Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what account they will take of (1) Places we’re proud of published by the National Policy Advisory Board on Gypsy and Traveller Housing, and (2) the Gypsy and Traveller Site Design Guide, published by Leeds City Council in September 2020, in their plans for new towns as announced on 13 October.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 28 September, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response. The government welcomes all 12 of the potential new towns locations recommended by the Taskforce.

Ministers and officials will now begin work with local partners to develop detailed proposals and enhance our understanding of how different locations might meet the government’s expectations of what a future New Towns Programme can deliver, with all promising sites and reasonable alternatives assessed and considered through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. This will support final decisions on precisely which locations we take forward as well as the final approach to placemaking and delivery.

We also made clear that we support the placemaking approach recommended by the Taskforce and are encouraged by the aims of its recommended placemaking principles.

The government will publish draft proposals and a final SEA for public consultation early next year, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns later in the Spring alongside a full response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report, including further detail on delivery and funding models.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people aged 18 and over who have speech, language and communication needs.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England does not hold a dataset that would support an estimate of the number of people aged 18 years old and over who have speech, language, and communication needs to this degree.

The Government recognises the important role that speech and language therapy services play in supporting people to overcome health and social barriers and enhancing overall quality of life.

All NHS services, including speech and language therapy, should operate in accordance with the best available evidence-based practices. Where sufficient evidence exists, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes formal guidance. Frontline services, including those delivering speech and language therapy, are expected to adhere to NICE guidance wherever it is available and applicable.

The Department continues to work with NHS England and other partners to improve understanding of speech, language and communication needs for people of all ages.

It is the ambition of this Government that, through its commitment to deliver a single patient record, people who have speech, language and communication needs will receive more co-ordinated, personalised and predictive care across the system.

Found: Director, The Water Retail Company Limited Lord Trees No relevant interests declared Baroness Whitaker

Found: Q19 Baroness Whitaker: Thank you very much for coming in. Your role is very much appreciated.

Found: Lord Krebs; Lord Layard; Lord Lennie; Lord Mancroft; Lord Rooker; Earl Russell; Lord Trees; Baroness Whitaker

Found: Ewelme; Lord Krebs; The Earl of Leicester; Lord Lennie; Lord Mancroft; Lord Rooker; Lord Trees; Baroness Whitaker