We announced in March 2019 that we have launched the Health Transformation Programme to deliver a new integrated assessment service across all health and disability benefits. This will make the assessment process simpler, quicker, more user-friendly and more joined-up whichever benefit people are claiming. This integrated service will still be taking applications to individual benefits on a separate basis.

Alongside this work, we are also undertaking a feasibility study to explore whether a single assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) would further improve the experience for the small number of people who apply for PIP and benefits requiring a WCA at the same time. The study is being informed by existing evidence and we have been gathering views and insight from key stakeholders including healthcare professionals to understand the issues around feasibility.

As set out in the Secretary of State’s Direction of 8 May and in the response to 275187, it was concluded, on this occasion, that it was reasonable for Government to protect Permitted Subcontractors who suffered losses as they relate to the collapse of Working Links and their Community Rehabilitation Companies. These organisations are directly involved in the delivery of vital frontline probation services. We have been very clear that this is a unique response to a unique and specific set of circumstances. This should not be viewed as setting a precedent for future scenarios.

Of the ten permitted subcontractors that the Authority agreed to make payments to as per the Ministerial Direction of 8 May, nine have been paid to date. The invoice from the remaining permitted subcontractor is currently being reviewed as part of our due diligence process.

Contractors outside of the permitted subcontractor list should continue to pursue any financial claims through the Administrator. The Authority can assist in this process if required.

I am pleased to say that we have made strong progress against the commitments in the Command Paper my hon. Friend refers to, and I thank her for her role in delivering those advances. I can advise the House that the number of disabled people in employment is now 400,000 higher than it was in 2017. There is, however, much more to do, and on 15 July we launched a consultation on measures to reduce ill health-related job loss. We are seeking views on how employers can best support people with disabilities and people with long-term health conditions to stay and thrive in work.

We have been very clear that this is a unique response to a unique and specific set of circumstances. This should not be viewed as setting a precedent for future scenarios.

I thank my hon. Friend for her important work on the whole issue of violence against women and girls. Clinical commissioning

groups are the primary commissioners of NHS services, and, as such, play the lead role in ensuring that service commissioning guidelines on violence against women and girls are implemented through the NHS, as informed by evidence available and current guidance.

I have received many representations on local authority borrowing caps, but I would refer the House to the recent excellent review of the local authority role in housing supply carried out by Natalie Elphicke and Councillor Keith House. They made many suggestions as to how the local authority role in house building could be improved, but one of their conclusions was that the problem was not a lack of money but the way in which resources are deployed and organised in the local government sector.

The Government have already devolved powers and responsibilities to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly local enterprise partnership through the growth deal, which was agreed last summer and extended just two weeks ago. It will mean that around £60 million is invested in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, including in a range of infrastructure investments in the area. In Truro, that will mean money for seven new low-floor buses to provide additional capacity for the city’s successful park and ride scheme.

Front-line professionals have new flexible powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, including problems in the night-time economy. We have overhauled the Licensing Act 2003 to give people a greater say in licensing decisions in their area and to give local areas the tools and powers they need to deal with problem premises. We have also enabled local communities to secure a financial contribution from late-opening premises towards policing the night-time economy.

The information is available in the ‘Benefit Expenditure by Local Authority from 2000/01 to 2013/14’ tables at the following address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014

Net operating costs for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (PCT) for 2007-08 to 2012-13, and National Health Service Kernow for 2013-14 are as follows:

NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT (5QP)

The most recent data available for total public expenditure on transport is given in HM Treasury’s Country and Regional Analysis 2014.

Identifiable expenditure on transport in South West England for the last 7 years is reproduced below. This includes a split between current and capital expenditure for all years. Equivalent data is not available below regional level.

The Department does not hold consolidated information at this level of detail. The main source of funding for waste, environmental and other Defra-related local authority functions comes from the annual Revenue Support Grant. Since 2007-08, funding received by Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly from Defra and its Arms Length Bodies has additionally included:

· waste PFI credits

· grants for water and sewerage infrastructure works on the Isles of Scilly

· flood and coastal defence capital grant in aid for flood and funding for resilience projects

· rural development programme funding

· catchment restoration funding for the South Cornwall River Improvement Project

· European Fisheries Fund money to support sustainable development of fishing communities

· grant aid for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to help crews to deal with local flood emergencies

· funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

· capital grants for catchment sensitive farming

· funding for the South West Bioheat Programme

Apart from three specific programmes where the information is readily available, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not keep records of expenditure by individual constituency and would not be able to isolate this data, without incurring disproportionate costs. For those three programmes that are identifiable the expenditure is set out below:

Listed Places of Worship Programme

Memorial Grants Scheme

Broadband Delivery – Mobile Infrastructure Programme

The Department’s electronic record system does not categorise expenditure by area. To provide this information would therefore require a manual trawl of all payments made between 2007-08 and 2014-15, which could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Department publishes monthly information on all payments over £500. This information can be found at the following website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/departmental-spend-over-500.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold this data. The MOD ceased making estimates of regional direct expenditure after 2007-08, since they did not directly support our policymaking or military operations.

This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost as the Department does not report how much spending it makes within individual Counties.

My hon Friend may wish to know that the range of activities undertaken by the Department includes direct and indirect support, advice and information all of which has associated cost. However, since May 2010 the Department has routinely published details of all expenditure. This includes the name of the supplier/recipient, the postcode, amount and purpose. This information can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-spending-totals

Information in the form requested is not held centrally and cannot be compiled without incurring disproportionate cost.