Written Statements

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

Monday 15 April 2024

AUKUS

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Grant Shapps)]

Two and a half years ago, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia launched the groundbreaking new strategic defence and security partnership, AUKUS.

As we have seen through recent events, the world has become more dangerous. Against an increasingly contested and volatile landscape, defence partnerships like AUKUS have become critically important in ensuring the UK and our allies maintain a strategic advantage.

For over a century, AUKUS nations have stood shoulder to shoulder, along with other allies and partners, to help sustain peace, stability, and prosperity around the world.

On 8 April, along with my Australian and United States counterparts, I announced that AUKUS nations, having made sufficient progress trilaterally, are now ready to begin consultations with additional countries regarding areas where they can contribute to, and benefit from, this historic work under pillar 2: advanced capabilities. Our work on conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines under pillar 1 will remain trilateral.

Partners have always been clear on the intent to engage additional nations in pillar 2 projects as the work progresses. In identifying collaboration opportunities, we will consider factors such as technological innovation, financing, industrial strengths, ability to adequately protect sensitive data and information, and impact on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the potential collaborations will complement and build on the close bilateral relationships that all three AUKUS nations have with other countries.

Therefore, Australia, the UK and US are considering the potential for involving Japan in some elements of the pillar 2 programme. Pillar 2 includes quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, artificial intelligence—AI—and autonomy, cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare capabilities, supported by innovation and information sharing.

The UK, Australia, and the United States are committed to continued openness and transparency on AUKUS. This is another significant leap for the partnership, and I look forward to keeping the House updated on progress.

A copy of the full Defence Ministers’ statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

Attachment

The attached AUKUS Policy Paper can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2024-04-15/HCWS404/

[HCWS404]

Sunnica Energy Farm Development Consent Application

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Claire Coutinho)]

This statement concerns an application for development consent made under the Planning Act 2008 by Sunnica Energy Farm for the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic electricity generating station, situated across west Suffolk and east Cambridgeshire.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a statement to Parliament to announce it.

The current statutory deadline for the decision on the Sunnica Energy Farm application is 11 April 2024.

I have decided to set a new deadline of no later than 20 June 2024 for deciding this application.

The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.

[HCWS398]

Hong Kong Six-monthly Report

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Anne-Marie Trevelyan)]

My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, has today made the following statement:

The latest six-monthly report on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong was published today. It covers the period from 1 July-31 December 2023. The report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A copy is also available on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/six-monthly-reports-on-hong-kong.

I commend the report to the House.

Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2024-04-15/HCWS400/

[HCWS400]

Sudan Conflict Sanctions

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

On 15 April 2024, in response to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the UK announced a package of three sanctions designations under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. We are freezing the assets of three commercial entities linked to the parties responsible for the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). On 15 April 2023, the SAF and RSF dragged Sudan into a brutal and unnecessary conflict. One year on, the human cost has been terrible. We continue to see appalling atrocities against civilians, a serious lack of humanitarian access and an utter disregard for civilian life. Those responsible for human rights abuses and violations must be held to account.

UK sanctions on entities used by the SAF and RSF to finance their war effort are designed with a specific purpose—to press the parties to engage in sustained and meaningful efforts to achieve peace, to allow humanitarian access and assistance, and to end atrocities. It is crucial that the international community works to isolate SAF and RSF sources of funding.

Both the SAF and the RSF own and control vast commercial empires which provide them with economic resources and weapons that enable them to keep fighting. On 12 July 2023, we imposed asset freezes on six commercial entities. This comprised three commercial entitles operating under the authority of the SAF and three operating under the authority of the RSF.

Working with partners including the US, who designated two of the same entities on 31 January, these new UK sanctions will amplify the strong message of international condemnation sent to both parties to the conflict. The UK will continue to examine other levers to disrupt and constrain the sources of funding that SAF and RSF are using to fuel and sustain the war.

We are committed to ensuring that our sanctions do not have unintended consequences. The Sudan regulations include a humanitarian exception that exempts from asset freeze prohibitions all activities necessary for the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs, when these activities are carried out by certain eligible organisations as laid out in UK legislation^[1].

On 28 March, the UK announced a near doubling of aid to Sudan to address the deepening humanitarian crisis. This vital support will provide emergency and life-saving food assistance to support people particularly in hard-to reach areas in Sudan, including nutrition, water and hygiene services for 500,000 children under five.

The full list of designations is as follows:

Alkhaleej Bank, a central financial institution which has been central to the RSF financing its operations and to control key elements of the Sudanese economy.

Al-Fakher Advanced Works, a holding company used by the RSF to export gold. The proceeds of these sales are used to purchase weapons to allow the RSF to continue fighting.

Red Rock Mining, a mining and exploration company which is a subsidiary of Sudan Master Technology, who the UK has already designated and provides funds to the SAF. It is also closely linked to Defence Industries System, the economic and manufacturing arm of the SAF, which we designated last July.

Those companies designated on 12 July 2023 comprised three SAF-linked companies and three RSF: Defence Industries Systems, Sudan Master Technology, Zadna International Company for Investment Limited, Al-Junaid, GSK Advance Company, and Tradive General Trading.

^[1] The Sanctions (Humanitarian Exception) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

[HCWS399]

Cass Review

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins)]

Please refer to the oral statement I have made today on this subject.

[HCWS406]

NHS Prescriptions, Wigs and Fabric Supports: Charges Uplift

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Dame Andrea Leadsom)]

The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (the Amendment Regulations) have been laid before Parliament to increase certain National Health Service charges in England from 1 May 2024.

We have applied an increase of 2.59%, rounded to the nearest 5p, across the single prescription charge, three-month and 12-month prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) and the HRT PPC. This year we have increased the prescription charge by 25p from £9.65 to £9.90 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. The HRT PPC will cost £19.80, an increase of 50p due to its rate being set at twice the single prescription charge; and the three- month PPC and 12-month PPC will cost £32.05 and £114.50 respectively.

Charges for wigs and fabric supports will also be increased by the same rate. Details of the revised charges from 1 May 2024 can be found in the table below:

Death Certification Reform: Introduction of Medical Examiners

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maria Caulfield)]

I wish to inform the House that the Government will today lay before Parliament regulations which will reform death certification in England and Wales. Under these reforms all deaths will legally become subject to either a medical examiner’s scrutiny or a coroner’s investigation. The changes coming into force on 9 September 2024 will put all the medical examiner system’s obligations, duties and responsibilities on a statutory footing, and ensure they are recognised by law.

The changes will provide greater transparency on the circumstances surrounding a death. Medical examiners will always offer a conversation to the bereaved, providing an opportunity for them to raise questions or concerns with a senior doctor not involved in the care of the deceased. This will help deter criminal activity, improve practice and ensure the right deaths are referred to coroners for further investigation.

The introduction of medical examiners is part of a broader set of reforms to death certification, coronial and registration processes which will allow for the efficient flow of information between medical practitioners, medical examiners, coroners and registrars in the new system.

This is the most significant set of reforms to death certification in 70 years and we have allowed additional time to prepare for implementation. We are working closely with our partners in government, local registration services, coronial services and the health service to ensure that the appropriate operational processes are in place to deliver these changes in September 2024. There will be further communication regarding legislative changes and operational guidance between now and September 2024.

[HCWS395]

Lampard Inquiry

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins)]

I am today updating Parliament that the terms of reference for the Lampard inquiry have been finalised and were published on 10 April on gov.uk under the heading “Lampard Inquiry: terms of reference”. A copy of a letter to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee and the terms of reference were also deposited in the Library of both Houses. Due to parliamentary recess, this statement is being made in Parliament today.

My deepest sympathies continue to go to all the families who have been affected by the tragic deaths of mental health patients across NHS trusts in Essex. Patients should feel confident, safe, and supported—especially when receiving help for their mental health, which can be a time of great vulnerability. This was not the case for many mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023, where many patients ended up tragically and needlessly dying—leaving their bereaved families with questions that need answering. I wish to thank those families who met me while I considered the terms of reference.

The former non-statutory Essex mental health independent inquiry was converted to a statutory inquiry on 27 October 2023 and Baroness Kate Lampard was appointed as the chair of the inquiry.

The inquiry will examine:

Deaths of mental health inpatients within healthcare settings in Essex between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023;

Those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care within the independent sector, as well as those in NHS units; and

Inpatient deaths, including those who died within three months of discharge from a mental health inpatient unit.

The inquiry will look at the delivery of treatment and care, the culture and governance of NHS providers, and their interaction with other public bodies, including commissioners, coroners, professional regulators and the Care Quality Commission. Other areas which will also be considered in relation to mental health inpatient deaths include the independent sector; serious harm short of death events; and neurodiversity and learning disabilities.

The inquiry’s work will now be a matter for the chair, Baroness Lampard. The Department will continue to support the inquiry with the resources it needs to undertake its investigations.

Baroness Lampard has indicated that she does not currently intend to appoint a panel to support her in this work and I concur with this view. If necessary, the chair may appoint any assessor(s) to assist her if she considers that person has relevant expertise that would assist the inquiry.

The terms of reference will enable the inquiry to start its work in earnest and provide the answers that affected families have been seeking for so long. I am pleased that the inquiry now has a firm basis on which to proceed, and we will ensure lessons are learned and patient safety is improved. Baroness Lampard and her team will undertake the inquiry thoroughly and as swiftly as possible.

[HCWS403]

NHS Consultant Workforce

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins)]

I am pleased to confirm to the House that the Government will move to implement the offer made on 5 March to the NHS consultant workforce in England.

Following negotiations with the British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) committees in February, their members have now voted overwhelmingly in favour to accept the revised offer made to them by around 83%.

This result demonstrates that the Government have listened carefully to the concerns of consultants in England, particularly around retention, motivation and morale, and worked closely with the unions to achieve a good outcome for patients, consultants and the taxpayer.

The core contract for consultants has not been updated for 20 years and this deal reforms and modernises the consultants’ pay structure, and will help mitigate the gender pay gap in medicine and improve equalities. The deal builds on the headline pay uplift for 2023-24. Changes to the operation of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) will also be made to address matters raised by the BMA and HCSA.

This deal now ends damaging strike action by consultants that has had a detrimental impact on patients and the NHS and will allow consultants to focus their efforts on cutting waiting times for patients. The overall waiting list has dropped by almost 200,000 in the last five months.

I am also committed to finding a reasonable solution with SAS and junior doctors that ends industrial action. The consultants’ deal is testament to what we can achieve when both parties approach negotiations in good faith and with reasonable expectations.

[HCWS401]

Fourth Update on New Decade, New Approach

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chris Heaton-Harris)]

During the passage of the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act in the House of Lords, the Government committed to updating the House on progress made on the commitments in New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) we have delivered on to date. The first of these statements was published on 23 March 2022 and this is the fourth statement.

In December 2023, the Government held intensive discussions with the political parties in an attempt to reach agreement on how the Executive can return on a stable financial footing. A comprehensive financial package worth a significant £3.3 billion was agreed. This funding sets Northern Ireland on a sustainable footing with a bright future ahead. Over £700 million of reprioritised and new UK funding streams were made available to the restored Executive for public services transformation which includes NDNA Transformation funding and uncommitted Unique Circumstances funding. This funding is available to the Executive to help transform public services to meet the needs of people across Northern Ireland.

On 31 January, the UK Government published a Command Paper (CP1021) setting out measures to strengthen the UK internal market and Northern Ireland’s place in the Union. Following this, the Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled on 3 February, leading to restoration of fully functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year absence.

The UK Government are pleased that devolution has been restored in Northern Ireland and strengthened by a deal that will:

Further protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK;

Promote and strengthen the UK internal market;

Recognise the importance of the connections across the United Kingdom now and in the future; and

Help put public services on a sustainable footing.

In parallel, we have continued to implement the commitments we signed up to in NDNA. Since January 2020, the UK Government have:

Published four reports on the use of the Petition of Concern mechanism;

Passed the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act to implement the institutional reforms agreed in NDNA;

Passed the Internal Market Act 2020;

Held a meeting of the Board of Trade in Northern Ireland;

Held the Northern Ireland Investment Summit which was led by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Invest Northern Ireland in September 2023;

Announced an £18.9 million investment in NI’s cyber security industry, supporting NI’s development as a global cyber security hub and the target of achieving 5,000 cyber security professionals working in Northern Ireland by 2030;

Renegotiated the Protocol and restored the free-flow of trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through a new UK internal market system, ensuring that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK internal market;

Ensured that Northern Ireland can access the trade deals the UK is striking across the world;

Invited representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive to all meetings of the UK-EU Joint and Specialised Committees;

Changed the rules governing how the people of Northern Ireland bring their family members to the UK, enabling them to apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family members of Irish citizens;

Appointed Danny Kinahan as the first Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in September 2020;

Passed the Armed Forces Act which further enshrines the Armed Forces Covenant in law;

Conducted a thorough review of the Aftercare Service, the purpose of which was to consider whether the remit of the service should be widened to cover all HM Forces veterans living in Northern Ireland with service-related injuries and conditions;

Marked Northern Ireland’s Centenary in 2021 with a £3 million programme of cultural and historical events, including the delivery of the Shared History Fund and schools planting project;

Passed the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act to provide greater information, accountability, and acknowledgment to victims, survivors, and families, through a framework which will deliver effective legacy mechanisms while complying with our international obligations;

Appointed the right hon. Sir Declan Morgan KC as Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery following recommendations from the three Chief Justices across the UK;

Accepted the recommendation for Peter Sheridan to be appointed as Commissioner for Investigations of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery;

Brought forward regulations to ensure designated Union Flag flying days remain in line with those observed in the rest of the UK;

Recognised Ulster Scots as a National Minority under the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities;

Provided £2 million in funding for NI Screen’s Irish Language and Ulster Scots Broadcast funds, which support a range of film, television and radio programming;

Passed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act which will encourage and promote respect and tolerance for all of Northern Ireland’s diverse identities, cultures, and traditions;

Established a new hub—Erskine House—in the heart of Belfast, increasing the visibility and accessibility of UK Government Departments in Northern Ireland;

Reviewed the findings of the Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry Report to consider its implications for the use of public money in Northern Ireland; and

Continued to foster closer ties and better collaborative working across sectors such as tourism, sport and culture, including through the successful joint UK and Ireland bid to host the 2028 European Championships.

To date, the Government have spent approximately over £800 million towards such outcomes as:

Bringing an end to the nurses’ pay dispute in January 2020;

Securing additional funding for the Executive in the 2020-2021 financial year;

The creation of a new Northern Ireland Graduate School of Medicine in Londonderry; supporting the transformation of public services;

Supporting low-carbon transport in Northern Ireland, enabling the Department for Infrastructure to order 100 low-carbon buses which have been deployed in Belfast and Londonderry; and

Addressing Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances through projects and programmes that tackle paramilitarism, promote greater integration in education, support economic prosperity, and support linguistic diversity.

The Government are now working to deliver the financial package agreed with the parties entitled to form an Executive in December 2023, and the suite of commitments as set out in the “Safeguarding the Union” Command Paper published in January 2024. To this end, the Government look forward to working together with the newly restored Executive to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

[HCWS394]

Fishers' Medicals

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Mark Harper)]

My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Davies of Gower, made the following ministerial statement on 27 March 2024.

The Secretary of State for Transport is today announcing an exemption for fishers from the requirement to hold medical certification for those individuals who currently work on fishing vessels of 10 metres and under in length. This new measure is a sensible and proportionate step that balances our obligation to protect the health of fishers with ensuring they can continue to earn a living in the industry in which some have worked for their entire adult lives. We are pleased to have worked with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this as a further signal of our united commitment to support the UK’s vital fishing industry.

It is right to seek to ease the regulatory burden on fishers already working on smaller vessels given that they are the most likely to be self-employed or small businesses. An existing fisher is someone who was working on a UK-registered fishing vessel of 10 metres and under for four weeks or more during the period 30 November 2021 to 29 November 2023. The exemption will apply to fishing vessels registered in any part of the United Kingdom and will take immediate effect. The requirement for medical certification for fishers joining the industry in the future and for fishers on boats over 10 metres in length will continue to apply.

I will place copies of the Government’s response to the recent public consultation on this matter and the relevant Merchant Shipping Notice in the Library of the House. These are also available on www.gov.uk.

[HCWS396]

Universal Credit Administrative Earnings Threshold Level

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister for Employment (Jo Churchill)]

Since September 2022, the Government have increased the administrative earnings threshold on 26 September 2022 and 30 January 2023.

As a result, individuals with low incomes impacted by the changes have received direct one-to-one support from Department of Work and Pensions work coaches to access opportunities and agree steps to increase their earnings such as developing their skills, progressing in their current role or sector, or by changing their job.

These changes have helped achieve a better balance of the responsibilities asked of individuals in return for their benefits. They have ensured that there is a clear expectation that individuals receiving universal credit alongside their income should be taking every appropriate step to increase their earnings, subject to full conditionality and with the support of their local Jobcentre Plus.

Moving into better work boosts both the economy and the individual, improving life prospects and mental and physical health, and providing the opportunity to develop new skills. This is why the Government intend to lay regulations to amend Regulation 99(6) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 in the coming weeks to raise the administrative earnings threshold level further, delivering on a commitment made in last year’s Spring Budget.

Individuals impacted by the upcoming rise in the administrative earnings threshold level will be contacted by the DWP through their universal credit journal. Our work coaches will review and agree new claimant commitments with each individual, providing support and setting appropriate requirements to help them access opportunities to increase their earnings. They will help identify barriers such as childcare, transport and skills and will support the customer with solutions.

This is part of our next generation of welfare reforms and mission to ensure work always pays and is backed up by our Back to Work plan which will help over a million people find, stay and succeed in employment.

The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland is aware of the upcoming administrative earnings threshold increase in Great Britian. While social security policy is a transferred matter and policy decisions rest with the devolved Northern Ireland legislature, Northern Ireland generally maintains parity with DWP on social security matters.

We will confirm further details on the threshold increase in due course.

[HCWS405]

Fit Note Reform: Call for Evidence

Monday 15th April 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride)]

Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins), we wish to inform the House of our intention to publish a Command Paper launching “Fit Note Reform: Call for Evidence”.

At autumn statement 2023, the Chancellor announced plans to begin to test how we can give people receiving a fit note for a prolonged period of time the support they need to stay in or get back to work.

As part of these plans, we intend to publish a call for evidence in the coming weeks which will seek views and ideas from healthcare professionals, employers, individuals, and other stakeholders on how they would like to see the fit note process change to better support people to start, stay and succeed in work.

This is an important part of Government’s ambition to tackle economic inactivity due to long term sickness, improve health outcomes, and help people get access to the support they need to return to, remain and thrive in work.

[HCWS402]