Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The Equality Act 2006 details the establishment, duties, powers and constitution for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Further information regarding the governance of the EHRC can be found on their website: www.equalityhumanrights.com.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the terms of reference of the reviews they have commissioned of six healthcare regulators, to be led by Dr Penny Dash.

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

In July, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care asked Dr Penny Dash to carry out a review, looking at patient safety across the health and care landscape in England, within the context of the wider regulation and improvement of the quality of care. The guidance, Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape: terms of reference, published on 15 October 2024, is available on the GOV.UK website, in an online-only format.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of the (1) Children's Commissioner, (2) Victims’ Commissioner and (3) Care Quality Commission.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Office for the Children’s Commission does not have a terms of reference. Instead there is a framework agreement with the Department for Education, which can be found here: DfE framework agreement | Children's Commissioner for England.

The Children Act 2004 created the role for a Children’s Commissioner in England with the primary function of promoting and protecting the rights of children in England, ensuring that the views of the most vulnerable children are heard. The role was established following a recommendation in the Inquiry into Victoria Climbié’s death in 2000.

The intention of the Children and Families Act 2014 was to strengthen the remit, independence, and powers of the Commissioner. The Commissioner was given additional powers to effectively carry out the role.

These pieces of legislation set out the powers and responsibilities of the Children’s Commissioner for England.

The Victims’ Commissioner is appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice in accordance with the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The functions of the role are set out in legislation and are to promote the interests of victims and witnesses, encourage good practice in the treatment of victims and witnesses, and to keep under review the operation of the Code of Practice for Victims (“the Victims’ Code). The Victims’ Commissioner is also required to make an annual report on the performance of their functions to the Justice Secretary, Attorney General and the Home Secretary and give advice to a Minister of the Crown or to the Treasury when required to do so, amongst other functions and duties.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It operates within the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations, including the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, which sets out the fundamental standards that providers of health and social care are expected to meet.

The CQC among its other functions, inspects, assess and monitors providers, giving them a rating of either outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate, to encourage continuous improvement. It has enforcement powers, to ensure the quality of care does not fall below the expected levels of standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current terms of reference of Ofsted.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

Ofsted’s overall functions and remit are set out in a range of legislation, including the Education and Inspections Act 2006, which is available here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/40/part/8. The Act establishes Ofsted as a non-ministerial government department.

Ofsted publishes a number of documents relevant to its work and responsibilities, including its corporate governance arrangements, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsteds-corporate-governance-framework/ofsteds-corporate-governance-framework. An annual report on its work is attached and also available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/655f2551c39e5a001392e4ca/31587_Ofsted_Annual_Report_2022-23_WEB.pdf.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff from ethnic minority backgrounds were employed in the youth justice secure estate on (1) 31 March 2024, and (2) 30 September 2024.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Information is held on staffing numbers in the public-sector youth secure estate, and is published quarterly at table 5b of the HMPPS Workforce Statistics Bulletin:

Staffing information in relation to settings that are managed independently is not held by HM Prison & Probation Service.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 13 January (HL3801), where the information sought in the question is held if not centrally.

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

This information is held on a local level by the healthcare providers for each respective prison.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to restore the Campaign Against Living Miserably telephone helpline piloted at HMP Birmingham and to roll out this service to every prison in England.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Work on the introduction of the helpline at HMP Birmingham was interrupted owing to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and an interim measure was put in place. This enables prisoners to make calls to the general helpline provided by CALM, using the prison PIN service. Possible extension of the service to other prisons remains under consideration.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, how many prisoners arriving in custody were screened for a neurodivergent need in the year to March 2024, and what proportion this represented of the total.

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

The information requested is not held centrally.

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