Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research published in the Lancet showing that the estimated health benefits of minimum unit pricing of alcohol would benefit those from the lowest socioeconomic group.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Public Health England (PHE) published an evidence review The Public Health Burden of Alcohol and the Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Alcohol Control Policies: An evidence review in December 2016. A copy of the evidence review is attached. The research Effects of minimum unit pricing for alcohol on different income and socioeconomic groups: a modelling study published in the Lancet in 2014 was considered as part of this review. The PHE review concluded that reducing the affordability of alcohol is the most effective way of reducing alcohol harm, including hospital admissions and deaths, and targeted pricing measures are particularly effective at reducing harm in those groups most at risk. The review also found that targeting price increases at the cheapest alcohol is very effective and cost-effective and is able to substantially reduce harm in heavy drinkers without affecting moderate drinkers or the price of alcohol sold in pubs and bars.
Minimum Unit Pricing and its effects will continue to remain under review pending the impact of its implementation in Scotland, which will give us the opportunity to see whether the beneficial impacts predicted by modelling are realised in practice.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what support is available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate who have reported sexual assault or sexual harassment.
Answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith
All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.
Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].
For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.
Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.
In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what protocols and procedures with respect to harassment and bullying are available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate, regardless of employment status or political party.
Answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith
All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.
Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].
For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.
Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.
In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether any independent service is available to those working on the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate who wish to report a sexual assault.
Answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith
All reports of sexual assault or sexual harassment should be dealt with appropriately and with the right support. The Leaders of the two Houses have set up a Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy to draw up and implement a new bicameral bullying and harassment procedure. Officials from the Lords Administration are working with their Commons counterparts to support that working group.
Currently, there are a number of support services available to those who work on the Lords part of the Parliamentary Estate and who wish to report, or have reported, a sexual assault or sexual harassment. Members, Members’ staff and staff of the House have access to the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service and the five Parliamentary Workplace Equality Networks. Members’ staff and House staff may also get independent support from Employee Assistance Programmes [Health Assured for Members’ staff and Workplace Options for House staff].
For employees of the Administration, the Staff Handbook sets out the procedures for reporting harassment or bullying of any type and the support available to them. For Members and Members’ staff, reports of bullying and harassment are currently dealt with through the relevant Whips Offices or through the Convenor’s office.
Members of the House of Lords are subject to a Code of Conduct which provides guidance on the standards of conduct expected of members in the discharge of their parliamentary duties and includes a requirement to act on their personal honour. An individual can make a complaint about the conduct of a Member to the independent Commissioner for Standards who would make a preliminary assessment of whether the allegation was linked to the discharge of parliamentary duties and, if so, whether it could constitute a breach of the Code. If the preliminary assessment concluded that these two tests had been met the Commissioner would investigate the allegation in accordance with the current procedures set out in the Code. The procedures and processes for investigating complaints made under the Code were not designed with complaints of this nature in mind and this is something the Commissioner would need to advise any potential complainant about, it is also something the Committee for Privileges and Conduct will need to consider. Anyone wishing to establish whether the particular behaviour of an individual member could amount to a breach of the Code should contact the Commissioner for further information.
In addition, anyone working on the Lords part of the Estate has independent access to ACAS services and can report a sexual assault or sexual harassment to the Police.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people with each of (1) anxiety and depressive disorders, (2) depressive disorder, (3) schizophrenia, (4) bipolar affective disorder, (5) personality disorder, (6) post traumatic stress disorder, or other psychotic disorders who currently receive the Personal Independence Payment and who at their original assessment (or following mandatory reconsideration or appeal) scored points by satisfying descriptors 1c, 1d and 1f of the mobility component.
Answered by Lord Henley
The table below provides an estimate of the number of people with the conditions requested currently receiving Personal Independence Payment who satisfied descriptors c, d or f of mobility activity 1 at the point of original decision by the Department. Information on the numbers following mandatory reconsideration or appeal is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
| Mobility Activity 1: descriptors c, d or f |
Anxiety / Depressive Disorders | 4,700 |
Bipolar Affective Disorder | 1,500 |
Depressive Disorder | 2,400 |
Personality Disorder | 1,000 |
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | 600 |
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective disorder | 5,200 |
Notes: Figures rounded to the nearest 100
Figures are at 31 January 2017
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the standard mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will not be entitled to receive any mobility rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of people currently receiving the enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment who will move to the standard rate following their next reassessment, following changes brought forward in the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that change on those individuals.
Answered by Lord Henley
No Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants will see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions as a result of the regulations being introduced, including the point at which their claim is next reviewed.
We are aware of a small number of cases, where people may have been awarded a higher level of PIP by a tribunal. This could occur if their case was heard at appeal and a tribunal made a higher award, applying the rulings of the Upper Tribunal. We will not be claiming back the money these individuals received during the period before the new regulations came into force and are considering whether to adjust their payments to bring them in line with the amended PIP regulations.
I will place a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment in the House Library.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are they taking to reduce loopholes in planning permission laws and to ensure compliance with the intention behind those laws; and how they are addressing information regarding such loopholes which can be found online.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Enforcement action is at the discretion of local planning authorities. The Government has given them a wide range of enforcement powers with strong penalties for non-compliance. National planning policy provides that authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control.
It is a fundamental part of the planning system that applicants have a right to challenge a planning decision. However, in recent years we have taken steps to help prevent abuse:
Through the Localism Act 2011, we limited the opportunities to obtain planning permission after the event – either through an enforcement appeal or a retrospective planning application – but not both. We also introduced planning enforcement orders which allow local authorities to take enforcement action after the time limit for enforcement action has expired where there has been deliberate concealment of the apparent breach.
In 2013, the time period for applying for judicial review of decisions under the Planning Acts was reduced from 3 months to 6 weeks.
In 2014, we established the Planning Court with judges who have specialist planning knowledge and target timescales for hearing cases.
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 further streamlined the judicial review process, by introducing a requirement that courts must refuse permission where a claim is highly likely to have made no substantial difference to the outcome.
In August 2015, we made intentional unauthorised development a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals.
‘Leapfrog appeals’ were introduced so that appeals can be made directly to the Supreme Court, bypassing the Court of Appeal.
The enforcement of planning control is a statutory function of local authorities for which they need to budget. However, there are certain circumstances in which local planning authorities can recover the costs of taking enforcement action. For example, where any steps required by an enforcement notice are not taken within the specified compliance period, local authorities may, under section 178 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, take those steps and recover any costs reasonably incurred in doing so from the landowner. Local authorities can also apply for confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to confiscate the proceeds of crime, including from planning offences.
Whilst the Government cannot prevent the spread of information on perceived planning loopholes online, local authorities can deter future breaches of planning control by making appropriate and effective use of the powers available to them.
Asked by: Baroness Hollins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce health inequalities amongst older people.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Public Health England’s (PHE) older people and dementia work programme uses a range of approaches to help reduce inequalities amongst older people. These include: influencing and commissioning research evidence, publishing resources and tools to support improved commissioning by local authorities and the National Health Service, pilot programmes, collaborating with a range of third sector organisations who are working in the field, and advising the Department.
The NHS Health Check programme aims to target the major causes of premature death, ill health and inequalities in England. Since April 2013, almost five million people aged 40-74 have benefitted from this service. Evidence suggests that the greatest uptake is seen in more deprived communities and older adults.
PHE works closely with local areas to tackle health inequalities. For example, PHE is supporting local authorities to respond to the needs of older drug and alcohol users, particularly an ageing group who are experiencing poor physical and mental health and are more susceptible to alcohol or drug related death.