Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will conduct a review of public notices advertising to ensure that those notices are distributed in (a) printed and (b) online news outlets.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable journalism found that public notices are also an important source of revenue for local newspapers. However, the Government is aware of feedback from some sectors about the audience reach of these notices and the desire for greater digitalisation. In this context, the sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and provide a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We are monitoring the progress of the Portal, and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date her Department sent letters to people eligible for Pension Credit to inform them that they must apply for Pension Credit to continue receiving winter fuel payments.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The department sent letters between 7th October and 4th November 2024 to pensioners who, under previous rules, would have received a Winter Fuel Payment this year. The letters informed customers of the change in eligibility for receiving the payment and urged them to check their potential entitlement to Pension Credit which would provide them with a range of additional benefits, including the Winter Fuel Payment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the blog post entitled How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on 29 June 2023, what progress that Agency has made on tackling automated bots exploiting the driving test booking system.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests.

In January 2023, DVSA changed its booking service terms and conditions to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit. Since then, the DVSA has issued 313 warnings, 766 suspensions, and closed 705 business accounts for misuse of its booking service.

DVSA operates an online booking service (OBS) for Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and trainers so that they can book and manage driving and riding tests for their pupils. DVSA has made changes to the OBS by stopping automatic online registrations to use the service, ensuring each company that registers employs an ADI and removing access for any companies not linked to driving instructors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether airlines who will have responsibility for checking electronic travel authorisations (ETA) for EU nationals from 2 April 2025 will also have the ability to check (a) EU identity cards and (b) EU passports in order to verify those with settled status are exempt from the requirement to hold an ETA.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

If their passengers hold an ETA and are seeking to travel to the UK using the passport they used to apply for their ETA, airlines will receive automated messaging confirming the existence of a permission to travel.

If their passengers hold an eVisa and are seeking to travel on a passport registered on their Home Office account, airlines will receive automated messaging confirming the existence of a permission to travel.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) should register their passport and national identity card (if held) onto their Home Office account. This will ensure airlines receive the correct automated messaging if they seek to travel with either document.

It is important that all individuals with an eVisa (including those with status under the EUSS) keep their travel documents up to date and registered onto their Home Office account.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on small and medium-sized businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to visit Watford General Hospital before his Department's review of the New Hospital Programme is complete.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ministers regularly consider visits across the country. Any plans to visit specific locations will be notified to the Hon. Members in advance.

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 potential merits of permitting GPs to prescribe a third epi pen to school children with severe allergies when school policies require them to leave one of the two provided by the NHS on the school premises during term time.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Clinicians are responsible for making prescribing decisions for their patients and, where appropriate, can prescribe the number of EpiPens needed, taking into account best practice, the patient's needs, and any local or national guidance. There are already some children in England with severe allergies who have four EpiPens prescribed to them, two for use at home, and two for use at school.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on the hospitality sector.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on the social care sector.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to increase the Lifetime ISA property cap threshold in line with the rate of house price inflation.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has received recent representations from the charitable hospice sector on the impact of statutory funding levels on the adequacy of (a) service levels, (b) staffing levels and (c) patient care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, and their loved ones.  Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services.  The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by integrated care board (ICB) area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth of palliative and end of life care provision within each ICB catchment area.

I am aware from meetings with, and published reports and correspondence from, the charitable hospice sector linking the level of statutory funding for hospices to reductions in the adequacy of service levels, staffing levels, and patient care. I have also recently met NHS England and discussions have begun on how to reduce inequalities and variation in access to, and the quality of, palliative and end of life care.

We, alongside key partners NHS England, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face. We will consider next steps on palliative and end of life care, including funding, in the coming months.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to allow local councils to roll out noise cameras to monitor illegal vehicle modifications.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport conducted roadside trials of noise camera technology between October 2022 and February 2023. Reports of these trials, including detailed assessment of the technology’s performance and potential merits, were published on 17 March 2024. Overall, the trials demonstrated that noise cameras currently have the potential to be used for enforcement, but only when accompanied by human review of the recorded evidence, which is likely to lower the cost effectiveness of deploying the technology in many circumstances.

It is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be for addressing issues with excessive vehicle noise within their area. The use of noise camera technology has already been taken forward by some local authorities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increasing use of pea protein in food products.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that can be taken to ensure people with allergies have access to clear and accurate information.

There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to sensitised people. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as being the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe.

The FSA is aware that pea protein allergy is an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to peas in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited. The FSA is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other stakeholders on gathering information on hidden and emerging food allergens which will help in assessing the need for further research and work in this area. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely but has no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list.

The FSA continues to work to make it easier for people with food hypersensitivities (allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease) to have access to clear and accurate information which is a fundamental part of their work. Its research can be found  here.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the Food Standards Agency on listing pea protein as an allergen.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that can be taken to ensure people with allergies have access to clear and accurate information.

There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to sensitised people. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as being the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe.

The FSA is aware that pea protein allergy is an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to peas in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited. The FSA is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other stakeholders on gathering information on hidden and emerging food allergens which will help in assessing the need for further research and work in this area. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely but has no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list.

The FSA continues to work to make it easier for people with food hypersensitivities (allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease) to have access to clear and accurate information which is a fundamental part of their work. Its research can be found  here.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October to Question 6533 on Disposable Wipes: Plastics, on what date he plans to bring forward proposals to implement a ban on the sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is working together with the devolved governments to understand the issue, with a view to legislate to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the number of health visitors available to support babies with special educational needs and disabilities.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children. The child health workforce, including health visitors, is central to how we support all families to give their child the best start in life. Their contact with parents, carers, and children of all ages provides vital advice and support and helps ensure that health and development needs are identified early, including those children with special educational needs and disabilities.

We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure people, their carers, and their families are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will want to assure ourselves, and the National Health Service, that the current workforce plan will deliver the reform needed. We will need to do this in light of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Work of St John Ambulance

Release of Emily Damari

Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

Establishment of the Women’s Caucus in Westminster

Found: Murray Alison Bennett Edward Morello Steve Darling Chris Coghlan Liz Jarvis Dr Al Pinkerton Daisy

Found: Murray Alison Bennett Edward Morello Steve Darling Chris Coghlan Liz Jarvis Dr Al Pinkerton Daisy

Found: Mohamed Alison Bennett Edward Morello Steve Darling Chris Coghlan Liz Jarvis Dr Al Pinkerton Daisy