Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the Circular Economy Growth Plan.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to delivering a more circular and resilient economy for good growth in every place. This Government established a Circular Economy Task Force to co-design our approach and will outline our next steps shortly.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment, due in 2027, will include the impact of climate damage not be covered by insurers as a priority risk area.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment will be informed by the risks laid out in the Climate Change Committee’s Fourth Independent Assessment of Climate Risk (CCRA4-IA), which include a number of risks which incorporate the availability of insurance in their assessment of vulnerability and exposure to climate hazards. Part of this assessment, The Well Adapted UK Report, includes eight priority risk areas, including ‘risks to the availability of insurance’ and will feed into our development of the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment which will be published in 2027.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how integrated care boards are implementing and reporting on patient safety frameworks and strategies in eating disorder services, in particular for patients with longstanding eating disorders.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are working closely with NHS England and local integrated care boards (ICBs) to deliver eating disorder services but ultimately it is for ICBs to decide how they choose to implement and report on patient safety frameworks and strategies in eating disorder services.
The Department of Health and Social Care have worked with NHS England to produce various guidance for integrated care systems to plan and deliver eating disorder services, and to provide treatment for patients with longstanding eating disorders.
NHS England published guidance in 2019 for adult eating disorder services, to support delivery of community eating disorder services, reduce admissions, length-of-stay and improve outcomes for users, families and carers. A revised service specification for Adult Eating Disorder inpatient provision has just been through public consultation, and following a review of the comments received will progress to publication in 2025.
In addition to these guidance, all Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) have received support via fair shares funding since April 2021 to transform their adult community mental health services. This includes the transformation and expansion of eating disorder services.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance and support is available to integrated care boards about planning and delivering eating disorder services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has worked with NHS England to produce various guidance for integrated care systems (ICSs) to plan and deliver eating disorder services, and to provide treatment for patients with longstanding eating disorders.
NHS England published guidance in 2019 for adult eating disorder services, to support delivery of community eating disorder services, reduce admissions, length-of-stay and improve outcomes for users, families and carers. A revised service specification for Adult Eating Disorder inpatient provision has just been through public consultation, and following a review of the comments received will progress to publication in 2025.
NHS England is currently producing new national guidance for eating disorders in children and young people, to update and replace the previous commissioning guidance for the Access and Waiting Time Standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder.
NHS England also worked with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to produce guidance on managing medical emergencies in eating disorders amongst young people and adults.
ICSs also have access to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines which sets out best practice for commissioners and providers for identifying and treating eating disorders.
In addition to this guidance, all ICSs have received support via fair shares funding since April 2021 to transform their adult community mental health services. This includes the transformation and expansion of eating disorder services. For children and young people, additional long term plan funding was made available for systems, rising to £54 million from 2023/24 and with further funding in 2024/25 to support increasing capacity in community eating disorder services.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is available to integrated care boards about the provision of treatment of patients with longstanding eating disorders.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has worked with NHS England to produce various guidance for integrated care systems (ICSs) to plan and deliver eating disorder services, and to provide treatment for patients with longstanding eating disorders.
NHS England published guidance in 2019 for adult eating disorder services, to support delivery of community eating disorder services, reduce admissions, length-of-stay and improve outcomes for users, families and carers. A revised service specification for Adult Eating Disorder inpatient provision has just been through public consultation, and following a review of the comments received will progress to publication in 2025.
NHS England is currently producing new national guidance for eating disorders in children and young people, to update and replace the previous commissioning guidance for the Access and Waiting Time Standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder.
NHS England also worked with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to produce guidance on managing medical emergencies in eating disorders amongst young people and adults.
ICSs also have access to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines which sets out best practice for commissioners and providers for identifying and treating eating disorders.
In addition to this guidance, all ICSs have received support via fair shares funding since April 2021 to transform their adult community mental health services. This includes the transformation and expansion of eating disorder services. For children and young people, additional long term plan funding was made available for systems, rising to £54 million from 2023/24 and with further funding in 2024/25 to support increasing capacity in community eating disorder services.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Merron on 25 February (HL4946), Lord Markham on 20 July 2023 (HL9293), Lord Bethell on 3 November 2020 (HL9309) and Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 25 July 2019 (HL17359), why they are not able to provide the requested information on inpatient beds for eating disorder patients from NHS England when it has been provided in previous years.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows the number of inpatient beds for eating disorder patients:
Specialised MH Inpatient Services | Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Eating Disorder | Adult Eating Disorder |
Northwest | 19 | 63 |
Northeast & Cumbria | 9 | 66 |
Midlands | 85 | 63 |
East of England | 37 | 34 |
London | 50 | 99 |
Southeast | 28 | 31 |
Southwest | N/A | 44 |
ENGLAND TOTAL | 228 | 400 |
Source: NHS England
Notes: The data provided represents the total number of commissioned beds for CAMHS Eating Disorder and Adult Eating Disorder services. The figures are broken down by region and include any beds commissioned outside of England.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many inpatient beds are currently available to the NHS England for eating disorder patients in (1) England as whole, (2) the North East and Yorkshire, and North West regions, (3) the Midlands and East of England regions, (4) London, and (5) the South East and South West regions; for each area, how many are available for (a) children and young people, and (b) adults; and how many are in general child and adolescent mental health or general adult mental health facilities, as opposed to specialist eating disorder units.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is held by NHS England, but it is management information and is not centrally validated.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they next plan to review the Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 as required by regulation 13, and whether in doing so they will consider (1) relevant scientific studies, and (2) the impact that calorie labelling has on those with eating disorders.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Legislation requiring large businesses in England, namely those with 250 or more employees, to display calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks came into force in 2022. It aims to support consumers to make healthier choices for themselves and their families when eating out or getting a takeaway, with clear information about calorie content of potential purchases. It may also encourage businesses to reformulate and provide lower calorie options, helping to create a healthier food environment.
The published impact assessment, which included a summary of the evidence, estimated that by lowering calorie consumption amongst people living with overweight or obesity, the policy would produce savings to the National Health Service of £430 million and social care savings of £477 million over 25 years.
We continue to evaluate the impact of the Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations and have commissioned studies through the National Institute for Health and Care Research which includes an evaluation to understand the impact of the rules, including on people living with eating disorders.
We will publish a post-implementation review within five years of implementation which will consider the effectiveness of the policy and will include a review of relevant scientific studies.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 in changing eating habits and tackling obesity, and what scientific evidence they have considered in making this assessment, including any scientific studies which suggest that mandatory calorie labelling policies are ineffective.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Legislation requiring large businesses in England, namely those with 250 or more employees, to display calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks came into force in 2022. It aims to support consumers to make healthier choices for themselves and their families when eating out or getting a takeaway, with clear information about calorie content of potential purchases. It may also encourage businesses to reformulate and provide lower calorie options, helping to create a healthier food environment.
The published impact assessment, which included a summary of the evidence, estimated that by lowering calorie consumption amongst people living with overweight or obesity, the policy would produce savings to the National Health Service of £430 million and social care savings of £477 million over 25 years.
We continue to evaluate the impact of the Out of Home Calorie Labelling Regulations and have commissioned studies through the National Institute for Health and Care Research which includes an evaluation to understand the impact of the rules, including on people living with eating disorders.
We will publish a post-implementation review within five years of implementation which will consider the effectiveness of the policy and will include a review of relevant scientific studies.
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the official cars used by Cabinet Members are electric, including those for the Prime Minister.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Prime Minister and many Cabinet members are entitled to protection; this service is provided by the Metropolitan Police. One member has their own arrangement for transport with a private hire company. The Department for Transport does not hold information on the cars they are provided with.
The Government Car Service (GCS) provides a Departmental Pool Car service to Departments as a shared resource. The remaining members that attend Cabinet will have access to cars provided by GCS including battery electric and petrol electric hybrid models.