Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) other Cabinet colleagues to amend the National Planning Policy Framework to include regulations for a new infrastructure levy to ensure the provision of adequate (i) GP and (ii) dental provision in new housing developments.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act introduces powers to create the new Infrastructure Levy which aims to generate more funding for infrastructure, such as GP surgeries, to mitigate the impacts of new development.
The Act includes provisions to require local authorities to prepare Infrastructure Delivery Strategies which will set out the strategy for delivering infrastructure and spending Levy proceeds. The Act also enables authorities to require the assistance of infrastructure providers, including Integrated Care Bodies, in devising these strategies and development plans.
We have committed to consult further on the design of the Levy, before we draft regulations.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on the reasons for which the final report of the inquiry will not be published until 2024; what steps he is taking to implement a compensation framework for infected blood victims; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Government continues to make progress and is working to be ready to respond soon after the publication of the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, following the interim payments we have already made. On 23 October I issued a public statement on the Government’s current position in responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry. The timetable of the Inquiry is a matter for the chair. I will update the House as soon as I have further information to provide.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase the efficiency of the passport renewal process.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
His Majesty’s Passport Office remains fully resourced following its significant increase of over 1200 staff between April 2021 and last summer. With the continued introduction of process improvements, HM Passport Office has processed more than two million applications across January and February, with over 99.5% of standard UK applications being processed within ten weeks and 95.5% being processed within three weeks.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of NHS dentistry services for children in (a) Norwich North constituency and (b) Norfolk.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which sets out how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to National Health Service dental services for patients of all ages, whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices. These changes have been implemented, including through regulations that came into effect on 25 November 2022. NHS England is holding further discussions with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders for plans for additional reforms of the NHS Dental System coming shortly.
In circumstances where a guardian or parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a NHS dental practice, they are advised to contact NHS 111 for assistance.
Information on the number of children who have seen a dentist or hygienist in Norwich in the last six or 12 months is not available.
Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides information on NHS dental activity in England and is available from the following link:
The table below shows that the proportion of children in Norfolk County Council who have seen an NHS dentist in the last 12 months (to June 2022) is almost 10% lower than the national average. Published data is not available for Norwich.
June 2021 - June 2022 | Number of Children who have visited an NHS dentist | Proportion of child population (%) |
Norfolk County Council | 62,867 | 36.5% |
England | 5,589,201 | 46.1% |
NHS England commissions community dental services to offer dental care to vulnerable patients, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, who cannot be treated in a general NHS dental practice or may be in locations that cannot access NHS dental services.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
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 adequacy of the availability of NHS appointments for children's dentistry in (a) Norwich and (b) Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which sets out how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to National Health Service dental services for patients of all ages, whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices. These changes have been implemented, including through regulations that came into effect on 25 November 2022. NHS England is holding further discussions with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders for plans for additional reforms of the NHS Dental System coming shortly.
In circumstances where a guardian or parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a NHS dental practice, they are advised to contact NHS 111 for assistance.
Information on the number of children who have seen a dentist or hygienist in Norwich in the last six or 12 months is not available.
Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides information on NHS dental activity in England and is available from the following link:
The table below shows that the proportion of children in Norfolk County Council who have seen an NHS dentist in the last 12 months (to June 2022) is almost 10% lower than the national average. Published data is not available for Norwich.
June 2021 - June 2022 | Number of Children who have visited an NHS dentist | Proportion of child population (%) |
Norfolk County Council | 62,867 | 36.5% |
England | 5,589,201 | 46.1% |
NHS England commissions community dental services to offer dental care to vulnerable patients, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, who cannot be treated in a general NHS dental practice or may be in locations that cannot access NHS dental services.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
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 that children with special educational needs and disabilities are able to access NHS dentistry in (a) Norwich and (b) Norfolk.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which sets out how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to National Health Service dental services for patients of all ages, whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices. These changes have been implemented, including through regulations that came into effect on 25 November 2022. NHS England is holding further discussions with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders for plans for additional reforms of the NHS Dental System coming shortly.
In circumstances where a guardian or parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a NHS dental practice, they are advised to contact NHS 111 for assistance.
Information on the number of children who have seen a dentist or hygienist in Norwich in the last six or 12 months is not available.
Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides information on NHS dental activity in England and is available from the following link:
The table below shows that the proportion of children in Norfolk County Council who have seen an NHS dentist in the last 12 months (to June 2022) is almost 10% lower than the national average. Published data is not available for Norwich.
June 2021 - June 2022 | Number of Children who have visited an NHS dentist | Proportion of child population (%) |
Norfolk County Council | 62,867 | 36.5% |
England | 5,589,201 | 46.1% |
NHS England commissions community dental services to offer dental care to vulnerable patients, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, who cannot be treated in a general NHS dental practice or may be in locations that cannot access NHS dental services.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
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 estimate of the number of children who have seen a (a) dentist and (b) hygienist in Norwich in the last (i) six and (ii) 12 months.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’ which sets out how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to National Health Service dental services for patients of all ages, whilst making the NHS dental contract more attractive to dental practices. These changes have been implemented, including through regulations that came into effect on 25 November 2022. NHS England is holding further discussions with the British Dental Association and other stakeholders for plans for additional reforms of the NHS Dental System coming shortly.
In circumstances where a guardian or parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a NHS dental practice, they are advised to contact NHS 111 for assistance.
Information on the number of children who have seen a dentist or hygienist in Norwich in the last six or 12 months is not available.
Dental Statistics, published by NHS Digital, provides information on NHS dental activity in England and is available from the following link:
The table below shows that the proportion of children in Norfolk County Council who have seen an NHS dentist in the last 12 months (to June 2022) is almost 10% lower than the national average. Published data is not available for Norwich.
June 2021 - June 2022 | Number of Children who have visited an NHS dentist | Proportion of child population (%) |
Norfolk County Council | 62,867 | 36.5% |
England | 5,589,201 | 46.1% |
NHS England commissions community dental services to offer dental care to vulnerable patients, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, who cannot be treated in a general NHS dental practice or may be in locations that cannot access NHS dental services.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of orthodontic appointments for children in Norwich.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
NHS England is responsible for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population. Many of the dentistry commissioning functions undertaken by NHS England will transfer to integrated care boards (ICBs) from April 2023. ICBs will be responsible for meeting the needs of their local populations of all ages, working with patient groups. NHS England has made available to commissioners an Assurance Framework to provide assurances on commissioning.
In circumstances where a person or parents are unable to access an urgent dental appointment for their child directly through a National Health Service dental practice, they are advised to contact NHS 111 for assistance.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the number of domestic properties in Norwich that are unable to access smart energy metering due to poor quality mobile signal as of March 2023; and what plans he has to help ensure those residents have access to operational smart meters in the future.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government's aim is that as many households and small businesses as possible should benefit from smart metering.
The Government does not hold information on network coverage at a constituency level. However, the Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain and is also required by license conditions to seek to provide coverage above this level where practicable and cost proportionate.
Ofgem is responsible for regulating the DCC against its obligations.
Asked by: Chloe Smith (Conservative - Norwich North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an estimate with Cabinet colleagues of the number and proportion of firefighters who have received compensation for firefighter pension arrears in accordance with the firefighter pension scheme immediate detriment framework as of 2 March 2023.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each of the separate employing fire and rescue authorities in England.
The Home Office does not have any role in the administration of firefighters’ pensions and does not hold data on the number of firefighters who have received their pensions paid under the terms of the immediate detriment framework.