The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement.
Damian Hinds
HM Treasury has not carried out any assessment of the overall economic impact of gaming machines. The Gambling Commission regularly publishes a range of statistics relating to the gambling industry.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the role of betting shop staff and their recognition of excluded customers in the betting shop multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.
David Evennett
The Betting Shop multi-operator self-exclusion scheme came into force across the whole betting sector on 6 April following successful pilots in Chatham, Glasgow and London. Self-exclusion is an important harm minimisation tool designed to provide greater protection to players who require assistance to manage their gambling. The Gambling Commission will continue to assess how well self exclusion schemes are being delivered.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to ensure that there will be sufficient childcare places in place by April 2017 for pre-school aged children of parents who will be expected to seek work from that date under the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.
Priti Patel
We expect the childcare market to adapt and expand as it has done so successfully in the past. There has been an increase of 230,000 places since 2009 and a significant increase in the take up of childcare provision in low and middle income areas. To support that continued growth and build capacity in the sector, the government has made capital funding available to create nursery provision as part of new Free Schools which will create at least 4,000 places. This government has supported existing providers to expand by reducing bureaucracy and making it easier for providers such as childminders and schools, to provide places and will continue to do so. In addition, we are trialling innovative ways of providing the extended entitlement next year, in particular to look at how the childcare can be provided more flexibly to suit the needs of working parents and increase choice. So far, there have been over one thousand expressions of interest to take part in the early implementation of the extended entitlement.
There is an extensive menu of childcare support in addition to the Department for Education offer including: the Universal Credit Childcare element; Tax-Free Childcare; and help with childcare costs under the Jobcentre Plus Flexible Support Fund to enable parents to undertake training, attend interviews or start work. Work related requirements should be tailored to individual circumstances and compatible with child care responsibilities. Parents should not be asked to undertake work related requirements which they cannot fit around their childcare responsibilities if suitable childcare is not available in their local area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to consult on the transposition of the fourth anti-money-laundering directive.
Harriett Baldwin
In June 2015, the fourth EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (‘the Directive) was formally adopted. Member States have up until June 2017 to transpose the Directives requirements, into national law.
With regards to the Government’s plans to consult on the transposition of the Directive, it intends to do so by early spring, with consultation running for a full 12 weeks. The consultation will cover areas where the Directive has given us options or direction on how we transpose its provisions, as well as areas where we can improve the UK’s anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.
By undertaking this work, we are further ensuring that our anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regime is robust and sufficiently responsive to emerging threats.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by bookmakers in reducing gambling-related harm.
David Evennett
This Government has been clear with the whole gambling industry that they are expected to demonstrate they are continuously improving player protection initiatives and evaluating the effects of previous initiatives. The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) revised its social responsibility Code of Conduct in 2015. On 6 April the industry also launched the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, which allows customers to self-exclude from all bookmakers at once.
In January, we published the Evaluation of Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which can can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015. We are considering the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps the Crown Prosecution Service has taken to improve the conviction rate for rape and domestic violence.
Robert Buckland
The CPS has taken a number of steps to improve the conviction rate for rape and domestic violence cases. These include refocusing resources to strengthen Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Units, extensive training on rape for prosecutors, an update of the domestic abuse legal guidance and closer working with the police in rape cases including the provision of early investigative advice.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of mandatory electrical safety checks in care homes.
Mike Penning
Fire safety in care homes is the responsibility of the operator who is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to assess the risk from fire to residents and employees and to implement appropriate fire precautions to prevent fires and mitigate the risk that, should a fire break out, lives are not put at risk. This would include mitigating the risk of and from electrical fires.
The Government’s fire safety risk assessment guidance for residential care premises provides detailed advice on ensuring electrical equipment is safe, and is inspected regularly by a competent electrical engineer in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations.
It is for local fire and rescue authorities to determine whether the specific fire precautions and management and maintenance arrangements in place in any particular residential care premises are sufficient to comply with the provisions of the Order.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what links his Department has with the Responsible Gambling Trust.
David Evennett
The Responsible Gambling Trust is an independent charity that raises funds from industry to spend on research, education and treatment for problem gambling. In developing its programme of activities, it takes into account priorities set by the Gambling Commission’s advisory body, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board. The Department considers the findings of the Responsible Gambling Trust’s research alongside other evidence on gambling related harm. Officials from the Department and from the Gambling Commission have attended meetings of the Responsible Gambling Trust’s research committee, and Trustees board meetings, as observers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the self-exclusion pilot schemes introduced by bookmakers in Medway and Glasgow.
Tracey Crouch
I refer the honourable member to the written response given in UIN number 14483 on 16th November 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has undertaken of the electrical safety and adequacy of measures to prevent electrical fires in care homes in England.
Mike Penning
Fire safety in care homes is the responsibility of the operator who is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to assess the risk from fire to residents and employees and to implement appropriate fire precautions to prevent fires and mitigate the risk that, should a fire break out, lives are not put at risk. This would include mitigating the risk of and from electrical fires.
The Government’s fire safety risk assessment guidance for residential care premises provides detailed advice on ensuring electrical equipment is safe, and is inspected regularly by a competent electrical engineer in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations.
It is for local fire and rescue authorities to determine whether the specific fire precautions and management and maintenance arrangements in place in any particular residential care premises are sufficient to comply with the provisions of the Order.