Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether senior officials from her Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Yes, senior officials have travelled to China since January 2019.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether senior officials from her Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No senior members of the Department have booked travel to China via the Departments central travel contract between January 2019 and October 2023.
We have assumed that by Senior Officials you mean those that are above the grade SCS1.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether senior officials from his Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by James Heappey
Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence have travelled to China to participate in discussions and international fora during the period specified.
As outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, the UK will engage directly with China, bilaterally and in international fora to preserve and create space for open, constructive, predictable and stable relations that reflect China's importance in world affairs.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether senior officials from her Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Details of travel by Senior Civil Servants are recorded in the Government's transparency date, which is published at:
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether senior officials from his Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information required is not retained by Grade. However, the total number of DWP staff that have travelled to China and/or Hong Kong from January 2019 to present is 151, with 2 of these being official business trips.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether senior officials from her Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Senior officials have travelled to China since January 2019.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision his Department makes for Winter Fuel Payments in cases where Ukrainian refugees receiving Universal Credit payments are not paying bills in the homes of their host families.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Winter fuel payments are an age-related payment payable this winter to all people who have reached State Pension age on or before 24 September 2023 and who are ordinarily resident in the UK, including Ukrainian refugees. There is no need to be in receipt of a social security benefit in order to qualify.
Winter fuel payments are made on a household basis. If there is more than one eligible person in a household, the payment will be divided between them. The sharing of bills is a matter for the house owner and any guests they may be hosting.
The Government understands the cost-of-living pressures people are currently facing which is why we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with their bills.
Pensioners who are entitled to a winter fuel payment this winter will receive a pensioner Cost of Living Payment of £300 per household paid with their normal payment, meaning over 8 million pensioner households across the UK will receive an increased winter fuel payment of £500/£600 depending on age.
Over 8 million UK households on eligible means tested benefits will receive additional Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900 in the 2023/24 financial year and over 6 million individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will have received a £150 payment to help with the additional costs they face.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with the Crown Estate on the approach they take to lease agreements with (a) institutional and (b) cultural tenants in heritage buildings in St James’s, London.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The department is exploring with the Learned Societies whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and enable the Learned Societies to remain in their historic home at New Burlington House.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has had discussions with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the (a) continued tenancy of the Learned Societies at New Burlington House and (b) heritage status and purpose of the New Burlington House buildings.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The department is exploring with the Learned Societies whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and enable the Learned Societies to remain in their historic home at New Burlington House.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has taken steps to identify potential similar occupants of New Burlington House if the Learned Societies have to re-locate.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The department is exploring with the Learned Societies whether there is a solution that can deliver value for taxpayers and enable the Learned Societies to remain in their historic home at New Burlington House.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.