Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of support available to veterans subject to ongoing historic investigations.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to supporting its people who act reasonably and in good faith in the course of their duties or work-related activities. All members of the Armed Forces, including the Reserve Forces, are entitled to legal support (regardless of the type of legal proceeding) at public expense where they face allegations that relate to actions taken during their employment or service, and where they were performing their duties. This is the case irrespective of the individual's length of service, the duration of any proceedings, and the length of time that has passed since the incident in question. The entitlement to legal support also applies to former service personnel, provided that the incident in question occurred while they were serving in the Armed Forces or employed by the MOD.
The MOD has also developed a comprehensive package of welfare support for veterans, including the establishment of the Army Operational Legacy Branch (AOLB) in 2020. The full range of legal and pastoral support available to veterans is set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence on 13 April 2021.
The MOD also works closely with the Office for Veterans' Affairs to ensure individuals can be signposted to the right additional support should they need it.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the action required to safeguard universities as places of (1) free speech, and (2) challenging ideas.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
The government supports free speech which generates rigorous debate and advances understanding.
It is the freedom to think independently, express and challenge ideas, and put forward lawful, new and controversial ideas, that makes our universities world-renowned. These are essential skills in a modern, forward-facing society. It is this freedom that the government strives to protect.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill has been introduced for this reason. The bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties and directly address gaps within the existing law. The bill also applies the duties directly to students’ unions and constituent colleges, including those at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
The changes will introduce clear consequences for breaches of the new duties and ensure that these principles are upheld.
The bill is currently passing through the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the mileage allowance for frontline care workers given the rising cost of fuel.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates aim to reflect running costs including fuel, servicing and depreciation. Depreciation is estimated to constitute the most significant proportion of the AMAPs.
Most domiciliary care staff are employed by private providers who decide their mileage reimbursement rate. Employers, including those of care staff, are not required to use AMAPs. Instead, they can agree to reimburse the actual cost incurred, where individuals can provide evidence of the expenditure, without an Income Tax or National Insurance charge arising.
If an employee is paid less than the approved amount, they are entitled to claim tax relief (Mileage Allowance Relief) on the shortfall. The maximum MAR claim is set to the same level as the AMAP rates.
As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps AMAP rates under review and any changes are considered by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what incentives they are providing to the fishing industry in order to reduce discards.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to ending the wasteful practice of discarding. Fisheries is a devolved matter, but we seek to work collaboratively with the Devolved Administrations to achieve the best outcomes for the UK as a whole.
On 27 June 2022, we launched a consultation on managing quota in 2023 and beyond. This includes options for using quota to incentivise better behaviours. Reducing discards could form part of this.
Alongside this, we are speaking with industry and other stakeholders about discards reform. This includes consideration of incentives. We will run a formal consultation later in the year.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the UK enforces fishing access rights in its waters.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All vessels fishing in UK waters must have a licence issued by the relevant UK licensing authority and must comply with the relevant legislation. The Marine Management Organisation monitors fishing activity in English waters and carries out dedicated enforcement and surveillance activity, including through the use of offshore patrol vessels for at-sea surveillance. Where vessels do not comply with these rules, enforcement action can be taken against them.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the effectiveness of the fishing catch recording service.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Fisheries is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra works closely with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) who manage the fishing catch recording service widely known as the ‘Catch App’. The Catch App is used to gather catch information for under 10m fishing vessels which make up approximately 80% of the English fleet.
At present, Catch App compliance by fishermen is at its highest level since its introduction and now sits at 89% across England. Building on this high level of compliance, the Government is now working on three key steps to ensure the effectiveness of the Catch App. These are “review, engage and enforce”.
Firstly, the MMO reviews the implementation of the Catch App through direct feedback from fishermen and via Marine Officers who engage in dockside visits with fishermen. The MMO uses these inputs to inform on any improvements required to the app functionality in order to increase the benefit to fishermen.
Secondly, the MMO engages with fishermen to familiarise themselves with the way the Catch App works, increase their ability to enter accurate data, comply with the requirements and use the functionality of the app for their own benefit.
Thirdly, in 2022 after over two years of review and engagement, the MMO has moved to a phase of enforcing the licence condition requiring fishermen to use the Catch App to ensure that fishermen submit records for each trip.
The Catch App ensures the MMO has a more comprehensive picture of catches from English waters than ever before. This data informs fisheries management, improves traceability, and helps inform decisions on marine developments where previously the inshore fleet did not have data to support their views.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS Trusts are equipped with the resources needed to (1) diagnose, and (2) treat, hemochromatosis.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Genomic testing for haemochromatosis is available through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service for patients in England showing unexplained iron overload suggestive of hereditary haemochromatosis. This testing is delivered via NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), which ensures that testing is available for all eligible patients in England. Any clinician who suspects haemochromatosis can order this testing via the local GLH.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing an evidence-based guideline to define high quality care for haemochromatosis and reduce variation in practice. Following the publication of this guideline, the National Health Service will review service provision to implement any treatment pathways recommended.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what programmes are currently in place to increase the number of people with learning difficulties taking part in apprenticeships.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Apprenticeships are available for all people of all backgrounds including people with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) to start, progress or to re-train in a variety of industries.
In recent years we have seen an improved representation of people who have declared LDD starting apprenticeships, and we want this to continue. We have improved our Find an Apprenticeship service to allow people to identify Disability Confident Employers offering opportunities and ensuring apprenticeships are available to all.
In partnership with the Disability Rights UK, we launched a Disabled Apprentice Network to provide insight and evidence on how to attract and retain disabled people into apprenticeships. Disability Rights UK published a report during National Apprenticeship Week 2022 to support employers to improve the diversity of their apprenticeship programmes whilst highlighting the barriers people may face when undertaking an apprenticeship. In this report, the apprentices identified the opportunity to build confidence, skills and networks with people with different experiences and gain paid work experience as the key points which influenced them towards undertaking an apprenticeship.
To ensure that more people who declare LDD feel confident to undertake apprenticeships, we have lowered the English and Maths requirements to apprenticeships for a defined group of individuals with LDD. We have also introduced British Sign Language (BSL) as an alternative to English Functional Skills for those who have BSL as their first language.
Furthermore, we make £1,000 payments to employers and providers for taking on 16 to 18-year-olds, or those 19 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan and also offer £150 per month to help providers make reasonable adjustments for eligible apprentices with special educational needs. Providers can claim additional funding if the cost of support exceeds this rate.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current career support available for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
The government’s education policies are intended to ensure that all young people, whatever their background or circumstances, have the opportunity to reach their potential. Careers support for young people supports anyone, including young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) or in disadvantaged groups, to go as far as their talents will take them and have a rewarding career.
The statutory guidance for schools and colleges on careers guidance includes an expectation that schools and colleges will use the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance to develop and improve their careers programmes. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools. The third benchmark focusses on addressing the individual needs of each student. The department expects schools and colleges to tailor careers activities and educational goals to the needs of each student, taking account of their prior knowledge and skills, the choices and transitions they face, and any additional support that may be needed to overcome barriers.
The department is working in collaboration with The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) and the National Careers Service to ensure careers advice for young people with SEND is of the highest quality. The department funds the CEC to increase young people’s exposure to the world of work and support schools and colleges to achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks. The CEC runs a community of practice focused on inclusion. Schools, colleges and training providers work together to support each other in their local community to work with students from disadvantaged groups, including young people with SEND, through the sharing of good practice and the development of resources. The National Careers Service provides free careers information, advice and guidance to both young people and adults through a website and telephone helpline.
To help more young people with SEND get into great careers, the department is also taking action to improve careers guidance, providing support, resources and SEND-specific training for Careers Leaders and special educational needs coordinators who design and deliver inspirational careers education programmes, tailored to the needs of young people with SEND.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current provisions for injured (1) veterans, and (2) armed service personnel.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Defence Medical Services provides healthcare to serving Armed Forces personnel, to ensure that they are medically fit, mentally and physically, to undertake their duties. To overcome injuries, comprehensive rehabilitation services are provided to Service personnel, through a network of Primary Care Rehabilitation Facilities, Regional Rehabilitation Units and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. This includes rehabilitation for complex musculoskeletal injuries and neurological injury.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have several services in place to meet the needs of veterans and their families. The Veteran Friendly GP Practice accreditation scheme supports practices to deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the Armed Forces. It helps GP practices to identify and support their veteran patients with signposting to specialist support services. Over 1,200 GP practices are now accredited through the programme.
A package of veterans' mental health support, called Op COURAGE, provides a complete mental health care pathway for veterans. Individuals benefit from personalised care plans, ensuring they can always access the support and treatment they need. This includes supporting veterans with complex mental health issues, who need more intensive support and therapies.