontracts what information his Department holds on (a) to which companies that work was subcontracted, (b) when that work was subcontracted, (c) in which prisons that work was subcontracted, (d) what work was so subcontracted, (e) for what length of time that work was subcontracted, (f) what the value of those subcontracted contracts was, (g) how performance is measured under each such subcontract and (i) by what mechanism his Department has oversight of those subcontracts. Lucy Frazer: Please see attached table containing  A) which companies that work was subcontracted  D) what work was so subcontracted The following information is deemed commercially sensitive as it would prejudice Amey’s commercial interests.  B) when that work was subcontracted,  C) in which prisons that work was subcontracted  E) for what length of time that work was subcontracted  F) what the value of those subcontracted contracts was In response to points g) and i); the Department measures Amey’s performance using a suite of key performance indicators. Prior to subcontracting any element of work Amey is required to obtain the written approval of the Department to subcontract and the Department can review the suitability of any proposed subcontract.

Attachments: 1. PQ126529 - Key Subcontractors [PQ126529 Key subcontractors.xlsx] Amey and Carillion Richard Burgon: [126482] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125576, how much did the Government pay (a) Carillion and (b) Amey for (i) repairs due to the wear and tear being over £750 and (ii) repairs required due to vandalism in each year since 2015. Dr Phillip Lee: The Department doesn’t record this information in this manner, the information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. Richard Burgon: [126484] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February to Question 125576, on how many occasions the Government paid (a) Carillion and (b) Amey for (i) repairs due to wear and tear over £750 and (ii) repairs required due to vandalism in each year since 2015. Dr Phillip Lee: The Department doesn’t record this information in this manner, the information requested could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Birmingham Prison: Civil Disorder Richard Burgon: [126526] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 123578, for what reason his Department does not intend to publish the report into the riot at HMP Birmingham in December 2016. Dr Phillip Lee: This internal report contains in-depth details of the safety and security procedures at HMP Birmingham which, if released, could compromise security arrangements at the establishment. Therefore, disclosure of this report would not be appropriate.

Capita Richard Burgon: [126467] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has produced reports on the effectiveness of the delivery of contracts by Capita for electronic monitoring. Lucy Frazer: Electronic monitoring is a vital tool in improving supervision in the community and supports offenders to reform and lead law abiding lives on release. Capita’s performance against the Electronic Monitoring contract’s service levels is published in the Ministry of Justice Community Performance Quarterly Management Information release. The latest information for July to September 2017 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-mi- update-to-september-2017. Capita performance has been included in each of the five releases since July 2016. Richard Burgon: [126471] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which the companies are to which Capita has subcontracted elements of its electronic monitoring contract; what information his Department holds on (a) the counter-parties to, (b) the terms of and (c) value of those subcontracts; and what the responsibilities of the counter-parties are under those contracts. Lucy Frazer: Under the current Electronic Monitoring Contract (the Bridge Contract) Capita have sub-contracted with two suppliers;

TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE (5 SUPPLIER SERVICES YEARS)

Vodafone Field officer scheduling £3.9m

G4S EM IT Systems £43.4m

In the Electronic Monitoring and Field Services Contract Capita have sub-contracted with one supplier;

TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE (3 SUPPLIER SERVICES YEARS)

Vodafone Hosting infrastructure (data £7.9m centres)

Capita must seek commercial approval from the MOJ to enter into any new sub- contract or make any amendments to their subcontracts. There are strict obligations on Capita to flow down the contractual terms with MoJ to their subcontractors.

Courts Richard Burgon: [126335] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 5.21 on page 49 of his Department's consultation, Fit for the future: transforming the court and tribunal estate, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that the proposed strategy will have no direct impact on service delivery. Dr Phillip Lee: In the recently published; Fit for the Future: transforming the court and tribunal estate consultation document, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) set out its proposed future strategy and approach to court and tribunal estate reform. This was set within the wider context of work to modernise services, and outlined the ways in which technology and new ways of working can be utilised to make the justice system more accessible, efficient and flexible. The paragraph referred to relates to equalities assessments. These assessments are made when there are specific and measureable proposals against which assessments can be made. The strategic consultation published invites views on our proposed principles which will guide future decisions on the estate but it does not contain specific proposals for changes to the estate. We will conduct equalities assessments on any future specific proposals when we consult publicly on such changes.

Courts: Fines Tulip Siddiq: [126461] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total value of unpaid financial impositions imposed by courts was in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017. Lucy Frazer: The total outstanding balance of financial impositions (regardless of year of imposition and excluding confiscation orders) at the end of December 2016 and at the end of September 2017 is published as part of the Criminal Court Statistics (Quarterly) publication which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-july-to- september-2017.

Courts: ICT Richard Burgon: [125870] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 123663 on Courts: ICT, if he will publish (a) the counterparts to the contracts; (b) the performance measures have been written into the contracts and (c) the terms of the contracts. Dr Phillip Lee: As per Cabinet Office policy, all contracts with the MoJ, throughout tender and once awarded, with a value of £10,000 or more are published in the public domain on Government Contracts Finder.

Courts: Video Conferencing Richard Burgon: [127038] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many defendants aged between 10 and 17 year's old have appeared in court via live video link in each year since 2010; and how many of those video link appearances were for (a) case management, (b) remand hearings and (c) sentencing in each of those years. Richard Burgon: [127040] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many child defendants with (a) speech and language difficulties (b) cognitive difficulties and (c) other vulnerabilities have been produced in court by video link in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: While data on usage of video link is collected centrally by HM Courts & Tribunals Service, we are not able to break down this data by age, court appearance type or to identify any specific needs of the child defendant. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examining individual case records. Richard Burgon: [127039] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many young offenders institutions and secure training centres in England and Wales have live link facilities to allow children to take part in court proceedings over video from their custodial setting. Lucy Frazer: All under 18 Young Offender Institutions (Cookham Wood, Feltham, Wetherby, Werrington and Parc) have Prison Court Video Link facilities. These facilities are not available in the three Secure Training Centres at Medway, Oakhill and Rainsbrook. Richard Burgon: [127042] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of appearing in court via live video link on a child defendant's (a) ability to participate effectively in court proceedings, (b) propensity to plead guilty or not guilty, (c) likelihood of being granted bail and (d) severity of sentence after conviction. Richard Burgon: [127043] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of a child defendant appearing in court via live video link on the ability of youth offending teams to fulfil (a) duty to conduct post-hearing safeguarding checks with the child and (b) their other statutory duties. Richard Burgon: [127044] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that parents and carers are informed when a child defendant appears in court by video link; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure parents and carers attend the court hearing. Lucy Frazer: HM Courts & Tribunals Service is committed to ensuring that children and young people who go to court understand what is happening, take part in the process and receive the appropriate support, including agreed adjustments. Criminal Practice Directions are in place and give guidance to the courts and users about how to effectively and appropriately make use of live links and telephone facilities. This includes guidance on how and when live links should be used for hearings and provides specific guidance for defendants aged under 18. The court will deal with any application for use of a video link on a case‐by‐case basis, after consultation with the parties, including parents and carers and the Youth Offending Team. The Ministry of Justice has not conducted an assessment of outcomes of hearings depending on whether video was used. Outcomes of hearings are a matter for the judiciary. HMCTS keeps parents and carers informed of hearing dates and times. The Ministry of Justice has not conducted an assessment of Youth Offending Teams’ ability to fulfil their statutory duties depending on whether a video link was used, but any decision to use a video link would be taken following consultation with the Youth Offending Team.

Criminal Cases Review Commission Richard Burgon: [127061] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the budget of the Criminal Cases Review Commission was in each year since 2010; and what the budget of that organisation is for 2017-18. Lucy Frazer: The annual resource budget (including depreciation) allocated - for the years 2010/11 to date - by the Ministry of Justice to the Criminal Cases Review Commission is set out in the table below:

YEAR TOTAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION

2010-11 £5.762m

2011-12 £5.342m

2012-13 £5.347m

2013-14 £5.419m

2014-15 £5.488m

2015-16 £5.317m

2016-17 £5.388m

2017-18 £5.394m

Richard Burgon: [127062] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: The number of applications received by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year (1st April-31st March) since 2010 is set out in the table below:

YEAR APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

2010-11 933

2011-12 1,040

2012-13 1,625

2013-14 1,470

2014-15 1,599

2015-16 1,480

2016-17 1,397

April 2017 – Dec 2017 1,073

Richard Burgon: [127064] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received that subsequently succeeded on appeal since its creation. Lucy Frazer: Since its creation in 1997, the Criminal Cases Review Commission have received 422 applications that have succeeded on appeal.

Domestic Violence Carolyn Harris: [126876] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assistance his Department provides for women engaged with the criminal justice system as a result of domestic abuse. Lucy Frazer: We recognise that female offenders often have complex circumstances, including backgrounds of domestic abuse, and we are committed to addressing their needs. We are developing a strategy to improve outcomes for female offenders in the community and in custody. We are taking steps to provide assistance for women engaged with the criminal justice system who have experienced domestic abuse. This includes a confidential 24-hour helpline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, which is available in all women’s prisons and provides practical and emotional support and advice. We have also invested £1m between 2016 and 2020 to support local areas to develop holistic, multi-agency approaches which aim to address the complex needs of female offenders and women at risk of offending, including those who have suffered domestic abuse. We are committed to publishing a draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill. This will be accompanied by a programme of non-legislative work, and an additional £20m of funding to support victims of domestic abuse. Our aim is that all victims and survivors of domestic abuse will benefit from measures brought forward following consultation, including women engaged with the criminal justice system.

Electronic Tagging Richard Burgon: [126347] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for recent trends in the use of electronic monitoring orders. Lucy Frazer: The number of notifications of new Court Orders (community orders, suspended sentence orders and bail orders) with an electronic monitoring requirement has fallen in recent years, this reflects a similar trend in overall numbers of court cases.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges Richard Burgon: [126791] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118773, on Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges, what progress his Department is making on its consideration of the Supreme Court's ruling on 26 July 2017. Lucy Frazer: The Government is continuing to consider the judgment carefully. It is important to take the time to consider the full implications of this ruling, both for the re-introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals, and for our wider courts and tribunals fees strategy.

Family Courts: Domestic Violence Jess Phillips: [126298] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many child contact cases involving incidents of domestic abuse where there (a) has and (b) has not been a conviction have been repeatedly brought before the family courts. Dr Phillip Lee: The Ministry of Justice does not hold the requested data. The President of the Family Division recently revised the practice direction which sets out the procedure for family judges to follow when dealing with child arrangement cases where domestic abuse is alleged. This makes clear that judges must take appropriate steps to explore any allegations of domestic abuse and give full regard to the impact of any abuse when making a child arrangement order. Jess Phillips: [126299] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to tackle the use of the family courts system by perpetrators of domestic abuse as a tool for continuing their abuse. Dr Phillip Lee: It is unacceptable for someone to use court processes to harass or abuse a former partner. The family court has wide powers to manage such situations. New family court rules were introduced last November to make sure vulnerable court users get the support they need in the courtroom. Training for judges, on this and other matters, is the responsibility of the Lord Chief Justice and is carried out by the Judicial College. At the specific request of the President of the Family Division every family judge in England and Wales will have received training on how to address the challenges faced by vulnerable people in the courts by April 2018. Issues of domestic abuse are regularly addressed on an ongoing basis as part of the training for family judges. The Government is also committed to legislating to give family courts the power to stop abusers from cross-examining their victims in person in family proceedings.

Gov Facility Services Jon Trickett: [125938] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the pensions of staff transferring into Gov Facility Services Limited have been carried over from previous schemes; and if he will make a statement. Dr Phillip Lee: GFSL is applying for admitted status to the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS). This means that those employees who are currently protected staff under New Fair Deal will remain in their Civil Service Pension Scheme. The remaining employees will be auto-enrolled into an appropriate defined contribution pension scheme, so that the obligations in respect of auto-enrolment will be fully met.

Immigration: Appeals Tulip Siddiq: [126800] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of appeals heard in the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in each year since its inception. Lucy Frazer: The First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) was created during the 2010-11 financial year. The costs recorded include the Upper Tier Tribunal. Full cost data for both the First and Upper Tier Tribunal has only been reported since 2012. YEAR £M

2012-13 94.1

2013-14 101.1

2014-15 102.8

2015-16 94.9

2016-17 105.5

Interserve Richard Burgon: [126294] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has developed contingency plans for the possibility of the collapse of Interserve since that company issued a profit warning in September 2017. Lucy Frazer: We have in place a number of arrangements to ensure the effective management of contracts. Contingency plans are prepared in line with good contract management and standard industry practice. These are commercially sensitive and, as such, are not subject to release.

John Worboys Sir Vince Cable: [126447] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he or his Department has made recommendations in respect of license conditions to be imposed on John Worboys upon his release; and if he will make a statement. Dr Phillip Lee: The Secretary of State asked the National Probation Service (NPS) and the Police through the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements for assurances that the views of victims were being taken into account and that robust licensing conditions would be sought to manage Worboys’ risk. Officials subsequently, on 2 February, put forward a request for variation of licence conditions in the case of Worboys to the Parole Board. This comprised requests for variations to licence conditions put forward by the National Probation Service and included all representations made by victims of the offences of which Worboys was convicted. Judgements: Appeals Richard Burgon: [127046] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Government's appeals which were heard in the case of R (on the application of P and Others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 321; and what the cost to the public purse has been of the Government's decision to appeal that judgment. Lucy Frazer: Costs recorded by the Government Legal Department to date, on behalf of the Secretaries of State for Justice and the Home Department, in the appeals from the High Court judgments in the cases of P and others, amount to £94,334.00. It should be noted that these figures may include some work relating to the High Court’s consideration of the cases, and similarly there may be early work carried out relating to the appeals which is not captured in this figure. This figure does not include costs of other parties which may be borne by the Government (the Secretary of State for Justice is committed to pay one of the parties’ capped reasonable costs of appeal).

Juries Rachael Maskell: [126789] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department provides to people selected for jury service to ensure that they understand their duties as jurors. Lucy Frazer: There is a range of guidance material available to jurors. Upon confirming their jury service, jurors are sent an information pack, which, alongside practical information, includes a booklet called, ‘Your Guide to Jury Service’ which sets out what happens during jury service and what is expected of a juror. This booklet is also available online. All jurors are shown a short film entitled, ‘Your Role as a Juror’ on their first day of jury service which explains what they should expect and what their role is. This is also available online. Once summoned, a juror can contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau if they are unsure of any aspect of their jury service, or once at court can speak to court staff. Further information and guidance for jurors can also be found on the gov.uk website. The Lord Chief Justice has recently introduced a new notice to be handed to jurors when they are sworn in which details their legal responsibilities and the possible penalties of failing to adhere to them. The new notice is being rolled out on a staged basis across all Crown Court centres with a view to completion in 2018-19. Juries: Translation Services Rachael Maskell: [126477] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who are selected for jury service have full access to translation services if they do not understand English. Lucy Frazer: Persons summoned for jury service who would require any type of third party assistance within the deliberating room such as a language interpreter are discharged from jury service. The Juries Act 1974 provides for the judge to discharge a jury summons if there is doubt as to the capacity of the person summoned to act effectively as a juror on account of their insufficient understanding of English.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 Richard Burgon: [126333] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2018 to Question 125361 on Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, if his Department will publish the list of organisations and experts it plans to invite to submit evidence to the post-implementation review of that Act. Lucy Frazer: As part of the Post-Implementation Review (PIR) we will be inviting experts and interested parties to contribute analytical evidence on the effects of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. By its nature, the PIR is an evidence-based review and we will therefore be looking to gather a broad range of evidence. This will include engaging with relevant stakeholders. I am currently considering the most effective way to proceed and will provide more detail of our approach shortly.

Ministry of Justice: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126842] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Lucy Frazer: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Ministry of Justice: Carillion Richard Burgon: [126349] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what financial deductions have been levied on Carillion by his Department in each month since January 2015. Lucy Frazer: Financial deductions are based upon supplier performance against a suite of key performance indicators. Where performance is below a minimum acceptable level a financial deduction is applied. The table below details the financial deductions that have been levied against Carillion by month since January 2015:

Dec-15 £ 215,757.75

Jan-16 £ 210,818.95

Feb-16 £ 462,534.76

Mar-16 £ 440,839.69

Apr-16 £ 263,308.82

May-16 £ 245,084.58

Jun-16 £ 196,447.61

Jul-16 £ 232,639.58

Aug-16 £ 218,469.88

Sep-16 £ 186,749.26

Oct-16 £ 243,388.13

Nov-16 £ 260,593.85

Jan-17 £ 210,637.65

Feb-17 £ 185,774.87

Mar-17 £ 174,378.03

Apr-17 £ 173,288.57

May-17 £ 136,830.52

Ministry of Justice: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126313] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare vouchers scheme. Lucy Frazer: As at January 2018, 2,868 employees across the Ministry of Justice make use of the departmental childcare voucher scheme.

Ministry of Justice: Consultants Richard Burgon: [126528] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much (a) his Department and (b) his Department's arms length bodies have spent on consultants in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: The information requested is set out in the table below. This information is as it appears in the annual accounts. For years 2015/16 and 2016/17 the figures for core and agencies are combined.

2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Core 10,670 5,407 12,474 22,638 27,708 11,255 15,148 Agencies 10,431 6,676 336 4,157 6,485

NDPBs 148 665 322 210 170 6 8

TOTAL 21,249 12,748 13,132 27,005 34,363 11,261 15,156

Spend in the table above is in £000. Richard Burgon: [126793] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contracts for consultancy services (a) his Department and (b) his Department's arms length bodies have agreed in each year since 2010; and for each such contract (i) what the value of that contract is, (ii) who the signatories to that contract are, (iii) what the performance measures relating to that contract are, (iv) to which geographic areas the delivery of those contracts relates, (v) what the term of that contract is and (vi) how many people are employed by those contract providers to deliver those contracts. Lucy Frazer: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost due to this information not being centrally held. Ministry of Justice: Contracts Richard Burgon: [126338] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has contingency plans in place for the event that a private contractor to the Department becomes unable to perform the duties under that contract. Dr Phillip Lee: Contracts let by the department have contingency plans in place as part of standard contract management practices. Plans are reviewed on a regular basis through the life of the contract and updated as necessary in response to any changing circumstances. Richard Burgon: [126348] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his letter to the Justice Select Committee of 19 January 2018 on Carillion facilities management contracts, which stated that the outsourcing of facilities management services is a model that is widely used within the UK for many public services, which other contracts with his Department follow the same model of outsourcing. Lucy Frazer: The Department has the following outsourced facilities management contracts: Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (Custodial)  Carillion (South; TFM)  Amey (North; TFM)  Mitie (Brixton and Isis; TFM) Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service  G4S (North; TFM)  Mitie (South; TFM) Ministry of Justice Shared Estates Cluster  Interserve (South; Hard Services)  OCS (South; Soft Services)  Kier (North; Hard Services)  Sodexo (North; Soft Services)  KBR (FM Integrator) Richard Burgon: [126792] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contracts worth more than £1 million his Department signed in each year since 2010; with which companies such contracts have been signed; for what purpose those contracts were signed; what the (a) annual and (b) total cost of each such contract is; to which geographic areas the delivery of those contracts relates; and what the length of each such contact is. Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has awarded 785 contracts with a value of £1 million or more since 2010, as detailed within the attached table. All contracts are awarded as per EU Public Contract Regulations following comprehensive processes as required. We have robust measures in place to monitor the performance of our contracts.

Attachments: 1. PQ126792 - Contracts [PQ126792 - Contracts.xlsx]

Ministry of Justice: Land Jack Lopresti: [126410] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Lucy Frazer: The UK Government is a significant landowner. The current Government Estate Strategy sets out the Government's vision to create an efficient, fit-for-purpose sustainable estate. As a Government we are delivering this vision, ensuring that the estate is fit for purpose, is frequently reviewed and aligned to the Estate Strategy, and is managed in an efficient and effective way. The current landholdings of the Ministry of Justice are shown in the table below. This does not include land previously identified as surplus that has now been disposed. The information is correct at time of publication.

LAND HECTARES

England South West

MoJ(excl. agencies and 13.5 0.0 NDPBs)

HM Prison & Probation 2724.7 158.0 Service*

HM Courts & Tribunals Service 110.6 10.9

NDPBs 0.1 0.0

Total 2849.0 168.9

Footnote : * Does not include prison officers’ quarters Of the total land the Ministry of Justice holds in England, 165.9 hectares is currently declared as surplus, out of which 3.1 hectares are in the South West. These figures include agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure Richard Burgon: [126472] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much fruitless money has been spent by his Department in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: Managing Public Money defines a fruitless payment as: “a payment which cannot be avoided because the recipient is entitled to it even though nothing of use to the department will be received in return.” The entitlement is classed as a legally binding entitlement. The table below provides the total spend incurred in fruitless payments in each full financial year since 2010/11.

FRUITLESS PAYMENTS £000

Year 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

Total £168 £111 £78 £14 £1,212 £5,985 £873

Offenders: Rehabilitation Victoria Prentis: [127045] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of (a) the cost, (b) the availability, (c) the size of waiting lists for and (d) the average length of wait to participate in the new offender behaviour programmes Horizon and Kaizen. Lucy Frazer: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) does not record expenditure in its central accounting system in a format that allows for the identification of expenditure on Horizon and Kaizen and, therefore, cannot provide the cost data requested. These programmes are delivered by in-house staff, and staffing costs are not captured separately for such specific activities. Horizon has been rolled out steadily since it was commissioned in 2016/17, and an assessment of its delivery, and demand for places on it, including any resulting waiting lists, is currently being undertaken. Whilst there are not any significant waiting lists for Kaizen at present, HMPPS will continue to assess its delivery and demand as we roll-up provision during 2018/19. We keep offending behaviour programmes under constant review, to ensure that they are effective in reducing reoffending and protect the public. The recently introduced Horizon and Kaizen programmes for sex offenders draw on the latest international evidence on effective treatment for this cohort of offenders. Peter Gross Richard Burgon: [126462] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place the research reports commissioned by Sir Peter Gross during his tenure as Senior Presiding Judge in the Library. Lucy Frazer: Lord Justice Gross did not commission any research reports during his tenure as Senior Presiding Judge. Papers that have been commissioned by and prepared for the judiciary are the judiciary’s responsibility; some of these papers are published on the judiciary.gov.uk website.

Prison Officers: Recruitment Richard Burgon: [126334] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff have been employed by the National Offender Management Service with responsibility for processing the recruitment of prison officers at each grade in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: HMPPS staff working on recruitment of prison officers also work on a range of other initiatives and it is not possible to identify work on prison officer recruitment from other duties. Recruitment services are also provided to HMPPS by contracted suppliers including Shared Service Connect Limited. The number of band 3-5 prison officers recruited in HMPPS (formerly NOMS) each year since 2010 can be found in table 8a in the HMPPS workforce statistics, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service- workforce-quarterly-september-2017.

Prison Service: Training Richard Burgon: [126525] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which companies were contracted by his Department to provide training for prison staff in each of the last five years; and how much his Department has paid to each of those companies for such training. Lucy Frazer: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Drugs Richard Burgon: [126530] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many mandatory drug tests have been performed in each prison in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: The information requested is published in the Annual NOMS Digest 2016/17, available at. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-national-offender-management- service-digest-2016-to-2017 Select Supplementary Tables and MDT Data Tool > 07 Random Mandatory Drug Testing > Table 7.1

Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance Richard Burgon: [126350] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125140, whether individual prison governors will be empowered to bring prison maintenance back in house. Lucy Frazer: Our immediate priority is to stabilise and improve service delivery under the existing arrangements. As per the answer to 125140, we recently announced the creation of a new government-owned facilities management company that will take over the delivery of the prison Facilities Management services previously provided by Carillion. Richard Burgon: [126481] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125576 on Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance, what the average defined cost was for (a) replacing a broken window, (b) replacing a lock, (c) cleaning up a spillage, (d) fixing a toilet seat and (e) screening a shower in 2017. Dr Phillip Lee: The Department doesn’t keep a record of the average cost for these work items due to the disparate nature of the work required for each type of repair. As stated in the answer to Question 125576, the Department closely reviews defined costs to ensure that they are at open market value and offer the Department value for money. David Hanson: [126904] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many outstanding (a) preventative and (b) reactive maintenance actions on the prisons estates (i) at each location and (ii) under each facilities management contract there were on 1 January 2018. Lucy Frazer: The table attached provides the number of outstanding reactive and planned maintenance tasks, as logged in our management system on 1 January 2018, at each Prison in England and Wales for Mitie, Carillion and Amey. Typically, some 95,000 maintenance tasks are completed each month; around 90 to 95% of all tasks raised. Some of these tasks cannot be completed in the month for a variety of reasons which can lead to duplication of a task. The figures provided include these duplicate tasks, which account for part of the apparent 'backlog'. Our current priority is to stabilise and improve service delivery, with an improved focus on cleanliness and decency. We have created of a new government-owned facilities management company that has taken over the delivery of the prison Facilities Management services previously provided by Carillion.

Attachments: 1. Table for PQ126904 [Table for PQ126904.xlsx]

Prisons: Vandalism Richard Burgon: [126494] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of maintenance tasks were categorised as vandalism in each prison in each year since 2015. Lucy Frazer: The computer aided facilities management system doesn’t accurately categorise which maintenance tasks are vandalism, therefore any report from this system will not reflect the true number. System and process improvements are underway to improve the accuracy of vandalism information.

Probation Hostels Richard Burgon: [126505] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the budget for probation hostels has been in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Richard Burgon: [126506] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many beds have been available for use in probation hostels in each year since 2010. Richard Burgon: [126507] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the number of beds available in probation hostels. Lucy Frazer: The number of beds available within probation hostels (Approved Premises) for each year since 2010 are: 2010-11 - 2,188 2011-12 - 2,196 2012-13 - 2,165 2013-14 - 2,179 2014-15 - 2,175 2015-16 - 2,180 2016-17 - 2,181 2017-18 - 2,190 The above data have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the possibility of inaccuracy inherent in any large-scale recording system. Demand for placements in Approved Premises is monitored and the need for additional capacity is kept under review. An initial demand analysis in September 2016 indicated a need for a 10 per cent expansion of beds by the end of 2018-19. That demand analysis is being reviewed to support development of a business case for expansion. This will include consideration of additional provision for women. Richard Burgon: [126508] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has published a probation hostel policy statement as recommended by HM Inspectorate of Probation in July 2017. Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has accepted the recommendation by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Probation and is developing an Approved Premises policy statement which will be published shortly.

Reoffenders: Females Richard Burgon: [126527] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the recidivism rates for female prisoners who received (a) custodial prison sentences and (b) community supervision orders was by offence category as used in his Department's offender management statistics in each year since 2010. Lucy Frazer: The reoffending rates for adult females released from custody and starting community orders by index offence between January 2010 and March 2016 can be found in the attached table. Please note that the index offence categories in the attached tables are the same as the prison population tables, not the community order offence categories in the probation tables, in the offender management statistics. There are no clear trends for the reoffending rates of women released from prison or starting community orders broken down by index offence categories. Any large fluctuations seen in the data are due to the small number of offenders in the individual three month cohorts. We plan to set out a strategy for female offenders in due course, to improve outcomes and services for women in both the community and custody.

Attachments: 1. Table for PQ126527 [Table for PQ 126527.xlsx] Sexual Offences: Rehabilitation Victoria Prentis: [127041] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much it has cost his Department to deliver the (a) Core Sex Offender Treatment and (b) Extended Sex Offender Treatment programme in the last 12 months; and how many people have participated with what outcomes in each such programme in the last 12 months. Lucy Frazer: We are absolutely committed to reducing reoffending and addressing the needs of those individuals convicted of a sexual offence. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) does not record expenditure in its central accounting system in a format that allows for the identification of spend on Sex Offender Treatment Programmes and therefore, cannot provide cost data for the period requested. The NOMS Annual Digest 2016/17 provides information on volumes of sex offender programmes delivered in 2016/17. This is included in the table below. In April 2017 the final core and extended SOTP programmes completed and we stopped the programme and introduced new programmes. No offenders took part in the programme after April 2017. The new programmes are Horizon (Moderate Intensity) and Kaizen SO (High Intensity), which we have introduced for men convicted of sexual offending. These programmes draw on the latest international evidence on effective treatment for this cohort of offenders.

TABLE: ACCREDITED SEXUAL OFFENDING PROGRAMME STARTS AND COMPLETIONS IN PRISON, ENGLAND & WALES 2016/17

Starts Completions

Core Programme 527 594

Extended Programme 133 128

All Sexual Offending 1,173 1,171 Programmes

It should be noted that some of those completing a programme in 2016/17 will have started it in the preceding year, and some starting in 2016/17 will complete in the subsequent year. NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Office: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126843] To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if she will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Mr Shailesh Vara: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit from the Reserve. The Department received £0.216m of this funding in 17/18 which has been spent on additional resources to deal with Brexit preparations. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. NIO officials are currently working with HM Treasury to determine the allocation for 18/19 with the aim being to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in negotiations with the EU.

Northern Ireland Office: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126520] To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of her Department's employees make use of childcare vouchers. Mr Shailesh Vara: Five of the Department’s employees currently make use of childcare vouchers.

TRANSPORT

Department for Transport: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126833] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Chris Grayling: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit: £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18 – The Department for Transport received £5.6m of this funding. At Autumn Budget 2017 HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Department for Transport: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126321] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many employees of his Department make use of the childcare vouchers scheme. Ms Nusrat Ghani: At the end of January 2018, the Department and its Executive Agencies had 584 employees using the childcare vouchers scheme.

Department for Transport: Land Jack Lopresti: [126395] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much land (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies owns in (i) England and (ii) the South West; and how much of that land has been identified as being surplus to requirements. Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department for Transport reviews land and property holdings on an ongoing basis. As and when appropriate any land or property holdings deemed surplus are promptly identified and disposed of in accordance with business needs. As part of the Government’s Transparency Agenda information about Department for Transport properties is published on the data.gov.uk website. Information on the land owned by the Department in (i) England and (ii) the South West and information on land that is surplus is available via the following web link: https://data.gov.uk/dataset/epimstransparency

Diesel Vehicles: Pollution Control Jim Fitzpatrick: [126795] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has plans to introduce a diesel vehicle scrappage scheme for people on low incomes. Jesse Norman: On 22 November 2017 the Government launched a consultation on additional measures to support individuals and businesses affected by local NO2 plans. Options considered include retrofitting vehicles, support for car clubs, vehicle scrappage and improved public transport offers. The consultation closed on 5 January 2018 and the Government will publish a response in due course.

East Coast Rail Franchise Andy McDonald: [124584] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the contribution was of (a) infrastructure improvements not being scheduled to be completed according to the franchise agreement and (b) revenue having fallen below what had been agreed under franchise agreement to the East Coast rail franchise being ended. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 29 January 2018]: From the start of this franchise to date, all infrastructure upgrades planned for the East Coast have been delivered. Further upgrades for this route are planned but are not due to be completed at this stage. Andy McDonald: [125443] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which delayed or incomplete infrastructure improvements were taken into account in the decision to terminate the East Coast rail franchise early. Joseph Johnson: From the start of this franchise to date, all infrastructure upgrades planned for the East Coast have been delivered. Further upgrades for this route are planned but are not due to be completed at this stage.

East Coast Rail Franchise: Incentives Tom Brake: [126808] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will obtain confirmation from Virgin and Stagecoach that none of the Directors working in the East Coast franchise have received or will receive bonuses. Joseph Johnson: The remuneration of employees of Virgin Trains East Coast is a contractual matter for the business.

First Transpennine Express Julian Sturdy: [126364] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the Rail North Partnerships to respond to TransPennine Express's consultation and report process on Boxing Day services. Joseph Johnson: The Franchise Agreement with TransPennine Express does not outline a timetable for a response to TransPennine Express's consultation and report process on Boxing Day services. However, the Department and Rail North Partnerships are currently considering the contents of the report to determine whether Boxing Day services may be introduced from Dec-18, and if so, how it would be funded. A decision for this implementation date would be required by May/June 2018, and subject to identification of funding.

FV Solstice Holly Lynch: [126691] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's report into the sinking of the Solstice. Ms Nusrat Ghani: This case is still in the investigation phase. I expect the final report to be published in July 2018.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Expenditure Tulip Siddiq: [126389] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s guidance, HS2 current contract opportunities, if he will publish (a) a breakdown of the indicative budget of £220,000 which was allocated for the item described as media monitoring and (b) the criteria by which his Department judges whether such items of expenditure represent good value for money. Ms Nusrat Ghani: HS2 Ltd is the executive non-departmental public body established to develop and deliver the HS2 programme. This is a multi-year amalgamated service contract. £220,000 represents the value at which the contract was advertised – as a two year contract with a two year extension option (four years in total). It does not reflect the final service contract value. The service contract awarded has a budget of £55,000 per annum. As this is a call-off contract and the spend fluctuates on how many times HS2 is mentioned in the media the total value will not necessarily be the total spend. HS2 Ltd competitively tendered this contract requirement to ensure best value to the taxpayer in line with statutory and other requirements. Commercial submissions were evaluated by HS2 Ltd as part of the tender, combined with technical outputs, with the aim of ensuring best overall value was obtained. Any further breakdown of contract values is commercially sensitive and is therefore unavailable. Tulip Siddiq: [126390] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s publication, HS2 current contract opportunities, if he will publish (a) a breakdown of the indicative budget of £50,000 which was allocated for the item described as trends and insights subscription services and (b) the criteria by which his Department judges whether such items of expenditure represent good value to the taxpayer. Ms Nusrat Ghani: A breakdown of contract values is commercially sensitive and is therefore unavailable. HS2 Ltd competitively tendered this contract requirement to ensure best value to the taxpayer in line with statutory and other requirements. Tulip Siddiq: [126392] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s guidance, HS2 current contract opportunities, if he will publish (a) a breakdown of the indicative budget of £2,400,000 which was allocated for the item described as events delivery planner and (b) the criteria by which his Department judges whether such items of expenditure represent good value for money. Ms Nusrat Ghani: HS2 Ltd is the executive non-departmental public body established to develop and deliver the HS2 programme. This is multi-year contract for services to support with HS2 Ltd events to engage with industry and supply chain in order to ensure that Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) are ready and able to take advantage of the contract opportunities that HS2 presents, and are aware of the expectations that HS2 has of them. In addition it supports events to engage with the public to promote the skills, educational and employment opportunities that HS2 provides. The contract is a call-off contract and therefore the indicative budget of £2,400,000 is a cap and HS2 Ltd will not necessarily spend this total value. HS2 Ltd competitively tendered this contract requirement to ensure best value to the taxpayer in line with statutory and other requirements. Any further breakdown of contract values is commercially sensitive and is therefore unavailable.

Minibuses: Licensing Nigel Dodds: [126746] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the consistency of application of EC Regulations 1071/2009 (a) generally and (b) in respect of minibus driver licensing in the community and voluntary sectors. Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department wrote to organisations who issue section 19 and section 22 permits under the Transport Act 1985 in July 2017, and then to local authorities in November 2017 about the proper application of EU Regulation 1071/2009. The forthcoming consultation in on the issue and use of permits will provide further clarity about the scope of exemptions to the regulation.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance Nigel Dodds: [126896] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on vehicle owners of the ruling by the European Court of Justice of 13 July 2017 on third party insurance for vehicles. Jesse Norman: The CJEU’s judgment of 13 July 2017 in case C-368/16 Assens Havn v Navigators Management (UK) Ltd, concerned an insurance policy covering liability relating to shipping. The Court decided that the provisions in Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, dealing with the validity of jurisdiction clauses in insurance contracts relating to shipping, must be interpreted as meaning that a victim entitled to bring a direct action against an insurer in his home jurisdiction is not bound by any agreement on jurisdiction concluded between the insurer and the insured. This judgment does not directly affect motor vehicle owners involved in a traffic accident. In the case of contracts for compulsory motor insurance, the rules (now set out in Regulation 1215/2012 which replaced Regulation 44/2001) restrict the ability of contracting parties to enter into jurisdiction clauses, and ensure that policy holders are protected. A direct right of action against the insurer by an injured party, exercisable in the injured party’s home jurisdiction under Regulation 1215/2012, is provided for by article 18 of the Motor Insurance Directive (Directive 2009/103/EC). The Lord Chancellor transposed this requirement into UK law through the European Communities (Rights Against Insurers) Regulations 2002.

Public Transport: Yorkshire and the Humber Alex Sobel: [127008] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) rail and (b) bus links in Yorkshire and the Humber. Joseph Johnson: My Department is committed to improving both rail and bus links in Yorkshire and Humber. The Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises will deliver more seats and more services with brand-new and refurbished-as-new trains, including the replacement of all Pacer trains by 2020. The multi-billion pound Great North Rail Project includes upgrades being delivered now to the Calder Valley Line between Manchester, Bradford and Leeds, as well as capacity investments at Bradford Mill Lane and an additional platform at Leeds Station. But we want to go further, and are planning to upgrade the key Transpennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York to give passengers faster and more reliable journeys. In the longer term, my Department remains committed to both High Speed 2 and to Northern Powerhouse Rail. The Department has provided Transport for the North with £60m to develop Northern Powerhouse Rail and committed £300m to ensure High Speed 2 can accommodate future Northern Powerhouse Rail services. For more local improvements, Local Enterprise Partnerships have been provided with devolved Local Growth funding, which can be spent on rail and bus improvements, such as the £9.6 million allocated for capacity improvements on the Harrogate to York rail line. The Government has also provided £173.5 million from the failed trolley bus scheme to support the Leeds Local Public Transport Improvement Programme, which will deliver a wide range of bus and rail improvements in Leeds, including plans for new rail stations at Thorpe Park, Millshaw and a parkway station for Leeds Bradford International Airport. The Transforming Cities Fund announced in the Autumn Budget has provided £840million to the six mayoral combined authorities and the remainder will be allocated by competition. This will provide further funding for public transport improvements in other English cities, and could include those in Yorkshire and the Humber. Guidance on how to bid into the competitive half of the fund will be published shortly. The Bus Services Act received Royal Assent in April 2017 and provides new powers to enable improvements to bus services. Regulations and guidance are now being published to allow for stronger partnership working; bus franchising powers for metro mayors; and better information on fares and routes for bus passengers.

Railways: Compensation Rachael Maskell: [126044] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that train operating companies pay compensation to passengers on delayed services for the full length of the journey being claimed for and not for part of that journey. Joseph Johnson: Rail passengers are more willing and able than ever to demand and get fair compensation if their train is late or cancelled, with over £73m paid out to successful claimants in 2016/17. This is an increase of 63.8% on the 2015/16 total of £44.9m. We want passengers to continue claiming the compensation they are entitled to, and we are working with train operating companies to improve current compensation arrangements, including through the roll-out of Delay Repay 15 across the network. However, if passengers do not feel they have been fairly compensated for delays and cancellations to their train journeys, they can ask Transport Focus, or London TravelWatch, who represent rail users, to look into their complaint.

Railways: Devon Scott Mann: [126094] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reinstating the railway line between Okehampton and Tavistock. Joseph Johnson: The Department for Transport has not itself made an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating the railway line between Okehampton and Tavistock. We are aware however that the case for reinstating the line between Tavistock and Okehampton has been assessed by Devon County Council and the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF). All rail re-opening schemes would need to demonstrate a strong business case where they are seeking any available Government funding. Railways: Expenditure Bim Afolami: [126921] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money his Department has spent on UK railways in each year since 2010. Joseph Johnson: Net support to the rail industry in Great Britain by the Department for Transport (DfT) is shown in the table below. The figures represent the net contribution made by the Department and are offset against payments received from the industry, such as the overall premium paid by Train Operating Companies (TOCs). Department for Transport net support to the rail industry 1

YEAR £MILLION (NOMINAL)

2009-10 3,887

2010-11 3,401

2011-12 3,671

2012-13 4,403

2013-14 4,412

2014-15 3,996

2015-16 3,855

2016-17 3,339

1 Excludes support from the Scottish and Welsh Governments Source: DfT

Railways: Fixed Penalties Rachael Maskell: [126075] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of fixed penalty notices which have been issued by Northern Rail to rail passengers in each year since 2010. Joseph Johnson: This information is not held by the Department. The Department does not require this information from the franchisee. Railways: Franchises Diana Johnson: [126635] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail franchises have been put out to tender in each year since 2009-10; and how many bids his Department received for each franchise. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 8 February 2018]:

FRANCHISE ITT ISSUED COMPETITION NUMBER OF BIDS COMMENTS

2011 Greater Anglia 3

2012 West Coast 4 Competition stopped

2013 TSGN 5

2013 Essex Thameside 4

2014 East Coast 3

2015 Trans-Pennine 3 Express

2016 Northern 3

2015 East Anglia 3

2016 South Western 2

2016 West Midlands 2

2018 South Eastern Bids due March 2018

Railways: Procurement Jonathan Edwards: [126116] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has a policy on the minimum number of bidders in a competitive rail franchise procurement; and if he will make a statement. Joseph Johnson: Whilst the Department for Transport prefer to have three bids for each franchise competition, as was the established practice under the previous government, we are prepared to accept that on occasion, we may only have two genuine bidders. Railways: York Julian Sturdy: [126365] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the quality and reliability of WiFi on rail services to and from York. Joseph Johnson: The Government is committed to improving wifi and mobile connectivity for rail customers. The Department has taken steps to improve the wifi on rail services to and from York by putting in place requirements for the provision of wifi on the relevant franchises (Cross Country, East Midlands, First TransPennine Express, Northern and Virgin Trains East Coast). Good progress has been made and this work is due to be completed by 2020. Furthermore, we are working with the Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to see what further improvements can be made to mobile connectivity on trains. A joint Call for Evidence, published on 28 December 2017, is seeking views to inform our thinking on policy and delivery, and support the ambition to have digital connectivity on our railways that meets passenger expectations. The results will be published later in 2018.

Severn River Crossing: Tolls Luke Hall: [126994] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling the Government has conducted on the potential effect on traffic on nearby roads of the removal of the Severn Bridge tolls. Jesse Norman: Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government undertook modelling to assess the impact of the policy to continue tolling at a reduced rate, and on the possible option of free-flow tolling. The modelling used a version of the M4- CAN traffic model extended to take account of the impact of changes in tolls on both the South West of England and Wales and included estimates of wider economic impacts consistent with DfT Transport Appraisal Guidance. The Government announced on 21 July 2017 that it was removing tolls by the end of 2018. No further modelling was undertaken by the Department for Transport on this specific option. Luke Hall: [126995] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to cope with the potential increased traffic flow caused by the removal of the Severn Bridge toll. Jesse Norman: Government is looking at the investment needs of the South West as part of the next round of the Roads Investment Strategy (RIS), as part of its commitment to improving journeys across the UK. Luke Hall: [126996] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans for the Severn Bridge toll to be removed entirely. Jesse Norman: The Government will abolish charging on the Severn bridges by the end of 2018. Luke Hall: [126997] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential benefits of the removal of the Severn Bridge toll to the surrounding communities and businesses in (a) South Gloucestershire, and (b) the South West. Jesse Norman: We do not have specific modelling results for South Gloucestershire or the South West for the wider economic benefits of removing the existing tolls. Luke Hall: [126998] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to collect any excess funds from the continuation of the Severn Bridge toll in 2018 beyond that which is expected to be spent on the necessary infrastructure for its eventual removal. Jesse Norman: There are a number of costs in addition to those incurred by the Government during the concession period, which include decommissioning and cessation of tolling, toll booth removal, highways realignment and specialist resurfacing work. Based on analysis of past traffic flow, the revenue to be received from a charging before abolition at the end of 2018 is predicted to be sufficient to cover such costs.

Transport: North of England Paul Blomfield: [126719] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve transport links between Sheffield and Manchester. Joseph Johnson: A number of schemes are being developed to improve transport links between Sheffield and Manchester. The Department is working with Transport for the North (TfN) on some highway options. The Strategic Study into the possible development of a more direct highway route between Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region has so far determined that while a long tunnel beneath the Pennines is technically feasible, the cost is prohibitive and represents poor value for money. TfN has carried out some additional work which suggests that a shorter tunnel beneath the most environmentally sensitive areas, combined with wider transport connectivity enhancements, could help to overcome these issues and provide enhanced access to the Peak District National Park. Further work has been commissioned jointly by TfN and the Department to explore this option in more detail, and is currently expected to report late this year or early in 2019. In addition, the Government’s Road Investment Strategy sets out a package of measures to improve the route between Sheffield and Manchester. Highways England held a public consultation on the proposals in Spring 2017 and announced the preferred route for the Mottram Moor and A57(T) to A57 Link Roads in November 2017. There will be a further public consultation on the details of this scheme in 2018 and construction is expected to start in 2020, subject to securing the necessary planning approvals. Other elements announced which are not subject to the DCO process include safety and technology improvements along the A628, including localised safety measures, additional advance warning signs to enable drivers to make more informed decisions regarding their journey and possible automation of the closure gates. There are also improvements to the Westwood (A61/A616) Roundabout in Tankersley to reduce congestion and improve traffic flows. As part of their Northern Hub capacity enhancements, Network Rail have proposed works at the eastern end of the Hope Valley line. A passing loop would be provided east of Bamford, and the line would be re-doubled at Dore and Totley station. This scheme would increase track capacity to allow a more frequent service between Sheffield and Manchester, improve accessibility by sustainable transport to the Peak District National Park and support better integration with freight services. A Transport and Works Act application for this scheme has been submitted to the Department.

Transport: Per Capita Costs Alex Sobel: [126491] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of 1 February 2018 to Question 125292 on Transport: Per Capita Costs, what estimate his Department has made of value of transport projects and programmes in (i) London and (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber since 2010. Joseph Johnson: [Holding answer 8 February 2018]: HM Treasury publishes country and regional analyses (‘CRA’) of public expenditure. The latest CRA statistics were published on 9 November 2017 and present data for the five years up to 2016-17, which includes public expenditure (capital) on transport. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-and-regional-analysis . Data for years before 2012-13 can also be found at that weblink in prior year publications. West Coast Railway Line Michael Fabricant: [126533] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the franchise period will end and bids be invited for the West Coast Main Line franchise currently held by Virgin Trains. Joseph Johnson: The scheduled period end date for the current West Coast mainline franchise is April 2019. We will shortly be issuing the invitation to tender for the West Coast Partnership which will succeed the current franchise.

WALES

Wales Office: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126845] To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Alun Cairns: HM Treasury has already allocated departments nearly £700 million to prepare for Brexit; £412m for DIT, FCO and DExEU over the parliament at Autumn Statement 2016 and nearly £300m across a number of departments from the Reserve in 17/18. At Autumn Budget 2017, HM Treasury made another £3bn of additional funding available over 18/19 and 19/20 – £1.5bn in each year. We are currently working with HM Treasury to determine our allocation for 18/19 with the aim to agree this soon. Departmental allocations for 19/20 will be agreed later on in the year and decisions on funding in 20/21 and beyond will be decided at the next Spending Review. This is because requirements in these years will be heavily affected by what is agreed in our negotiations with the EU.

Wales Office: Child Care Vouchers Stephanie Peacock: [126519] To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many of his Department's employees make use of childcare vouchers. Stuart Andrew: Five staff working at the Wales Office were in receipt of childcare vouchers in January 2018. WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Disability: Mental Health Andrew Gwynne: [126504] To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government plans to amend the Equalities Act 2010 to widen the definition of disability to include people with a mental health condition. Victoria Atkins: The Equality Act 2010 defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. People with mental health conditions that fall within this definition are already protected from discrimination and are entitled to reasonable adjustments. However, we are aware that people with certain mental health conditions, such as those with fluctuating or moderate symptoms, can have difficulty proving that they meet the Equality Act’s definition of disability, creating an extra barrier to challenging discrimination. The Government is therefore exploring a number of options to extend or clarify protections from discrimination for people with certain mental health conditions, including through the Equality Act 2010.

Employment: Equality Yvette Cooper: [126574] To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which (a) Government Departments and (b) public sector agencies have powers to investigate breaches of (i) equality law and (ii) employment law. Victoria Atkins: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has powers to investigate breaches of equality law. Public bodies with the powers to investigate breaches of employment law are as follows: • HM Revenue & Customs on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - breaches relating to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage; • The Employment Agency Standards inspectorate (part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) - breaches relating to the domestic regulations applicable to employment agencies and employment businesses; • The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority - breaches relating to temporary labour in high risk sectors in the fresh food supply chain. The Authority also has powers to investigate modern slavery and other labour abuse offences; • The Health & Safety Executive, and other health & safety regulators - breaches relating to health and safety at work including elements of the Working Time Regulations.

Pupils: Bullying Paul Blomfield: [126714] To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps her Department has taken to tackle the bullying of LGBTQ children in schools. Victoria Atkins: The Government has sent a clear message to schools that bullying, for whatever reason, is unacceptable. It can have a devastating effect on individuals, blight their education and have serious consequences for their mental health. All schools are legally required to have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. They have the freedom to develop their own anti- bullying strategies appropriate to their environment but are held to account via Ofsted In September 2016, we announced a £3 million programme from 2016-2019 to prevent and address homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in a sustainable way. This programme focuses on primary and secondary schools in England that currently have no or few effective measures in place. Six grantees have been funded as part of the programme to deliver interventions in at least 200 schools each. The grantees are Barnardo’s, LGBT Consortium, Metro Charity, National Children’s Bureau, Proud Trust and Stonewall.

Sexual Harassment Paul Blomfield: [126720] To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of laws tackling sexual harassment in the workplace. Victoria Atkins: The Government is clear that unwanted conduct in the workplace that violates a person’s dignity or creates a hostile or degrading atmosphere is unacceptable. Legal protection from such harassment in the workplace exists through the Equality Act 2010, with more serious, criminal offences covered in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Sexual Offences Act 2003. We believe this legislation provides adequate protection for both men and women in the working environment; however, we will continue to keep the operation of the legislation under review, to ensure that it works as intended. We also recognise that employers may try to get employees to sign away their rights in non-disclosure agreements. In fact the law makes any such agreement unenforceable, should an employee subsequently take action under the Equality Act or the criminal law. WORK AND PENSIONS

Department for Work and Pensions: Brexit Hywel Williams: [126834] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if she will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned. Alok Sharma: The UK’s withdrawal from the EU will impact on a number of the Departments’ business areas and the development of plans is linked to the outcome of the ongoing negotiations with the EU. At present, no specific funding requirements have been identified for DWP but we will continue to review this position.

Employment and Support Allowance: Correspondence Emma Dent Coad: [127002] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will instruct her officials to copy employment and support allowance claimants into all correspondence that they address to those claimants' doctors. Sarah Newton: To send claimants a copy of all correspondence would incur unnecessary duplication. When making a claim, customers give their consent for the Department to contact their doctor or other healthcare professionals for further medical information if required and to inform them of the outcome of their assessment. To send claimants a copy of these would incur unnecessary duplication. The Department is continually reviewing and amending claimant communications, in consultation with support organisations and the assessment provider, to ensure they are clear and informative and meet claimants’ needs Emma Dent Coad: [127010] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has written to the doctors of claimants who have been refused employment and support allowance to advise those doctors that they should stop supplying claimants with fit notes and encourage them to return to work. Sarah Newton: We send doctors a letter called an ESA65B, after a customer has been found fit for work, stating that they no longer need to provide further notes for the purposes of Employment and Support Allowance. This letter also states what support customers can expect to receive from their local Jobcentre and asks doctors to encourage customers in their efforts to return to work. Funerals: Fees and Charges Caroline Lucas: [127011] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of burial costs covered by the first element of the Funeral Expenses Payments which were not paid in full in each of the last three years. Kit Malthouse: Funeral Expenses Payments are intended to meet the necessary costs of burial. However the allowed amount may be adjusted by the decision maker using the necessary cost guidance in Chapter 39 of the Decision Makers Guide: Social Fund Payments at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/572416 /dmgch39.pdf. Information on the amount of these adjustments is not collated centrally and no assessment has been made of the proportion of burial costs covered by Funeral Expenses Payments. Caroline Lucas: [127013] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2017 to Question 113185, what increase has been made to the funeral directors fees element in each of the last 10 years. Kit Malthouse: The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment’s scheme, comprises two elements. The element which covers ‘other costs’ and may be used to pay funeral director’s fees, has been set to a maximum payment of £700 since 2003. In 2016-17, around 27,000 Funeral Expenses Payment awards were made worth £38.6 million.

Independent Assessment Services: Complaints Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: [126937] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what timetable he expects stage 2 complaints relating to the Independent Assessment Service to be concluded. Sarah Newton: In November 2010 new arrangements were agreed for dealing with complaints about the service provided to DWP claimants, by third party providers. The new arrangements, which initially applied to all customer-related contracts let on or after 1 April 2011, require assessment providers to have their own complaint process in place, which signposts complainants to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) in the event that they are dissatisfied with the providers final response to their complaint. The Department expects the PIP Assessment Providers to acknowledge in writing all complaints received directly from claimants within two working days, advising that a full response will be provided within 20 working days. Mesothelioma: Compensation Mike Kane: [126580] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the gross working premium of insurers which was required to fund the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments Scheme in (a) 2014-15 (b) 2015-16 (c) 2016-17 and (d) 2017-18. Sarah Newton: The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments Scheme levy as a proportion of the employers’ liability gross written premium for the years specified is estimated as follows: 2014/15 - 2.2% 2015/16 - 1.5% 2016/17 - 2.5% 2017/18 - 2.1%. Note: The levy year is based on a fiscal year whereas the gross written premium (GWP) is based on the calendar year. The proportions quoted above use the most recently available GWP data in any one year. Due to the time taken to collect and verify this data, the GWP figure used to calculate the proportion the levy represents will be two years old.

Poverty: Children Scott Mann: [126967] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the level of child poverty in North Cornwall on the basis of the four measures of poverty set out in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. Kit Malthouse: This Government is committed to action that improves long-term outcomes for children and families by focusing on tackling the root causes of poverty and disadvantage. The four ‘Life Chances’ measures introduced through the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, which replaced the income based targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010, are designed to drive action and measure progress in the areas that we know can make the biggest difference - parental worklessness and children’s educational achievement. The measures are based on official statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics on the proportion of children in workless households and the proportion of children in long-term workless households; and on Department for Education statistics on the educational attainment at Key Stage 4 of all pupils, and of disadvantaged pupils. Although these statistics do not all provide data for individual constituencies, local authority-level data is generally available for the measure of all children in workless households and for both the educational attainment measures. However the ONS states that the estimate of children in workless households in Cornwall Local Authority in 2016 is not sufficiently reliable, due to sample size issues. Latest figures for the South West show that there were 8.1 per cent of children in workless households in July to September 2017. Sources Children by the combined economic activity status of household members by local authority (Table C1 LA): https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemploymen t/bulletins/worklesshouseholdsforregionsacrosstheuk/2016/relateddata Children in households by type of household and combined economic activity status of household members (Table M): https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentande mployeetypes/bulletins/workingandworklesshouseholds/julytoseptember2017/related data In 2017, pupils sat reformed GCSEs in English language, English literature and maths for the first time, graded on a 9 to 1 scale. 38.4 per cent of all pupils and 20.7 per cent of disadvantaged pupils in Cornwall Local Authority achieved 9-5 in English and maths. Source: Characteristics local authority tables: SFR01/2018: GCSE and equivalent results in England 2016/17 (revised) (Table LA11): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in- england-2016-to-2017 GCSE outcomes by constituency are available for all pupils but not broken down by disadvantaged pupils. In 2017, 36.7 per cent of all pupils in the North Cornwall constituency achieved 9-5 in English and maths. Source: Pupil residency and school location tables: SFR01/2018 (Table PC1): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in- england-2016-to-2017

Shared Ownership: Carers Frank Field: [126777] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the Homeshare initiative to provide low cost housing for people who are able to provide limited caring duties; and if she will take steps to enaure that such initiatives do not affect either parties eligibility for (a) housing benefit and (b) pension credit. Kit Malthouse: The Government supports the Homeshare initiative, offering financial and social benefits to both householders and prospective home sharers alike. The potential impact on benefit claims such as Housing Benefit and Pension Credit will depend upon the particular circumstances of the householder and prospective home sharer, which will be kept under review. MINISTERIAL CORRECTIONS

TREASURY

Sanctions: Democratic Republic of Congo Helen Goodman: [126713] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) individuals, (b) corporations and (c) other entities had assets frozen (i) in the UK, (ii) in the British Overseas Territories and (c) by UK-based institutions as a result of the sanctions applied to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2017, and what estimate he has made of the value of those assets. An error has been identified in the written answer given on 12 February 2018. The correct answer should have been: John Glen: The approximate aggregate value of funds frozen in the UK (under EU Regulation 1183/2005 Democratic Republic of Congo) was £ 580,000,000 at the close of business on 30 September 2016. The figures for the 2017 round of UK frozen funds reporting are in the process of being finalised and as such are not currently available. The frozen funds continue to belong to the individuals and entities listed under the Regulation and are not seized or otherwise held by HM Government. The figure is provided on an aggregate basis so as not to indirectly disclose the value of funds held by particular individuals or entities. British Overseas Territories adopt all Sanctions listings that the UK do, to be in line with international standards. The specific information on the number of people or entities who have assets frozen in the overseas territories lies with the individual territories themselves.