Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the use of reusable cups at outdoor events will be permitted as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department has produced a number of high level guidance documents in partnership with stakeholders on how relevant sectors should operate in a Covid secure environment as restrictions are eased.
However, it is for event organisers to determine whether to use reusable cups at outdoor events. There is no government guidance which prevents the use of reusable cups.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to publish the findings from its Youth Review, which closed on 7 March 2021.
Answered by Matt Warman
As announced at the 2020 spending review, DCMS is undertaking a Spring review of all DCMS support for out-of-school services for young people. Whilst the external engagement exercise closed on 7 March, the review is still ongoing and findings will be published in due course.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent diplomatic steps he has taken in response to human rights abuses against (a) the Uyghurs and (b) other minorities in China.
Answered by Nigel Adams
On 22 March, under the UK’s Global Human Rights sanctions regime, the Foreign Secretary announced asset freezes and travel bans against four senior Chinese government officials and one entity responsible for the gross violations of human rights of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.
On 22 February, the Foreign Secretary delivered a Ministerial Statement at the UN Human Rights Council – the first time a UK Foreign Secretary has done so since 2010. He highlighted our deep concerns about the human rights violations being perpetrated against Tibetans, Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in China, and underlined the need for urgent and unfettered access to Xinjiang for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The UK also led the first two joint statements on the persecution of the Uyghurs and other minorities at the UN, and we have worked tirelessly with partners to raise the issue up the international agenda.
On 12 January, the Foreign Secretary announced robust domestic measures in respect of UK supply chains to help ensure that British businesses are not complicit in human rights violations in Xinjiang.
The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on a number of occasions.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make a comparative assessment of the level of pension credit uptake in Hackney South and Shoreditch in the financial years (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
It is not feasible to undertake this comparative assessment.
The latest estimates of Pension Credit take-up relate to the financial year 2018/19 and are representative of the GB population.
Estimates of take up of income related benefits can be found in the following publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2018-to-2019
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment he has undertaken on the proposed changes to Small Brewers' Relief.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Treasury keeps the effect of the relief, and potential reforms to it, under regular review. A technical consultation was launched in January to help inform the Government’s review of the relief, and the consultation document provides further information on the Government’s assessment of changes.Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to respond to the consultation on the review of Small Brewers' Relief that ran from 30 January 2019 to 17 March 2019; and what steps he is taking to use the findings of that consultation to inform the consultation on Small Brewers' Relief that closes on 4 April 2021.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
Following the announcement of the Small Brewers Relief (SBR) review at the 2018 Budget, the Treasury conducted a survey of brewers between January and March 2019. An update on the review was provided to Parliament in July 2020, outlining the Government’s initial conclusions. In January 2021 a technical consultation was launched to gain further feedback from brewers. The information provided by the consultation will be used alongside the data from the 2019 survey to inform final policy decisions.
Further updates will be provided after the close of the consultation.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provisions in the Turing scheme are accessible for youth groups.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Turing Scheme is backed by £110 million, providing funding for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges and schools to go on placements and exchanges overseas, starting in September 2021.
The Turing Scheme is an education mobility scheme. International opportunities for young people outside of formal education settings, such as youth groups, are being considered as part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport-led Youth Review, which was commissioned by Her Majesty's Treasury at the 2020 Spending Review.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2021 to Question 156290, on Extradition Act 2003: Arrests, for what reason her Department does not hold the information requested; and if she will request that information from the National Crime Agency.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The National Crime Agency is the competent authority for cases which fall under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003 and, as such, is the holder of all data relating to arrests under the power provided by that legislation.
Data in relation to extradition under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003 will be published by the National Crime Agency in due course in the usual way.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests there have been in the UK under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003 on and after 1 January 2021.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Office does not hold the information requested.
The National Crime Agency manages requests made under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what fee changes she plans to propose for British Citizenship applications in the 2021-22 financial year.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We keep our fees for immigration and nationality applications under review and ensure they are within the parameters agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament, as set out in Section 68 (9) of the Immigration Act 2014.
Child citizenship registration fees are the subject of current litigation. While the court case is ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on next steps.