Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people waited for allergy testing for more than 12 weeks in each of the past 10 years.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
This information is not collected centrally.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many preventable deaths occurred in each of the three most recent years for which figures are available, as a result of (1) failure to administer an adrenaline auto-injector, and (2) failure of an adrenaline auto-injector.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data on the number of preventable deaths which have occurred as a result of failure to administer an adrenaline auto-injector and failure of an adrenaline auto-injector are not collected by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as the Human Medicines regulations relate to pharmacovigilance of adverse drug reactions and medication errors resulting in adverse drug reactions. Anyone experiencing side effects with medicines is encouraged to report these to MHRA via Yellow Card.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police last updated the Home Secretary on the implementation of the recommendations contained within An Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Non-Recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged Against Persons of Public Prominence, published on 31 October 2016.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In October 2019, the Home Secretary asked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the Metropolitan Police Service’s progress in learning lessons and embedding the recommendations from Sir Richard Henriques Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Handling of Operation Midland (published in October 2016). HMICFRS published its report in March 2020 and wrote to all Chief Constables to make them aware of their report’s findings and recommendations. In May 2021, at the then Home Secretary’s request, the MPS provided an update on their progress to Sir Richard Henriques – available on Gov.uk Letter from Dame Cressida Dick (MPS) to Sir Richard Henriques (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Government continues to work with policing partners, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to ensure police handling and investigation of such sensitive matters is both fair and impartial, while also responding to the needs of victims and survivors. We fund the police Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, which identifies and shares best practice between forces in engaging with vulnerable people and investigating crimes such as child sexual abuse.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice they provide to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence in a timely manner.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not provide guidance to senior police officers for dealing with parliamentary correspondence. That is a matter for Chief Constables themselves, who are operationally independent and PCCs, who provide the most direct line of accountability for local Police Forces.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the circumstances under which documents relating to the murder of Daniel Morgan, which were discovered locked in a cabinet at Scotland Yard, were not provided to the Independent Panel reviewing the conduct of Metropolitan Police inquiries into Mr Morgan’s murder.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has informed the Home Office of the discovery of information relevant to the work of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) and the subsequent inspection, commissioned by the former Home Secretary, of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS will review the undisclosed material. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been informed.
The MPS has informed the family of Daniel Morgan and Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Chair of the now concluded DMIP, of the discovery, and offered to provide both with access to the material if required.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the records management policy of police forces following recent revelations that the Metropolitan Police failed to disclose 95 pages of documents relating to the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Inquiry.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has informed the Home Office of the discovery of information relevant to the work of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) and the subsequent inspection, commissioned by the former Home Secretary, of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS will review the undisclosed material. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been informed.
The MPS has informed the family of Daniel Morgan and Baroness Nuala O’Loan, Chair of the now concluded DMIP, of the discovery, and offered to provide both with access to the material if required.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings (1) ministers, and (2) senior officials, at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have had with the Unit for Future Skills.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There have been no ministerial level meetings to date, but the Unit for Future Skills (UFS) has met Defra officials at a working level. The UFS also recently joined Government’s Green Jobs Delivery Group and will look to support this group to access data and insights on skills needs across green sectors.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what skills gaps they have identified in the UK horticulture sector.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the horticulture sector’s skills gaps; enabling an innovative, productive and competitive food and farming industry which invests in its people and skills to drive growth is a key priority for the Government. Attracting bright new talent that is diverse and inclusive into agricultural and horticultural careers and having a skilled workforce in place is vital for the future of UK food and farming. By raising awareness of agriculture and horticulture as an exciting and attractive career path, people will understand the opportunities available to them in the farming and land management industry.
An Independent Review of Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain began in September. The review will focus on farming, processing, and food and drink manufacturing as sectors that are critical for food production and food security. Skills in the food supply chain is a critical area that will be covered in the final report. The final report will be published by summer 2023 and the Government response will follow thereafter.
The Government is contributing towards the establishment of a new professional body for the farming industry; The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). TIAH is aimed at removing the fragmentation that exists within current learning and skills landscape for farming businesses, enabling the industry to drive greater uptake of skills, creating clear career development pathways and promoting the sector as a progressive, professional and attractive career choice. TIAH has launched a pilot to help develop its services ahead of a general launch to wider membership.
The Government is also reforming post-16 technical education to provide clearer routes into skilled employment in agriculture and other sectors. A key part of this is the introduction of the new Technical Level programmes (T-levels) which include pathways in agriculture, environmental and animal health and care. Alongside apprenticeships this provides more opportunities and pathways for young people looking for careers in agriculture and horticulture.
Alongside training opportunities, TIAH will also provide information about apprenticeships. There are currently 40 high-quality apprenticeship standards available in the agriculture, environmental and animal care sector including Horticulture and landscaping technical manager.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the guidance provided to (1) ministers, and (2) special advisers, for their use of (a) WhatsApp, (b) Signal, and (c) Telegram, digital channels.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office intends to publish guidance on the use of non-corporate communications channels as soon as possible. This will replace the guidance published in 2013.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the guidance given to civil servants for (1) providing advice to, and (2) communication with, ministers on (a) WhatsApp, (b) Signal, and (c) Telegram, digital channels.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office intends to publish guidance on the use of non-corporate communications channels as soon as possible. This will replace the guidance published in 2013.