Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential (a) financial cost and (b) impact on levels of child poverty of introducing a child element of Universal Credit of (i) £287.92, (ii) £191.95 and (iii) £143.96 for (A) third and (B) further children.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to tackling child poverty and are introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school to ensure children are fed a nutritious breakfast and are ready to learn. The new Ministerial Taskforce will drive cross-government action on child poverty, starting with overseeing the development of our ambitious new strategy in line with the Opportunity Mission.
After initial engagement, the formal work to develop the new child poverty strategy will begin and we will publish a Full Terms of Reference in the coming weeks. We will explore how we can use all the available levers we have across government and wider society to drive forward the change our children need.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to negotiate improved mobility rights for UK citizens travelling to EU countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We want to strengthen ties with the UK's immediate neighbours and allies and explore areas where we can boost our prosperity and security through mutually beneficial agreements.
We will continue to support opportunities to build our people-to-people links with our partners, but we have been clear that there will be no return to free movement with the EU.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to help support women affected by the rise in the State Pension age in North East Hertfordshire constituency.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
DWP offers employment support for eligible customers of all ages, including those below State Pension age, through the network of Jobcentres across the UK, and through contracted employment programmes.
A dedicated offer for older workers seeks to provide tailored support for those affected by low confidence, menopause, health and disability or caring pressures, and out of date skills or qualifications. This includes an online midlife review tool that supports people to assess their health, wealth and skills.
The government has set out ambitious plans to improve employment support by bringing together jobcentres and the national careers service.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the increase in the annual rate of GDP growth that would be required to fund the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Had the UK economy grown at the average rate of OECD economies over the fourteen years from 2010, it would be £143.3 billion larger – worth £5,053 for every household in the country. This could have brought in an additional £58 billion in tax revenues in the last year alone to sustain our public services.
Sustained economic growth is critical to fund high quality public services and improve living standards.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the process to secure a SEND diagnosis for children living in North East Hertfordshire.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Ofsted inspected local arrangements for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Hertfordshire in July 2023. Its report, published on 10 November 2023, concluded that there are widespread and/or systemic failings, leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND, which the local area partnership must address urgently.
The report found that many children and young people with SEND face long delays in having their needs assessed and receiving appropriate support. Parents and carers often encounter poor communication regarding education, health and care (EHC) assessments, as well as review processes, with many needing to take formal steps to secure the right support for their child, leading to frustration and added stress for families.
To ensure children are supported in receiving the necessary support and provision to match their needs in a timely manner, the department continues to monitor and challenge Hertfordshire County Council’s progress against their priority action plan, which includes the monitoring of EHC plan 20-week timeliness rates.
Judgements regarding sufficient progress will be made by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission following the monitoring visit that is expected to take place 18 months after the initial inspection. Following this, the department will continue to monitor and provide appropriate challenge and support to the local authority to make the necessary improvements, with the guidance of an expert SEND advisor and NHS England advisor.
This government is committed to improving the experiences for children and young people with SEND and their families. The department will take a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and alternative provision settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people serving prison sentences for prosecutions under the the Public Order Act 2023.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Ministry of Justice is aware of the recent media reporting of the sentencing of individuals under the Public Order Act 2023. The Department releases statistical data on offenders on a quarterly basis, with the most recent release being 25 July 2024 covering data up to 30 June 2024.
As of 30 June 2024, there were no prisoners serving prison sentences for prosecutions under the Public Order Act 2023.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support (a) children with SEND and (b) their parents, families and carers in North East Hertfordshire constituency.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government is committed to providing the necessary support to improve the experiences for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and alternative provision settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.
Ofsted inspected local arrangements for children with SEND in Hertfordshire in July 2023. Their report, published on 10 November 2023, concluded that there are widespread and/or systemic failings, leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND, which the local area partnership must address urgently.
The department provides support and challenge to the Hertfordshire local area partnership by monitoring progress against its priority action plan and improvement plan, and by providing advice and guidance via a SEND expert advisor. The partnership has also established a SEND Improvement Board, independently chaired by Dame Christine Lenehan to oversee progress and provide appropriate challenge.