Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with EngineeringUK on supporting engineering companies in providing T Level placements for engineering students in further education.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department works closely with a range of colleges, schools, employers and their representative bodies to ensure the availability and quality of T Level industry placements across the country. For the engineering and manufacturing sector this includes the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Engineering and Manufacturing working group, made up of organisations including EngineeringUK, Enginuity (and the National Manufacturing Skills Task Force), Make UK and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The group share resources, case studies and undertake employer awareness-raising campaigns to support the delivery of industry placements.
The department also actively engages stakeholders via our T Level Ambassador Network which advocates for T Levels and plays a key role in bringing industry and education together across a range of sectors. The network has expanded to over 900 members, including large businesses, small and medium enterprises, colleges and schools, universities and students. Over 120 representatives from the engineering and manufacturing sector are part of this network.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34653 on Royal Mail: Workplace Pensions, whether any of the 906 tax free lump sum overpayments in 2024 related to retirement in previous years.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Whilst all of the 906 overpayments happened in 2024, the impacted members retired across a number of years.
Of the 906 cases, 163 retired in 2024, 597 in 2023; 5 in 2022), 3 in 2021, 4 in 2020, 2 in 2019, and 8 in 2018. The remaining 124 cases retired before 2018.
The Cabinet Office has worked closely with the scheme administrator, to review all other processes in relation to the administration of the scheme, to ensure that they are documented and accurately reflect the contractual requirements and scheme rules, to deliver the best possible service to members and minimise errors.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that train station car parks offer alternatives to online payment methods.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Decisions regarding car parking at stations, including charges and payment methods, are an operational matter for train operators and Network Rail to make based on their local knowledge of the passengers and communities they serve. We encourage train operators to consult local communities and to consider each station’s needs and customer base when making decisions on charging at the car parks they manage.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how leaseholders can challenge costs incurred for a Deed of Variation to leasehold agreements.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Leaseholders who are dissatisfied with costs incurred as part of a deed of variation should seek legal advice. Free initial legal advice is available through the Leasehold Advisory Service.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29802 on Parking: Software, what recent discussions her Department has had with the parking industry on the future rollout of the National Parking Platform.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport continues to engage with the parking sector regarding alternative options for taking forward delivery of a national parking platform.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34653 on Royal Mail: Workplace Pensions, how many of the 906 overpayments of tax free lump sums in 2024 have been resolved by (a) payment in full, (b) part payment as full settlement or (c) written off.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Out of the 906 miscalculated overpayments in 2024, in respect of the second bite overpayment (742 members) we can confirm that 248 overpayments have been recovered in full; 494 are in recovery by way of monthly deductions to their pension, and 4 members have yet to have their recovery method agreed, and there is ongoing correspondence to finalise this.
In addition, all 160 duplicate pension increase members are in recovery. Where members were unable to return the overpayment in full, monthly deductions from their pension were put in place. There were no part payments or payments written off.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34653 on Royal Mail: Workplace Pensions, how many of the 906 retirees effected by tax free lump sum overpayments in 2024 have been offered (a) compensation or (b) a reduction in repayment.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The scheme administrator, Capita, has not compensated or agreed a reduction of payment figures for any of the 906 cases affected by overpayments.
However, the scheme administrator has taken steps to support these members. This includes arranging monthly deductions to be taken from the member’s pension in payment where they were unable to repay their overpayment in full. Affected members are also able to contact Capita to discuss alternative repayment arrangements using the helpline number or dedicated email address.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34653 on Royal Mail: Workplace Pensions, what the total value of the 906 tax free lump sum overpayments in 2024 was.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The total value of the overpayments in relation to the 906 lump sums miscalculated in 2024 is £1,325,340.78.
The Cabinet Office has worked closely with the scheme administrator, Capita, to review all other processes in relation to the administration of the scheme, to ensure that they are documented and accurately reflect the contractual requirements and scheme rules, to deliver the best possible service to members and minimise errors.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
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 potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the planned national pandemic exercise in Autumn 2025.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In Autumn 2025, the Department and the UK Health Security Agency will conduct a national exercise to test our ability to respond to a pandemic, involving all regions and nations of the United Kingdom, and thousands of participants. Planning for the exercise is underway and consideration is being given to its design and the participation of NHS England officials.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to increase levels of production of (a) air defence and (b) land attack missiles.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is looking hard at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21 century. The SDR will ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, now and for years to come.