Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the number of skilled mechanics.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Government are in regular contact with the automotive sector to understand their requirements and we continue to support the automotive sector, including through the Automotive Council Skills Working Group which covers skills issues across manufacturing, aftermarket (repair and servicing) and sales.
The Government recognises that skills are critical to the current and future needs of the economy and that is why we are committed to delivering a world-leading skills system that is employer-focused, high-quality, and fit for the future. This is through high quality further and higher education, apprenticeships, and adult training. This is driving productivity and growth by growing talent across the country, addressing skills shortages and responding to evolving skills needs in key growth sectors.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will update the Decent Homes Standard to mandate social rented properties to provide floor coverings for all habitable rooms.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 26801 on 22 May 2024.
There is currently no legislation for social housing landlords to provide floor coverings, nor is there any legislation for social housing landlords to strip floor coverings out between lets. We are looking at this as part of our ongoing review into the Decent Homes Standard (DHS).
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of purchasing floor coverings for all habitable rooms for a new social rented home tenant.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 26801 on 22 May 2024.
There is currently no legislation for social housing landlords to provide floor coverings, nor is there any legislation for social housing landlords to strip floor coverings out between lets. We are looking at this as part of our ongoing review into the Decent Homes Standard (DHS).
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of social housing tenants who live without full floor covering in their property.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 26801 on 22 May 2024.
There is currently no legislation for social housing landlords to provide floor coverings, nor is there any legislation for social housing landlords to strip floor coverings out between lets. We are looking at this as part of our ongoing review into the Decent Homes Standard (DHS).
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to labelling requirements from 1 October 2024 on the financial viability of dairy businesses.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A public consultation on not for EU labelling requirements was held earlier this year and closed on 15 March. The evidence is now being analysed, including feedback on potential costs, and we expect to publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an impact assessment of changes to labelling costs for dairy businesses after 1 October 2024.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A public consultation on not for EU labelling requirements was held earlier this year and closed on 15 March. The evidence is now being analysed, including feedback on potential costs, and we expect to publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he made of the adequacy of the standard of service accommodation before setting the Defence Infrastructure Organisation budget for 2024-25.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Budgets for defence organisations, including DIO, are being determined as part of the Annual Budget Cycle process.
Currently, 96% of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) meets or exceeds the Government's Decent Homes Standard.
This Government continues to invest significant sums to improve the quality of UK SFA. The Defence Command Paper Refresh committed an additional £400 million over two years. In 2023-24, Defence allocated and spent £220 million to implement damp and mould remediation in approximately 4,000 homes, refurbished c1,000 long term empty homes, provided 3,000 homes with replacement windows and doors, 1,000 homes with replacement kitchens and bathrooms, and upgraded heaters and boilers in 1,500 homes.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Not for EU labelling requirements in the dairy sector on levels of (a) food and (b) packaging waste.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A public consultation on not for EU labelling requirements was held earlier this year. The evidence is now being analysed and we expect to publish a response in due course. Excessive wastage of food or packaging were not raised as a significant concern in these responses or in any wider industry forums.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure there are effective pathways for early detection of liver disease in Shropshire.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Early detection of liver disease is vital to enable interventions, and encourage behavioural changes that can potentially lead to recovery. Liver disease is one of the primary risk factors for liver cancer. Across the Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) area, the early detection of liver disease is led by primary care partners, and the ICB encourages general practitioners to follow best practice in the delivery of patient care pathways, to ensure the early detection of liver disease in patients. The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is working with primary care partners to increase awareness and provide tools to support this work. The hospital also carries out active outreach into the community for drug and alcohol patients.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in its assessment of mortgage mis-selling complaints.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme may be able to pay compensation to customers who have lost money as a result of bad mortgage advice or been mis-sold mortgage endowments. The FSCS can only pay compensation if the firm, broker, or advisor that the customer dealt with was regulated and has failed. Any complaints about live regulated firms should be addressed to the Financial Ombudsman Service. For mortgage claims, the FSCS carries out its compensation function within rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), but is operationally independent of them. The FSCS publishes an annual report and levy class statements, including for the home finance intermediation levy class. The FSCS’s certified accounts and audit report are provided to HM Treasury each year, and copies are laid before Parliament.