Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of availability of courses for international students at UK universities for academic year 2020-2021.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
Teaching, learning and assessment in higher education (HE) are not stopping. We are working with the sector to ensure universities are able to make all reasonable efforts to enable all students, both international and domestic, to continue and complete their studies; for their achievements to be reliably assessed; and for qualifications to be awarded securely.
Despite the significant disruption being felt across the HE sector, students deserve appropriate support and recognition for their hard work and dedication - many universities and colleges have moved rapidly to develop new ways of delivering courses through online teaching and alternatives to traditional end-of-course exams.
Our universities will always be open to international students. Both the government and the HE sector are working together to ensure existing rules and processes are as flexible as possible under the current unprecedented circumstances, to ensure that international students who are planning to study at a UK institution from autumn 2020 can do so.
The UK looks forward to continuing to welcome international students in the future. They enrich UK HE culturally, socially and economically, and are one of the reasons why our HE sector remains world-class.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the long-term effect on children’s physical and mental health of the covid-19 lockdown; and what steps his Department is taking to mitigate those effects.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The Department for Health and Social Care has responsibility for children and young people’s health and we are working with them, Public Health England and NHS England to understand the impact COVID-19 is having. It is clear that physical and mental health support is more important than ever during COVID-19.
Public Health England has published guidance for parents/carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19:
The Department for Education’s guidance for parents/carers and schools covers how they can support children’s mental health. This information is available at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers and
We have also developed online education resources, including resources to support mental wellbeing, physical activity, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education.
The NHS Change for Life website and Sport England’s Join the Movement campaign both provide advice on staying physically active.
Access to support from health services remains important. NHS services remain open for everyone and leading mental health charities are being supported to deliver additional services through the £5 million Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund. The NHS is also setting up 24/7 open access telephone lines for urgent mental health support for people of all ages. The Department for Education is working across government on further support, including the first of the newly established Mental Health Support Teams which are now working in or near schools and colleges, to support children during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government is making on bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that local authorities can extend legal notices on marriages postponed as a result of the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Alex Chalk
The Government acknowledges the significant upheaval that Covid-19 is causing for couples who were looking to marry at this time. The requirement to solemnize a marriage within twelve months of giving notice to marry is set out in primary legislation and would require primary legislation to amend.
We are exploring what changes might be possible in relation to marriages at this time, and in line with Public Health England guidance on social distancing.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure support for (a) routine care and (b) all other NHS services continues during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
As a result of the measures put in place to tackle COVID-19, we now appear to have passed the peak of new cases being reported and it has been decided to begin the ‘reset’ of services across the National Health Service. This reset will involve the release and redeployment of some of the treatment capacity that could have been needed while the number of COVID-19 patients was rising sharply.
All NHS organisations have therefore been asked to step-up non-COVID-19 services as soon as possible, starting with the most urgent. Decisions on how to do this will be taken locally, based on local demands for health services. The NHS issued guidance to NHS service providers on 29 April outlining the next steps for the NHS response to COVID-19.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will require that Highways England ensure the work scheduled in 2020 to improve the road surface between junctions 10 and 11 of the M25 will include the replacement of all remaining road surface joints.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Highways England understands noise is a concern for residents living close to the M25 between junctions 10 and 11 and it is actively looking for ways to reduce noise from the carriageways.
In April 2020, Highways England started carrying out repairs to the failed joints on this section of the M25 and the work will be completed this summer. The work will concentrate on those joints which are in the poorest condition. Replacing joints which have not failed, or have already been repaired, would not reduce the noise from this concrete section or improve safety.
Highways England carried out extensive joint repairs last year. Like all road surfaces, the concrete carriageway between junctions 10 and 11 is regularly monitored for safety and condition, and repairs are carried out when needed.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on steps being taken to support the (a) TV, (b) film and (c) other creative industries during the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government recognises broadcasting, film and other creative industries have an important role to play in the UK by providing access to entertainment, culture and news during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure we are assisting the sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations (BROs) as well as trade associations within the creative industries and broadcasting sectors. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors.
We also continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading media and creative industries.