Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the statistics on the number of patients who have had to wait in excess of 12 hours for admission to the hospital from the time of their arrival in accident and emergency departments in England.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS England and NHS Improvement are considering a 12 hour measure in emergency departments as part of its clinically-led review of standards. It has undertaken a public consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to accelerate (1) the progress, and (2) the dissemination of the findings, of research into the (a) prevention, and (b) treatment, of brain tumours.
Answered by Lord Bethell
In 2018 we announced £40 million over five years to accelerate progress in brain tumour research. This was highlighted within the research community with workshops to support high quality brain tumour research applications.
The findings of brain tumour research will be disseminated via the planned network of Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence, presentations at conferences, publications in journals and through the National Institute for Health Research and its Centre for Engagement and Dissemination.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress being made on the (1) prevention, and (2) treatment, of brain tumours.
Answered by Lord Bethell
A 2018 review of evidence suggested about 2.5% of brain and central nervous system cancers are attributable to modifiable causes. This equates to approximately 119 cancers that year. The majority of these are attributed to excess weight.
Public Health England supports local authorities and the National Health Service to commission weight management services that are based on and align with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance for weight management. These types of activities may help prevent brain tumours attributable to modifiable causes.
Treatment decisions for brain tumours should always be made by doctors based on a patient’s individual clinical needs and preferences. Brain tumours can be treated using a number of treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as appropriate to the tumour type, size and position. These treatments fall within the scope of NHS England direct commissioning responsibilities for specialised services.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of research being undertaken into the (1) prevention, and (2) treatment, of brain tumours.
Answered by Lord Bethell
More research is needed on brain cancer. This is a challenging area as the research community is relatively small. We announced £40 million over five years as part of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. The planned designation of Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence will be a major step forwards in enhancing both treatment and research for people with brain cancer.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 29 January and the statement that "new homes in England delivered through any Permitted Development Right must meet this [the Nationally Described Space Standard] space standard as a minimum", why all new homes developed in England do not have to meet the Nationally Described Space Standard.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to PQHL12277 and note that the draft National Model Design Code was published on 30 January 2021, and we are seeking views on its content.
We agree that ensuring a good standard and quality of internal space is important to achieving well-designed homes for all, as emphasised in our National Design Guide.
Space standards are an optional technical standard in our national planning policies and local authorities can choose to adopt them locally, if they can demonstrate need and that there will be no negative impact on viability.
As my Noble Lord is aware, we announced last year that all new homes in England delivered through any Permitted Development Right must meet this space standard as a minimum. This will apply to proposals from 6 April 2021.
Looking to the future, as noted above we recently published the draft National Model Design Code, in which we intend to emphasise the ingredients for well-designed homes, including the application of the Nationally Described Space Standard that can be included in local design codes, guides and policies.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to award the George Cross to the National Health Service.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Government appreciates there is a huge appetite across the country to recognise all those on the frontline, particularly the NHS, who have been contributing so much through these extraordinary times.
The Government is carefully considering the appropriate way to remember, reward and recognise those involved in the COVID-19 response. We will ensure that any recognition is both timely and appropriate, and takes into account key workers and volunteers across all critical sectors.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 19 January (HL11725), why have they not required local authorities to include the Nationally Described Space Standard in local planning policies.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We agree that ensuring a good standard and quality of internal space is important to achieving well-designed homes for all, as emphasised in our National Design Guide.
Space standards are an optional technical standard in our national planning policies and local authorities can choose to adopt them locally, if they can demonstrate need and that there will be no negative impact on viability.
As my noble Lord is aware, we announced last year that all new homes in England delivered through any Permitted Development Right must meet this space standard as a minimum. This will apply to proposals from 6 April 2021.
Looking to the future, in the forthcoming National Model Design Code we intend to emphasise the ingredients for well-designed homes, including the application of the Nationally Described Space Standard that can be included in local design codes, guides and policies.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce the same space standards for all new housing as those agreed for housing constructed under Permitted Development Rights.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We agree that the provision of adequate living space is vital to delivering healthy housing. The importance of this has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We recognise in our National Design Guide the need for well-designed, healthy homes to provide a good standard and quality of internal space. And within national planning policy and guidance we set out that local authorities have the option to include the Nationally Described Space Standard in local planning policies, subject to demonstrating viability and need.
Looking to the future, the forthcoming National Model Design Code will emphasise the ingredients for well-designed homes, including good space standards, that can be included in local design guides.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to 2020 being designated the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, what support they intend to make available to support the Florence Nightingale Museum to mitigate lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis officials and ministers have been in even more regular contact to understand the impact of the pandemic and the measures the Government has taken to fight it. And to understand what support museums and heritage organisations need and how best to get it to them.
The Government has also announced unprecedented support for business and workers, to protect them against the current economic emergency. Officials have been in regular contact with the Florence Nightingale Museum and are pleased that it has been able to benefit from measures such as the the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme
We recognise the importance of the Florence Nightingale Museum and were pleased to collaborate with them to support their wonderful proposal to project a message of thanks to NHS and care staff onto the walls of the Houses of Parliament, to mark the bicentenary of Nightingale’s birth on 12th May and International Nurses’ Day. Furthermore, the Florence Nightingale Museum Trust was awarded £50,000 through the Heritage Emergency Fund so that they can continue their important work.
Asked by: Lord Crisp (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have made, or intend to make, available to small museums which have had to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to cover their non-staffing and other costs.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis officials and ministers have been in even more regular contact to understand the impact of the pandemic and the measures the Government has taken to fight it. And to understand what support museums and heritage organisations need and how best to get it to them.
In response to this information, DCMS arms’ length bodies have created sector specific support. The National Lottery Heritage Fund launched the £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launched a £2 million Emergency Fund. This emergency short-term funding will help address pressures over the next 3-6 months for those organisations most in immediate need.
It is also worth noting that a fund has been set up for certain small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs, previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme, including small charity properties.
The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.