Andy McDonald

Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).  An ATP sets out, among other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.

Operators may offer a scooter card scheme which allows passengers to apply for a permit for the carriage of their scooter based on its dimensions and other relevant information reasonably requested by the operator. This flexibility is allowed by the ORR given the variety of mobility scooters, different types rolling stock that may call at an operator’s station (often for different operators’ services), as well as the potential infrastructure restrictions at stations. ORR require operators to publish clear information about what mobility scooters they do / don’t accept, and where and this information is available on operators’ websites.

This government is committed to making the railway more accessible. Since 2006, the Access for All Programme has upgraded more than 250 stations to deliver step free access across Great Britain. Details on the accessibility and facilities for each station can be found on the National Rail Enquires or individual train operating company websites.

All trains in service meet the relevant accessibility requirements and are built around accommodating wheelchair dimensions of 1200mm by 700mm but not mobility scooters.

Operators may offer a scooter card scheme which allows passengers to apply for a permit for the carriage of their scooter based on its dimensions and other relevant information reasonably requested by the operator. This flexibility is allowed by the ORR given the variety of mobility scooters, different types rolling stock that may call at an operator’s station (often for different operators’ services), as well as the potential infrastructure restrictions at stations. ORR require operators to publish clear information about what mobility scooters they do / don’t accept, and where and this information is available on operators’ websites.

Since 2010, over 8,800 new vehicles out of a fleet of over 15,200 vehicles have been ordered by train operators to replace vehicles that did not meet modern accessibility requirements.

The Secretary of State publishes Design Standards for Accessible Railway Stations, which licenced operators must follow whenever they install, renew or replace infrastructure or facilities in Great Britain.

Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road.  An ATP sets out, among other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.

The guidance states that operators must set out their policies regarding the carriage of mobility scooters and other mobility aids for mobility-impaired people on their trains. Operators must make the reasoning behind their policies clear, particularly with regard to any policy excluding the carriage of some or all mobility scooters and mobility aids.

Operators must also provide as part of their ATP a separate document that gives details of services and facilities at all of the stations they manage, and other stations called at by their services, including relevant stations operated by Network Rail.

The Personal Independence Payment application process, which was developed with the assistance of disabled people, is kept under constant review. This is to ensure that it is accessible to claimants, and that it helps the Department reach an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement.

The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising Health and Disability benefit services. It is developing a PIP service which will ultimately offer online application and reduce journey times, providing a more efficient service and an enhanced customer experience.

The median clearance time from a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) registration to a DWP decision is 15 weeks for both new claims under normal rules and reassessments from Disability Living Allowance, as of July 2024. For new claims with Special Rules, there is a median time of 3 working days from registration to clearance.

Delays in assessing PIP claims should not affect the amount of Carer’s Allowance paid to the carer as the Carer’s Allowance claim can be backdated to the date PIP is awarded from.

We will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.

We need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides including the recommendations made by the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the points raised by representatives from the WASPI Campaign who I met on the 5^th of September.

Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach.

As a newly formed Government we will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.

Now the election has concluded we need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides.

The issues outlined in the report are significant and complex, as such they require serious deliberation. Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach.

As part of this work, I met with representatives from the WASPI Campaign on the 5 September.

As a newly formed Government we will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.

Now the election has concluded we need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides.

The issues outlined in the report are significant and complex, as such they require serious deliberation. Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach.

As part of this work, I met with representatives from the WASPI Campaign on the 5 September.

Work continues to improve health outcomes for women, including the £25 million women’s health hubs pilot, new NICE guidance on endometriosis and menopause and extending the Baby Loss Certificate service.

The NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme does not cover travel costs for any National Health Service screening programme, including cancer screening. Further details of what is covered under this scheme and who is eligible, is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

There are currently three fully rolled out National Health Service cancer screening programmes: bowel; breast; and cervical. Lung cancer screening is also a formal programme, but is yet to be fully rolled out.

Bowel cancer screening has already introduced the faecal immunochemical test, which is an easier test to use and is done at home. Evidence shows more people from low participation groups such as men, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and people in deprived areas have engaged with screening since its introduction.

For breast screening, NHS England has developed a national uptake improvement plan in collaboration with key stakeholders such as cancer alliances. This plan includes a full review of the breast screening pathway, scoping digital innovations to improve uptake, evidence gathering on barriers to attend screening, investment to promote text message reminder alerts, media campaigns, and improved inclusive information.

Uptake of cervical screening has been declining for the last decade. As well as local initiatives to improve uptake, such as out of hours appointments, the UK National Screening Committee is looking at the use of human papillomavirus self-sampling for non-attenders following publication of the YouScreen study in July 2024. In addition, an in-service evaluation is being commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care research to determine whether self-sampling could be offered to everyone eligible for cervical screening.

Our position on Israeli settlements in the West Bank is clear. They are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. We strongly condemn settler violence and the actions of those who seek to incite violence and inflame tensions, and we call on Israel to act accordingly. As the occupying power, Israel has an obligation to protect the civilian Palestinian population in the West Bank.  On 15 October we sanctioned three outposts and four entities linked to West Bank violence, under the Global Human Rights regime. The UK is considering all options to support a more stable West Bank. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have expressed serious concern at the UNRWA bills that Israel's Knesset has now passed. This legislation risks making UNRWA's essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank. The UK and six allies issued a joint statement on 27 October expressing our grave concern and urging Israel to ensure UNRWA can continue its lifesaving work. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this to Israel's Foreign Minister Katz on 27 October. We will continue working with our international partners and through the UN to press Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.

The UK was disappointed that these principles were not fully reflected in the Terms of Reference agreed by the UN Ad Hoc Committee in August, but will continue to engage constructively in support of key principles for strengthening international tax cooperation.

The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.

The UK was disappointed that these principles were not fully reflected in the Terms of Reference agreed by the UN Ad Hoc Committee in August, but will continue to engage constructively in support of key principles for strengthening international tax cooperation.

The Government is committed to tackling unsustainable debt. Private lenders have an important part to play and alongside our partners in the G20 and Paris Club, we expect private creditors to participate in debt restructurings on comparable terms. This is a fundamental principle of the G20 Common Framework and we welcome recent agreements reached by bondholders of Zambia and Ghana.

At this stage, the Government is not pursuing a legislative approach that would force private or other lenders to participate in debt restructurings. The Government is focused on delivering a market-based (contractual) approach to private sector participation, to promote more efficient restructurings, reduce the ability for creditors to hold out, and increase transparency.

Our refugee family reunion policy is intended to allow those granted protection status in the UK to sponsor their partner or children to stay with or join them here, provided they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin to seek protection. Appendix CNP (Child Staying with or Joining a Non-Parent Relative) allows for a non-parent relative with protection status in the UK to sponsor a child to stay with or join them, where there are serious and compelling circumstances. This can be in situations where the child has no family other than the non-parent relative that could reasonably be expected to support or care for them.

Appendix CNP requires sponsors to demonstrate that suitable arrangements have been made for the child’s care which serves to both ensure that children may only come to the UK through this route where it is in their best interest and prevents additional pressures on local authorities. Immigration Rules changes were introduced to Appendix CNP as part of the Autumn 2024 rules changes to simplify existing requirements and provide greater clarity to applicants and decision makers. These changes take effect from 8 November 2024.

The UK has always done our bit to help those fleeing persecution and continues to welcome refugees and people in need through our global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Alongside these schemes, we operate specific schemes for those fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan, and an immigration route for British National (overseas) status holders from Hong Kong. There are also Displaced Talent initiatives which help displaced populations to access a skilled worker visa. The refugee family reunion policy allows immediate family members of those granted protection in the UK to stay with them or join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. Between 2015 and August 2024, 625,294 individuals were offered a route into the UK through these schemes and policies.

We are focused on ensuring existing pathways work effectively.

As has been the case for many years, asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This list is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.

Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no plans to change this policy.

The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system. We will ensure that the system operates fairly and with quicker processing of claims. This will see recognised refugees being able to access employment more quickly, whilst failed asylum seekers can be safely returned.

On 18 September 2024 we announced grant funding for four organisations (Migrant Help, CA Scotland, Advice NI and Welsh Refugee Council) to provide UK-wide support for vulnerable individuals in their transition from physical immigrations products to an eVisa. In the coming weeks, we will publish details on GOV.UK for further regional/community-based organisations spread across the UK. This represents an investment of up to £4m over the next 12 months.

We are currently rolling out digital immigration status across all immigration routes. Over time, this will mean people with 3C leave will have this displayed on their digital status (e.g. their 3C leave rights will be displayed on our online services such as View and Prove). For example, by the end of this year all customers with a pre-existing digital immigration status will receive digital proof of 3C from any new application they submit. This rollout is the most expedient and comprehensive way to ensure beneficiaries of 3C leave are able to prove it.