Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department will issue information to local councils about how the Ukrainian refugee education funding will work.
Answered by Robin Walker
We continue to work across government to ensure we are supporting all families and children arriving in the UK from Ukraine. The government has set out the funding tariffs for those arriving on the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, as below.
The funding will be on a per pupil basis for the three phases of education at the following annual rates:
The department is currently working at pace to develop the methodology and mechanism for the allocation of this education funding for children and young people and will write to local authorities once this work is completed.
Further details on funding for this scheme, including the conditions, is available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average applications are taking to be processed for the Homes for Ukraine scheme where the sponsor already has a named contact, as of 24 March 2022.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Scheme has only been running for a short period so far; details on the number of visas issued, which will give an indication of processing times, will be released in due course.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to extend the Homes for Ukraine scheme that would facilitate matching of volunteers with Ukrainian refugees who are not named individual contacts.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to PQ UIN 145857 on 28 March 2022. The Government is working closely with the voluntary sector, local communities and faith groups, as well as local government and the devolved administrations. Resources for learning Ukrainian and Russian are widely available online.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether proposals set out in the Government's amendments to the Building Safety Bill to introduce a warranty on new builds will be retroactive.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The proposed amendments for new build warranties will apply prospectively to strengthen the future regime. The Bill provides a range of other tools to enable existing homeowners to seek redress from those who created building safety risks, such as the extended limitation period for action under the Defective Premises Act 1972 and our new remediation orders and building liability orders.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the daily standing charge in energy usage, in the context of significant rises in consumption charges.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The standing charge includes charges from network companies for using pipes and cables to carry gas and electricity supplies, the maintenance and installation of meters and billing and accounting. A small proportion also goes towards Government initiatives to help vulnerable households and reduce emissions.
Without the standing charge, these costs would be added to the unit price of energy. Otherwise, suppliers would not be able to recover the legitimate costs of serving customers.
For millions of households, the level of the standing charge is protected by the energy price cap rate set by Ofgem.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a seasonal workers visa for the hospitality and tourism sector.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Points Based System already provides for many occupations within these sectors, including chefs, restaurant managers and hotel managers, subject to the requirements of the system – including English language and salary – being met.
Beyond the Points Based System, there is the existing UK labour market, which includes those who come to the UK through our Youth Mobility Schemes (which we are looking to expand), our British National (Overseas) visa for those from Hong Kong, dependants of those arriving under the expanded Skilled Worker route, as well as over 5.5 million people who have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Most of the solutions are likely to be driven by industry, with a push towards improving pay and conditions needed, rather than turning to the Home Office for immigration policy changes as an alternative to doing this.
We therefore have no plans to introduce a seasonal worker visa for the hospitality and tourism sector.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 129762, when he expects to have completed information gathering; and when he plans to make a decision on whether to ban foie gras imports.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As set out in the response to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead on 7 March 2022 to Question 129762, we continue to engage with a range of stakeholders about the issues regarding foie gras produced overseas using force-feeding practices. This activity is a key step in taking forward the Government’s commitment to improving animal welfare standards as outlined in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date the full criteria for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will be announced.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The criteria for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are specified in the Statutory Instrument which was laid in Parliament on the 24th February 2022:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2022/9780348232349/contents.
Further information on the scheme can be found in Ofgem’s consultation on scheme administration, which closed on 27th January 2022:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/consultation-ofgems-administration-boiler-upgrade-scheme,
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of whether there is an HRT medical supplies shortage.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department is aware of supply issues affecting a very limited number of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products. However, most products, including alternatives to those experiencing supply issues. remain available. We continue to work with all suppliers of HRT medicines to maintain overall supply to patients and share regular updates with the National Health Service and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists.
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to make a decision on the future of Teignmouth Hospital.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel provided their advice on this case on 23 December 2021. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has considered the Panel’s advice and will issue a decision shortly.