Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of driving theory test slots are allocated to learners with dyslexia.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is dedicated to ensuring all candidates have equal and fair access to the driving theory test.
The DVSA has worked with the British Dyslexia Association to implement changes to the theory test to make it more accessible for learners allowing them to have their knowledge and understanding checked, without putting them at an undue disadvantage.
These changes include:
Candidates who have reading difficulties can request an English or Welsh voiceover. This provides candidates with headphones and enables them to listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as needed.
Theory test slots are open to all candidates, but those needing extra support, such as candidates with dyslexia, can request other adaptions including:
If a dyslexic candidate needs something more bespoke, such as certain colour overlays, the DVSA will aim to meet their need.
The DVSA will continue to look at ways in which it can further improve the theory test for candidates with learning difficulties.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Energy Bills Support Scheme to gypsies and travellers living in roadside camps.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud. However, we recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund. We also recommend that they visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are differences in waiting times for driving theory tests for learners with dyslexia and those without.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is dedicated to ensuring all candidates have equal and fair access to the driving theory test.
There are no differences in waiting times for driving theory tests for learners with dyslexia and for those without.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of widening the list of mandated common allergenic ingredients of public health concern.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland are responsible for food allergen labelling in Scotland.
The FSA is aware that pea protein allergies are an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to pea protein in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited and the prevalence of pea protein allergies is unknown in the United Kingdom at present. As and when information is available, the FSA will assess the evidence, but have no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list. Any additions to this list would only be made based on relevant scientific evidence and views gathered through public consultation. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely and is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology on hidden and emerging food allergens.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including pea protein as an allergen in food labelling.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland are responsible for food allergen labelling in Scotland.
The FSA is aware that pea protein allergies are an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to pea protein in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited and the prevalence of pea protein allergies is unknown in the United Kingdom at present. As and when information is available, the FSA will assess the evidence, but have no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list. Any additions to this list would only be made based on relevant scientific evidence and views gathered through public consultation. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely and is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology on hidden and emerging food allergens.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
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 improve labelling for people with allergies to legumes and pulses on (a) restaurant and (b) shop-bought food products.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland are responsible for food allergen labelling in Scotland. Food businesses have a duty to inform customers about 14 mandatory allergens which are recognised across Europe as the most common allergenic ingredients of public health concern. Pulses and legumes (with the exception of peanuts) are not included in the list of 14 mandated allergens. The prevalence of allergy to pulses and legumes in the United Kingdom is currently unknown, though any emerging evidence will continue to be assessed as it becomes available.
Food businesses who sell prepacked or prepacked for direct sale foods, such as food-to-go, are required to provide a full list of ingredients, and to highlight the 14 allergens on packaging. Those with an allergy or intolerance to foods outside of the 14 mandated allergens should be able to check the ingredients list and avoid the foods they need to.
For non-prepacked food, such as food served in a restaurant, the food business must provide information on the presence of any of the 14 allergens. They can do this in writing or verbally. People with food hypersensitivities should ask if the food they wish to avoid is used in any of the dishes. If in doubt, or the information cannot be reliably provided, the advice is to not eat at the premises.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to respond to the letter of 26 May 2023 from the hon. Member for Glasgow North West on arranging a meeting to discuss redundancy compensation for former employees of Morton’s Rolls.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department aims to respond to correspondence within 15 working days. I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department undertook a public consultation on procurement for upgrading the broadband network in the Glasgow area before the contract was awarded to CityFibre.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The UK Government has not awarded a contract to the supplier CityFibre to upgrade broadband infrastructure in the City of Glasgow, nor was it involved in a consultation or procurement process for any awarded contract.
I would advise contacting the local council, who may be able to provide further information.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what procurement processes were followed before the contract to upgrade the broadband network in the Glasgow area was awarded to CityFibre.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The UK Government has not awarded a contract to the supplier CityFibre to upgrade broadband infrastructure in the City of Glasgow, nor was it involved in a consultation or procurement process for any awarded contract.
I would advise contacting the local council, who may be able to provide further information.
Asked by: Carol Monaghan (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial support his Department is making available to tackle disease and infections in the developing world.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is committed to the fight against infectious diseases in the developing world and has a strong record of leadership in combatting their spread and impact. This includes our £1 billion contribution to the seventh replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; as well as £1.65 billion to Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) to immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases by 2025. We also invest in world-leading Product Development Partnerships such TB Alliance for new drugs, the global non-profit FIND for new diagnostics, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC). Our funding for catalytic interventions brings down the prices of new products and tackles barriers to widespread access.