Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people that receive (a) enhanced daily living Personal Independence Payment awards and (b) standard daily living Personal Independence Payment awards did not score four or more in any individual activity in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in January 2025.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's Sex Offending Strategy, published in July 2022, whether he plans to review the current rules on the reporting of sexual offences within the Armed Forces; and whether he plans to change policy to allow certain categories of sexual offences to be reported to civilian police forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Since 2009, the Civilian and Service police have shared jurisdiction for dealing with allegations of criminal offending by Service personnel in the UK. A Service person therefore has the choice to report any crime, including sexual offences, to the Civilian or Service Police.
The establishment of the Defence Serious Crime Command in 2022 created a an independent tri-Service investigative capability, and placed victims at the centre of a more streamlined and effective service. Where a report of sexual offending, or any serious crime, is made to the Service Police, the Defence Serious Crime Unit carries out an independent investigation and the Victim and Witness Care Unit provides support and advice from the point a crime is reported.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on replacing enhanced combat body armour for frontline troops.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The safety of personnel remains the Ministry of Defence’s top priority and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our forces and maintain operational readiness. Where it is appropriate, alternative body armour plates have been issued to those on high-threat deployments.
Work continues, at pace, to test and ensure the safety of sufficient Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) plates. To date 30% of the required number of ECBA plates have been scanned and are in the process of being distributed back to units. This is being prioritised based on operational requirements. It is anticipated that the most impacted users will receive tested ECBA plates by the end of this month.
The Tactical Ballistic Plate programme, which will replace both Osprey body armour and ECBA plates, is expected to deliver from 2027.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on waiving visa fees for (a) non UK nationality veterans who have served for four or more years and (b) dependents of those veterans; and whether he plans to introduce such waivers prior to the planned extension of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to further authorities.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government is committed to scrapping visa fees for non-UK veterans who have served our country for four or more years, and their dependents.
The Ministry of Defence is actively working with the Home Office to take this forward.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department has offered local authorities to help facilitate local VE Day 2025 celebrations.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
On March 5th, the Government announced a UK-wide programme to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day, with a series of events and celebrations that will share stories of the Second World War generation. Commemorations will kick off on Monday 5 May and will include a range of events as well as community activity such as street parties, BBQs and community get-togethers. Local Authorities are encouraged to amplify and support street parties and community activity on Monday 5 May, echoing the celebrations that took place 80 years ago. More information can be found on the Government’s dedicated interactive website: ve-vjday80.gov.uk.
Funding will be made available through the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All for organisations across the UK to bid for grants to host community events, activities and exhibitions to help tell the stories of the Second World War at a local level, ensuring the legacy of the war and its impact on individuals and communities across the country is not forgotten.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of prostate cancer cases that had presented with stage 4 metastatic disease at first diagnosis in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in the most recent year that data are available.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not have specific data for Leyton and Wanstead. However, we can provide diagnosis data at an integrated care board (ICB) level. Specifically, we can offer information on diagnoses at stages 3 and 4 for the North-East London ICB. In 2022, 400 men were diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 conditions within the NHS North East London ICB.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the National Screening Committee on the evidence that will be used to inform the criteria for a prostate cancer screening programme.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries of the United Kingdom on all aspects of population and targeted screening, and supports implementation. It uses research evidence, pilot programmes, economic evaluation, expert stakeholders, and consultation to assess the evidence for national screening programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria covering the condition, the test, the treatment options, and the effectiveness, ethics, and acceptability of the screening programme.
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been appraised of the UK NSC’s evidence review for prostate cancer screening which is currently underway. This will cover modelling the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. This will include different potential ways of screening the whole population as well as targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher than average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.
Once the modelling and evidence review are complete it will be considered by the UK NSC. Subject to no further revisions being required, the UK NSC plans to hold a public consultation towards the end of 2025. After this, the UK NSC will make a recommendation. Ministers will then be asked to consider whether to accept the recommendation.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of recent trends in levels of prostate cancer diagnoses; and what steps he plans to take to support (a) equitable access and (b) high-quality treatment strategies for people with prostate cancer.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is committed to improving the adequacy of all cancer services, including for prostate cancer. NHS England has funded 10 clinical audits, which includes a national prostate cancer audit. Using routine data, collected on patients diagnosed with cancer in a National Health Service setting, the audit is looking at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done better. This will seek to reduce unwarranted variation in treatment and reduce inequalities across different groups. To address disparities and find ways to better detect prostate cancer earlier, we have invested £16 million in the United Kingdom-wide TRANSFORM trial, aimed at helping find the best ways of detecting prostate cancer in men, even if they are not displaying any symptoms.
The Government recognises that a cancer-specific approach is needed to meet the challenges in cancer care, and to improve all cancer services and outcomes for people living with cancer, including those with prostate cancer. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve cancer services across England.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Next Generation (fixed) Communication Network programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since March 2024, the programme has been reset to leverage existing infrastructure and deliver some benefits earlier, whilst making progress towards broader programme key milestones. The team has been restructured and additional specialist resources have been brought on board. The programme has achieved an amber status following a further IPA review.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget he plans to allocate to mine action in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are currently considering Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025/26 and will publish them in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts in the summer.