Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that there is adequate (a) funding and (b) support for (i) forensic investigation teams and (ii) coroner services to help minimise delays.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
It is important that the death investigation process is as swift and efficient as possible to avoid additional distress for bereaved families at such a difficult time in their lives.
Whilst the Ministry of Justice is responsible for coroner law and policy, this Department does not have operational responsibility for coroner services as they are a local service, funded and administered by individual local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring these services are adequately resourced in line with local needs and priorities.
However, the Government recognises the impact of delays in coronial investigations on bereaved families. This was an issue explored and highlighted by the Justice Select Committee following their recent follow-up inquiry into the coroner service. The Government is carefully considering the Committee’s findings including on coronial pathology provision, which is a long-standing and cross cutting issue that can impact on the timeliness of coronial investigations and will respond on the steps it intends to take to further support the coroner service in due course.
Fair and efficient police investigations and outcomes depend on the timely delivery of high-quality forensic science. The Government is working with PCCs, Chief Constables, the Forensic Science Regulator and other leaders in forensic science to ensure forensic services are reliable and robust to increase confidence in the police and criminal justice system to their highest levels.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
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 merits of extending the maximum number of months for which the Bereavement Support Payment can be paid beyond the existing cap of 18 monthly payments.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people through the immediate period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of lifeguard numbers on UK beaches; and whether he plans to improve beach safety.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have made no such assessment. However, the responsibility for lifeguards on beaches is usually a matter for local authorities or private beach owners.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her planned timeline is for the implementation of steps to transition toward restorative justice is; and what the key milestones toward this will be.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Restorative justice can, when delivered in the right circumstances, improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending. This not only benefits the victims and the offender but also their community.
That is why, under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (‘the Victims’ Code’), all adult victims must be told about the option of restorative justice and how to access it. We also provide Police and Crime Commissioners with grant funding for victim support services, including restorative justice services. They are best placed to assess local need and commission services based on the needs of the population in the local area.
Restorative justice can also already be used as part of out of court resolutions, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to publish an action plan for imprisonment for public protection sentences.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I am pleased to announce that on 15 November, the Lord Chancellor laid the first IPP Annual Report and a newly updated IPP Action Plan before Parliament. The Report and Plan can be accessed using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmpps-annual-report-on-the-ipp-sentence-2023-to-24.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the updated Plan drives effective frontline delivery in our prisons, to ensure that those serving IPP sentences are given every chance to make further progress in reducing their risk and eventually obtaining a release direction from the Parole Board in a way that prioritises public protection.
We are also committed to ensuring that the Plan improves the support for IPP offenders to comply with licence in the community, so that they can see the eventual termination of the licence and a definitive end to their sentence.
We will review the IPP Action Plan annually and will continue thoroughly to scrutinise the progress made.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
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 potential feasibility of extending free prescriptions to care leavers aged 18 to 25.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to make an assessment of the feasibility of extending free prescriptions to care leavers aged 18 to 25 years old.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to reduce the cost to local authorities of home-to-school transport.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department’s home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home-to-school travel for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the route is unsafe. There are extended rights to free home-to-school travel for children from low-income families, aimed at helping them exercise school choice.
The department knows that local authorities’ spending on home-to-school travel has increased sharply in recent years, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities. This is largely due to increases in the number of children with education, health and care plans and the number of those children who have to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs.
The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so fewer children need to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs. This will reduce home-to-school travel costs for local authorities over time.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) social and (b) council housebuilding projects in Southampton are not delayed due to financial infeasibility.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 10272 on 28 October 2024.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will implement a national breast cancer screening awareness campaign to encourage people to attend appointments.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Breast Screening Programme has high levels of activity, however NHS England has advised that some women are simply not coming forward for screening. To address this, NHS England is carrying out research into the best approaches to target specific groups that are not coming forward for screening. Evidence suggests approaches such as personalised appointments from a general practitioner (GP), fixed appointment with a date and time, and text messaging reminders are the best ways to engage underserved communities.
In addition, The Help Us Help You national campaign helps to raise awareness of early diagnosis of cancer and encourages people to see their GP sooner. The campaign activity is designed to increase earlier diagnosis of cancer by reducing barriers to seeking earlier help, and by increasing body vigilance and knowledge of key red flag symptoms.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) support families of young people who die by suicide after taking illegal substances bought online and (b) raise awareness in schools and communities of this risk.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
I am grateful for the Hon. Gentleman for raising this important issue, and highlighting the dangers posed by the availability of illegal substances in online marketplaces, and the tragic consequences that can result from their purchase and consumption, both for young people at risk from that threat, and for their families. I would be happy to meet the Hon. Gentlemen to discuss how best we can address these complex issues, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our young people is protected.