Baroness Jolly

It is the Government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office.

The Government has been clear that the responsibility for supporting disabled candidates sits with political parties and that the EnAble Fund was an interim measure to give parties time to put their own support in place.

Ministers wrote to the main Parties twice in 2019 to ask them how they intend to support their candidates on a long-term basis.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Dear Baroness Jolly,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were diagnosed with cancer in the last year available, broken down by cancer type and cancer alliance area (HL13595).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in collaboration with Public Health England publishes the number of cancer diagnoses registered in England in each calendar year, as part of its Cancer Statistics Registrations, England release. The latest available cancer incidence data is available for 2016 and was published by ONS in June 2018[1].

Table 1 attached provides the number of cancer registrations in 2016 for each cancer type that we normally publish, for each of the nineteen cancer alliance areas in England. These figures are for all ages and both sexes combined. A copy has been placed in the House of Lords Library.

While ONS does not hold cancer registrations data for Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, similar figures are published by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry[2], the Scottish Cancer Registry[3] and the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit[4], respectively.

Yours sincerely

John Pullinger

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/final2016

[2]http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/

[3]http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/

[4]http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk/home

Discussions were offered to all London-based foreign diplomatic missions.

The Government is clear about the benefits of flexible working for employers and their employees. All employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer have the right to request Flexible Working.

In our manifesto we said that, subject to consultation, we would introduce measures to make flexible working the default.

From 1 August, we are giving employers more discretion to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.

This could mean continuing to work from home or it could mean working in a covid-secure workplace. We encourage employers to discuss this with their employees.

The Government has clearly set out how to make workplaces covid-secure in its Safer Workplaces guidance. As we reopen our economy, it’s right that we give employers more discretion while continuing to ensure employees are kept safe.

The Government’s guidance on work and financial support in relation to coronavirus includes information about employment rights as well as other key issues such as how to access financial support, safe working and childcare. This can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Acas also offers guidance and advice for employers and employees. This can be accessed through the Acas website or by calling the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100.

The Government has also provided clear and comprehensive safer workplaces guidance for employers and employees. This guidance has and will integrate, where appropriate, the Department for Health and Social Care’s guidance on protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19. The safer workplaces guidance is non-statutory but does not change existing obligations relating to health and safety, employment, or equalities. Employers have a duty under UK law to protect the health and safety of their workers and other people who might be affected by their business. This includes considering the risks that COVID-19 represents.

The Health and Safety Executive website also has specific guidance on the risk assessment process and the steps businesses should take.

The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate currently employs thirteen members of staff and has a budget of £750,000 for the financial year 2017/18.

The table below details the number of staff employed by EAS in the last five years:

The Department for Education has made study of a modern foreign or ancient language compulsory for pupils at KS2 (ages 7-11) in maintained schools in England. By introducing the English Baccalaureate, we have stopped the decline in modern foreign languages seen in the last decade. The proportion of the cohort in state funded schools entered for a modern foreign language GCSE has risen from 40 per cent in 2010 to 49 per cent in 2015.

The Government’s ambition is that 90 per cent of pupils in mainstream secondary schools will enter GCSEs in the EBacc subjects, including a language. The government’s response to the consultation on implementing the English Baccalaureate will be published in due course, and will set out how this ambition will be achieved.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has also invested £10million over 10 years, in to the Routes into Languages programme that aims to boost recruitment to language degrees in higher education. It is working with the University Council for Modern Languages (UCML) and the Routes into Language Steering Group to support a sustainable programme for the encouragement of language study at university.

Additionally, under Erasmus+ and its predecessor EU education programmes, over 200,000 British students have been able to study abroad, improving their skills and employability.

The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is a matter for the BBC. Parliament transferred responsibility in passing the Digital Economy Act in 2017. On loneliness, the Government is taking steps to address the effects of isolation and loneliness on the elderly. These include appointing a minister to lead work on tackling loneliness; publishing the world’s first government strategy on loneliness; and securing £20 million of new grant-funding for projects run by charities and community groups to bring people together.

The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.

The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will be publicising the link between the concession and pension credit. It also says it will be introducing an easy payment system to help those affected spread the cost of the licence fee.

The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment with the BBC decision to restrict the concession to the most narrowly defined review option. He has asked the BBC to do more for the most vulnerable pensioners, including considering measures around the margins of eligibility and those which further promote the take up of Pension Credit.

The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.

The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will write to all those all those affected, and will use suitable measures such as face to face visits and phone calls to make it as easy as possible for those transitioning to apply for and pay the licence fee.

The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is the responsibility of the BBC. In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government and the BBC agreed that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020.

However, the Government has expressed its disappointment with the BBC’s decision for taking the most narrowly focused review option. The Secretary of State has met with the Chairman of the BBC Board and the Director-General of the BBC and asked them to do more to help the most vulnerable groups affected by the decision.

The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is the responsibility of the BBC. However, the Government has no intention to change the blind (severely sight impaired) licence fee concession, regardless of the age of the recipient.

Guidance on the blind (severely sight impaired) licence fee concession can be found on the TV Licensing website: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/blindseverely-sight-impaired-aud5

Information on the number of entries in modern foreign language GCSEs and A Levels in England and the number for which a pass grade was achieved for 2006/07 to 2014/15 inclusive is provided in the tables below.

Source: Key stage 4 attainment data

Source: 16-18 attainment data

[1] Prior to 2010/11, no discounting was applied and all entries and achievements were included. From 2010/11, discounting has been applied where pupils have taken the same subject more than once and only one entry is counted in these circumstances. Only the first entry is counted, in all subjects, in line with the early entry guidance.

[2] In 2013/14, two major reforms were implemented which affect the calculation of key stage 4 performance measures data: 1) Professor Alison Wolf’s Review of Vocational Education recommendations which: restrict the qualifications counted; prevent any qualification from counting as larger than one GCSE; and cap the number of non-GCSEs included in performance measures at two per pupil, and 2) an early entry policy to only count a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification, in subjects counted in the English Baccalaureate. Consequently, the numbers supplied prior to 2013/14 are not comparable with those from 2013/14 onwards.

[3] In 2014/15, early entry policy, under which only a pupil’s first attempt at a qualification is counted in performance measures, was extended to all subjects.

[4] The A* grade was introduced in 2009/10, prior to that only grades A to E existed as pass grades.

[5] 2015 figures are based on revised data. Figures for all other years are final.

[6] The A* grade was introduced in 2009/10, prior to that only grades A to E existed as pass grades.

Full historical data about all qualifications (including GCSEs and A levels in modern foreign languages) and the respective dates when they were available to pupils across England are attached and available at ‘Section 96 – Qualifications’ on the Department’s website.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) maintains a register of current, withdrawn and expired regulated qualifications and their operational start and end dates. The register includes qualifications available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is available at Ofqual’s ‘Register of Regulated Qualifications’ on their website.

It is the responsibility of the exporting country to ensure they create and sign off Export Health Certificates that confirm the consignment meets our high animal and public health requirements. GB health certificates required for imports from the EU and the rest of the world have all been made available online, simplifying the EU approach to embedding them in legislation.

Defra has provided £14 million in funding to Port Health Authorities to support the recruitment of staff, including Official Veterinarians, that are needed to carry out SPS checks when these goods arrive. This will include checks to ensure the goods have been certified appropriately.

EU treaty provisions state that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.

However, we know that in the future, many UK nationals will wish to continue to travel, live and work within the European Union, just as EU citizens will still wish to do so in the UK. We look forward to discussing our future relationship with the European Union, one which will work in the interest of both the UK and the EU.

A successful Sixth Replenishment of the Global Fund will be vital in addressing the spread of antimicrobial resistance, a growing health threat. The Global Fund works to roll out new antimicrobials and diagnostic tools, helping to treat 102,000 people for drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2017. It also reduces the need for antimicrobials by: supporting and strengthening health systems; preventing infection, for example by helping to distribute 197 million bed nets in 2017 to prevent malaria; and by supporting prompt diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence at the age 70 and over is to use the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service.

If drivers are unable to use the online service they should submit a paper application in the normal way. However, paper applications will take longer to process in the current circumstances. Some drivers may be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed, provided they have a valid licence and they have not been told by a doctor or optician not to drive.

The department is considering what can be done to help drivers who are unable to use the DVLA’s online service, and will provide more information when available.

It is a driver’s responsibility to ensure that they meet the criteria for driving under the provisions of Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 while their application is being considered.

While there is no specific requirement to visit a doctor for these purposes, if a driver has been told not to drive by a doctor or optician, they should not do so.

The table below shows the number of applications received from those renewing their driving licence at the age of 70 and over either online or by post in the last five financial years. It has not been possible in the time available to break this down by age of applicant.

The UK Government committed to provide £1.3bn over the SR21 period for employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions in the Levelling-Up White Paper. This includes commitments set out in joint DWP-DHSC consultation response “Health is Everyone’s Business” (HiEB). We are working with stakeholders including the Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, UK Research and Innovation and National Institute for Health and Care Research to identify the most efficient and effective way to improve the research infrastructure that supports innovation as outlined in HiEB.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has seen high levels of compliance with the Government’s Covid-19 advice for employers (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus) including guidance published by Public Health England and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). For example, since 1^st April 2020 there have been 3,129* investigations of workplace concerns where an outcome has been recorded in HSE’s operational database and in only 114 cases (3.6%) has it been necessary to take enforcement action either by formally writing to the employer or by serving an enforcement notice.

HSE has reviewed its health and safety inspection regime and has adopted the following approach to checking employer compliance with guidance to ensure that workplaces are safe:

1) spot checks carried out by contact centre staff, with those assessed as non-compliant or who fail to engage then contacted by operational staff and, if they are still considered non-compliant, a site visit is carried out; and

2) a programme of Covid-19 specific site inspections carried out by health and safety Inspectors.

HSE is providing support to Local Authorities in their role as health and safety co-regulators by delivering a series of targeted webinars and supporting guidance in Covid-19 related topics such as social distancing.

*This information was extracted from HSE’s live operational database on 22^nd July 2020 and is subject to change e.g. the administrative process of recording the information in the database can take up to 10 days.

We are providing £1.2bn to enhance work search support service in Great Britain and doubling the number of frontline Work Coaches in Jobcentre Plus before the end of the financial year.

In addition, support for older workers also includes:

• The Department’s work with employer organisations – including CIPD, British Chambers of Commerce, ACAS, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Business Champion for Older Workers – to reach small and medium enterprises;

• work with Local Enterprise Partnerships to support employers with statistical data and practical support. In particular, for local small and medium enterprises we provide information and resources for an ageing workforce; and

• our Work Coaches will work with older claimants to ensure that commitments are tailored to allow them to adhere to public health advice, while engaging with the labour market;

• in addition, Jobcentre Plus Older Claimants Champions work with Work Coaches to deliver Jobcentre Plus’s commitment to support older people to find work and stay in work. Champions liaise with employers and providers to promote and raise the profile and benefits of employing older workers.

The online service Find a Job (www.gov.uk/find-a-job) has many of these jobs and can be used to search and apply.

We estimate 1.3 million women were in receipt of Pension Credit and 2.2 million women were entitled to Pension Credit, based on data for 2017/18. These figures are made up of both women who claim as part of a couple or claim alone. These figures are derived from official statistics on the take-up of income-related benefits at Great Britain level, including Pension Credit, which can be found in the latest ‘Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up in 2017 to 2018’ publication, which is available online at Gov.uk.

The Government wants to make sure that all eligible pensioners can claim Pension Credit. That is why in February this year we launched a targeted twelve-week nationwide campaign, to raise awareness of Pension Credit.

Part of the campaign was to dispel some of the misconceptions that people might have about Pension Credit eligibility. We wanted to make it clear that even a small award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with rent, council tax reduction schemes, heating costs and for those aged 75 or over, a free television licence.

We continue to work with stakeholders to help spread the key messages from the campaign because we know that often the best ways to reach eligible pensioners is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. Our online Pension Credit toolkit has been updated to help older people understand how they could claim Pension Credit.

In May this year we also launched an online claim service for Pension Credit to supplement the existing telephone and postal claim services. The new online service provides an additional claim facility and enables pensioners to apply for Pension Credit at a time that suits them.

As at May 2019, the latest data available, the numbers of people in receipt of State Pension Adult Dependency Increases, and the average weekly amount of Adult Dependency Increase they were in receipt of, is shown in the table below.

By April 2020 this number will already have decreased further as, for example, some adult dependents will reach their State Pension age before then.

As at autumn 2019, 6,440 people were in receipt of, or had an underlying entitlement to, an Adult Dependency Increases for Carer’s Allowance.

Those who lose their Adult Dependency Increase, either in April 2020 or before then, may be able to access income-related benefits to top up their household income, depending on their circumstances. For those already in receipt of income-related benefits, their awards will be adjusted to take account of the removal of the Adult Dependency Increase. Claimants who receive income-related benefits may also be entitled to 'passported' benefits to help with, for example, housing costs or heating costs. Income-related benefits are an important protection for the incomes of some of our most vulnerable people.

We are encouraging people who live overseas to consider if they may be entitled to any additional benefits or support from the country where they reside.

State Pension Adult Dependency Increases were abolished by the Pensions Act 2007 from April 2010. Carer’s Allowance Adult Dependency Increases were abolished by the Welfare Reform Act 2009 from April 2010. However, transitional provisions were included for both benefits which allow existing claimants from April 2010 to continue receiving Adult Dependency Increases until April 2020.

Information about the ending of State Pension Adult Dependency Increases has been available on the Government website at www.gov.uk. Furthermore, State Pension recipients in the UK have also been informed about the changes to State Pension Adult Dependency Increases within the annual uprating notifications, which have been sent to them since 2010. We have also included this information in annual uprating notifications sent to overseas State Pension recipients since 2018.

We sent specific letters to those affected by the State Pension and Carer Allowance changes during May/June 2019, and a further letter was sent out in October 2019.

The ending of State Pension Adult Dependency Increases was part of a package of reforms contained in the Pensions Act 2007 that improved the State Pension position for both women and carers.

The savings from ending the provision of State Pension Adult Dependency Increases are estimated to be £125m between 2020/21 and 2024/25, based on analysis from 2018. This only reflects savings on ADI expenditure and does not take into account any offsetting impacts on other benefits.

We have not done a detailed costing of the costs of tapering provision for Adult Dependency Increases. However, we estimate that the cost of continuing to pay State Pension Adult Dependency Increases until all dependents reach their State Pension age would be in the region of £200m to £250m

The information is not available in the format requested as NHS 111 online was not fully functional and available nationally until early 2019. A copy of information is attached that shows the proportion of people using the NHS 111 online service from 2019 to 2022 that have been recommended self-care in England, by National Health Service region, and by sub-integrated care board level correlating to former clinical commissioning group areas.

Data on the number of people visiting the NHS 111 website in each year since 2017 and the proportion that visited pages relating to minor ailments in each year is not held centrally. NHS 111 online does not provide pages for minor ailments, but triages and directs users to appropriate services or care.

The information is not available in the format requested as NHS 111 online was not fully functional and available nationally until early 2019. A copy of information is attached that shows the proportion of people using the NHS 111 online service from 2019 to 2022 that have been recommended self-care in England, by National Health Service region, and by sub-integrated care board level correlating to former clinical commissioning group areas.

Data on the number of people visiting the NHS 111 website in each year since 2017 and the proportion that visited pages relating to minor ailments in each year is not held centrally. NHS 111 online does not provide pages for minor ailments, but triages and directs users to appropriate services or care.

No formal assessment has been made.

No formal assessment has been made.

The information requested is not held centrally.