Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Prohibit employers from requiring staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19
Gov Responded - 25 Nov 2021 Debated on - 24 Jan 2022 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsMake it illegal for any employer to mandate vaccination for its employees. This should apply to all public sector (including the NHS, armed forces, care workers), third sector and all private sector.
Do not rollout Covid-19 vaccine passports
Gov Responded - 3 Mar 2021 Debated on - 15 Mar 2021 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsWe want the Government to commit to not rolling out any e-vaccination status/immunity passport to the British public. Such passports could be used to restrict the rights of people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine, which would be unacceptable.
Allow teacher predicted grades for BTEC students
Gov Responded - 17 Feb 2021 Debated on - 15 Mar 2021 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsThe government should allow BTEC students to achieve teacher predicted grades rather than being forced into a system that is unethically downgrading thousands of students grades.
Keep schools closed until May
Gov Responded - 15 Mar 2021 Debated on - 15 Mar 2021 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsPlease don’t send students back until we know we have had the priority groups vaccinated such as the elderly, the extremely clinically vulnerable, and those with underlying health conditions.
Cancel GCSE and A-levels in 2021 replace with Course Work and Teacher Assessment
Gov Responded - 26 Jan 2021 Debated on - 15 Mar 2021 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsCancel all standardise testing for year 11 and year 12 students in 2021. By replacing tests with smaller amounts of course work and teacher assessment, students would have a fair chance at achieving their target grades and it would relieve stress for teachers and students.
Close schools in Tier 4 areas
Gov Responded - 21 Jan 2021 Debated on - 15 Mar 2021 View Ben Bradley's petition debate contributionsSchools can be a breeding ground for the spread of coronavirus. Children are mingling at schools and returning to families who are potentially vulnerable, keeping rates high.
It's only been since schools opened that infection rates have been high in Kent, and keeping them open may keep it high.
These initiatives were driven by Ben Bradley, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Ben Bradley has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about the protection of pollinators; and for connected purposes.
Online News Platforms (Regulation) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)
Sponsor - Damien Moore (CON)
Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule)
Sponsor - Bim Afolami (CON)
My Department sets the standards that developers are required to follow including through planning requirements and building regulations. Local planning authorities and building control bodies hold enforcement powers. Developers are required to ensure that new houses are built correctly and to comply with building regulations. Building inspectors check to ensure that these requirements are met on new homes. The Department may also restrict access to Government support or funding such as Help to Buy, which has recently been used to exclude Rydon Homes where there are concerns about unacceptable business practices.
The Building Safety Bill, currently before Parliament, includes provisions to strengthen the building safety regime including through the Building Safety Regulator, which will have oversight of the whole of the built environment and the New Homes Ombudsman scheme. Developers will be required to become members of the Ombudsman scheme, which will investigate and determine complaints from new build homebuyers against their developers.
The Government is clear that unauthorised development is unacceptable and unfair to the majority who abide by the rules. It is also important that where people have made a genuine mistake, or where the development does not harm the amenity of the area, there is an opportunity to rectify the situation by submitting a retrospective planning application.
We are continuing to consider the best way forward for planning reforms, including how it can support planning enforcement. An announcement on next steps will be made shortly.
All people need to be able to have open and explorative conversations that allow them to come to the right decision for themselves. The Government’s view is that an act of talking conversion therapy has the intent of changing a person to being something they are not. A supportive conversation is one that does not pressure that person into any particular outcome. Parents, clinicians and teachers will of course continue to be able to have conversations with young people or others about their sexual orientation or whether they are transgender or not.
Under our proposals, people who are transgender or are exploring their transgender status, including under-18s, will also remain able to access the support they need from qualified health professionals without change. Our proposals will complement the existing clinical regulatory framework and not override the independence of clinicians to offer support in line with professional obligations.
We are engaging with a wide range of relevant stakeholders on this issue and will work with the relevant authorities to ensure that our legislative interventions operate effectively.
To better understand the nature and impact of conversion therapy practices in the UK, the Government commissioned research on conversion therapy, including around the prevalence and nature of such practices in the UK. This was published on 29 October, alongside our public consultation on how to ban conversion therapy, and is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/conversion-therapy-an-evidence-assessment-and-qualitative-study/conversion-therapy-an-evidence-assessment-and-qualitative-study.
This report summarises the review undertaken of research published from January 2000 to June 2020 as well as the findings from qualitative interviews with 30 people who have had experience of conversion therapy in the UK since 2000.
The report also draws on the findings from the National LGBT Survey of over 108,000 people in 2017, including that 5% of respondents had been offered so called ‘conversion’ or ‘reparative’ therapy and a further 2% had undergone it. The survey also found that transgender respondents were more likely to have reported having undergone or been offered conversion therapy (13%) than non-transgender respondents (7%). The full results of the survey were published in 2018 and are available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-lgbt-survey-summary-report
In addition, we actively engage with a wide range of civil society stakeholders on the subject of LGBT conversion therapy and monitor the international approaches being taken.
My department is currently implementing the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. This includes preparing a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. As part of the process to implement the Code, we recently published a consultation on private parking charges, discount rates, debt collection fees and an appeals charter, which closed on 27 August 2021.
We are considering all impacts of the new Code and will publish the Code together with the Government’s response to the recent consultation in due course.
My department is currently implementing the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. This includes preparing a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. As part of the process to implement the Code, we recently published a consultation on private parking charges, discount rates, debt collection fees and an appeals charter, which closed on 27 August 2021.
We are considering all impacts of the new Code and will publish the Code together with the Government’s response to the recent consultation in due course.
The census has asked a question on sex since 1801. The sex question for Census 2021 is set out in the Census (England and Wales) Order 2020 and the Census (England) Regulations 2020. The Office for National Statistics has recently published its final guidance for this question on its website at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment/genderidentity/census2021finalguidanceforthequestionwhatisyoursex
The NHS provides a range of outstanding physical and mental health care support for the Armed Forces community. There are some Armed Forces veterans whose residency status does not currently entitle them to free healthcare for conditions not related to their Armed Forces service; discussions are underway to address this anomaly. All non-UK personnel who serve in the Armed Forces for a minimum of four years, and those medically discharged before then as a result of an attributable injury or illness, have the option to settle in the UK at the conclusion of their service through bespoke Armed Forces immigration arrangements which include the full use of the NHS.
There is also provision in existing immigration rules for individuals who have served in the Armed Forces to re-apply to have their immigration status reviewed under certain circumstances or to apply where the normal timeframes for an application have expired. There should be no doubt the Government is committed to making it easier for service personnel and their families to settle in the UK once they have completed their service and is exploring ways to achieve this
This Government is in frequent contact with all 38 Local Resilience Forums in England, with officials present at all strategic level meetings. Each Forum has an assigned Government Liaison Officer who serves as a direct line between the Forum and central government. Weekly calls take place between officials and Local Resilience Forum Chairs.
Of course, we recognise that local authorities' functions vary across the UK and that the devolved administrations are responsible for supporting their respective resilience partnerships. The Government has been in regular contact with the devolved administrations in order to coordinate a UK-wide response to the pandemic.
The UK has strong oil and gas security of supply.
The UK participates in a global market for crude oil and petroleum products and is a significant producer of both. UK demand is met by a combination of domestic production and imports from a diverse range of reliable suppliers led by North America and Norway.
The UK’s gas system has delivered securely to date and is expected to continue to function well. We meet around half of our supply from the UK Continental Shelf and the vast majority of our imports come from reliable suppliers such as Norway. Less than 3% of our gas supply in 2020 was sourced from Russia via Liquified Natural Gas. There is no direct pipeline between the UK and Russia.
The Government is seeking to reduce the energy bills of low income and vulnerable households across England through energy efficiency measures. Schemes such as the Sustainable Warmth Competition and the Energy Company Obligation are delivering such measures through engagement with local authorities to ensure targeted delivery.
The upstream oil and gas production sector is well placed to deliver as much domestic production as possible during the winter period. There has been strong resilience in production and most of the maintenance delayed due to COVID-19 has now been completed.
All products, including air cleaning devices, placed on the market must be safe and must not make untrue or misleading statements about their properties and performance. Consumer law requires traders to provide consumers with information on the main characteristics of goods and it must be accurate and not misleading. Consumers may also request information from the retailer when making a purchase and the retailer would be required to provide this accurately under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Consumers can seek free information and advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/).
The Government publishes a wide range of information for businesses about product regulation and complying with product safety legislation on its GOV.UK website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidance). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance on keeping workplaces safe and disinfecting premises (https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/disinfecting-premises-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm).
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has previously published consumer survey data outlining attitudes and behaviours to products related to COVID-19, including air cleaning technologies:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opss-covid-19-consumer-survey.
After the SAGE paper publication (4 November 2020), the OPSS collaborated with the SAGE Environmental and Modelling Group to review evidence gaps associated with consumer knowledge. The OPSS has since commissioned further consumer surveys and the findings will be published in due course.
Public Health England is responsible for providing advice on public health matters to the general public.
All products, including air cleaning devices, placed on the market must be safe and must not make untrue or misleading statements about their properties and performance. Consumer law requires traders to provide consumers with information on the main characteristics of goods and it must be accurate and not misleading. Consumers may also request information from the retailer when making a purchase and the retailer would be required to provide this accurately under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Consumers can seek free information and advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/).
The Government publishes a wide range of information for businesses about product regulation and complying with product safety legislation on its GOV.UK website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidance). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance on keeping workplaces safe and disinfecting premises (https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/disinfecting-premises-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm).
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has previously published consumer survey data outlining attitudes and behaviours to products related to COVID-19, including air cleaning technologies:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opss-covid-19-consumer-survey.
After the SAGE paper publication (4 November 2020), the OPSS collaborated with the SAGE Environmental and Modelling Group to review evidence gaps associated with consumer knowledge. The OPSS has since commissioned further consumer surveys and the findings will be published in due course.
Public Health England is responsible for providing advice on public health matters to the general public.
All products, including air cleaning devices, placed on the market must be safe and must not make untrue or misleading statements about their properties and performance. Consumer law requires traders to provide consumers with information on the main characteristics of goods and it must be accurate and not misleading. Consumers may also request information from the retailer when making a purchase and the retailer would be required to provide this accurately under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Consumers can seek free information and advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/).
The Government publishes a wide range of information for businesses about product regulation and complying with product safety legislation on its GOV.UK website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidance). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance on keeping workplaces safe and disinfecting premises (https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/disinfecting-premises-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm).
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has previously published consumer survey data outlining attitudes and behaviours to products related to COVID-19, including air cleaning technologies:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opss-covid-19-consumer-survey.
After the SAGE paper publication (4 November 2020), the OPSS collaborated with the SAGE Environmental and Modelling Group to review evidence gaps associated with consumer knowledge. The OPSS has since commissioned further consumer surveys and the findings will be published in due course.
Public Health England is responsible for providing advice on public health matters to the general public.
The Secretary of State has a duty under Section1 of the Planning Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990 to list buildings of special architectural and historic interest. Buildings that have been left derelict for long periods of time may still meet the statutory criteria for listing. Delisting just in circumstances where a building has been left to disrepair would not be appropriate.
Local Authorities have powers to take action where a designated heritage asset has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. This includes undertaking urgent works and recovering those costs, as well as compulsory acquisition, including provisions for minimum compensation where an owner has deliberately allowed a building to fall into disrepair in order to justify its demolition and secure permission for redevelopment of the site. Listed buildings represent some of our most significant heritage assets and should not be neglected by owners.
Events at UEFA EURO 2020 this summer demonstrated the immense value of access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and first aid training for anyone involved in sport. Sports have a responsibility to make the safety and welfare of players their top priority, including through access to life-saving first aid equipment and relevant training and education.
AEDs are already recommended best practice at all sports stadia, as set out in guidance from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority. Local authorities are able to mandate AED provision (at grounds designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds 1975 Act or sports grounds with regulated stands under the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 Act) through medical plans included in General Safety Certificates.
At the grassroots level, all capital funding awards for sports venues made by Sport England, the Government’s arm’s length body for community sport, must include AED provision if it is not already available. For football facilities, support over recent years has been provided by The Football Association (The FA) and the British Heart Foundation to help ensure AEDs are available. In June 2021 I welcomed the Premier League’s announcement of their new Defibrillator Fund, which will fund AEDs at thousands of football clubs and facilities across the country. Each grant recipient will be required to have at least one person successfully complete The FA Education Sudden Cardiac Arrest free online course. Sport England is working with the Football Foundation in support of the Premier League initiative to put £3 million into providing AED equipment for grassroots football clubs.
Section 28 of the Gambling Act 2005 states that the Gambling Commission may investigate whether an offence has been committed under the Act and may institute criminal proceedings for an offence in England and Wales. In Scotland, the power to institute criminal proceedings rests solely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). These provisions are tied to specific powers outlined in other subsections of the Act and may be exercised whether in response to information received by the Commission or otherwise.
As a general rule, the Commission will not normally pursue a criminal investigation into a licensed operator, as in most cases the matter under investigation is likely to be dealt with by the exercise of the Commission’s regulatory powers. However, there might be circumstances where the commencement of a criminal investigation is merited. Where the Commission’s investigations uncover evidence that a serious criminal offence may have been committed, which falls outside the Commission’s jurisdiction, the Commission may pass the information it possesses to the police, or another body, for consideration by them.
The UK is committed to upholding freedom of expression online. Our new online safety laws will safeguard pluralism and ensure internet users can continue to engage in robust debate online.
Under the new regulatory framework, both Ofcom and in-scope companies will have duties relating to freedom of expression, for which they can be held to account.The largest social media platforms will be required to have clear and accessible terms and conditions, and to enforce their terms and conditions consistently and transparently. Furthermore, new obligations for transparency and user reporting will enable users to more effectively understand and appeal content removal. This will both empower adult users to keep themselves safe online, and protect freedom of expression by preventing companies from arbitrarily removing content.
Ofcom, as the UK’s independent television and radio regulator, is responsible for broadcasting regulation. Decisions on updates to Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code are a matter for Ofcom. On 31 December 2020, following consultation, Ofcom implemented changes to the Broadcasting Code to update its definition of hate speech to reflect requirements in the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
Ofcom remains bound by the Human Rights Act 1998 in carrying out its regulatory functions, including giving effect to freedom of expression (which includes political speech). Ofcom has said that the amended definition does not affect the weight Ofcom places on the importance of freedom of expression when considering cases, including issues concerning political opinions or in the public interest.
My Department has taken a number of steps to support the funfairs industry through Covid-19.
The industry has been able to access support such as the Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, the Bounce Back Loans scheme. We have also cut the rate of VAT applied on most tourism and hospitality-related activities, including admission to circuses and fairs, from 20% to 5% until March 2021. Travelling fairgrounds can also apply to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
We recognise that Covid-19 has significantly impacted the culture sector and that these are extremely difficult times for organisations such as travelling funfairs. We have met with representatives of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain to assess how we can most effectively support the sector through this period.
This government has provided local authorities with an unprecedented package of support, including over £4.8bn in funding for?spending?pressures. On Monday 12 October, the Prime Minister confirmed around £1bn of new funding will be made available to councils across England to support them during this unprecedented time.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure youth services to young people under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, and the government expects them to fulfil that duty.
Sports and physical activity providers and facilities are at the heart of our communities, and play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund has provided £210 million directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic. We are continuing to work with organisations to understand what they need and how we may be able to support them.
This department recognises the unprecedented impacts the pandemic has had on young people, and on the vital support that youth services provide particularly for those most vulnerable.
Youth centres are being permitted to re-open on 4th July, to ensure our young people have access to not only the support they need, but opportunities to engage in safe activities over the summer period. We know that youth workers are already supporting young people through detached youth work, and we have supported the National Youth Agency to produce guidance for youth organisations on operating safely during Covid19.
DCMS is engaging regularly with young people and key youth organisations to understand how best to support the re-opening of youth centres over the coming weeks and months.
It is vital that the sport and physical activity sector is supported to come through this difficult period and it has a crucial role in supporting the nation back into activity once the pandemic has abated.
The Government has announced a comprehensive package of measures to support businesses and the self-employed. This includes the Self-employment Income Support Scheme which allows those that are self-employed to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
The Government is having regular discussions with sector and industry bodies to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sport and physical activity and to discuss what additional support might be needed.
Government does not hold data on the number of youth services that have closed as a result of covid-19.
This department recognises the unprecedented impacts the pandemic has had on the youth sector, and on the vital services it provides for young people. DCMS is engaging regularly with key youth organisations and other government departments to understand options for addressing this and the path for reopening services as lockdown measures are eased and when the science allows.
This department recognises the unprecedented impacts the pandemic has had on the youth sector, and on the vital services it provides for young people.
DCMS is in ongoing discussions at both Ministerial and official level with colleagues from other government departments including the Home Office, MHCLG, and the Department for Education, as well a variety of youth organisations at local and national level.
This department recognises the unprecedented impacts the pandemic has had on the youth sector, and on the vital services it provides for young people. DCMS is engaging regularly with key youth organisations and other government departments to understand options for addressing this and the path for reopening services as lockdown measures are eased and when the science allows.
Organisations working with young people are also eligible for a number of Government and Arm Length Bodies funds, in addition to the wider HM Treasury support packages.
Responsibility for assessing the potential effect of the closure of the BBC Red Button service on people’s access to information on sport is for the BBC, which is editorially and operationally independent of the Government. The Government welcomes the BBC's decision to pause the closure of the Red Button service, ahead of its review of the impact of the closure on the most vulnerable including the elderly, and deaf and blind licence fee payers.
The Government has no plans to review the BBC Charter ahead of the next Charter Review, which is due to take place ahead of 2027.
The government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC until 2027 for the duration of this 11 year Charter period.
The Prime Minister has indicated that the Government will consider the licence fee funding model in the long term.
From September 2020, relationships education became compulsory for all primary school-aged pupils, relationships and sex education compulsory for all secondary school-aged pupils, and health education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools in England.
Statutory guidance on the new curriculum has been published and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education. This guidance states that pupils should be taught key facts about the menstrual cycle, including what is an average period, the range of menstrual products and implications for emotional and physical health.
To support schools further the department developed teacher training modules which are freely available to download from GOV.UK. We worked closely with Endometriosis UK when drawing up the ‘changing adolescent body’ module which references endometriosis.
The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities was launched to conduct a detailed, data-led examination of inequality across the entire population, and to set out a positive agenda for change. We thank Dr Tony Sewell and each of the commissioners for generously giving their time to lead this important piece of work. It is now right that the government considers their recommendations in detail and assesses the implications for future government policy. The government remains fully committed to building a fairer Britain and taking the action needed to address disparities wherever they exist.
We also thank the Education Select Committee for its report and have been considering its findings and recommendations carefully. We will publish the government’s response to the report in due course.
The government is committed to levelling up across the UK and is funding particularly disadvantaged areas through the National Funding Formula, Pupil Premium and our Schools Capital programmes.
The Government aims to attract and retain highly skilled and talented individuals, including men, through effective pay structures, financial incentives, and by ensuring that teaching remains a sustainable and rewarding career.
The teacher pay increases in recent years are making a substantial difference to the competitiveness of the early career pay offer. This academic year, starting salaries have already increased by 5.5%, with the majority of other teachers receiving 2.75%. The Department is also committed to increasing starting salaries nationally to £30,000.
Alongside this, the Department is introducing a new application service for teacher training, which has been designed and extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants, to ensure it helps remove barriers to potentially great teachers, including men, applying for initial teacher training (ITT) courses.
The Department’s ‘Every Lesson Shapes A Life’ recruitment campaign is targeted at audiences of students, recent graduates, and potential career changers inclusive of all genders, and we take every effort to ensure that our advertising is fully reflective of this across the full range of marketing materials we use.
As well as recruiting new teachers, it is important the Department retains male teachers in primary schools. To do this, we are working to make sure that all new entrants to teacher training have the best possible start to the early stage of their career.
This is why, from September 2020 onwards, new trainee teachers will be entitled to at least three years of evidence-based professional development and support, starting with ITT, based on the new ITT Core Content Framework (2019). The new ITT Core Content Framework sets out a core minimum entitlement for all trainees describing the fundamental knowledge and skills that all new entrants to the profession need to effectively teach and support all children.
Following on from their training, from this September all new teachers will be entitled to two years of funded high-quality professional development including the support of a dedicated mentor, through the Early Career Framework reforms. Schools will receive additional funding so new teachers can spend time away from the classroom for this extra training and mentoring. Together, these reforms will ensure that all new teachers will develop the skills, expertise and confidence they need to thrive in the classroom.
Following the review into when the remaining higher education students can return to in-person teaching and learning, the government has announced that the remaining students should return to in-person teaching no earlier than 17 May 2021, alongside Step 3 of the roadmap. Students and institutions will be given at least a week’s notice of any further return in accordance with the timing of Step 3 of the roadmap.
The government roadmap is designed to maintain a cautious approach to the easing of restrictions to reduce public health risks and ensure that we can maintain progress towards full reopening. However, the government recognises the difficulties and disruption that this may cause for many students and their families and that is why the government is making a further £15 million of additional student hardship funding available for this academic year 2020/21. In total we have made an additional £85 million of funding available for student hardship.
We are supporting universities to provide regular twice weekly asymptomatic testing for all students and staff on-site and, from May, at home. This will help break chains of transmission of the virus.
External agencies, including charities, can provide speakers, tools, and resources to enhance and supplement a school’s curriculum and wider activities. It is important when using external agencies that schools take particular care that the agency and any materials used are appropriate and in line with their legal duties.
Schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure the balanced treatment of political issues. Schools should also ensure that speakers, tools and resources do not undermine the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
The Government has committed over £100 million to support children in England to access remote education and online social care services, including by providing vulnerable and disadvantaged children with laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers. We are providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, we are providing 4G wireless routers for internet access.
The Department has allocated devices to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to prioritise children and young people who need devices.
As of 30 June, over 200,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been delivered or dispatched to local authorities and academy trusts. This information can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data. This includes 1,860 devices delivered to Nottinghamshire County Council, which is broken down as: 1,824 devices for children with social workers and care leavers, and 36 devices for disadvantaged year 10 pupils in local authority maintained schools. Academy trusts who have schools in Nottinghamshire have also received devices directly.
The Department is working to ensure that schools are fully supported as they welcome more children back to school and schools are able to give pupils opportunities to take part in physical education and be physically active during the school day. Schools are free to organise and deliver a PE curriculum that suits the needs of all their pupils whilst following COVID-19 government guidelines. The Department has now published guidance on plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education from September, which covers the provision of PE and school sport: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.
The Department has made £650 million available to state-funded schools to support pupils to catch-up following extended school closure. The Education Endowment Foundation has published guidance to encourage schools to use this funding on evidence-led interventions, one of which might be summer catch-up activity. It is a matter for schools to decide how to spend the funding, based on their individual circumstances and brokering local partnerships with Voluntary and Community Sector organisation and other organisations to help them deliver. Precise details of how the catch up premium will be delivered will be confirmed shortly and we will confirm the timetable for publishing institution-level allocations in due course.
In the school sport and activity action plan, published in July 2019, the Government announced its intention to set up regional pilots to trial new and innovative approaches to drive up activity levels, and particularly focus on engaging the least active pupils.
The Department is working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Sport England to design the pilots, drawing on information from schools and sport and physical activity providers. The Department will confirm the nature and process for the pilots later in the year, taking into account how they can fit with other initiatives that aim to increase access to activities for pupils.
Educational achievement is at the heart of this Government’s commitment to ensure no young person is left behind because of the place or circumstances of their birth. Due to our reforms, 86% of pupils attend a Good or Outstanding school compared with 66% in 2010.
‘Working class’ is not a description recognised or measured by the Department. We measure the outcomes of those pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds as defined by the benefit-related definition for ‘disadvantaged’. We recognise that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds – including those currently or formerly claiming free school meals and currently or formerly looked after - may face extra challenges in achieving their potential at school. We introduced the pupil premium in 2011 and have invested over £15 billion – and another £2.4 billion this year – so that schools have the resources to provide extra support for disadvantaged pupils of all abilities. White disadvantaged boys and girls constitute the largest group of eligible pupils and so benefit significantly from this extra support.
Against a background of rising standards, disadvantaged pupils are catching up with their peers. The attainment gap index shows that since 2011, the gap at the end of primary school has narrowed by 13% and the gap at the end of secondary school has narrowed by 9%. This indicates better prospects for a secure adult life for disadvantaged pupils. Our reforms, and the focus provided by the pupil premium, have supported this improvement.
The Department recognises there is more to do for disadvantaged pupils. Our ambition is to halve the number of children who finish Reception without the communication and reading skills they need to thrive. Our £72 million Opportunity Areas programme will focus resource on areas with low social mobility. We have also dedicated £24 million to Opportunity North East to address the specific challenges in that region.
The Department’s establishment of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) with a £137 million grant has ensured that schools have access to high quality, evidence-based, effective practice drawn from hundreds of trials across England. We recommend that schools consult the EEF’s resources, particularly its recent ‘Pupil Premium Guide’, when they are considering how best to support their pupils and close the attainment gap.
The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response. There are well-established ways of industry and government working together to respond to risks that arise, including the recent challenges to our supply chains brought on by global pressures. The forthcoming UK Food Resilience Report will set out the detailed evidence around the resilience of our food supply chains.
The Government Food Strategy will build on the UK Food Resilience Report, and identify new opportunities to drive long-term change to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK. This will include consideration of the immediate pressures facing the sector.
The forthcoming Government Food Strategy is a once in a generation opportunity to create a food system that feeds our nation today and protects it for tomorrow. It will build on existing work across Government and identify new opportunities to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK. We will also look to drive growth and innovation across the agri-food chain and set a direction for key players within the food system.
The Government will consider the evidence of Henry Dimbleby’s independent review throughout the development of the Food Strategy.
The Food Strategy will be published in early 2022.
As stated when we consulted on our proposals, we want to ensure that our measures achieve environmental and health benefits but do not have an adverse impact on vulnerable groups. Our response to the consultation on the cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood, published on 21 February, reflects this approach.
We know that the burning of coal for domestic purposes is harmful to human health and the environment. That is why we will be working to help households that currently burn the most polluting solid fuels to shift to the most suitable, cleaner alternative for them. We will use the phased transition period to work alongside coal merchants to advise and educate their direct delivery customers on the benefits of alternative fuels. Analysis has been carried out that shows cleaner alternative fuels, such as Manufactured Solid Fuels (MSFs), are more energy efficient than coal, making them cheaper to burn. MSFs are available to be purchased in all areas of England.
According to HMRC data, UK imports of targeted US whiskies have fallen from £121m in 2017 to £82m in 2019 and, in the context of continued tariffs and the pandemic, to £64m in 2020 and £63m in 2021
Our rebalancing measures are necessary only as long as the US’ additional tariffs on UK steel, aluminium and derivatives products remain in place
It is a key priority of the government to reach an agreement to remove these tariffs. We are in negotiations with the US and look forward to coming to an expeditious resolution to this issue.
According to HMRC data, UK imports of targeted US whiskies have fallen from £121m in 2017 to £82m in 2019 and, in the context of continued tariffs and the pandemic, to £64m in 2020 and £63m in 2021
Our rebalancing measures are necessary only as long as the US’ additional tariffs on UK steel, aluminium and derivatives products remain in place
It is a key priority of the government to reach an agreement to remove these tariffs. We are in negotiations with the US and look forward to coming to an expeditious resolution to this issue.
The fifth UK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement negotiating round finished 30 October. I'm happy to report that substantial progress has been made, with almost all chapter areas are now in the advanced stages of talks, and a significant proportion of legal text has been agreed across multiple chapters.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age to ensure that no older or disabled person in England need be prevented from bus travel by cost alone.
Funding for this is provided through the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Revenue Support Grant: a Grant that supports a wide range of activities to ensure that each local transport authority receives the funding that they need. This funding is not ringfenced to enable local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely align with local needs and circumstances.
This means that local authorities can use this funding to provide further discretionary concessions in addition to buses. Nottingham City Council has already chosen to extend this to their tram system.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age to ensure that no older or disabled person in England need be prevented from bus travel by cost alone.
Funding for this is provided through the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Revenue Support Grant: a Grant that supports a wide range of activities to ensure that each local transport authority receives the funding that they need. This funding is not ringfenced to enable local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely align with local needs and circumstances.
This means that local authorities can use this funding to provide further discretionary concessions in addition to buses. Nottingham City Council has already chosen to extend this to their tram system.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age to ensure that no older or disabled person in England need be prevented from bus travel by cost alone.
Funding for this is provided through the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Revenue Support Grant: a Grant that supports a wide range of activities to ensure that each local transport authority receives the funding that they need. This funding is not ringfenced to enable local authorities to make spending decisions that more closely align with local needs and circumstances.
This means that local authorities can use this funding to provide further discretionary concessions in addition to buses. Nottingham City Council has already chosen to extend this to their tram system.
The additional rolling stock for regional and local services cannot be released from its present operator until that operator introduces its fleet of new trains. Officials are in regular contact with East Midlands Railway and the other train operators involved with this in order to ensure that the changes take place as quickly as possible, whilst not putting the provision of existing services at risk.
The Government takes road safety very seriously and the UK has some of the safest roads in the world. It is important that drivers with Category C and C+E entitlement on their driving licences fully meet the requirements for those returning to HGV driving. This includes a driver medical and renewing their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
A joint DfT/industry letter will be sent to HGV licence holders this week to encourage those who have left the profession to return.
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund announced at the 2020 Spending Review will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities, including investing in local transport schemes across the UK.
The Fund will supersede existing local growth funding streams in England including the Local Pinch Points Fund. Projects previously submitted to the Local Pinch Points Fund will not be automatically resubmitted into the Levelling Up Fund.
Department officials have written to local authorities asking them whether they would like any Local Pinch Points Fund Expression(s) of Interest submitted to the DfT to be considered for funding through the Levelling Up Fund in 2021/22 and local authorities in England are encouraged to consider prioritising these projects for the first round of the Fund. These will be subject to the same assessment process as set out in the technical guidance published on the UK Government website on 26 March.
COVID-19 risk assessments fall under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remit. As each workplace is different, it is for an employer to identify, as part of their risk assessment, how to control COVID-19 transmission. Guidance has been produced by HSE that gives advice and information to employers on how to do such an assessment and manage the risk from COVID-19 in a proportionate manner. Risk assessment - Working safely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (hse.gov.uk)
Frequent surface cleaning is one of several control measures that can be implemented to manage the transmission risk. Fog, mist, vapour or UV (ultraviolet) treatments may be suitable options to help control the spread of coronavirus and disinfecting a larger space or room when people are not present. Any use of these treatments for these purposes should form part of your COVID-19 risk assessment. Users must be competent and properly trained. HSE provides guidance on its website as to when using these systems may be appropriate. Airborne disinfection does not remove the need for surface cleaning and surfaces that are dirty can reduce the effectiveness of disinfectant applied by airborne dispersion.
HSE and public health bodies in England, Wales and Scotland have agreed joint advice for dutyholders considering using walk-through spraying or misting disinfecting systems to reduce transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Spraying people with disinfectants in this way is not recommended under any circumstances (including in a tunnel, cabinet, or chamber). For further information see: Disinfecting using fog, mist and other systems during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic - HSE news
The Department measures the effectiveness of the Service through regularly assessing data on the Service’s performance. This includes compliance of paying parents on paying their maintenance, the amount of money the service collects for the children and our measures of enforcement.
The NHS has previously recognised the need for a review of how to best meet the needs of children and young people with gender incongruence, which is why in September 2020, Dr Hilary Cass was asked to carry out an independent review of the gender identity development service. The review will be wide-ranging in scope, with a focus on how care can be improved for children and young people. The Tavistock is also required to undertake a number of urgent actions in response to the CQC’s recent finding that its child gender-identity service is ‘inadequate’.
The Tavistock and Portman appeal is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, as such the Government is unable to comment on the specifics of the case at this time. However, we will follow the proceedings closely and continue to review its impact on policy related to this area.
As of June 2020, 741,200 children are covered by Child Maintenance Service arrangements; the majority of cases use Direct Pay, where parents arrange maintenance payments between themselves.
During the quarter ending June 2020, £238.4 million in child maintenance was paid through the Collect & Pay service, or due to be paid through Direct Pay.
When measuring the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service, the Service collects data on the rate of compliance of paying parents using the Collect & Pay service. The most recent quarterly statistics show that 74 per cent of all paying parents due to pay through the Collect & Pay Service cleared some of their child maintenance.
At the end of June 2020, 41,800 Paying Parents on the Collect & Pay service had a Deduction from Earnings Order / Request in force. £27.1m was collected from these Paying Parents during the quarter. In the quarter ending June 2020, £2.6m was deducted directly from Paying Parents’ bank accounts.
These figures are published quarterly as part of the Child Maintenance Service experimental statistics, which can be found here:
The Child Maintenance Service offers an accessible, impartial and secure service for all clients. The Department and Ministers continue to meet stakeholders regularly, and maintain an open dialogue on how to improve the service.
Under the terms of the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme (CIPCS), formerly the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme, there is provision for posthumous claims to be made.
In instances in which an individual was not assessed for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) during life, or a retrospective request either is not possible or successful, a claim can be made under CIPCS, if pneumoconiosis appears on the Death Certificate.
IIDB which is usually claimed by employees who become disabled as a result of a prescribed disease or accident caused by their employment, can be claimed posthumously, by the dependants of anyone who dies whilst suffering from a prescribed disease, provided they do so within one year of the issue of the deceased’s death certificate.
Any evidence a family can provide that confirms or suggests that the deceased was suffering from a prescribed disease prior to their death would be considered as part of a posthumous claim. This includes claimants who may have died as a result of COVID-19, and no mention of the prescribed disease was on their death certificate.
For an award to be made, the death does not need to be in respect of the prescribed disease but may be from any cause, including for example where COVID-19 was a contributory factor. Payments to dependants usually equate to up to 3 months’ worth of benefit, but may sometimes be higher.
The impact assessment for volume promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ shows that spending increases by 20% by encouraging households to purchase more than they need or intended to buy. The impact assessment for location promotions shows the placement of products within stores also significantly affects household spending, with end of aisle displays increasing sales of soft drinks by over 50%.
The Government is committed to reviewing the Regulations within five years of coming into force. The National Institute for Health Research’s Policy Research Programme has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to assess the extent and nature of location-based promotions of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in supermarkets in England. Officials are developing further plans to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of this policy.
The impact assessment for volume promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ shows that spending increases by 20% by encouraging households to purchase more than they need or intended to buy. The impact assessment for location promotions shows the placement of products within stores also significantly affects household spending, with end of aisle displays increasing sales of soft drinks by over 50%.
The Government is committed to reviewing the Regulations within five years of coming into force. The National Institute for Health Research’s Policy Research Programme has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to assess the extent and nature of location-based promotions of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in supermarkets in England. Officials are developing further plans to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of this policy.
There are no specific plans to renew the Infection Control and Testing Funds. The Government will continue to keep this under review based on public health advice and data from providers.
There are no current plans to publish a response to the Independent Review of Smokefree 2030. However, the Review and its recommendations will inform the Department’s health disparities white paper and Tobacco Control Plan, which will be published later this year.
The Tobacco Control Plan and any accompanying delivery plan remains under development and no time periods have yet been determined. The Plan will be published later this year.
The impact assessment for volume promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ shows that it increases spending by 20% by encouraging households to purchase more than they need or intended to buy. The impact assessment for location promotions shows the placement of products within stores also significantly affects household spending, with end of aisle displays increasing sales of soft drinks by over 50%.
The impact assessments for restricting promotions and further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar show a positive net present value for each policy, meaning the health benefits outweigh the costs to business and Government.
Following feedback in response to the public consultations on specific policy proposals on the promotions and placement policy, we have extended the implementation period to October 2022 and included an exemption for micro and small businesses and exempted stores below 185.8 square metres from the location restrictions. On the new advertising restrictions, we have included an exemption for small and medium businesses, brand advertising is out of scope and the online restrictions are limited to paid-for advertising, meaning owned media is out of scope.
We regularly review and update guidance to ensure it is necessary and proportionate, considering clinical advice and priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and ensuring residents have meaningful contact with loved ones. The restrictions are currently in place to keep care home residents safe and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
We are currently reviewing our guidance in light of the lifting ‘Plan B’ measures and expect to publish updated advice shortly.
Decisions on the dismissal of unvaccinated workers, rather than redeployment, if an option, or unpaid leave, will be for individual employers, therefore no specific estimate has been in the Department’s the impact assessment. The impact assessment estimates the number of workers who may remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 at the end of the 12-week grace period and are not medically exempt. This estimated to be 73,000 for National Health Service staff and 38,000 for social care workers in scope. The impact assessment is available at the following link:
Actual figures will depend on individual decisions and the positive choice to take up the offer of COVID-19 vaccination. The Government is focussed on improving vaccine uptake within the health and care workforce and the numbers of vaccinated staff are increasing. There are now 75,000 additional staff working in the NHS who have received a first dose of the vaccine since September.
There is National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance available on the diagnosis, assessment and initial management of hyperparathyroidism in order to support clinicians when a patient presents with possible symptoms. Guidance on diagnostic testing in primary care includes measuring albumin-adjusted serum calcium and measuring parathyroid hormone. Further details can be found at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng132
NICE updates guidance regularly and promotes it via its website, newsletters and other media. NICE published its current guidance on hyperparathyroidism in 2019.
There are no current plans to update the guidance published by NICE, which includes diagnosis, assessment and initial management of primary hyperparathyroidism. We would expect patients presenting with symptoms consistent with Primary Hyperparathyroidism to be treated according to clinical need and in line with current guidance.
The Department plans to engage with the food and drink manufacturing industry where appropriate. We will also engage with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as it develops its white paper on the National Food Strategy.
Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust has submitted a balanced financial plan, which takes into account its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) payments, for the first half of the year. Officials from the Department’s PFI team are working closely with the Trust and NHS England and NHS Improvement to support their activities to manage the contract effectively.
We published ‘COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan’, to ensure that we have the right support in place this year to respond to the impact of the pandemic on mental health and those affected by ‘long’ COVID-19.
NHS England and NHS Improvement’s ‘Long COVID: the NHS plan for 2021/22’ states that those with ‘long’ COVID-19 who are experiencing persistent mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder should be considered for referral to an Improving Access to Psychological Therapy service. Referral into other specialist mental health services should be considered where adults or children and young people present with serious mental illness. Psychologists should be part of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, providing individual and group input and advice to other staff.
The UK Health and Safety Laboratory conducted a small pilot study of a number of technologies used as ‘air purifiers’ as a preliminary indication of the potential for these systems to improve air quality. However, this pilot preceded the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore did not focus on airborne virus control.
While the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies undertook a review of existing evidence on the application of UV disinfection, visible light, local air filtration and fumigation technologies to microbial control, it did not make an assessment of technologies supplied by companies. In our earlier answer to Question 496, we stated that Public Health England undertook an assessment of such technologies. However, this information was incorrect and we have amended the record by Written Ministerial Statement on 1 March 2022 HCWS648.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) accepts submissions from companies for technologies and associated credentials. Interested parties can contact UKHSA directly to provide further information on the potential use of such technologies.
The Innovation and Partnerships team NHS Test and Trace concluded that there is a limited evidence base on the effectiveness of air cleaners which use hydroxy radicals as a method of purification against COVID-19. They also found that these cleaners may generate undesirable secondary chemical products that could lead to health effects such as respiratory or skin irritation.
The impact assessment for further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) shows a positive net value, meaning the health benefits outweigh the costs to business and the Government. It also presents the number of calories removed from a child’s diet each day as a result of the restrictions. This is a population wide estimate and does not reflect that this policy could most benefit children from lower income households who are more exposed to HFSS advertising and those who are already overweight or obese.
There has been no such direct assessment. We have engaged with industry throughout impact assessment’s consultation period and believe the values quoted in the impact assessment are robust.
Both the costs to business and health benefits gained from restricting placement of products high in fat, salt and sugar were modelled by Department analysts and publicly consulted on. The final impact assessment was revised in light of evidence and responses submitted through consultation. The impact assessment has gone through a rigorous review process including receiving a ‘fit for purpose’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee, an independent committee sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who ensure that costs to business have been considered appropriately.
The quarterly report is intended for future publication alongside the final report on the trials in spring 2022.
At the start of 2020, a review of technologies to decontaminate single use personal protective equipment (PPE) was undertaken. UVC was among the technologies assessed as it is used for sterilisation of pathogens in other settings. However, there are no regulatory approvals for UVC in healthcare settings, so HPV was selected for the pilot phase. This pilot found HPV was not effective, so further testing was stood down.
Given the resilience we have built through on-shore production of single use PPE and the piloting of reusable PPE, there are no current plans for further investigative work.
We are awaiting confirmation of a date for laying this secondary legislation.
We have engaged closely with industry on the detail of the policy and to ensure the regulations are practical and fit for purpose. We have been careful to consider the views of stakeholders and experts as we develop our plans for implementing our obesity strategy and we will continue to listen. This includes feedback from stakeholders and a wide range of experts in response to our public consultations on specific policy proposals.
Axel Heitmueller worked for NHS Test and Trace in the following roles: Director of Innovation and Partnerships; Director of Testing Strategy and Policy; and Director for overall Strategy and Innovation for NHS Test and Trace.
There are no plans to do so.
The Department has not awarded any contracts with Imperial College Health Partners since March 2020.
A total of £136,000 has been awarded to the University of St Andrews under the
provisions of NHS Act 2006 Para 13 Schedule.
The terms of reference are as follows:
- The trials and assessment will be carried out by the University of St. Andrew;
- The Funding Period started on 1 March 2021 and ends on 28 February 2022 unless terminated earlier in accordance with this Grant Funding Agreement; and
- The Grant Recipient shall provide the Authority with a quarterly report on the progress of the trials on evaluating the efficacy of viricidal Far-UVC light technology and its ability to inactivate virus in droplets, aerosols and on surfaces in simulated public locations.
Initial results are expected in Quarter 4 2021.
We have had no specific discussions.
We have made no specific assessment.
The advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies was discussed 5 November 2020. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for determining future policy and regulatory action.
The advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies was discussed 5 November 2020. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for determining future policy and regulatory action.
The Innovation and Partnerships team forms part of NHS Test and Trace’s central customer office and was established in summer 2020. The purpose of the team is to engage with universities and companies to consider new ways of delivering NHS Test and Trace’s programme’s aims. The team works with the main research and industry networks in the United Kingdom, as well as international partners to identify new technologies and methodologies Where any of these are adopted by NHS Test and Trace, the team provides guidance and support before handing over to one of the operation delivery teams ahead of deployment. The team has previously accomplished the identification of lateral flow devices and wastewater technologies capable of detecting COVID-19.
The team has not been dissolved and continues to operate as part of NHS Test and Trace. An organogram showing the structure of the Innovations and Partnership’s team is attached. The team is comprised of Departmental staff, secondees from other Government departments and arm’s length bodies.
The Innovation and Partnerships team forms part of NHS Test and Trace’s central customer office and was established in summer 2020. The purpose of the team is to engage with universities and companies to consider new ways of delivering NHS Test and Trace’s programme’s aims. The team works with the main research and industry networks in the United Kingdom, as well as international partners to identify new technologies and methodologies Where any of these are adopted by NHS Test and Trace, the team provides guidance and support before handing over to one of the operation delivery teams ahead of deployment. The team has previously accomplished the identification of lateral flow devices and wastewater technologies capable of detecting COVID-19.
The team has not been dissolved and continues to operate as part of NHS Test and Trace. An organogram showing the structure of the Innovations and Partnership’s team is attached. The team is comprised of Departmental staff, secondees from other Government departments and arm’s length bodies.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated whether hydrogen peroxide could be used to decontaminate single use FFP3 masks to extend their use. Inivos and Bioquelle were selected as the two suppliers for the trial as they could establish the pilots quickly and had the necessary equipment needed within trusts.
Swatches were used to monitor bacteria growth. There were a significant number with bacterial growth that had been incubated post-decontamination. Therefore, the approach of using hydrogen peroxide vapour was unsuccessful.
The advice from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies was discussed 5 November 2020. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for determining future policy and regulatory action.
We have been careful to consider the views of stakeholders and experts as we developed our plans for implementing the healthy weight strategy, including restrictions on advertising and promotions. This process will continue as these measures pass through Parliament ensuring there is adequate time for scrutiny. Different legislative approaches being pursued reflect the current legislative framework and implementation routes available to the Government. For the promotions restrictions, we intend to use powers in the Food Safety Act (FSA) 1990 to lay secondary legislation before Parliament by mid-2021. The statutory instrument will be subject to the affirmative parliamentary procedure.
Subject to the outcome of the consultations on further advertising restrictions on TV and online, we intend to legislate through the Health and Care Bill. For online advertising restrictions primary legislation has to be used because there is no existing legislation on which to build. The decision was taken that the TV aspect should also be implemented through primary legislation because the two policies are closely aligned.
We have been careful to consider the views of stakeholders and experts as we developed our plans for implementing the healthy weight strategy, including restrictions on advertising and promotions. This process will continue as these measures pass through Parliament ensuring there is adequate time for scrutiny. Different legislative approaches being pursued reflect the current legislative framework and implementation routes available to the Government. For the promotions restrictions, we intend to use powers in the Food Safety Act (FSA) 1990 to lay secondary legislation before Parliament by mid-2021. The statutory instrument will be subject to the affirmative parliamentary procedure.
Subject to the outcome of the consultations on further advertising restrictions on TV and online, we intend to legislate through the Health and Care Bill. For online advertising restrictions primary legislation has to be used because there is no existing legislation on which to build. The decision was taken that the TV aspect should also be implemented through primary legislation because the two policies are closely aligned.
Non-regulatory options have been considered as insufficient to reduce the excess purchasing and therefore overconsumption of products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS). Previous voluntary actions by retailers, including through measures such as the public health responsibility deal, had limited impact. Businesses have also stated that voluntary action on promotions is not feasible.
We want to create a level playing field in which stores that make voluntary progress are no longer penalised. The response to the consultation on restricting promotions of HFSS food and drink made clear the Government’s intention to use powers in the Food Safety Act (FSA) 1990 to lay secondary legislation before Parliament by mid-2021. That position remains.
‘Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all’, published on 11 February 2021, confirmed the Government’s intention to introduce further advertising restrictions to prohibit advertisements for products high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) being shown on TV before 9pm. In November and December 2020, we consulted on how to go further and implement an online restriction for HFSS advertisements. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, it is our intention to take forward further online advertising restrictions simultaneously in this legislation.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations. The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods HFSS by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation. This is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly and this will feed into the wider impact assessment for the Health and Care Bill.
‘Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all’, published on 11 February 2021, confirmed the Government’s intention to introduce further advertising restrictions to prohibit advertisements for products high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) being shown on TV before 9pm. In November and December 2020, we consulted on how to go further and implement an online restriction for HFSS advertisements. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, it is our intention to take forward further online advertising restrictions simultaneously in this legislation.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations. The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods HFSS by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation. This is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly and this will feed into the wider impact assessment for the Health and Care Bill.
The Government intends to use powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 to lay secondary legislation before Parliament by mid-2021. Subject to progress in Parliament, we will then allow at least a six-month implementation period before the restrictions come into force in April 2022.
The Healthy Weight Strategy is not about making food more expensive or restricting people’s choices, but helping people eat healthier with the money they have.
In the face of a new variant of the virus we have acted to protect those most at risk in care homes and while advising how visits can go ahead safely in some form. As set out in updated visiting guidance, visits to care homes can continue to take place with arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods or behind windows. Close-contact indoor visits are not currently advised. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, visits in exceptional circumstances including end of life should always be supported and enabled.
We recognise how important it is to allow care home residents to meet their loved ones safely. We are looking to enable a wider range of visiting arrangements available when it is safe to do so. We will publish updated guidance as this period of national restrictions ends.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity and its effects on individual health and the National Health Service. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations.
The final impact assessment on mandating calorie labelling of food and drink in out-of-home sector is available at the following link:
The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation and is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly.
We carefully consider all views and potential impacts of our measures to reduce obesity and its effects on individual health and the National Health Service. This includes feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders on specific policy proposals and in response to our public consultations.
The final impact assessment on mandating calorie labelling of food and drink in out-of-home sector is available at the following link:
The final impact assessments on the proposals to restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) by location and by volume is available at the following link:
The developmental impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online was published alongside the 2019 consultation on this policy. This is available at the following link:
An evidence note was published alongside the consultation on the proposal to introduce a total restriction of online advertising for HFSS products. This builds on the impact assessment that accompanied the 2019 consultation and is available at the following link:
We will publish the final impact assessment on further advertising restrictions on TV and online alongside the full response to the consultation shortly.
We know that men are less likely to seek help or talk about suicidal feelings and some are often reluctant to engage with health and other support services.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights men, and especially middle-aged and young men, as a group at high risk of suicide, and in January 2019, we published the first Cross-Government suicide prevention workplan. It includes sections on tailoring prevention approaches towards reducing suicide risk in high-risk groups such as men.
We know that men are less likely to seek help or talk about suicidal feelings and some are often reluctant to engage with health and other support services.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy highlights men, and especially middle-aged and young men, as a group at high risk of suicide, and in January 2019, we published the first Cross-Government suicide prevention workplan. It includes sections on tailoring prevention approaches towards reducing suicide risk in high-risk groups such as men.
The Government will provide additional funding over 2020/21 to 2021/22 to drug and alcohol treatment in targeted local authorities to individuals experiencing rough sleeping, including those currently in emergency accommodation following the COVID-19 response. The second phase of Dame Carol Black’s independent review on drugs focusing on prevention, treatment services and recovery, will be made available to Ministers later this year and will feed into wider Government work to tackle the serious harms caused by substance misuse.
The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, is working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system to help ensure continued supply of medicines and medical products, including medicines and vaccines related to the treatment of COVID-19, to the whole of the United Kingdom at the end of the transition period.
As set out in a letter from the Department to industry of 17 November, we are implementing a multi-layered approach, that includes asking suppliers of medicines, vaccines and other medical products to the UK from or via the European Union to get trader ready, reroute their supply chains away from any potential disruption and stockpile on UK soil where this is possible. The letter is available at the following link:
Since 2005, The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust reported that the number of girls (sex assigned at birth) referred to the services has been consistently greater than the number of boys (sex assigned at birth) referred.
In 2019, the National Institute for Health Research awarded Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust £1.3 million to fund a Longitudinal Outcomes of Gender Identity in Children (LOGIC) study looking into providing a better understanding of the development of gender identity in children and young people in the United Kingdom.
We have expanded test accessibility by increasing the number of home test kits that are couriered to and from the home. These are available to book by eligible individuals using the self-referral portal. We have also increased mobile testing, with 96 units currently operational (8 May 2020). Mobile test units are being deployed to areas that have a pressing need for testing by individuals who cannot access regional test sites. Local Resilience Forums coordinate with local partners to inform the Department of where a unit is required.
NHS England and NHS Improvement are running a campaign as part of the national COVID-19 campaign to encourage people to access NHS services for non-COVID-19 related conditions.
This will include raising awareness of the symptoms of heart attack and of the need to immediately call 999. These campaign assets will be made available for all National Health Service organisations to publish through their public facing channels.
As part of the Government’s continued commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, veterans should receive priority treatment where it relates to a condition which results from their time in the armed forces, subject to clinical need.
In England, the National Health Service have implemented this by offering veterans access to both mainstream and bespoke veterans mental health services. This means that veterans are often seen faster than the general public.
The Department is working with Health Education England and other key stakeholders to review the funding of undergraduate medical training placements in primary and secondary care. The aim of this work is to ensure that the distribution of the available funding supports delivery of high quality placements irrespective of setting and ensures that learners develop the skills and knowledge they require to meet their respective professional competencies.
No assessment has been made on access to patient records in relation to demand for general practitioner (GP) appointments.
However, in some areas medical records are already shared between professionals to support locally commissioned services. Pharmacists have access to a patient’s summary care record (SCR) and where the patient has consented, the SCR allows access to much of the patient’s primary care record. The SCR already supports the newly commissioned Community Pharmacy Consultation Service and a range of other services and advice offered in community pharmacy. These services are designed to make pharmacies the first port of call for minor illness and health advice and to reduce pressure on other parts of the National Health Service, including GPs.
In other areas, work is progressing to improve access to patient records, including increased interoperability between pharmacy and GP systems.
NHS Property Services aims to reduce vacant space in its estate by engaging with tenants to make sure that their accommodation meets their operational needs. NHS Property Services has introduced more flexible occupancy options; and incentives to more quickly identify opportunities for the re-let or sale of properties. By March 2019, NHS Property Services had reduced vacant space across its portfolio to 6.9% from 12% in April 2017.
NHS Property Services works closely with local clinical commissioning groups and National Health Service providers to optimise the estate and where appropriate to release properties for sale which are surplus to local healthcare requirements. Where properties are vacant for over six months without a defined future healthcare use, NHS Property Services will seek to market the property to mitigate ongoing costs locally.
The current policy is that capital receipts from the sale of surplus sites are reinvested in backlog maintenance in the NHS Property Services estate, according to needs and priorities on a national basis.
The NHS Long Term Plan Implementation Framework asks local systems to create five-year strategic plans to deliver the commitments in the plan. NHS England and NHS Improvement is working with the 14 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) involved in the first wave of Targeted Lung Health Checks, including Mansfield and Ashfield CCG, to ensure they commission appropriate services for their population. This includes meeting any demand for diagnosing and treating disease where the programme identifies previously undiagnosed disease.
The Equality Hub is at the heart of Government decision-making in the Cabinet Office, and brings together the Government Equalities Office, the Disability Unit and the Race Disparity Unit. It has a key role in driving Government priorities on equality and opportunity.
The Hub has a particular focus on improving the quality of evidence and data about disparities and the types of barriers different people face, ensuring that fairness is at the heart of everything we do. Key to this is looking beyond a focus solely on the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010, to ensure we understand how different issues interact, including in socio-economic and geographic inequality.
The Equality Hub will be key to driving progress on the Government’s commitment to levelling up opportunity and ensuring fairness for all.
Data is not collected routinely or centrally on the effect of the Equality Act 2010 on different groups. Individual public authorities are responsible for conducting Public Sector Equality Duty assessments of new measures and collecting and using data to ensure that the impact of policies on all groups, including men and heterosexual people, is adequately considered.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.
Trade data related to “spirits – beverages” is publicly available on www.uktradeinfo.com under commodity code heading 22 of the Trade Tariff.
The site also contains a ‘Help’ function with information on how to extract trade data. Further assistance can also be obtained via the Customer Services team on phone number: 03000 594 250 or email: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk
Freeports are playing a crucial role in our post-COVID-19 recovery, helping to build back better, drive clean growth and contribute to realising the Levelling Up agenda. We have designated tax sites through secondary legislation in four Freeports and we will continue to designate more tax sites this year. Legislation has also been laid to underpin the customs and VAT regime and two customs sites have been already designated in law in different Freeports. HMG continues to support Freeports with the delivery of their customs sites and will continue to designate customs sites as the relevant criteria are demonstrated. Maps for designated tax and customs site are available on gov.uk. Freeports will be fully operational following designation of tax and primary customs sites, with seed funding to be released on approval of their full business cases, expected later this year.
Following last year’s consultation on reforms to the tax treatment of red diesel announced at Budget 2020, the Government accepted the arguments made by representatives from the sports sector that removing the entitlement to use red diesel would increase costs on amateur sports clubs, which would be passed down to members, and that this could affect people’s ability to participate in sport and impact on health and well-being. The Government therefore announced at Budget 2021 that amateur sports clubs will qualify for continued use of red diesel beyond April 2022 if they are registered as community amateur sports clubs (CASCs), which are non-profit organisations that can benefit from a range or tax reliefs. There are over 7,300 clubs registered with HMRC as CASCs, and relying on this definition of an amateur sports club will aid HMRC to ensure compliance.
For all eligibility decisions under CJRS, the Government must balance the need to support as many jobs as possible with the need to protect the scheme from fraud.
Under the CJRS extension, an employer can claim for employees who were employed and on their PAYE payroll on 30 October 2020. The employer must have made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee. The use of RTI allows HMRC to verify claims in the most efficient and timely way, ensuring payments can be made quickly while reducing the risk of fraud. Without the use of RTI returns it would be difficult to verify claims without significant additional checks, which would delay payment for genuine claims.
The 30 October 2020 cut-off date allowed as many people as possible to be included by going right up to the day before the announcement, while balancing the risk of fraud that existed as soon as the scheme became public. Extending the cut-off date further would have significantly increased the risk of abuse because claims could not be confidently verified against the risk of fraud by using the data after this point.
As part of the consultation process, the Government has been engaging widely with ports, businesses and local communities – including events attended by the LEP for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire - to hear stakeholders’ views on our Freeports proposals. The Freeport consultation is currently open, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in Freeports to submit a response through the gov.uk portal before it closes on 13 July.
The Department for Work and Pensions should be the first port of call for employers seeking to fill vacancies, rather than the Home Office.
On advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the Government broadened the eligibility of Skilled Worker visas from graduate jobs only to include jobs skilled to RQF level 3 (roughly equivalent to A-levels) and lowered the salary threshold to £25,600 enabling employers to recruit in more customer facing roles than was possible under the previous immigration system.
Yet where a job needs only a short period of training or time to acquire the qualifications necessary the focus should be on recruiting from the domestic labour market, especially given the economic impact of the global pandemic means many may be looking for new employment or to change careers.
Immigration policy cannot be seen as an alternative to improving training and career pathways or tackling issues such as unattractive pay and working conditions for those undertaking customer-facing roles. Given this we will not be introducing a general migration route allowing employers to recruit at or near the minimum wage, with no work-based training requirements, including to such roles.
More broadly, the Government’s Plan for Jobs is helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and getting back into work as part of the UK’s recovery from COVID-19, with the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leading work on the overall UK labour market and skills.
The Department for Work and Pensions should be the first port of call for employers seeking to fill vacancies, rather than the Home Office.
We do not view any job as “unskilled”, the difference is how long it takes to train for or gain the necessary qualifications for it. Where a job needs only a short period of training or time to acquire the qualifications necessary the focus should be on recruiting from the domestic labour market, especially given the economic impact of the global pandemic means many may be looking for new employment or to change careers.
Immigration policy cannot be seen as an alternative to improving training and career pathways or tackling issues such as unattractive pay and working conditions. Given this we will not be introducing a general migration route allowing employers to recruit at or near the minimum wage, with no work-based training requirements.
More broadly, the Government’s Plan for Jobs is helping people across the country retrain, build new skills and getting back into work as part of the UK’s recovery from COVID-19, with the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leading work on the overall UK labour market and skills.
Unless prohibited by UK legislation, decisions around the sale of merchandise are for retailers to make. The Home Secretary and I are appalled at the existence of the Blue Lives Murder merchandise and strongly support the Police Federation’s campaign to encourage retailers to stop selling it.
Our remarkable police courageously serve our country and keep us safe - they deserve our utmost respect and support.
Home Office officials are in regular contact with each of the recognised Sports Governing Bodies, annually reviewing the criteria that applies to each sport. This process of review ensures we strike the right balance between enabling top level international sportspeople to come to the UK, whilst protecting opportunities for resident sportspeople.
The Home Office approved Sports Governing Bodies are listed at Appendix M of the Immigration Rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-m-sports-governing-bodies.
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF) will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.
Applications to the LUF must meet the pass/fail gateway criterion where bids will be assessed against whether they can deliver some LUF expenditure in 2021-22 and demonstrate how they fit with the criteria set out in the prospectus and technical guidance.
My Department and I regularly have discussions with local authorities, including those in Nottinghamshire, on a wide range of issues including local government reorganisation. We are always ready to discuss with councils proposals for local government reorganisation that can improve services, increase efficiency, give rise to savings, result in stronger local accountability and leadership, and genuinely empower towns, parishes, and communities. We intend to bring forward further plans on this in our Devolution White Paper this Autumn.
The protection of children, particularly those who are most vulnerable, is a priority for this government and this has never been more important than during this period. The family courts were quick to respond to the pandemic and I am extremely grateful for the dedication of family justice professionals at this unprecedented time.
Record levels of judicial sitting days have been listed at the family court in Nottingham throughout the pandemic and these high levels of sittings continue. The court is utilising the new powers introduced via Practice Direction 36, which enables suitable cases to be dealt with via alternative methods other than a court hearing.
In March this year, we launched the £1m Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, to encourage and support separating parents to explore mediation before coming to court. In August, ministers confirmed an additional £800,000 would go towards the scheme, helping around 2000 more families. We want to ensure that every parent is able to resolve their case in the most effective way, including through mediation where safe and appropriate.
We continue to focus on reducing the outstanding caseload by investing in more judicial sitting days and increasing the overall level of disposals. Cases with the most significant safeguarding issues remain our priority, and where suitable, cases are being heard remotely to continue maximising our use of our estate.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) works with an independent judiciary to provide a fair, efficient and effective family justice system. Details of how we achieve this and our future plans for improvement can be found in the Ministry of Justice Single Departmental Plan and in the HMCTS Business Plan 2019/2020.
The business plan describes how HMCTS aims to run an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system, enabling the rule of law to be upheld, and providing access to justice for all. The plan also details how HMCTS is responsible for:
Further information can be found at: