Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to ensure that (a) commercial and (b) retail units utilise (i) solar panels and (ii) other renewable energy sources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Future building standards this year will set new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuel markets and ensures they are fit for a net zero future.
Changes have been introduced to permitted development rights, enabling more solar installations to benefit from these flexibilities and planning freedoms.
The Government will assess the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor carparks over a certain size through a call for evidence this year.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the accessibility of the railways for disabled people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. Since April 2024, 13 stations have been completed with a further 18 due to be completed by April 2025. This will be the most stations completed in one year since the programme started in 2006. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) Community First Responders and (b) Emergency Medical Technician use blue light vehicles.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This data is not held centrally by the Department. Community First Responders (CFRs) are community volunteers who respond to incidents, supporting ambulance services. CFRs are not trained to drive under blue light emergency conditions, and must follow all road traffic laws.
Emergency Medical Technicians are trained to drive under blue light conditions, and may be deployed to incidents in a single crewed vehicle or a twin crewed vehicle with an accompanying paramedic.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help raise awareness of the (a) potential merits of T Level qualifications for employers and (b) differences between T Levels and apprenticeships.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
All T Levels provide students with direct experience of the workplace through a 45-day industry placement, offering employers a unique opportunity to build their talent pipelines and fill skills gaps. Almost a third of the first cohort of T Level students that progressed into employment and apprenticeships are employed by their industry placement organisation, demonstrating the value of T Levels for employers.
T Levels are promoted via the department’s national Skills for Life communications campaign, and thousands of employers have taken advantage of our support to help them understand and deliver high quality industry placements. Our 700 member-strong T Level Ambassador Network are passionate advocates for technical education and work across the country to raise awareness and understanding of T Levels in their industries. The department’s annual T Levels Week will take place between 2 to 6 December this year and will see providers, employers and ambassadors across the country sharing student stories to raise the profile of T Levels and their benefits.
The Skills for Life ‘find training and employment schemes’ website for businesses includes clear guidance on the differences between apprenticeships and T Levels and outlines the benefits of both programmes. This makes it clear that T Levels can help build a talent pipeline for apprenticeships, including through accelerated apprenticeships, which can reduce the time needed to complete an apprenticeship programme, saving businesses time and cost. The website can be accessed here: https://find-employer-schemes.education.gov.uk/schemes/.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition of Crewe Railway Station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is a clear need for interventions at Crewe station including to ageing roof and canopies. The Department expects Avanti West Coast, which manages the day-to-day running of the station, to work closely on behalf of passengers with Network Rail, which is responsible for asset repairs.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a shortfall in SEND education provision within Cheshire East on SEND children; and whether she plans to take steps to increase this provision.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sits with local authorities.
The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.
We understand that local authorities, including Cheshire East, will want to be aware of further funding in order to develop an approach to future high needs provision and we will confirm plans for future high needs capital funding in due course.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Ofsted's complaints procedure; and what her Department's policy is on its future.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support people who require long term care for (a) dementia and (b) other debilitating diseases with the costs of such care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We want a society where every person, including those with dementia and other long-term conditions, receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care, with their families and carers also supported. Central to this is the provision of personalised care.
This person-centred approach is echoed throughout the Dementia Well Pathway. This includes diagnosing well, living and supporting well, and dying well. The pathway highlights that services need to be integrated, commissioned, monitored, and aligned with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence standards for each component of the pathway.
Some individuals with the highest levels of complex, intense, and unpredictable needs may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. This is a package of health and social care arranged and funded solely by the National Health Service for adults assessed as having a primary health need.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for the reform of business rates.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government made a manifesto commitment to a fairer business rates system that levels the playing field between online giants and the high street, supports investment and entrepreneurship and tackles empty properties. Further information on business rates reforms will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
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 the implications for his policies of the condition of RAAC at Leighton Hospital in Crewe and Nantwich constituency.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As one of the seven hospitals constructed mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), Leighton Hospital was selected to be rebuilt as part of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) in May 2023. It is also part of NHS England’s robust national RAAC programme, which is backed by £954 million. This programme has delivered mitigation, safety, and eradication works across all National Health Service sites in England with confirmed RAAC, to keep facilities safe and open, including Leighton Hospital. Keeping capacity open but being scrupulous about monitoring and mitigation until the hospital is rebuilt is fully in line with the current evidence and recommendations of the Institute of Structural Engineers.
As the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced, and as subsequently confirmed in the Chancellor’s statement on 29 July 2024, the Department will undertake a full and comprehensive review of the NHP to provide a realistic and costed timetable for delivery. This will take into account the urgent need to rebuild Leighton Hospital to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Once the review into the NHP is concluded the Secretary of State will update Parliament and set out the next steps for the Programme.