Written Statements

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Post Office

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Gareth Thomas)]

The Horizon scandal represents one of the biggest miscarriages of justice of our time. The Government’s priority is to get redress to those affected as quickly as possible and are doing all they can to increase the pace of redress across all schemes. We continue to review each scheme to explore ways to speed up redress. To ensure postmasters are receiving redress as quickly as possible, we are making up-front fixed offers and providing interim and partial payments wherever possible. As of 31 October 2024, approximately £438 million has been paid to over 3,100 claimants across four schemes. The total amount of redress paid out has increased by over 85% since the end of June. There is still a lot more to do.

While we continue to address the past, now is also the time to consider the future of the Post Office. Exploring ways to strengthen the Post Office network is a manifesto commitment for the Government and a priority for the Department for Business and Trade. The UK-wide Post Office branch network is an essential part of the UK’s economic infrastructure, supporting high streets, businesses, and contributing directly to the Government’s mission to kick-start economic growth.

The company has undoubtedly had a challenging period and it is clear the Post Office is at a critical juncture. While Post Office continues its work to make the company more efficient, it is also important that Government have a clear vision for the future direction of the Post Office to make sure that this public asset delivers what is important to the British public. Given the complexity and scale of some of the challenges being faced by the Post Office, the Department has appointed external consultants to support this work.

The Government will be carefully considering what customers, communities and postmasters would like to see from a modern Post Office network. Given the Post Office is a public asset, it is essential the public have their say on the future direction. As such, the Government plan to publish a Green Paper to seek the public’s views on a range of different proposals in the first half of 2025.

[HCWS184]

Single Trade Window

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)]

The Government are considering their future plans for the border and how best to meet the needs of their users. In the context of financial challenges, the Government are pausing delivery of the UK single trade window in 2025-26.

As part of their efforts to support businesses trading across the UK border, the Government will consider the role of the single trade window and will provide an update as part of the next phase of the spending review, reporting in late spring 2025.

[HCWS188]

Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)]

The Government have today laid in draft the Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024. This statutory instrument will give Ofcom new powers to renew the licences for the local TV multiplex and the 34 local TV services until 2034. The current licences are due to expire in November 2025.

A previous version of this statutory instrument was laid in draft on 7 May 2024. However it was subsequently withdrawn as delays caused by the general election meant that it was no longer possible to take forward the renewal process provided for by the order. The updated draft includes additional powers for Ofcom to extend the licences for a period of 12 months, subject to the consent of the licence holder, before renewing them. This will ensure Ofcom has sufficient time to conduct the renewal process before the licences would otherwise expire.

This Government are committed to supporting a thriving local media, and in particular the role it plays in providing trusted and accurate news at a local level. However, we are aware of the challenges it faces in the context of a rapidly changing industry landscape. We want local media, including local TV, to survive and thrive long into the future. That is why we are taking steps to ensure the continuity of local TV services until at least 2034 so that audiences, and the sector more widely, can continue to benefit from the valuable local news and content that they provide.

[HCWS186]

RAAC in the NHS Estate

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)]

Today I wish to update the House on the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the NHS estate. RAAC is a type of concrete that is prone to collapse and needs replacing.

As the Chancellor announced on 30 October, over £1 billion will be invested to tackle dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and make inroads into the existing backlog of critical maintenance, repairs, and upgrades across the NHS estate. This Budget will begin delivering on our promise of change for the NHS. It will take time, but we are beginning to rebuild the health service to make it fit for the future.

We are committed to removing RAAC from the NHS estate as a priority. The NHS has been surveying hospital sites to identify the presence of RAAC since 2019. As of 3 October 2024, there are 47 hospital sites in England with confirmed RAAC, a reduction of seven since February of this year. To date, RAAC has been completely eradicated at 13 hospital sites and further sites will have eradicated RAAC this financial year. The published list of sites on gov.uk has been updated accordingly and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-information The full list of sites with RAAC as well as eradications can also be found in the table below.

Once the presence of RAAC is confirmed at a hospital site, the trust joins NHS England’s national RAAC programme. This programme has delivered mitigation, safety, and eradication works across all hospital sites with confirmed RAAC to keep facilities safe and open and is working to remove RAAC fully from the NHS estate.

The Chancellor reiterated in her autumn Budget statement that the seven identified hospitals in England constructed wholly or primarily from RAAC in the new hospital programme will proceed at pace, due to substantive safety risks associated with these. These schemes were out of scope of the recent NHP review and have continued to their existing delivery timeframes.

These seven hospitals continue to receive funding and support to ensure patient and staff safety from NHS England’s national RAAC programme ahead of the delivery of replacement hospitals. Keeping capacity open but being scrupulous about RAAC monitoring and mitigation until the RAAC can be removed is fully in line with the current evidence and recommendations of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Police Remuneration

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)]

I would like to provide clarification on the written statement I made on 29 July 2024 (HCWS36).

I stated that London allowance for officers appointed on or after 1 September 1994 will be increased by £1,250. I would like to clarify that this should have stated that the maximum rate of London allowance for officers appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and not receiving a replacement allowance will be increased by £1,250.

[HCWS187]

Supported Housing Consultation

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rushanara Ali)]

Supported housing provides a home to over half a million people who rely on support to live as independently as possible or recover from a period of crisis. When it is provided responsibly, it results in improved wellbeing, health, and employment prospects for residents, and can relieve pressure on services like the NHS and social care.

There are many excellent supported housing providers in England providing high-quality support and accommodation to their residents, but, sadly, there continue to be cases of residents finding that they have exploitative landlords. A minority of rogue landlords are failing to give residents the support they need, which is resulting in poor outcomes for residents and poor value for money for the taxpayer. It is vital that the quality of supported housing improves and delivers a better experience for residents.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 includes measures to drive out rogue providers and drive up standards for vulnerable people living in supported housing. It contains powers for the Government to set new national supported housing standards for the support provided to residents, enforced through a licensing regime. It also allows for a link between licensing, the standards and housing benefit, delivering better value for money for the taxpayer. We are committed to delivering the measures in the Act, and to improving the quality of supported housing in England to ensure that residents get the support that they deserve.

I am making this statement today to fulfil my duty under the Act to update Parliament on the progress made towards making licensing regulations. My officials have been working with stakeholders to develop the proposals in the forthcoming consultation on licensing, which we will publish in the new year. We also remain committed to establishing a supported housing advisory panel.

We strongly encourage supported housing providers, local authorities, regulators, provider organisations and, crucially, residents to respond to the consultation, as it is vital that we get these reforms right. I look forward to working with the sector and residents on this important issue.

[HCWS185]

NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)]

The following will represent the United Kingdom at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly:

Derek Twigg MP (Leader)

Stuart Anderson MP

The right hon. the Lord Beamish

Kevin Bonavia MP

Nesil Caliskan MP

Juliet Campbell MP

The right hon. the Lord Dodds of Duncairn

Richard Foord MP

Lord Fox

The right hon. the Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

Baroness Kingsmill

Emma Lewell-Buck MP

Gordon McKee MP

Yasmin Qureshi MP

Lucy Rigby MP

Tim Roca MP

The right hon. Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP

The right hon. the Lord Spellar

[HCWS189]