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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Police Scotland’s violence reduction unit in Glasgow, and whether she has plans to replicate the work of that unit in England.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Police Scotland’s violence reduction unit in Glasgow, and whether she has plans to replicate the work of that unit in England.
We have not made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Violence Reduction Unit in Scotland. We will shortly be publishing our new Serious Violence Strategy which will respond to concerns about serious violence especially recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide.
The approach we will set out in the Strategy will give much more of an emphasis to prevention and steering young people away from crime in the first place, and it will put in place measures to tackle the root causes of the problem.
How many schools in England subject to an academy order have not confirmed a sponsor.
How many schools in England subject to an academy order have not confirmed a sponsor.
There are currently over 2,000 open sponsored academies and, as of 1 February, 92 schools subject to an academy order were in the process of being matched to a sponsor. That involves brokering a relationship between a suitable academy trust and maintained school, and includes addressing any land or contractual issues. A school not having a confirmed sponsor is generally not due to the lack of a sponsor, but because of the time it takes to address those issues.
The Minister might know that my interest in this matter stems from the number of years it took his Department to resolve the situation at Sedgehill School in Lewisham, which was not able to find a sponsor and instead has agreed a three-year school improvement partnership. If the Department is struggling so much to find sponsors for academies, why is this still a central plank of the Minister’s school turnaround strategy?
The Minister might know that my interest in this matter stems from the number of years it took his Department to resolve the situation at Sedgehill School in Lewisham, which was not able to find a sponsor and instead has agreed a three-year school improvement partnership. If the Department is struggling so much to find sponsors for academies, why is this still a central plank of the Minister’s school turnaround strategy?
Because we are not, across the system as a whole, struggling to find new sponsors. We have 7,000 academies now, most of which are converter academies, and they themselves are becoming the sponsors of underperforming schools across the system. This system is working. Secondary sponsored academies made the strongest improvements in 2016, despite facing the biggest challenge, and compared with 2015, the average attainment 8 score for sponsored academies improved by almost three attainment points, compared with 1.3 attainment points for maintained schools. The academies programme is working and is raising standards right across the system.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Ministers speech of 2 March 2018 on the UK’s future economic partnership with the EU, what the definition is of self-employed professionals in relation to future labour mobility arrangements; and whether reciprocal arrangements will...
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Ministers speech of 2 March 2018 on the UK’s future economic partnership with the EU, what the definition is of self-employed professionals in relation to future labour mobility arrangements; and whether reciprocal arrangements will...
Freedom of movement is ending but there will continue to be migration and mobility between the UK and the EU after the UK leaves. The Prime Minister has made it clear that the Government is open to discussing with the EU how to facilitate the valuable links between our people.
We want to limit the number of barriers that could prevent UK firms from setting up in the EU and vice versa, and agree an appropriate labour mobility framework that enables businesses and self-employed professionals to provide services to clients.
We will discuss these arrangements with the EU in due course - at every step of the negotiations, we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 2 March 2018 on the UK’s future economic partnership with the EU, whether the list of pan-European regulatory agencies to which the UK will be seeking long-term associate membership is limited...
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 2 March 2018 on the UK’s future economic partnership with the EU, whether the list of pan-European regulatory agencies to which the UK will be seeking long-term associate membership is limited...
As the Prime Minister said in her speech in Mansion House on 2 March 2018, we will want to explore with the EU the terms on which we could remain part of EU agencies such as those that are critical for the chemicals, medicines and aerospace industries: the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
There are other agencies, such as those related to our future security partnership, that the UK may seek to remain a part of. Where there is a demonstrable national interest in pursuing a continued relationship with an agency or other EU body the Government will carefully examine whether we should pursue this. Our future relationship with the EU's agencies will ultimately be a matter for the negotiations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Rail Accident Investigations Branch will be involved in the independent investigation into the response of Southeastern Trains and Network Rail to the self-evacuation of passengers on trains outside Lewisham Station on the evening of 2 March 2018.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Rail Accident Investigations Branch will be involved in the independent investigation into the response of Southeastern Trains and Network Rail to the self-evacuation of passengers on trains outside Lewisham Station on the evening of 2 March 2018.
The Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB) are aware of the incident at Lewisham and the understandable public concern related to it. This has led to them to start what they refer to as a “preliminary examination” into the event. They are currently gathering evidence that will enable them to decide what further action they will take, based around the decision criteria they use. They currently anticipate a decision within the next two weeks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral contribution of 5 February 2018, Official Report, column 1248 on railway station accessibility, when he plans to make a decision on the funding to be allocated to station accessibility improvement works in Control Period 6.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral contribution of 5 February 2018, Official Report, column 1248 on railway station accessibility, when he plans to make a decision on the funding to be allocated to station accessibility improvement works in Control Period 6.
As set out in the Statement of Funds Available, we expect around £47.9bn to be spent on the railway between 2019 and 2024, with up to £34.7bn to be provided directly via Government grant. This will include funding to improve accessibility across the network.
We are now working with Network Rail to provide further confidence in the volumes and costs involved in this portfolio and we will publish the details of how the funding will be allocated once Network Rail’s detailed business plans have been scrutinised by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road later this year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied to convert Support for Mortgage Interest payments into a loan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied to convert Support for Mortgage Interest payments into a loan.
All existing support for mortgage interest claimants will be contacted and offered the new support for mortgage interest loan, there is no need for them to apply. A managed transfer process is underway, with all existing recipients of support for mortgage interest receiving information about the new scheme so that they can make decisions about these loans.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
As we accelerate the pace of our negotiations with the European Union, I gave a speech last Friday to lay out the terms of the implementation period for our new relationship. This period, a bridge to the future, will be strictly time-limited and see a continuation of existing structures and rules. We will no longer be a member of the EU, which is a legal requirement for signing a new trade treaty, while still ensuring the continuity of our businesses and their trading relationships. We will use this period to ensure we are best placed to grasp the opportunities of Brexit, and that will mean signing new free trade deals with countries around the world.
Given reports today of a huge gap between the UK and the EU on how financial services will be able to be traded freely in a post-Brexit environment,
can the Secretary of State set out exactly how he sees this trade operating successfully in future, and exactly how he plans to protect the jobs of the 1.1 million people in the UK who work in this sector?
Given reports today of a huge gap between the UK and the EU on how financial services will be able to be traded freely in a post-Brexit environment,
can the Secretary of State set out exactly how he sees this trade operating successfully in future, and exactly how he plans to protect the jobs of the 1.1 million people in the UK who work in this sector?
First, not only have we not yet engaged in the future relationship negotiation, but the EU has not yet decided its own negotiating guidelines. They will, we expect, be laid down by the March Council on 22 March, and to that end I am talking to every member state that I can in order to ensure that we are at the same place on this issue, rather than having, as the hon. Lady terms it, “a huge gap”. Indeed, at the end of these questions I am going to Luxembourg for specifically that issue.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there is a requirement for online sellers of testing kits for sexually transmitted infections to be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there is a requirement for online sellers of testing kits for sexually transmitted infections to be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
There is no requirement for online sellers of testing kits for sexually transmitted infections to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) unless the provider is registered with the CQC as a primary care service.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what duties online sexually transmitted infection testing services have to follow best practice in respect of safeguarding and child protection issues.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what duties online sexually transmitted infection testing services have to follow best practice in respect of safeguarding and child protection issues.
Online sexually transmitted infection services are not offered to under 16s who would be advised to attend their local clinic where a proper safeguarding assessment can be undertaken in person.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the control totals regime and Sustainability and Transformation Funding in reducing hospital deficits.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the control totals regime and Sustainability and Transformation Funding in reducing hospital deficits.
If she will list her official engagements for Wednesday 13 December.
If she will list her official engagements for Wednesday 13 December.
Q4
.
Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab):
Tonight this House will hopefully have the chance to vote on my new clause 22 to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which would give Parliament the power at a future date to determine whether we leave the single market by coming out of the European Economic Area. It does not dictate how hon. Members should then vote, but it does ensure proper democratic oversight. Should not it be our sovereign Parliament and not the Prime Minister that decides our country’s economic future?
Q4
.
Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab):
Tonight this House will hopefully have the chance to vote on my new clause 22 to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which would give Parliament the power at a future date to determine whether we leave the single market by coming out of the European Economic Area. It does not dictate how hon. Members should then vote, but it does ensure proper democratic oversight. Should not it be our sovereign Parliament and not the Prime Minister that decides our country’s economic future?
First of all, as I indicated earlier in response to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), this Parliament will have an opportunity to vote. We will have a meaningful vote on the withdrawal arrangements. The hon. Lady says that it should be Parliament that makes the decision about our membership of the single market. Actually, this Parliament gave that decision about our membership of the European Union to the people of this country. It is the people of this country who have voted to leave the European Union, and this Government will deliver for the people of this country.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to commence the second phase of the review of cycle safety announced on 21 September, into wider road safety issues.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to commence the second phase of the review of cycle safety announced on 21 September, into wider road safety issues.
The Department expects to publish a Call for Evidence early in 2018. Preliminary discussions regarding Phase Two have already started.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will (a) list the 31 work streams in his Department identified by the National Audit Office in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will (a) list the 31 work streams in his Department identified by the National Audit Office in...
As indicated in the National Audit Office report, the Department for Exiting the European Union had identified 313 Exit work streams across Government departments, including 31 from this Department. The development of work streams is part of ongoing cross-Government work to develop and assess potential policy options, and to understand the implications of EU Exit.
The report represents a snapshot of the number and type of work stream at the time of publication. Many of these will vary as time goes by, including the Department ones but these will be kept under regular review by all departments. We will not be listing any detail about the Department’s work streams.
We can confirm that we are equipping ourselves with the right people and the right skills across government to make a success of Brexit. This Department has identified the workforce it requires for operational and policy requirements and constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s commitment to leave the EU and get the very best deal for the United Kingdom.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the UK hospitals participating in the European Reference Networks on rare diseases will continue to participate in those Networks in the event of the UK withdrawing from the EU.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the UK hospitals participating in the European Reference Networks on rare diseases will continue to participate in those Networks in the event of the UK withdrawing from the EU.
The Government's policy paper, Collaboration on Science and Innovation: A Future Partnership Paper, stresses the importance of continued collaboration with European partners to ensure that the United Kingdom remains one of the best places in the world for science and innovation. European Reference Networks were cited in the paper as an example of a partnership that the UK believes should continue.
The diagnosis, treatment and management of rare diseases benefit from national and international collaboration because of the limited number of patients and scarcity of clinical and research expertise within a single country. The UK is recognised internationally for its expertise and excellence in the field of rare diseases.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will list the 313 work streams across government departments identified by that report.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will list the 313 work streams across government departments identified by that report.
The Department for Exiting the European Union is working closely with all departments to ensure our preparations for exit from and new partnership with the EU are on track. The Department has established a series of arrangements to coordinate departments’ planning and delivery.
As indicated in the National Audit Office report, departments have identified Exit work streams that are used to structure engagement with DExEU. The structure and development of work streams is part of ongoing cross-Government work to develop and assess potential policy options. The number of work streams is being updated regularly but because the nature of this internal work could be sensitive to ongoing negotiations, we will not be publishing the full list.
Clause 2 of the Trade Bill gives powers to Ministers, potentially for the whole of the next decade, to sort out the issue of the 60 or so trade agreements that we currently benefit from with third countries by virtue of our membership with the EU. Far from being resolved in the next 16 months, is it not the case that that issue—dividing up tariff quotas and so on, and defining a new UK-EU trading relationship—rather than the fiction of the Secretary of State’s fantasy trade deals elsewhere, will dominate the work of the Department over the next few years?
Clause 2 of the Trade Bill gives powers to Ministers, potentially for the whole of the next decade, to sort out the issue of the 60 or so trade agreements that we currently benefit from with third countries by virtue of our membership with the EU. Far from being resolved in the next 16 months, is it not the case that that issue—dividing up tariff quotas and so on, and defining a new UK-EU trading relationship—rather than the fiction of the Secretary of State’s fantasy trade deals elsewhere, will dominate the work of the Department over the next few years?
We already touched on this a little earlier in question time. Can we be absolutely clear that my predecessor, Lord Price, and I have met all the key trading partners that are subject to those deals? We have in-principle agreement from most of them, and we have had no problem from any of them about transitioning those key trade agreements, so we do not foresee that being a difficulty. It is a technical process. Of course, there are one or two things that need to be sorted out in talks with those partners, but we are in the right position and we look forward to transitioning those agreements as a key part of our trading future.