Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve adult social care workforce retention.

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

Skills for Care data shows improvement in workforce retention in adult social care, the staff turnover rate decreased from 29.1% in 2022/23 to 24.8% in 2023/24 in the independent and local authority sectors. This may be partly due to the increase in international recruitment.

Whilst much of the responsibility for recruitment and retention rests with adult social care employers, we are committed to ensuring the adult social care workforce feels supported, recognised, and there are opportunities to develop and progress, all of which contribute to retention. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals. More information is available at the following link:

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737

Fair Pay Agreements will work to empower workers, employers, and others in partnership to negotiate pay and terms and conditions in a regulated and responsible manner and will help to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, in turn supporting the delivery of high-quality care.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the (a) adequacy and (b) efficiency of consular support with processing (i) identity and (ii) travel documents for undocumented migrants who are homeless in the UK.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office provides consular assistance to British nationals abroad.

The Home Office provides the Homelessness Escalation Service for organisations supporting non-UK nationals experiencing homelessness. Local Authorities, homelessness charities and immigration legal advisors can use the service to obtain current status information and to escalate outstanding immigration applications highlighting an individual’s vulnerability connected to their experience of homelessness.

If an undocumented migrant does not have permission to remain in the UK, and wishes to return home voluntarily, they can get help to return to their home country from the Voluntary Returns Service.

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 help local authorities reduce rough sleeping.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Homelessness and rough sleeping levels in England are far too high. This has a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.

We must address this and deliver long-term solutions. The Government is taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group which the Deputy Prime Minister will chair, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.

Whilst we develop our new strategy, the Rough Sleeping Initiative is providing £547 million over the period from April 2022 to March 2025 to 300 local authorities across England for local, tailored rough sleeping services.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with (a) the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (b) relevant organisations to increase the quality of data available to her Department on the number of (i) migrants with no recourse to public funds and (ii) other migrants who become homeless.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is committed to understanding how the NRPF policy impacts different migrant groups through engagement with public and private sector organisations on a regular basis, including at the quarterly NRPF Stakeholder Forum. The Government is looking at homelessness levels carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to bring an end to homelessness.

The Home Office is in the process of migrating its casework operations to the new ATLAS system. Once fully migrated, it will be possible to explore what further information on NRPF can be produced using the new system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of the no recourse to public funds condition on levels of homelessness; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the operation of the condition.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is committed to understanding how the NRPF policy impacts different migrant groups through engagement with public and private sector organisations on a regular basis, including at the quarterly NRPF Stakeholder Forum. The Government is looking at homelessness levels carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to bring an end to homelessness.

The Home Office is in the process of migrating its casework operations to the new ATLAS system. Once fully migrated, it will be possible to explore what further information on NRPF can be produced using the new system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of incentives under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to encourage the use of reusable packaging.

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

Re-use has a significant role to play in driving down unnecessary waste, and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging will encourage use of reusable and refillable packaging.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will launch a consultation on the potential merits of schools having a named educational psychologist based in their local authority.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department values the critical role educational psychologists play in the support available to children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The deployment of educational psychology services is the responsibility of local authorities as the employers of educational psychology services.

The department is taking measures to support education settings to have improved access to educational psychology services by investing in growing the pipeline. The department is investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from this year. This builds on the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023. This investment will help to make specialist expertise more widely available in mainstream settings.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of migration to eVisas on people with indefinite leave to remain.

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

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk website on 18 November 2020:

Policy equality statement: EU Settlement Scheme (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

A separate EIA considering equalities issues in relation to the use of digital only right to work and rent checks was published on gov.uk in June 2022:

Digital only right to work and rent checks: equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We are also in the process of reviewing our eVisas EIA, setting out further analysis of the equalities issues in relation to the proposed prioritisation plan for roll out of eVisas, including people with indefinite leave to remain, and ceasing to issue physical documents. We plan to publish an up-to-date version of this EIA on gov.uk in a due course. We will work to ensure all those with Indefinite leave to remain are supported through the transition to eVisas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to podiatry services for rough sleepers that are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.

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

Integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population with the resources they are allocated, including in respect of podiatry services. This starts with general practice (GP) registration, and everyone is entitled to register with a GP regardless of residential or immigration status.

The Department recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development and implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance, which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng214

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the proposed level of producer involvement in the (a) establishment and (b) administration of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme Administrator.

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

Yes. The Scheme Administrator is already guided by the Scheme Administrator Steering Group, whose membership includes representatives across the packaging and waste value chain including several producers and their trade associations. The Secretary of State is committed to continuing to include producers and the wider packaging value chain in co-designing the future iterations of the scheme’s administration. This includes but is not restricted to supporting the development of future producer-led models including a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO).

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 impact on patient safety of adult social care workers (a) administering vaccines and (b) undertaking other NHS delegated tasks.

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

Employers in the health and care system are responsible for ensuring that adult social care workers are competent to undertake the healthcare activity delegated to them, with sufficient training, development, and support to the required standard.

The adult social care provider is also responsible for ensuring and demonstrating the delegation arrangements are being provided safely and effectively and the care workers have appropriate supervision and support.

We published national guidance and resources on the Skills for Care website in May 2023, setting out voluntary guiding principles for the safe, effective, and person-centred delegation of healthcare activities. We will also consider whether further support or regulation is needed.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to (a) clarify guidance and (b) introduce further safeguarding measures to ensure that disabled people who engage in regular physical activity do not risk a (a) review of and (b) reduction to their disability benefits.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Entitlement to disability benefits is based on a functional assessment of the person’s ability to perform a range of activities relevant to the specific benefit.

Engaging in regular physical activity will not automatically result in reduction in benefit or trigger review or reassessment. It will, however, be considered when assessing the person’s functional ability.

It is regrettable to note - as reported in the ‘Activity Alliance Annual Disability and Activity Survey (June 2024)’ - that “around two-fifths (38%) of disabled people say that a fear of their benefits or financial assistance being taken away prevents them from trying to be more active”.

This government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views and voices will be at the heart of all that we do.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that engagement in physical activity does not put disabled people at potential risk of losing their benefits.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Entitlement to disability benefits is based on a functional assessment of the person’s ability to perform a range of activities relevant to the specific benefit.

Engaging in regular physical activity will not automatically result in reduction in benefit or trigger review or reassessment. It will, however, be considered when assessing the person’s functional ability.

It is regrettable to note - as reported in the ‘Activity Alliance Annual Disability and Activity Survey (June 2024)’ - that “around two-fifths (38%) of disabled people say that a fear of their benefits or financial assistance being taken away prevents them from trying to be more active”.

This government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views and voices will be at the heart of all that we do.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on the use of courts by train operating companies to pursue private prosecutions for the misapplication of railcards on fares under £12.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We expect operators to ensure their policy on ticketing is clear and fair for passengers at all times and have instructed an urgent review of the cases in question, with a view to resolving them.

Ticketing has become far too complicated, which is why we plan to simplify it as part of the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will issue guidance to train operating companies on the use of private prosecutions for contraventions of conditions of carriage.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We expect operators to ensure their policy on ticketing is clear and fair for passengers at all times and have instructed an urgent review of the cases in question, with a view to resolving them.

Ticketing has become far too complicated, which is why we plan to simplify it as part of the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog of tribunal cases.

Answered by Heidi Alexander - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

We are working to reduce the outstanding caseload in the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Reducing outstanding caseloads is the key measure to bringing down the waiting times for tribunal hearings.

HMCTS continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the recruitment of additional Judges, deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology.

Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

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 the potential merits of creating a national strategy to reduce alcohol harm.

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

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how best to reduce alcohol-related harms.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that unpaid carers (a) are adequacy supported and (b) have access to (i) short breaks and (ii) legal advice.

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

Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care and the NHS.

We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-year plan for reforming and modernising the NHS and as we develop plans to reform adult social care, including through the National Care Service.

This Government also recognises the scale of the reforms needed in social care. That is why we will engage widely with a range of stakeholders, including unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service.

The Government are also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave. We will also keep Carer’s Allowance under review to ensure it meets its objectives.

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers, such as access to short breaks or information and advice. The Better Care Fund (BCF) includes funding that can be used for unpaid carer support, including short breaks and respite services for carers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate support for people with physical disabilities that live independently.

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

The Government is determined to stabilise the adult social care system and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide joined-up care for people with complex health and care needs, such as people with a physical or learning disability.

To best support those drawing on care, the Government recognises the importance of holistic, joined-up services. The Department of Health and Social Care is working with partners across the Government, including the Department of Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Education, to build the right support across a range of public services including the social care, housing, and benefits systems.

Under the Care Act, local authorities are responsible for shaping their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people with either physical or learning disabilities, or both, to access quality care and, if they choose, live independently.

Section 2 in the Care Act places a duty on local authorities to provide or arrange services, facilities, or other resources to prevent or delay the development of care and support needs for adults, with the aim of keeping people independent. This occurs in the context of local populations and the services available.

Currently, adults who are receiving local authority support with their social care costs can choose to receive their personal budget, the amount of money they are assessed to require to meet their eligible needs under the Care Act 2014, as a direct payment. This allows the person, or their nominated representative, to commission their own care, providing them with greater independence, choice, and control in meeting their eligible personal care and support needs.

In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant which helps eligible disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes, through practical changes like installing stair lifts or level access showers, to make them safe and suitable for their needs.

We also incentivise the supply of supported housing for adults with a physical or learning disability, autistic people, or adults with mental ill-health. These interventions seek to enable disabled adults to live more independent and healthy lives in their own home, for as long as possible.

The extra costs disability benefits are not means–tested and are non-contributory and thus paid regardless of any income or savings. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, having most recently been uprated by 6.7% from 8 April 2024, and were qualifying benefits for the Disability Cost of Living Payments paid in 2022 and 2023.

The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial and practical support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as other social security benefits or access to the Blue Badge scheme.

Adult social care is not just a service for older adults, as it supports approximately 300,000 disabled people aged 18 to 64 years old to live independent and dignified lives. The Government wants to better support working age disabled people to participate in society and access employment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate provision of early support for people with learning disabilities that live independently.

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

The Government is determined to stabilise the adult social care system and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide joined-up care for people with complex health and care needs, such as people with a physical or learning disability.

To best support those drawing on care, the Government recognises the importance of holistic, joined-up services. The Department of Health and Social Care is working with partners across the Government, including the Department of Work and Pensions, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Education, to build the right support across a range of public services including the social care, housing, and benefits systems.

Under the Care Act, local authorities are responsible for shaping their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people with either physical or learning disabilities, or both, to access quality care and, if they choose, live independently.

Section 2 in the Care Act places a duty on local authorities to provide or arrange services, facilities, or other resources to prevent or delay the development of care and support needs for adults, with the aim of keeping people independent. This occurs in the context of local populations and the services available.

Currently, adults who are receiving local authority support with their social care costs can choose to receive their personal budget, the amount of money they are assessed to require to meet their eligible needs under the Care Act 2014, as a direct payment. This allows the person, or their nominated representative, to commission their own care, providing them with greater independence, choice, and control in meeting their eligible personal care and support needs.

In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant which helps eligible disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes, through practical changes like installing stair lifts or level access showers, to make them safe and suitable for their needs.

We also incentivise the supply of supported housing for adults with a physical or learning disability, autistic people, or adults with mental ill-health. These interventions seek to enable disabled adults to live more independent and healthy lives in their own home, for as long as possible.

The extra costs disability benefits are not means–tested and are non-contributory and thus paid regardless of any income or savings. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, having most recently been uprated by 6.7% from 8 April 2024, and were qualifying benefits for the Disability Cost of Living Payments paid in 2022 and 2023.

The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial and practical support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as other social security benefits or access to the Blue Badge scheme.

Adult social care is not just a service for older adults, as it supports approximately 300,000 disabled people aged 18 to 64 years old to live independent and dignified lives. The Government wants to better support working age disabled people to participate in society and access employment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, If she will meet visual effects workers to discuss the role of visual effects in the creative industry.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Yes, because the government is committed to supporting the UK’s visual effects (VFX) industry. VFX is a part of the screen sector that is always on the cutting edge of innovation and creativity, and the UK is home to some of the world’s best VFX talent.

The government does and will continue to engage with both sector organisations such as the UK Screen Alliance and with individual VFX studios, to support and champion our award winning VFX talent and make the UK an attractive place to do business.

We will work to ensure that the VFX industry remains competitive and with international reach, so that it is able to provide high quality jobs and to fulfil its potential as a key part of the creative industries and the wider UK economy.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of people choose cycling as a mode of transport for commuting to work in (a) England, (b) the borough of Ealing and (c) Ealing Southall constituency.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department holds information on the proportion of people in employment using a bicycle as their usual mode to commute to work by region of residence.

In 2022, 3.6% of people in employment living in England used a bicycle as their usual mode to commute to work. For those in employment who live in one of the Outer London boroughs 3.1% of people used a bicycle as their usual mode to commute to work.

The department does not hold equivalent estimates for individual boroughs or constituencies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve maternity services.

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

The Government recognises the significant issues within maternity services. We are determined to ensure all women and babies receive safe, personalised, and compassionate care.

We are committed to providing support to trusts failing on maternity care, which includes tailored support for those trusts to make rapid improvements using hands-on intensive support through the Maternity Safety Support Programme.

We are working to address workforce issues, including committing to recruit thousands of new midwives. NHS England is boosting the midwifery workforce through undergraduate training, apprenticeships, postgraduate conversion, return to midwifery programmes, and international recruitment.

We are continuing to work with the National Health Service as it delivers its three-year maternity and neonatal plan to grow our maternity workforce, develop a culture of safety, and ensure all women, babies and families receive more equitable care.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Opening School Facilities funding programme beyond March 2025.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity to enable every child to achieve and thrive, including through expanding access to sport and physical activity. This will support our cross-government missions and help to raise the healthiest and happiest generation of children ever.

Funding beyond 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn. The outcome of the review will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to work with local authorities to encourage greater uptake of (a) walking, (b) cycling and (c) other active travel modes in (i) urban and (ii) rural areas.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Active Travel England (ATE) works with all combined authorities and local authorities in England, providing funding and support with the intention being to encourage greater uptake of active travel. ATE is assuring the design quality of around £2 billion of active travel schemes and is working with authorities to boost officer capability to design schemes that improve safety of cyclists and pedestrians. This is being done through the provision of training and the development of specific guidance – including a rural design guide and a best practice guide to community consultation and engagement.

In addition to this, local authorities receive support through national training and engagement programmes, including Bikeability cycle training, Walk to School Outreach and Big Bike Revival.

As a statutory consultee in the planning system, ATE provides advice to local authorities on all planning applications for new development exceeding 150 dwellings, 7,500sqm of non-residential floorspace or 5 hectares in size. For applications outside of ATE’s remit, the agency has produced toolkits and guidance that can be used by local authorities to deliver improvements in active travel provision as part of new developments.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on implementation of a National Care Service.

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

The Government is committed to building a National Care Service based on clear, consistent national standards, that will improve the quality of care. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals.

We will set out the next steps in due course for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party members and a diverse range of people with lived experience of care, to build consensus towards a National Care Service.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle staffing shortages in the care sector.

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

The adult social care workforce is growing, with Skills for Care data showing that in 2023/24 there were 1.705 million filled posts, an increase of 70,000 since 2022/23. Whilst this represents an improvement, the Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth, and to improve the retention of the workforce.

On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our amazing care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals. Fair Pay Agreements will empower worker, employer, and other sector representatives to negotiate pay, terms, and conditions in a regulated and responsible manner. Fair Pay Agreements will help to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, in turn supporting the continued delivery of high-quality care.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) disabled and (b) elderly people are consulted before delivery of a National Care Service.

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

The Government is committed to building a National Care Service based on clear, consistent national standards, that will improve the quality of care. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals.

We will set out the next steps in due course for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party members and a diverse range of people with lived experience of care, to build consensus towards a National Care Service.

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 ensure that the National Care Service supports the needs of people from diverse (a) cultural and (b) linguistic backgrounds.

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

The Government is committed to building a National Care Service based on clear, consistent national standards, that will improve the quality of care. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals.

We will set out the next steps in due course for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party members and a diverse range of people with lived experience of care, to build consensus towards a National Care Service.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timeline is for implementation of a National Care Service.

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

The Government is committed to building a National Care Service based on clear, consistent national standards, that will improve the quality of care. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals.

We will set out the next steps in due course for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party members and a diverse range of people with lived experience of care, to build consensus towards a National Care Service.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the causes of (a) heart disease and (b) stroke.

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

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is a leading cause of avoidable disability and premature death in the United Kingdom. This is why the Government has set a goal for fewer lives being lost to the biggest killers, including from CVD, and why the NHS England Long Term Plan (2019) sets out a number of actions that aim to help prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes, and dementia cases by 2029.

The Government continues to support the delivery of the NHS Health Check programme, England’s CVD prevention programme, to people aged 40 to 74 years old. This programme identifies people at risk of CVD, supports people to reduce their risk, and prevents approximately 400 heart attacks or strokes each year. To improve access and engagement with the life-saving programme, we are developing a digital NHS Health Check which will be ready for testing in early 2025 and will enable people to undertake a check at home. We are also trialling the delivery of heart health checks to over 130,000 people in workplaces across the country.

Community pharmacies also provide a free blood pressure check service for anyone over 40 years old. In cases where this results in a high reading, pharmacists can make sure people receive the right National Health Service support to reduce their blood pressure and risk of death or serious disability.

We are also taking action on primary prevention to tackle the behavioural risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as smoking and obesity. Action includes introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, implementing the advertising regulations for less healthy food and drink on television and online, and empowering councils to block the development of new fast-food shops outside schools.

We know there is more to do to prevent the causes of CVD, including heart disease and stroke. The Department and NHS England are working together to achieve the Government’s ambition for fewer lives lost to the biggest killers, including CVD, and we will share more in due course.

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 had discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the proposed introduction of litter payments under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

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

Defra is working with the Devolved Administrations on future amends to the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, including the management of binned waste and litter within this scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to integrate active travel with public transport networks.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government agrees on the importance of a properly integrated transport system, and will be saying more on this in due course in a new Integrated Transport Strategy. The Government agrees on the importance of integrating active travel networks with public transport networks, to make it easier for people to walk and cycle to bus, tram and train stations. Active Travel England works with local authorities to help design and deliver high-quality networks that are properly integrated with other local transport services. The Department has also published guidance for local authorities on both the design of cycle infrastructure (LTN 1/20) and on bus user priority (LTN1/24), with the latter including advice on matters such as mobility hubs and other interchanges.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential environmental benefits of increasing active travel.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the environmental benefits from increasing active travel including improved air quality and reduced transport carbon emissions. The Department has published a range of reports which outline the environmental benefits from investment in active travel schemes and programmes.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve care for families after (a) pregnancy loss and (b) the death of a baby.

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

The Government is committed to delivering compassionate care for women, and supporting parents who have experienced any type of baby loss. Many trusts have specialist bereavement midwives, who are trained to care for and support parents and families who have suffered the loss of their baby. All trusts are signed up to The National Bereavement Care Pathway, which acts as a set of standards and guidance that trusts should follow when a patient has suffered a baby loss. Baby Loss Certificates are now available for all historic and future pregnancy losses, should parents wish to record and receive a certificate to recognise their loss.

Paid Parental Bereavement Leave was introduced in 2020. This entitlement is available to parents who lose a child under 18 years old, including where a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Following the death of a baby, there are a number of different investigation and review routes available depending on the age of the baby and the circumstances surrounding the death. These include the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations Programme, the Perinatal Mortality Review tool, and the Child Death Review process. These reviews aim to provide answers for bereaved parents about why their baby died and learning for the healthcare system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help (a) support British farmers to negotiate contracts with retailers and (b) preserve traditional farming methods.

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

The Government will deliver a resilient and healthy food system, with a new deal that ensures fairness in the supply chain across all sectors. Where farmers sell directly to retailers, their agreements will be covered within the scope of the sectoral regulations that we are introducing through powers in the Agriculture Act 2020. Farmers should always receive a fair price for their products and the Government is committed to tackling contractual unfairness wherever it exists

Farmers are not only an important part of our local economies and communities, they play a crucial role in tackling biodiversity loss; improving water and air quality and improving our resilience to climate change.

To us, food security is national security, and so it is important that we have a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British farmers.

We understand the importance of, and need for, continuity when it comes to traditional farming practices for certain landscapes. This government will work with the sector to optimise schemes, including the methods and actions they fund, making sure that they work for all farmers whilst delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of maternity pay for people with (a) twins and (b) multiples.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We want new mothers to be able to take time away from work. Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance rates are reviewed annually and were raised again by 6.7% in April 2024 from £172.48 to £184.03.

Maternity pay is primarily a health and safety provisions for pregnant working women. It is not intended to replace a woman's earnings completely, nor is it intended to assist with the costs associated with the birth of a new child or children. Rather it provides a measure of financial security to help pregnant working women take time off work in the later stages of their pregnancy and in the months following childbirth.

Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are not paid in respect of each child but in respect of each pregnancy. The qualifying conditions for both are generally based on a woman's recent employment and earnings.

Maternity pay represents only one element of state-funded support available to new families in the first years of their child’s life. Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support, for example Child Benefits and Sure Start Maternity Grant, may also be available.

In terms of wider support for parents, the Government committed [ in its manifesto] to review parental leave to ensure that it best supports working families. Further details of the review will be announced in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the average length of time a rough sleeper spends rough sleeping.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long-term solutions.

The department does not hold an estimate on the average length of time a rough sleeper spends rough sleeping. In May 2023, MHCLG launched a new data framework to better understand levels of rough sleeping, including the number of long-term rough sleepers. Our latest rough sleeping statistics publication indicates that there were 2,808 long-term rough sleepers (34% of the total) in England in June 2024.

The Government will look at these issues carefully and develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of people that are rough sleeping in Ealing Southall constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Homelessness levels are far too high. This has a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.

In the Annual Rough Sleeping Snapshot 2023, the London Borough of Ealing had a 121% increase in the number of people sleeping rough on a single night, increasing from 24 people in 2022 to 53 in 2023.

We must address this and deliver long-term solutions. The Government will look at these issues carefully and develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of people with no recourse to public funds who are rough sleeping in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) London, (d) the Borough of Ealing and (e) Ealing Southall constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high. Local authorities report the number of people sleeping rough who left asylum support accommodation in the last 85 days and this data is published each quarter as part of the Rough Sleeping Data Framework. In June 2024, there were 198 people recorded as sleeping rough over the course of the month after leaving asylum support accommodation. In London, there were 59 people and in Ealing Council 2 people. Our data is split by local authority and not by constituency areas. All data is available here. MHCLG does not publish data on no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and on undocumented migrants sleeping rough.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been granted asylum who are rough sleeping in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) London, (d) the Borough of Ealing and (e) Ealing Southall constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high. Local authorities report the number of people sleeping rough who left asylum support accommodation in the last 85 days and this data is published each quarter as part of the Rough Sleeping Data Framework. In June 2024, there were 198 people recorded as sleeping rough over the course of the month after leaving asylum support accommodation. In London, there were 59 people and in Ealing Council 2 people. Our data is split by local authority and not by constituency areas. All data is available here. MHCLG does not publish data on no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and on undocumented migrants sleeping rough.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of undocumented migrants who are rough sleeping in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) London, (d) the Borough of Ealing and (e) Ealing Southall constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high. Local authorities report the number of people sleeping rough who left asylum support accommodation in the last 85 days and this data is published each quarter as part of the Rough Sleeping Data Framework. In June 2024, there were 198 people recorded as sleeping rough over the course of the month after leaving asylum support accommodation. In London, there were 59 people and in Ealing Council 2 people. Our data is split by local authority and not by constituency areas. All data is available here. MHCLG does not publish data on no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and on undocumented migrants sleeping rough.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to optometry services for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.

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

Individuals can apply for help with the cost of sight tests and glasses through the NHS low-income scheme. This includes people seeking asylum, refused asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support and some refugees who will be eligible for cost exemption certificates. Furthermore, NHS England have recently taken steps to ensure that having no fixed abode should not prevent access to sight tests.

The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development of NICE guidance which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness.

More broadly, there are some services that are free at the point of use for all patients regardless of immigration status. These include, for example, accident and emergency services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to dental care for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.

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

The Department recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development and implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance, which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng214

Certain groups of patients, such as rough sleepers, may be vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available. Individuals with no recourse to public funds including failed asylum seekers remain eligible to receive help with dentistry costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Dentists are not required to ask for proof of identity, proof of address or proof of immigration status from individuals applying to become an NHS patient.

We are tackling the immediate dental crisis with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and to recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9670 on Sleeping Rough: Undocumented Migrants, whether her Department collects data on (a) no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and (b) undocumented migrants sleeping rough.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As outlined in the response to Question UIN 9670 on 21 October 2024, MHCLG does not publish data on no recourse to public funds amongst people sleeping rough and on undocumented migrants sleeping rough.

Submit Evidence (by 11 Dec 2024)

Successive governments have presented reform ideas for adult social care, yet few of these have been implemented. This inquiry seeks to understand what this inaction is costing. We will investigate the cost of inaction to individuals, the NHS, local authorities and also to the wider economy and HM Treasury, focussing not only on the financial cost, but also on the personal costs and on potential benefits that are being missed. The inquiry will consider social care for both older and working age adults.

No description available