Alex Cunningham Alert Sample


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View the Parallel Parliament page for Alex Cunningham

Information between 4th March 2024 - 14th March 2024

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Division Votes
13 Mar 2024 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context
Alex Cunningham voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 141 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 147
13 Mar 2024 - National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Cunningham voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 170 Noes - 292
13 Mar 2024 - National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Alex Cunningham voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 169 Noes - 293


Speeches
Alex Cunningham speeches from: Oral Answers to Questions
Alex Cunningham contributed 1 speech (77 words)
Monday 11th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Department for Education
Alex Cunningham speeches from: Oral Answers to Questions
Alex Cunningham contributed 2 speeches (114 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Department for Business and Trade
Alex Cunningham speeches from: Business of the House
Alex Cunningham contributed 1 speech (92 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Leader of the House
Alex Cunningham speeches from: Budget Resolutions
Alex Cunningham contributed 4 speeches (1,489 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Department for Work and Pensions
Alex Cunningham speeches from: Oral Answers to Questions
Alex Cunningham contributed 2 speeches (86 words)
Wednesday 6th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Scotland Office


Written Answers
Offences against Children
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will consider the potential merits of implementing a method for members of the public to report directly and anonymously suspected child exploitation.

Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)

Since 2019, The Home Office has provided £3.9m to the Children’s Society’s Prevention Programme, which drives targeted action to respond to exploitation. The programme has reached over 56,000 people and works with 35 police force areas on the #LookCloser campaign delivered in partnership between The Children’s Society, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) and the British Transport Police (BTP). The #LookCloser campaign’s focus is on improving public and business sector awareness of exploitation and abuse, and everyone’s role in spotting and reporting concerns.

The Government is also acting quickly to implement mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in England, which introduces a new legal requirement for those in roles with responsibility for children to speak out when a child is being sexually abused. Following the conclusion of a call for evidence over the Summer, and a public consultation, the Government announced it will introduce mandatory reporting via amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. The Government has listened to the voices of victims and survivors and will deliver deep-rooted change to ensure children are never again so badly let down by the very institutions that should have protected them.

If anyone has any concerns that a child is being exploited, the government strongly encourages them to report those concerns to the police or to contact the children’s social care team at their local council. Members of the public can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, NSPCC Helpline or ChildLine to discuss their concerns and get confidential advice.

Offences against Children
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps members of the public can take to report suspected cases of child exploitation.

Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)

Since 2019, The Home Office has provided £3.9m to the Children’s Society’s Prevention Programme, which drives targeted action to respond to exploitation. The programme has reached over 56,000 people and works with 35 police force areas on the #LookCloser campaign delivered in partnership between The Children’s Society, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) and the British Transport Police (BTP). The #LookCloser campaign’s focus is on improving public and business sector awareness of exploitation and abuse, and everyone’s role in spotting and reporting concerns.

The Government is also acting quickly to implement mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in England, which introduces a new legal requirement for those in roles with responsibility for children to speak out when a child is being sexually abused. Following the conclusion of a call for evidence over the Summer, and a public consultation, the Government announced it will introduce mandatory reporting via amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. The Government has listened to the voices of victims and survivors and will deliver deep-rooted change to ensure children are never again so badly let down by the very institutions that should have protected them.

If anyone has any concerns that a child is being exploited, the government strongly encourages them to report those concerns to the police or to contact the children’s social care team at their local council. Members of the public can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, NSPCC Helpline or ChildLine to discuss their concerns and get confidential advice.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the global supply chain on the (a) repair and (b) maintenance of helicopter models licensed to provide public transport in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Spares and material shortages are not considered a direct safety issue to the operation of the aircraft but may reduce aircraft availability and increase maintenance activity to maintain operational flying of available aircraft. It is recommended that all operators carry out a safety case for their operation within their Safety Management System to identify specific risks and mitigations

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will have discussions with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport, (b) operators, (c) the offshore oil and gas industry and (d) trade unions on the safety of offshore helicopter transport operations.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with her ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders, including the offshore oil and gas trade association, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), to discuss a wide range of subjects.

Officials also meet regularly with OEUK, who are working closely on offshore safety issues with helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the relevant regulators (Health and Safety Executive and the Civil Aviation Authority) and trade associations.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Transport on the regulation of helicopter transport services for offshore oil and gas workers.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The regulation of helicopter transport services for offshore oil and gas workers is a matter for other bodies, such as the Civil Aviation Authority. Officials are in regular contact with Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), which engages directly on this issue on behalf of the offshore oil and gas sector with relevant bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Civil Aviation Authority, helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, and the pilots’ union BALPA

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the (a) models and (b) number of helicopters licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to transport offshore oil and gas workers to and from installations in the North Sea.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In 2017 the Airbus EC 175 entered UK service in support of Oil and Gas offshore operations, and as of 1 March 2024, there are 19 of these operating in the sector. Since that date no new aircraft types have entered service, nor has the CAA received applications from manufacturers to certify a new type. The average age of sector UK fleet is 9.6 years.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the average age of the helicopter transport fleet in the offshore oil and gas sector.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In 2017 the Airbus EC 175 entered UK service in support of Oil and Gas offshore operations, and as of 1 March 2024, there are 19 of these operating in the sector. Since that date no new aircraft types have entered service, nor has the CAA received applications from manufacturers to certify a new type. The average age of sector UK fleet is 9.6 years.

Family Hubs
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding Family Hubs to all local authorities in England.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Family Hubs are a one stop shop for families to make it easier for them to get the help they need. The government would like to see Family Hubs across the country. The department has selected 75 local authorities based on levels of disadvantage to target the areas with the highest levels of deprivation and disproportionately poor health and educational outcomes. It is crucial that the department focuses on delivering fairly in these 75 local authorities already committed to and building the evidence base. The department has appointed Ecorys, Sheffield Hallam University and Ipsos to assess the family hubs aspect of the ‘Family Hubs and Start for Life’ programme. The newly commissioned evaluation will explore how the programme is being implemented across local authorities, where improvements can be made, and how it offers value-for-money. The department expects to publish the findings of the evaluation in late 2025.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new helicopter models were licenced by the Civil Aviation Authority for service in the North Sea oil and gas industry between 2016 and 4 March 2024; and how many applications the Civil Aviation Authority received from helicopter manufacturers in that period.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In 2017 the Airbus EC 175 entered UK service in support of Oil and Gas offshore operations, and as of 1 March 2024, there are 19 of these operating in the sector. Since that date no new aircraft types have entered service, nor has the CAA received applications from manufacturers to certify a new type. The average age of sector UK fleet is 9.6 years.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to (a) request data from operators of helicopter transport services in the offshore oil and gas sector on their annual flying hours between 2018 and 4 March 2024 and (b) place copies of that information in the Library.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that North Sea helicopter flying is as safe as possible. In 2014, the CAA published a comprehensive review of the safety of offshore helicopter operations. The Review examined the risks to helicopter operations to support the oil and gas industries in and around the North Sea. It identified a wide range of opportunities to improve the safety of those operations and to increase the chances of passengers and crew surviving an accident.

As the UK’s aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continues to monitor all aspects of the operations of offshore helicopter companies and any risks to safe operation through its ongoing programme of safety oversight - which includes implementation of the review findings and monitoring data from operators.


It is the role of the CAA as the independent regulator to collect safety data, it is not for the Department to do so.

Helicopters: North Sea
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the (a) resilience and (b) safety of helicopter transport operations in the North Sea.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that North Sea helicopter flying is as safe as possible. In 2014, the CAA published a comprehensive review of the safety of offshore helicopter operations. The Review examined the risks to helicopter operations to support the oil and gas industries in and around the North Sea. It identified a wide range of opportunities to improve the safety of those operations and to increase the chances of passengers and crew surviving an accident.

As the UK’s aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continues to monitor all aspects of the operations of offshore helicopter companies and any risks to safe operation through its ongoing programme of safety oversight - which includes implementation of the review findings and monitoring data from operators.


It is the role of the CAA as the independent regulator to collect safety data, it is not for the Department to do so.

Dental Services: Staff
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing dental therapists to carry out some minor dental procedures.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

From August to September 2023, we consulted on changes to the Human Medicines Regulations, which will enable dental therapists and dental hygienists to supply and administer some medicines without the need for a prescription from a dentist, allowing therapists and hygienists to work to their full scope of practice. We will respond shortly to the consultation on the proposals. Furthermore, NHS England’s January 2023 guidance clarified that dental therapists and dental hygienists can open and close National Health Service courses of treatment and provide direct access to NHS care, where that care is within the General Dental Council scope of practice, provided that they are qualified, competent, and indemnified to do so.

Fluoride: Drinking Water
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to re-examine the use of fluoridisation of water supplies.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under new legislation, we have made it simpler to start new water fluoridation schemes. Our plan to recover and reform dentistry included a long-term ambition to systematically bring water fluoridation to more of the country, as a safe and effective intervention, with a particular focus on the most deprived areas.

As a first step, we will consult on expanding existing water fluoridation in the North East. We will begin consultation early this year. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care continues to have a duty to monitor the effects of the water fluoridation schemes every four years, with the next report due in 2026.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has received recent representations from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers on safety risks in the offshore helicopter supply chain.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The responsibility for safety risks in the offshore helicopter supply chain lies with the Civil Aviation Authority. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is not aware that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has received recent representations from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers on this matter.

Families: Social Workers
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to tackle shortages in family social workers.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Social workers play a valuable role in supporting the most vulnerable in society and the department is committed to ensuring there is an excellent child and family social worker for everyone who needs one. The department recognises the ongoing challenge facing local authorities across the country in recruiting and retaining child and family social workers, with reasons for social workers leaving the profession varied and complex.

On 2 February 2023, the department published the care reform strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, which set out proposals to help stabilise the workforce. This includes supporting the recruitment of up to 461 social worker apprentices, a new Early Career Framework that will set out the development plans for a social worker’s first five years, proposals to reduce the overreliance on agency social workers, and setting up a National Workload Action Group to tackle unnecessary workload drivers which keep social workers away from direct time with children and families.

Every year, through the department’s fast track and development programmes, the department trains an average of 800 new social workers and provides professional development for around 4,000 others.

The number of full time equivalent child and family social workers in post at 30 September 2023 was 33,100. This is the highest figure we've seen since gathering this data. The statistics show that the department’s £50 million average yearly investment over this Spending Review on recruitment and training child and family social workers, alongside the hard work of local authorities is generating positive results.




Alex Cunningham mentioned

Parliamentary Debates
Budget Resolutions
206 speeches (46,853 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Department for Work and Pensions
Mentions:
1: Michael Shanks (Lab - Rutherglen and Hamilton West) Friend the Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham). A decade ago George Osborne—remember him? - Link to Speech



Deposited Papers
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Home Office
Source Page: Letter dated 05/03/2024 from Laura Farris MP to Jess Phillips MP regarding issues raised in the Criminal Justice Bill committee stage debate (sixteenth sitting): new clause to amend the definition of human trafficking in section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) 2015, and data on convictions under section 1 of the MSA. 2p.
Document: Minister_Farris_to_Jess_Phillips-Criminal_Justice_Bill.pdf (PDF)

Found: I am copying this letter to Alex Cunningham and placing a copy in the library of the House.