Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve mental health support services across England; and what consultations they have held on this issue with the devolved administrations.

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

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on busy mental health services. We will also introduce access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, and roll out Young Futures hubs in every community.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has made clear his commitment to ongoing engagement and collaboration with the devolved governments. The next Health and Social Care Interministerial Group is scheduled for 11 December 2024.

In addition, officials have established a regular Four Nations Meeting on mental health reform, in which the Mental Health Bill’s measures and potential implications for the devolved administrations are discussed.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to remove the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to the Windsor Framework and to protecting the UK internal market. In accordance with the law, the Government last month initiated the consent vote process in the Northern Ireland Assembly so that it may make its democratic decision on the continued application of Articles 5-10 of the Windsor Framework. The outcome of that vote is a matter for MLAs to decide.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the 100,000 additional pensioners moving into poverty as a result of changes to winter fuel payments.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1 per cent increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we are urging pensioners to come forward and check their eligibility for Pension Credit to ensure as many people in need as possible have access to this support. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them.

Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them, as they may be able to receive support from the Household Support Fund, Council Tax Reduction, or through energy support programmes such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the National Farmers Union prior to or since the changes to inheritance tax announced in the Autumn Budget in relation to family farms.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to employer national insurance contributions on health and social care providers.

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

We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at Autumn Budget, and this enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26. The employer National Insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025, and the Department will set out further details on the allocation of funding for next year at the earliest opportunity, including through NHS Planning Guidance, and the usual consultations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many family farms in Northern Ireland will be affected by the changes to inheritance tax announced in the Autumn Budget.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information on how many estates in Northern Ireland will be affected by the changes is not centrally held.

The Government has published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-are-the-changes-to-agricultural-property-relief(opens in a new tab).

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.