Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) social tariff and (b) discounted energy scheme for disabled people.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is continually reviewing the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within its communities and prioritising support for the most vulnerable.
As the Government explores possible approaches to consumer protection from April 2024, it is working with disability organisations, considering the costs for disabled people, and assessing the need for specific support for disabled people using medical equipment in the home. Officials are discussing developing policy with charities, industry, and other consumer groups with a view to targeting support for the most vulnerable and alleviating fuel poverty.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent meetings with SCOPE on their social tariff on energy campaign.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I attended the meeting of the Disability Charities Consortium on 24 May, where the CEO of SCOPE was in attendance.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to correspondence of 3 April 2023 from the hon. Member for Glasgow East, reference DL15175, which was transferred to HM Revenue and Customs from the Department for Work and Pensions on 13 April 2023.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
HMRC sent the requested information to the hon. Member’s constituent on 1 June 2023 and replied to the hon. Member on 6 June 2023.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent meetings with SCOPE on their social tariff on energy campaign.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Officials from HM Treasury and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero met with SCOPE in January 2023 to discuss energy-related needs and support for disabled people.
In March, the Government set out its intention to consult in Summer 2023 on options for a new approach to consumer protection in the energy markets from April 2024 onwards. The government continues to engage with a range of stakeholders as part of its wider retail market reforms.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability and supply of Canesten HC cream.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department is aware of a supply issue with Canesten HC cream. The manufacturer has advised that stock should be available from wholesalers in mid June. Alternative treatments remain available and patients should talk to their clinician to discuss treatment options.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department uses automated decision making.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department does not use or deploy automated decision making on its staff or patients in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the midlife MOT review announced in the Spring Budget 2023 on improving the uptake of Pension Wise guidance.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The new digital Mid-Life MOT tool is designed to help people understand what their employment choices mean for planning for later life.
We will be working with employers and pension providers to make the most of this new tool for everyone.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government Equalities Office uses automated decision making.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by “automating manual processes” in order to realise efficiency opportunities for Government and deliver value for the taxpayer.
Automated decision making in Government is compliant with provisions in GDPR and the Data Protection Act, which includes the right for a data subject to request “a new decision that is not based solely on automated processing”.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/roadmap-for-digital-and-data-2022-to-2025
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department uses automated decision making.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does use automated decision making in some services and processes, which allows us to improve accuracy, speed up delivery and free up colleagues’ time so they can support the people who need it most. Review or appeal options are built in to all DWP benefit processes, even where this is not specifically required by data protection laws.
The Department is always careful to process data lawfully, proportionately, and ethically with safeguards for the protection of individuals. DWP does not use Artificial Intelligence for automated decision making.
DWP’s Personal Information Charter explains how and why we use personal information and citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to email correspondence of 22 February, 22 March and 5 April 2023 from the hon. Member for Glasgow East, reference MC2023/14561.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member was sent on 21 April.