Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support she is providing to families requiring services under the adoption and special guardian support fund.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides trauma and attachment related therapy and specialist assessments for children and families where the child has previously been in local authority care and has been adopted or is under a special guardianship order. The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, ASGSF applications are currently permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the compensation offered to jurors on jury service for (a) mileage and (b) subsistence.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Jury service is an important civic duty, and we want to help jurors feel supported as they undertake this important job. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service. This includes measures to assist those who may suffer financial hardship. People who are not paid by their employer whilst they are on jury service can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court, and jurors can apply for a deferral or excusal based upon financial hardship.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on the electrification of the line between Bristol and Chippenham.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Passengers using the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 as part of the Great Western Route Modernisation programme. These trains are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys for passengers.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) time impact of the deferred electrification between Bristol and Chippenham on commuters.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Electrification of the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham was deferred in 2016. Passengers on this line are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 which are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys. No subsequent assessment has been made since the deferral of electrification on this line.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she plans to take to increase jurors' compensation in line with inflation.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Jury service is an important civic duty, and we want to help jurors feel supported as they undertake this important job. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service. This includes measures to assist those who may suffer financial hardship. People who are not paid by their employer whilst they are on jury service can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court, and jurors can apply for a deferral or excusal based upon financial hardship.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support homeowners who received a government grant to get foam roof insulation which has caused damp issues.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must be installed in accordance with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under a government-backed scheme, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee.

If installed under a government scheme the TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.

Ministers will now press ahead with a sweeping overhaul of consumer protection through the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support homeowners to remove and replace faulty home insulation.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Installations of any insulation under current Government schemes must comply with the PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 standards. In any instance where insulation is installed improperly under these schemes, consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the guarantee provided.

The TrustMark website contains further guidance on how consumers can complain if things go wrong and the dispute resolution process: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowners/if-things-go-wrong.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Government will further drive up the quality of installations and protect consumers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the criteria is for medication for long-term illnesses to be exempt from prescription charges.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in ten monthly direct debit instalments.

The list of specified medical conditions that provide exemption from prescription charges is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/medical-exemption-certificates

The exemption covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review prescription charges for long-term medication.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need to pay and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in ten monthly direct debit instalments.

The list of specified medical conditions that provide exemption from prescription charges is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/medical-exemption-certificates

The exemption covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on ensuring eligible retired firefighters receive due compensation under the McCloud remedy.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

While the Home Office has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the firefighters’ pension scheme regulations, the firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each individual Fire and Rescue Authority.

The Home Office continues to work with the fire sector to support the effective implementation of the McCloud remedy for all affected individuals.

As the designated scheme manager, it is for each Fire and Rescue Authority to determine their administrative timetable, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022, including when remedy payments will be distributed.

Adult education

Humanitarian response to the Myanmar earthquake

Israeli Defence Force attacks on humanitarian workers

Radiotherapy (No. 2)

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance 25th anniversary

Access to football pitches for women and girls

Injury on Duty Award Scheme

Found: Paula Barker; Sir Francis Habgood; Professor Michael Maguire; Mehmuda Mian; Dr Rose Marie Parr; Anna Sabine

Found: _NC13 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC13 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC13 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Ben Maguire .

Found: New Amendment: NC20 _4 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor .

Found: New Amendment: NC20 _4 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor .

Found: Not called_234 Tom Gordon Siân Berry Alicia Kearns Anna Sabine Rachel Hopkins Neil Duncan-Jordan

Found: _NC13 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor ★.

Found: _NC13 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor ★.

Found: Not called_234 Tom Gordon Siân Berry Alicia Kearns Anna Sabine Rachel Hopkins Neil Duncan-Jordan

Found: Not called_234 Tom Gordon Siân Berry Alicia Kearns Anna Sabine Rachel Hopkins Neil Duncan-Jordan

Found: Sarah Hall Claire Hanna Helen Hayes Chris Webb Mrs Sharon Hodgson Cat Eccles Jon Trickett Anna Sabine

Found: Not called_234 Tom Gordon Siân Berry Alicia Kearns Anna Sabine Rachel Hopkins Neil Duncan-Jordan

Found: Sarah Hall Claire Hanna Helen Hayes Chris Webb Mrs Sharon Hodgson Cat Eccles Jon Trickett Anna Sabine

Found: Not called_234 Tom Gordon Siân Berry Alicia Kearns Anna Sabine Rachel Hopkins Neil Duncan-Jordan