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Written Question
Railways: Emergency Services
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions emergency services have attended incidents (1) at railway stations, or (2) on railway tracks, in each of the past five years.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no single source of data on the number of occasions that emergency services have attended incidents at railway stations or on railway tracks.

Data on incidents on public transport attended by the British Transport Police in Great Britain may be found in British Transport Police ‘Use of force statistics’.

Data on incidents attended at public transport locations by police forces in England and Wales may be found in Home Office ‘Police use of force statistics’.

Data on false alarms, accidental and deliberate fires ‘on trains’ attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in England may be found in in Home Office ‘Fire statistics’:

  • Accidental and deliberate fires: Table 0303 - Fires, fatalities and non-fatal casualties in outdoor primary locations and secondary fires by motive and location, England.
  • False alarms: False alarms dataset 2017 to 2023

The department does not hold data on the number of incidents attended by NHS England Ambulance services at railway stations or railway tracks.


Written Question
Railways: Access and Security
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is available for train operating companies regarding the security of stations, and access to, railway lines.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secure Stations Scheme (SSS) provides a framework for Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to demonstrate how they are working to reduce crime and improve security and safeguarding at stations. Having an accredited station provides reassurance to both passengers and staff that the station is safe and secure. This is in addition to requiring TOC’s and Network Rail to undertake a range of measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of a terrorist attack.


Written Question
Film and Television: Health and Safety
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance has been issued to the film and television industry regarding the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Work in the film and television industry is covered under the general requirements of the Health and Safety etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also provides extensive guidance on common or higher risk activities encountered across multiple industries which may be applicable to activities within film and television production, e.g. working at height or managing asbestos (when filming on location).

HSE also provides a range of guidance which is specific to film and television industry that describes the various roles and responsibilities of those within the production process (INDG360: Health and safety in audio-visual production. Your legal duties) and information sheets for specific production activities and risks, e.g. stunts, use of firearms and filming while using vehicles.

All guidance and information are freely available on the HSE website, a section of which is dedicated to health and safety in the film, theatre and broadcasting industries.

Alongside this, industry specific guidance is also available from a range of industry bodies and stakeholders.


Written Question
Self-employed: Health and Safety
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the application of health and safety legislation to those who work freelance and as contractors.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Under health and safety law, employers have a responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety, including those who work freelance or as contractors.


Written Question
Film and Television: Health and Safety
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what requirements are in place to ensure health and safety risk assessments are maintained in the film and television industry.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations provide an effective framework for securing the health, safety, and welfare of those working in the film and television industry.

Employers and the self-employed working in the film and television industry are required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to workers, themselves, and others from their work activities for the purpose of identifying and implementing measures to manage those risks. If there is reason to suspect an assessment is no longer effective or if there has been significant change in the matters being assessed, then an assessment must be reviewed and amended. Where an employer employs five or more employees they must record the significant findings of an assessment, and any group of employees identified by it as being especially at risk.


Written Question
Suicide: Mental Health Services
Monday 10th January 2022

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS patients present as a suicide risk; and what steps they are taking in response.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The information requested is not collected centrally. There is no national standardised assessment of suicide risk against which to measure the number of people nationally who present as a suicide risk.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends against using risk assessment tools to predict future suicide or repetition of self-harm, although such tools may be considered to help structure risk assessments. National Health Service organisations use a range of tools to assist clinicians in assessing a patient’s individual risk. However, these should be used to support the assessment process and should not replace clinical judgement.

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies groups known to be at higher risk of suicide than the general population, including those in the care of mental health services. We continue to work with the National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group to monitor and understand suicide risk in different groups. We are investing an additional £57 million by 2023/24 to support local suicide prevention plans and the development of suicide bereavement services. The Mental Health Safety Improvement Programme also aims to reduce the number of suicides that occur across inpatient mental health and learning disability services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement is establishing 24 hours a day, seven days a week liaison mental health teams in every acute hospital to ensure that those presenting at hospital with mental health needs receive the appropriate care and treatment. By 2023/24, 70% of liaison services are expected to have met the ‘core 24’ service standard, working towards 100% coverage. NHS England and NHS Improvement will be supporting mental health trusts to refresh their Suicide Safety Plans to include both inpatient and community settings in 2021/22.


Written Question
Suicide: Children
Monday 13th December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to the NHS on contacting (1) a parent, (2) a family member, or (3) a carer, in cases of young people under the age of 18 who are considered to be a suicide risk by (a) the NHS, or (b) another health professional.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The Department has developed an online only information sharing and suicide prevention consensus statement with input from leading mental health organisations, which aims to improve information and support for families and carers who are concerned about someone who may be at risk of suicide and to better support those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Through its contract with the Department, the Zero Suicide Alliance has developed SHARE: Consent, confidentiality & information Sharing in mental healthcare & suicide prevention on using the consensus statement for information sharing and suicide prevention and how to engage with patients when discussing confidentiality and consent to share information where this may help to prevent suicide. A copy is attached.

Practitioners should also refer to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s quality standard Suicide prevention, which includes a section on involving family, carers or friends. A copy is attached.


Written Question
Suicide: Mental Health Services
Monday 13th December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued for health professionals regarding patients who are at risk of suicide.

Answered by Lord Kamall

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance for the National Health Service, social care, local authorities, emergency services, the criminal justice system and other services to identify those most at risk. Copies of Preventing suicide in community and custodial settings and a quality standard Suicide prevention are attached.


Written Question
Suicide: Mental Health Services
Monday 13th December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what immediate NHS provision is available to those at risk of suicide.

Answered by Lord Kamall

There is no defined pathway for those deemed at risk of suicide, as provision should be determined locally, based on a clinical assessment of the person’s individual situation and needs. However, we are expanding a number of other pathways to support people deemed at risk of suicide, including making 24 hours a day, seven days a week community-based mental health crisis response services available across England, with intensive home treatment available as an alternative to an acute inpatient admission. We are increasing alternative forms of provision, such as sanctuaries, safe havens, and crisis cafés, for those in crisis where appropriate and ensuring acute hospitals have a mental health liaison service in accident and emergency departments and inpatient wards.

We have committed that every integrated care system in the country will receive funding from £57 million identified for suicide prevention and bereavement services by 2023/24. This investment will allow integrated care systems to deliver multi-agency plans for suicide prevention activities, initiatives to improve care for those who self-harm and bereavement support.


Written Question
Suicide: Children
Monday 13th December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what NHS guidance exists for parents of children who are at risk of suicide.

Answered by Lord Kamall

No specific guidance has been issued. However, the National Health Service has published a number of online only resources for parents on mental health issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic including advice for parents, guardians and carers on how to support a child or young person if they are concerned about their mental health or that they may have an eating disorder.

The NHS has also established 24 hours a day, seven days a week urgent mental health helplines and parents can access other online resources and support through schools, colleges, charities and the voluntary sector.