Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to increase the level of the (a) personal expense allowance and (b) minimum income guarantee in line with the 2020 benefits up-rating.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The financial allowances including the personal expense allowance and minimum income guarantee rates are reviewed annually.
Future funding for social care will be set out at the next spending review.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decline in the use of cash and cheques as a result of the covid-19 outbreak on financial inclusivity.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government remains committed to helping people and businesses through the present very difficult time that has been brought about by COVID-19.
Financial services firms have announced a range of measures to support vulnerable customers and we are working with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure there is continued support for these people. For example, many firms have methods for trusted third-parties to access cash. Anyone with questions should contact their banking service provider.
The Government recognises that widespread access to cash is extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. This will ensure that those who continue to rely on cash can continue to do so in the long-term.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the trial of noise cameras on public roads undertaken by his Department from June 2019.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The acoustic camera trial is complete and preliminary indications are that the device can identify individual vehicles in certain circumstances and assign noise levels to them, but further development is needed to improve accuracy.
The technology has the potential to identify excessively noisy vehicles; however, there are still difficulties in measuring noise in an uncontrolled environment to be overcome.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the size of the populations of (a) nightingales, (b) turtle doves and (c) corn buntings; what steps he plans to take to protect those bird populations.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Avian Population Estimates Panel (made-up of representatives from the main bird conservation organisations and Government conservation agencies) estimates that the breeding populations for the three species are as follows:
Species | Population estimate (Number of breeding territories) |
GB | |
(a) Nightingale | 5,550 |
(b) Turtle dove | 3,600 |
(c) Corn bunting | 11,000 |
Agri-environmental schemes, such as the current Countryside Stewardship scheme, are the principal mechanism for supporting farm land birds, including these three species. The schemes deliver significant areas of habitat in England by providing suitable nesting and foraging conditions.
In addition, nightingales are an interest feature of a number of woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in England, most notably the Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI which supports a nationally significant breeding population.
The turtle dove is the focus of a joint Natural England-RSPB Species Recovery Programme project for over ten years which has involved developing novel land management solutions for the species.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
What steps he is taking to support children with special educational needs.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
To help ensure those with special educational needs get the right support we have, for example:
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the costs to the NHS and social care system of treatment for (a) alcohol abuse, (b) obesity and (c) viral hepatitis in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
Data on costs is not available in the format requested. However the health costs associated with alcohol misuse are estimated to cost the National Health Service in England around £3.5 billion each year and the latest estimate of the cost to the NHS in England of overweight or obesity related ill-health is £5.1 billion each year.
Data is not available by cause of condition to provide an expenditure estimate requested for viral hepatitis.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of a new duty band for super-strength cider on health outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
Taxation policy is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer; the United Kingdom Government believes alcohol duties should be proportional to alcohol content. A consultation on the introduction of a new band to target, high strength ‘white’ ciders is underway and ends on 12 June.
No estimate has currently been made of the effect of a possible new duty band on health.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of (a) alcohol abuse, (b) obesity and (c) viral hepatitis on (i) unemployment levels and (ii) job absenteeism in each of the last five years.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold this information.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to employers of (a) alcohol abuse, (b) obesity and (c) viral hepatitis in each of the last five years.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold this information.
Asked by: Flick Drummond (Conservative - Meon Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he plans to include in the Carers Strategy on the availability of breaks for carers.
Answered by David Mowat
In developing the new Carers Strategy we have been consulting widely and working closely with carers to understand the many issues that may impact on them, including the role of breaks for carers. The Strategy will look at the support we provide to carers themselves; to their families and will reach beyond the health and care system to help support carers in employment, education and in the development of ‘carer friendly communities’.