Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many sick days a year are caused by osteoporotic fractures; whether they have conducted any studies into what impact investment to provide universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services across England would have on this figure; and if no such study has been made, whether they intend to commission one.
Answered by Lord Markham
23.4 million days were lost due to sickness absence in 2022 where the condition given was a musculoskeletal condition. This represented 12.6% of all days lost to sickness absence and was the third most common reason. Musculoskeletal conditions include back pain, neck and upper limb problems and other musculoskeletal conditions. This may include osteoporosis but sickness absence data for this specific condition is not held by the Department.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s report ‘BROKEN BONES, BROKEN LIVES: A roadmap to solve the fragility fracture crisis in Europe’ found that the total number of sick days taken after a fragility fracture in the United Kingdom in 2017 was over 2.5 million days. No studies have been carried out into what impact investment to provide universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services across England would have on sick days caused by osteoporotic fractures, and there are currently no plans to commission any.
In August 2023, we set out our initial plans for the Major Conditions Strategy within the Case for Change and our Strategic Framework. This initial report sets out what we have learned so far, and shares what we plan to focus on next to develop the final strategy. This included, together with NHS England, exploring further supporting the provision of Fracture Liaison Services.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 6 September (HL9930), what powers they have to intervene in the work of the Charity Commission where a case is made that it is not acting in the public interest; and if they have no such powers, where accountability for the Commission sits.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
The Charity Commission is an independent registrar and regulator. Section 13(4) of the Charities Act 2011 makes clear that, in the exercise of its functions, the Charity Commission is not subject to the direction or control of any Minister of the Crown or of another government department.
The Charity Commission is accountable in several ways. Decisions made by the Charity Commission in exercising its functions are subject to appeal or review either by the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, or by way of judicial review in the High Court. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Ministers answer for the Charity Commission in Parliament, and the regulator can be called to give evidence to Committees in both Houses of Parliament. The Charity Commission is also required to present its annual report and audited accounts to Parliament, providing key information about its activities and performance.
Further details on the Charity Commission’s governance and accountability is available in the Charity Commission Framework Document 2023, published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 6 September (HL9929), whether (1) DCMS, or (2) the office of the Attorney General, have received any representations or complaints about the the appointment of trustees to the Actors' Benevolent Fund and the application of section 80 of the Charities Act 2011 by the Charity Commission; and if so, what the result of those representations were.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Attorney General’s Office have received correspondence about the Charity Commission’s engagement with the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. Responses to this correspondence confirmed that the Charity Commission is an independent regulator and that it would be inappropriate for HM Government to intervene in the conduct of an independent regulator in the exercise of its functions.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted any studies into the savings which would accrue to the NHS from investment to enable universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services across England; and if no such study has been made, whether they intend to commission one.
Answered by Lord Markham
We continue to work closely with stakeholders, including the Royal Osteoporosis Society, to further understand the needs of people living with osteoporosis and consider how health and care services can better support them. Fracture Liaison Services are key to prompt diagnosis of osteoporosis and are acknowledged as the world standard for secondary fracture prevention. According to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, for every £1 spend on Fracture Liaison Services in the United Kingdom, £3.26 is saved by the National Health Service.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including Fracture Liaison Services.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of the impact of fragility fractures caused by undiagnosed osteoporosis on informal care-givers of working age; and what the impact of this is on the labour market.
Answered by Lord Markham
Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. We want unpaid carers to live healthy and fulfilling lives alongside their caring role.
No assessment, specifically on the impact of fragility fractures caused by undiagnosed osteoporosis on informal caregivers of working age; and what the impact of this is on the labour market, has been made. However, the Care Act (2014) requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers. Local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any unpaid carer who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer.
In 2023/24, £327 million of funding from the Better Care Fund have been earmarked to provide short breaks and respite services for carers. This also funds additional advice and support to carers and a small number of additional local authority duties.
The enormous contribution made by unpaid carers is reflected throughout the social care reform white paper People at the Heart of Care, published in December 2021, and Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care, published in April 2023.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their commitment in the Major Conditions Strategy: case for change and our strategic framework, published on 14 August and updated on 21 August, to set up more fracture liaison services, whether the responsibility for that initiative lies with the Department of Health and Social Care or with NHS England.
Answered by Lord Markham
In August 2023, we set out our initial plans for the Major Conditions Strategy within the Case for change and our strategic framework. This initial report sets out what we have learned so far, and shares what we plan to focus on next to develop the final strategy. This includes, together with NHS England, exploring further support for the provision of Fracture Liaison Services. This could include identifying people at risk of further osteoporotic fragility fracture and implementing strategies to reduce the risk of future fracture (including falls) and mortality.
The final strategy will be published in early 2024.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many entries there were for (1) GCSE, and (2) A level, in music for each of the past five years for which figures are available; and of these, how many entries were from (a) fee-paying schools, and (b) the maintained sector.
Answered by Baroness Barran
In 2022, the government published the national plan for music education to allow all children and young people in England the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally.
The plan addresses how the department will achieve this vision by 2030. This includes schools and academy trusts having clear approaches to supporting their pupils to progress with music beyond the age of 14, including opportunities to study music qualifications, such as graded exams, GCSEs, A levels and vocational and technical qualifications.
The number of pupils entering GCSE music in all state funded and independent institutions between the 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years is available in the links below.
Data relating to GCSE entries in 2022/23 will be available in October 2023.
The number of pupils entering GCSE relates to those at the end of Key Stage 4.
The number of A level entries by pupils aged 16 to 18 in England in music since 2017/18 academic year can be found in the link below. The published data available includes a breakdown for state-funded pupils (those in state-funded schools and further education colleges) and all pupils (which additionally includes pupils in independent schools, hospital schools, Pupil Referral Units, and Alternative Provision). However, for A levels in music the difference in entries is almost entirely from independent schools.
Data relating to A level entries in 2022/23 will be available in November 2023.
The number of pupils entering GCSE music are available in the following links for each academic year:
The number of pupils entering A level music for academic years 2017/18 to 2021/22 is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/debe1398-86a0-4b07-5a7f-08dbb9ac4483.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the chair and trustees of the Charity Commission about the appointment of trustees to the Actors' Benevolent Fund, and the application of section 80 of the Charities Act 2011.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
As an independent regulator, the Charity Commission for England & Wales carries out its functions independently of ministerial direction or Government control. His Majesty’s Government has, therefore, not discussed this case with the Charity Commission.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conduct of the Charity Commission in relation to its enquiries about the Actors' Benevolent Fund.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
As an independent regulator, the Charity Commission for England & Wales carries out its functions independently of ministerial direction or Government control. His Majesty’s Government has, therefore, not discussed this case with the Charity Commission.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how long is the term of office of the chair of the Charity Commission.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
The Chairman of the Charity Commission for England & Wales, Orlando Fraser KC, was appointed for a three-year term commencing on 25 April 2022 and ending on 24 April 2025. Ministers have the authority to reappoint the Chairman for a second term in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Governance Code for Public Appointments.