Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for extending eligibility for medical exemption certificates to patients with cystic fibrosis, given that many cystic fibrosis patients now live well into adulthood.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place, for which those with cystic fibrosis may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many children with special educational needs and disabilities do not receive an education, health and care plan within the legal time limit of 20 weeks from the initial request; and what potential measures for improvement they have identified.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department publishes information on education, health and care (EHC) plans annually at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans, which includes a section titled “Timeliness – EHC plans issued within 20 weeks”. Here and attached you can see information on how many EHC plans were issued within 20 weeks, both where this is the statutory time limit and where statutory exceptions to that time limit apply.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) introduced a strengthened area special education needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection framework in January 2023, which led to a greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people. It is the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the SEND system across all partners.

The department is working to monitor, support and challenge local authorities as needed, working closely with NHS England to tackle any weaknesses that sit with health partners. Where a council does not meet its duties, including the 20 week timeliness, the department will offer a range of universal, targeted and intensive support through managed programmes, such as the Sector Led Improvement Partners, which provides peer-to-peer tailored support. Councils identified as having issues with the 20 week timelines are subject to additional monitoring by the department. Where the department has concerns about their capacity to make the required improvements, it will secure specialist SEND advisor support to help identify barriers and improve the service.

The department does not hold data on how many children with SEND are currently not able to be placed in a suitable school.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many children with special educational needs and disabilities are currently not able to be placed in a suitable school.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department publishes information on education, health and care (EHC) plans annually at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans, which includes a section titled “Timeliness – EHC plans issued within 20 weeks”. Here and attached you can see information on how many EHC plans were issued within 20 weeks, both where this is the statutory time limit and where statutory exceptions to that time limit apply.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) introduced a strengthened area special education needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection framework in January 2023, which led to a greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people. It is the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the SEND system across all partners.

The department is working to monitor, support and challenge local authorities as needed, working closely with NHS England to tackle any weaknesses that sit with health partners. Where a council does not meet its duties, including the 20 week timeliness, the department will offer a range of universal, targeted and intensive support through managed programmes, such as the Sector Led Improvement Partners, which provides peer-to-peer tailored support. Councils identified as having issues with the 20 week timelines are subject to additional monitoring by the department. Where the department has concerns about their capacity to make the required improvements, it will secure specialist SEND advisor support to help identify barriers and improve the service.

The department does not hold data on how many children with SEND are currently not able to be placed in a suitable school.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of appeals on decisions relating to education, health and care plans result in the granting of a plan to the child.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

In the 2022-23 academic year (the latest period for which statistics are published), there were 986 disposals against the refusal to make an education, health, and care (EHC) plan. Of the 668 which went before the Tribunal to determine, 635 (64% of all disposals) resulted in an order for an EHC plan to be made.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to measure whether the requirement for public service broadcasters to produce programmes outside London and across the nations and regions of the United Kingdom has been met; and whether they expect public service broadcasters to work towards population-based production quotas for each nation and region.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The television sector forms a critical part of the fabric of the creative industries and UK society, which is why it is important that programmes are made across the country.

The public service remit for television requires that public service broadcasters (PSBs), taken together, make an appropriate range and amount of their programmes outside the M25. It is a matter for Ofcom, the independent media regulator, to consider whether the public service remit for television has been fulfilled.

To help ensure this, Ofcom has powers to include quotas in individual PSB licences, requiring them to make a minimum proportion of their programmes, and spend a minimum proportion of their commissioning budgets, outside London. Any changes to these quotas is similarly a matter for Ofcom.

The Secretary of State has made clear that she wants broadcasters to be more ambitious in commissioning programmes from every part of the UK. The Government has committed to working with the sector to ensure the right framework, conditions and support are in place for this to happen.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the Scottish Government, and with any other education providers in Scotland, regarding the impact on the state education sector of charging VAT on independent school fees from 1 January 2025.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has engaged extensively with all the devolved Governments, including the Scottish Government, on this issue.

Whilst developing these policies, the Government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. This consideration includes the impacts of these changes across all four nations of the UK.

Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in the normal way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to levy VAT on fees for (1) students training at the 20 Centres for Advanced Training supported by the Music and Dance Scheme, and (2) children attending independent schools that are members of the Choir School Association.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where parents or families are paying fees for their child to attend a private school, they will pay VAT on those fees following this change.

Whilst developing these policies, the government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of levying VAT on independent school fees on the schools listed in the Music and Dance Scheme in England and the schools supported by the Scottish Government's Aided Places Scheme.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where parents or families are paying fees for their child to attend a private school, they will pay VAT on those fees following this change.

Whilst developing these policies, the government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of levying VAT on independent school fees on children in receipt of a bursary from the Government’s Choir School Scholarship Scheme.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where parents or families are paying fees for their child to attend a private school, they will pay VAT on those fees following this change.

Whilst developing these policies, the government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

Found: Letter dated 18/09/2024 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Baroness Bull and Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie

The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will be launching an inquiry into the future of UK-US relations.