Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of not requiring people with degenerative conditions who were in receipt of employment and support allowance before September 2017 to attend a further face-to-face work capability assessment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
From the 29 September 2017 those placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s (ESA) Support Group and the Universal Credit (UC) equivalent who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities will no longer be routinely reassessed.
For those claiming ESA prior to 29 September 2017, the Severe Conditions criteria will be taken into consideration at their next Work Capability Assessment. People will be asked to complete a health questionnaire, and where appropriate we will ask their General Practitioner or Specialist healthcare professional for further supporting evidence. In the vast majority of cases where the Severe Conditions criteria would apply, we would expect to be able to make a decision without the need for a face-to-face assessment.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of water security for farmers and growers as a result of the closure of the European Agricultural Fund's Water Resource Management grant.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Defra keeps water security for farmers and growers under review. However, as the Countryside Productivity Water Resource Management offer was a relatively small scheme offering localised support for individual farmers and growers, we have no plans to undertake a detailed assessment of its impact on national water security.
The Government’s abstraction plan sets out how the Environment Agency will develop strong local partnerships with abstractors, including farmers, and catchment groups. The partnerships will work to agree local solutions that improve water security and protect the environment.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has any plans to introduce permanent hydrogen refuelling stations on the south coast of England.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has no current plans to introduce permanent hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) in that area. The £23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme will continue to support the development of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure via a competitive bidding process. Siting of stations is one of a number of criteria, and it is for the market to lead on developing strong bids for specific locations. In March this year the Government announced the winners of £8.8 million of funding, which will see the construction of additional hydrogen refuelling stations as well as upgrades to existing refuelling infrastructure.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has any plans to introduce permanent hydrogen refuelling stations on the south coast of England.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has no current plans to introduce permanent hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) in that area. The £23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme will continue to support the development of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure via a competitive bidding process. Siting of stations is one of a number of criteria, and it is for the market to lead on developing strong bids for specific locations. In March this year the Government announced the winners of £8.8 million of funding, which will see the construction of additional hydrogen refuelling stations as well as upgrades to existing refuelling infrastructure.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to promote responsible dog ownership near livestock.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra has been working closely with the police and local authorities and provided clear guidance to them on how they can tackle irresponsible dog ownership, including dealing with dog attacks on livestock. This has included promoting the Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) initiative to encourage partnership working between police and local authorities and to address minor incidents involving dogs before they escalate. We have also updated the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, which encourages owners to keep their dog on a lead around livestock or to avoid such situations, in order to make it more accessible to readers.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which marine life and seabed habitats have been identified for protection in the proposed marine conservation zone at Selsey Bill and the Hounds.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The features that have been identified for protection at Selsey Bill and the Hounds are:
Bracklesham Bay geological feature
Short-snouted seahorse
Subtidal mixed sediments
Subtidal sand
Peat and clay exposures
High energy infralittoral rock
Moderate energy infralittoral rock
Moderate energy circalittoral rock
Low energy infralittoral rock
Full details regarding the proposed designation of Selsey Bill and the Hounds can be found in the Third Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones consultation. Please see link here:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/marine/consultation-on-the-third-tranche-of-marine-conser/.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the central equine database in reducing horse abandonment to date.
Answered by George Eustice
The Central Equine Database (CED) was launched on 8 March 2018. At this early stage, data is not available to make a formal assessment of its effectiveness in reducing horse abandonment. Defra laid the Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 on 25 June. The regulations provide modern, effective enforcement tools to local authorities that, in combination with the CED and the powers under the Control of Horses Act 2015 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, will help address the problem of horse abandonment.
Furthermore, the regulations require that all equines in England are microchipped by 1 October 2020, except for recognised populations of semi-wild ponies. This will further help local authorities and the police to track down the owners of abandoned horses and make sure appropriate action is taken against them, and ensure their equines are given the care they deserve.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will confirm house building allocations for local authorities to allow them to finalise their local plans.
Answered by Dominic Raab
House building allocations are not set by Government, it is for local authorities to do so through their own plan making process.
The draft revised National Planning Policy Framework proposes to introduce a number of measures that will make plan making easier, cheaper and more transparent. We intend to publish the final version of the revised Framework this summer.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the effect of rural crime on farmers.
Answered by George Eustice
We are working closely with the Home Office on a range of issues in relation to rural crime, including waste crime and fly-tipping and issues like sheep worrying and wildlife crime. We both also work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Rural Crime Network on these issues.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that not-for-profit community bus services are not treated as commercial operators under the proposed changes to sections 19 and 22 of the Transport Act 1985.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Departmental officials are analysing the responses to the Government’s consultation about how EU Regulation 1071/2009 applies to not-for-profit community transport operators. The Government’s response will be published in due course.