Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a National Clinical Director for Neurology.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Whilst there is currently no specific National Clinical Director or Specialty Adviser for neurology services, NHS England and NHS Improvement keep this under review and new National Clinical Directors or Specialty Advisers are appointed as necessary. The recent review of the clinical advisory infrastructure is concluding and the outcome will be announced in due course. The proposed changes will enable clinical leaders to continue to play an important role alongside NHS England delivering shared goals for service transformation and clinical improvement
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current (1) waiting times for treatment, and (2) staffing shortages, for neurological patients.
Answered by Lord Kamall
While no formal assessment has yet been made waiting times and staffing levels for neurological patients are kept under review.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to enact section 106 of the Equality Act 2010.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Government keeps section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 under review but remains of the view that political parties should lead the way in increasing diverse electoral representation through their own approaches to the selection of candidates.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
The UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2012, signalling our strong commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. This Government remains committed to ratifying the Convention as soon as possible and this commitment was reiterated in the new Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published in July.
The Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Act 2017 requires Ministers to publish annual reports on their progress towards being able to ratify the Convention. The fifth such report was published on 1 November and can be found on gov.uk. Once the Government is satisfied that the UK is compliant with the Convention then Ministers will, in line with section 1(3) of the 2017 Act, make a statement to Parliament confirming this and setting out the timetable for ratification.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the capital thresholds for social care.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The reform of social care and its funding arrangements are complex areas and a range of options for how to deliver on this commitment are being considered. We will bring forward proposals in 2021.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the rationale for the rule that normally only third parties can pay top-up fees for care and not the individuals using the care homes themselves where they are financially able.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Anyone who has assets above the upper capital limit of £23,250 is a self-funder and is expected to meet the full cost of their care. Top-up fees are generally used when someone has assets below £23,250 and falls within the means test.
Payment of top-up fees must be sustainable. Limiting the circumstances in which a first party top-up is allowed ensures those with lower wealth are protected from the negative consequences of no longer being able to afford the top-up, such as having to move to an alternative care home.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of shortages of tubular steel, what arrangements they plan to put in place to ensure that the NHS has enough supplies of rehabilitation equipment including (1) walking frames, (2) four-wheeled walkers, and (3) rollators.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Walking frames, four-wheeled walkers and rollators are largely made of tubular aluminium for lightweight purposes and therefore no impact of the reported steel shortages is expected.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of the NHS neurological workforce to meet the care needs of those living with neurological conditions.
Answered by Lord Bethell
No assessment has been made. It is the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts to have staffing arrangements in place that deliver safe and effective care.
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2012, signalling its strong commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), and this Government remains committed to ratifying it.
The Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Act 2017 requires Ministers to publish annual reports on their progress towards being able to ratify the Convention. The most recent report was published on 22 October 2020 and can be found here: Ratification of the Council of Europe convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence - progress report 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Baroness Gale (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the next stage of the NHS People Plan will be published.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In 2021-22 our focus is on supporting the immediate recovery of National Health Service staff and services. We are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England and systems and employers to determine our future workforce and people priorities. This will feed into the development of a longer term strategy, overseen by the National People Board.