Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Shaping the future of care together report (Cm 7673), published on 14 July 2009.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 29 July, the Prime Minister set out his objectives to reform the social care system and brought forward the timetable for Baroness Casey’s commission to inform that reform programme.
A range of research, evidence and policy proposals will be reviewed as part of that process, and we will continue to update Parliament on a regular basis.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support’s report Fairer care funding, published in July 2011.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been recently made of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support's 2011 report, Fairer Care Funding.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to a 50 per cent reduction in headcount across the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and integrated care boards by 2028.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government remains committed to significantly reducing headcount across NHS England and the Department, although the changes are no reflection on the tireless work carried out by talented professionals. Our ambition is to reduce staff numbers by up to 50% across the Department, NHS England and integrated care boards.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a 10 per cent levy on estates at death to fund adult social care.
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Prime Minister has set out his commitment to end decades of political drift on social care and fix the system with a National Care Service that gives people dignity, security and the support they deserve.
Reforms to social care will be fully and sustainably funded – the government will meet its fiscal rules. However, it is right that Baroness Casey’s Commission, which will now report in summer 2027, considers all options for the National Care Service. Funding options will be an important part of that conversation, and the government is not going to pre-empt Baroness Casey’s work.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to give Ukrainians who have come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme clarity on their future immigration status.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Those who have been granted sanctuary in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, are able to apply for further permission to stay through the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE).
On 1 September, the Government announced in parliament that the UPE Scheme would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE.
Individuals who currently have permission under the UPE scheme will be able to apply for the extension online, in advance of their current permission expiring. More detail on the application process will follow in due course.
The UPE extension reflects a generous and meaningful commitment to support those displaced by the conflict, while also respecting the Ukrainian Government’s strong desire for the future return of its citizens when it is safe to do so. The Government will continue to monitor developments in Ukraine closely and act responsibly in its response.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that suspected fraudulent activity in retail business premises can be investigated and tackled by the police.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In March this year, the National Crime Agency coordinated a three-week crackdown (Operation MACHINIZE) against business premises such as barber shops and other cash intensive businesses across England and Wales. Operation MACHINIZE involved 19 different police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units, as well as national agencies including HM Revenue & Customs, Trading Standards and Home Office Immigration Enforcement. In total, 380 premises were visited across the three-week operation with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling in excess of one million pounds, executing 84 warrants and arresting 35 individuals.
This has been followed by a second phase of activity throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit. During the operation, which targeted a broader range of businesses, the operation saw: 2,734 premises visited and raided; 924 individuals arrested; over ÂŁ13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained; and over ÂŁ2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.
At the Budget 2025, the Chancellor announced a new dedicated cross-government taskforce to design systemic interventions to disrupt money laundering and related criminality on the high street, as well as new funding for operational partners such as law enforcement and Trading Standards to tackle this threat.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will implement specific measures to support people with learning disabilities into work; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
People with learning disabilities often face very significant challenges in being able to find work. We know that most people with learning disabilities want to have a job, and evidence shows that they bring many positive benefits to their employers.
Connect to Work is our voluntary, locally commissioned, Supported Employment programme which is rolling out this year and early 2026. This £1bn programme is for anyone who is disabled, has a health condition or is experiencing more complex barriers to work and will support around 300,000 people by the end of the decade. Participants are given a dedicated specialist employment support adviser who works alongside them to understand their career goals and help them to address any specific barriers to employment. Local Authorities are required to follow two models of Supported Employment – Individual Placement and Support and Supported Employment Quality Framework. The latter framework has been specifically designed, and has a proven track record, to support individuals with learning disabilities or who are neurodivergent to get into sustainable employment.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of closures of intentional communities on people with severe learning disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No formal national assessment has been undertaken, and the Government does not monitor the operation or closure of intentional communities.
We want to ensure that people with a learning disability and autistic people get the support they need in the community and are given a choice about where and with whom they live, including small-scale supported living, and settled accommodation.
Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their populations, and to develop and build local market capacity. That is why under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to shape their local markets, and ensure that people have a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support options available to them, and that they can access the services that best meet their needs.
Any health and social care provider that carries out a regulated activity must register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. The CQC can take action, in line with their Enforcement Policy, if the quality or safety of a service has fallen to unacceptable levels. The CQC is not closing down existing services that provide good care, including services developed as village communities. The CQC does not direct commissioning decisions, which remain the responsibility of local authorities. The CQC’s Enforcement Policy is available on the CQC website, in an online only format.
As a response to the independent review into the CQC’s regulation of Whorlton Hall, the CQC has strengthened its regulatory approach for services for autistic people and people with a learning disability. This included updating the statutory guidance, titled Right support, right care, right culture, which sets out regulatory expectations for any service that currently provides or intends to provide regulated care to autistic people and people with a learning disability.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to granting businesses that employ people with learning disabilities an exemption or reduction in employer National Insurance contributions.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The government is committed to helping people with health conditions and disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, to start and stay in work.
The government provides support to employers to recruit and retain disabled people through the Access to Work scheme, which assists with the cost of specialist equipment, workplace adjustments or support workers.
The government has also announced the largest investment in employment support in at least a generation to help sick and disabled people, reaching ÂŁ1 billion per annum by 2029-30. The government has also made significant investments in employment support for disabled people at the Spending Review, including through the rollout of Connect to Work which will help up to 100,000 individuals a year to secure work and the delivery of Work Well, a programme which aims to improve health and employment outcomes through locally led work and health services.
The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.
Asked by: Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce financial incentives for businesses that employ people with learning disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Business and Trade does not have any plans to introduce financial incentives for businesses that employ people with learning disabilities.
The Government's Access to Work scheme offers a grant to help employees with a physical or mental health condition or disability get or stay in work. Businesses can also apply for finance through the Government-backed British Business Bank which aims to improve access to finance to help businesses invest and grow.
Additionally, the Government commissioned Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working Review, because we recognise the vital role employers can play in helping address the challenges faced by disabled people and people with health conditions in work, which are holding back individuals, businesses and the economy, and we are determined to tackle this issue. The final report was published on 5 November.