Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of women on low incomes born in the 1950s who have had their state pension age changed in (a) Blackpool, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1953 were affected by State Pension age equalisation under the Pensions Act 1995. The Pensions Act 2011 accelerated the equalisation of State Pension age, and included transitional arrangements limiting State Pension age delays, affecting women born between 6 April 1953 and 5 December 1953. It also brought forward the increase in State Pension age from 65 to 66 which affected women born between 6 December 1953 and 5 April 1960.
The Department for Work and Pensions only holds estimates at a Great Britain level.
The Office for National Statistics publishes data bi-annually on population numbers and projections. This is not segmented into income categories. They do offer data segmented into local area groups and region. The next release of population data will be available on the 21/10/2019 at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/nationalpopulationprojections2018based
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to help reduce the financial losses incurred by women on low incomes born in the 1950s who have had their state pension age changed.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For people who cannot work, the welfare system will continue to provide a safety-net, as it does for people of all ages now. We will spend around £55 billion this year (2019/20) on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. This is around 2.5 per cent of GDP, and over 6 per cent of government spending, and as a share of GDP, the UK’s public spending is second highest in the G7 [OECD 2015 data].
The new State Pension is actually more generous for many women, who often did less well in the past. Women who reached State Pension age in 2016 are estimated to receive more State Pension on average over their lifetime than women ever have before. By 2030, over 3 million women stand to gain an average of £550 more per year as a result of the recent reforms.
There are now 5 million women aged 50 and over in the workforce compared to 4.2 million five years ago. This is a record high.
This Government is committed to improving the outlook for older workers, including women, affected by increases in the State Pension age, and removing the barriers they may face. We have removed the default retirement age, meaning most people can choose when to retire, and extended the right to flexible working.
To support people with their future planning, DWP launched an online web page in February this year which brings together money, job and health elements of the mid-life MOT: https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/mid-life-mot/
To support employers, Business in The Community has also created MOT guides that support business. https://age.bitc.org.uk/tools-impact-stories/toolkits
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what cognisance NHS Improvement took of the oral contribution of the Minister for Health of 27 June 2018, Official Report, column 1002, on irregularities of process that had taken place including at NHS Improvement in respect of the appointment process for the Chair of the Blackpool Trust, Pearse Butler, when NHS Improvement provided advice to that Trust on the permanent appointment of Kevin McGee as the Chief Executive of that Trust and to operate as Chief Executive of both the Blackpool Trust and the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust between June 2019 and September 2019.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
There were a number of issues raised around the appointment process for the Chair of the Blackpool Trust on 27 June 2018. National Health Service foundation trusts operate within a clear accountability framework. It is for the governors of a foundation trust to appoint the chair. NHS Improvement is not involved in the recruitment of chairs of foundation trusts unless there is a breach of the licence. In the appointment of the Chair of Blackpool Trust the Chief Executive voluntarily stood down from all of the interview process prior to the appointment.
The appointment of a Chief Executive in an NHS foundation trust is the responsibility of the trust’s non-executive directors, including the chair, with approval from the Trust’s council of governors
Where trusts are facing challenges, it is right that NHS Improvement provides support and this can sometimes come in the form of shared leadership with nearby organisations.
The arrangement that has been put in place for Blackpool is designed to deliver a number of benefits including:
- enhanced quality of care;
- financial sustainability; and
- improved performance.
The Chief Executive of Blackpool NHS Trust and East Lancashire NHS Trust, Mr McGee will be paid a single salary. The process for agreeing the remuneration of the chief executive involves the agreement by the remuneration committees of each trust, in line with the organisational corporate governance procedures. The remuneration is in line with the NHS Improvement regulatory guidance on Very Senior Manager pay and was also approved by the Department in June 2019.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation NHS Improvement had with hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the area served by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on their discussions and advice to the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019 on (a) the possibility of merging services and provisions and (b) on allowing the East Lancashire Trust's Chief Executive Kevin McGee to operate as the permanent Chief Executive of both trusts.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Chair at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Chair at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust sought the views of NHS England and NHS Improvement on the possibility of merging services and provision between the two Trusts.
Both Trusts were able to provide assurances that their proposals would bring benefits, to both organisations, and improve the care of patient populations in Blackpool and East Lancashire. On this basis NHS England and NHS Improvement were able to respond that they had no objections to the proposal. Final approvals will be needed from within their own organisations.
NHS England and NHS Improvement has had no direct engagement with hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the area served by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on their discussions and advice to the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019.
The appointment of a Chief Executive in an NHS foundation trust is the responsibility of the trust’s non-executive directors, including the chair, with approval from the Trust’s council of governors.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what capacity NHS Improvement gave advice to the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between June 2019 and September 2019 on the appropriateness of the Trust (a) discussing the possibility of merging services and provision between the Trust and the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) the potential for the East Lancashire Trust's Chief Executive, Kevin McGee, to operate as the permanent Chief Executive of both trusts.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Chair at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Chair at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust sought the views of NHS England and NHS Improvement on the possibility of merging services and provision between the two Trusts.
Both Trusts were able to provide assurances that their proposals would bring benefits, to both organisations, and improve the care of patient populations in Blackpool and East Lancashire. On this basis NHS England and NHS Improvement were able to respond that they had no objections to the proposal. Final approvals will be needed from within their own organisations.
NHS England and NHS Improvement has had no direct engagement with hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the area served by the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on their discussions and advice to the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019.
The appointment of a Chief Executive in an NHS foundation trust is the responsibility of the trust’s non-executive directors, including the chair, with approval from the Trust’s council of governors.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what cognisance NHS Improvement took of the oral contribution of the Minister for Health of 27 June 2018, Official Report, column 1002, on irregularities of process that had taken place including at NHS Improvement in respect of the appointment process for the Chair of the Blackpool Trust, Pearse Butler, when advising the Chair of the Trust between June 2019 and September 2019 on those matters.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
There were a number of issues raised around the appointment process for the Chair of the Blackpool Trust on 27 June 2018. NHS foundation trusts operate within a clear accountability framework. It is for the governors of a Foundation Trust to appoint the chair. NHS Improvement is not involved in the recruitment of chairs of foundation trusts unless there is a breach of the licence. In the appointment of the Chair of Blackpool Trust the Chief Executive voluntarily stood down from all of the interview process prior to the appointment.
The recommendations arising from the Kirkup Review and subsequent Kark Review provide a mandate for reviewing and strengthening NHS Improvement’s role in providing oversight and support relating to board-level appointments in both NHS trusts and foundation trusts.
The improvements being developed are informed by an appreciation that no single intervention in board appointments will result in provider organisations being better led. But, a more coherent, structured approach is needed - one that works across the whole life cycle of an individual board member and which is aligned to other leadership improvement initiatives.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 6.1 of the Report of the Liverpool Community Health Independent Review by Dr Bill Kirkup, published in January 2018, what steps NHS Improvement has taken to implement the recommendation that when approving Trust Board appointments, NHS Improvement should take note of the level of experience of appointees and level of risk in the Trust and should ensure a system of support and mentorship for Board members where indicated.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
NHS Improvement set out its response to the recommendations in the Kirkup report into issues at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust in a paper to its Board on 22 March 2018. This was followed by a further paper to the NHS Improvement Board of 24 May 2018 providing an update on actions taken in response to the recommendations of the report. Both papers have been placed in the public domain and can be accessed at the following links:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BM1831_Kirkup_update.pdf
The Interim People Plan, published by NHS England and Improvement in June 2019, sets out firm commitments for improving the leadership culture in the National Health Service and for strengthening the management and development of talent. A key associated initiative is the co-creation of an NHS Leadership Compact, by which to establish the cultural values and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by senior NHS leaders and the support and development they should expect to receive.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS Improvement on its progress in implementing the Kirkup governance report, published in February 2018.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
NHS Improvement set out its response to the recommendations in the Kirkup report into issues at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust in a paper to its Board on 22 March 2018. This was followed by a further paper to the NHS Improvement Board of 24 May 2018 providing an update on actions taken in response to the recommendations of the report. Both papers have been placed in the public domain and can be accessed at the following links:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BM1831_Kirkup_update.pdf
The Interim People Plan, published by NHS England and Improvement in June 2019, sets out firm commitments for improving the leadership culture in the National Health Service and for strengthening the management and development of talent. A key associated initiative is the co-creation of an NHS Leadership Compact, by which to establish the cultural values and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by senior NHS leaders and the support and development they should expect to receive.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Office for Students on the publication of the results of the subject-level Teaching Excellence Framework prior to the publication of the recommendations of the independent review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The department regularly discusses the ongoing development of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) with the Office for Students (OfS). We expect the OfS to consider the implementation of the TEF in light of the report of the independent review of TEF by Dame Shirley Pearce, as well as the government’s response. We intend to lay Dame Shirley’s report before Parliament and publish it alongside the government’s response as soon as possible.
The department’s analysts provided Dame Shirley and her advisory group background information and analytical support. This will be published as part of the supporting evidence base, which will be presented as appendices to her report.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and his officials have not discussed the paragraphs on the TEF in the strategic guidance letter to the OfS with representative groups from the HE sectors. Discussions of this type would not normally be held with these groups in advance of issuing guidance.
The department provides grants to the OfS for the development and delivery of the TEF. Further discussions will be held with the OfS on estimating costs in future years when planning for the implementation of the TEF. This will take into account that the recommendations in the report of the independent review are clear.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional (a) evidence and (b) material his Department has provided to Dame Shirley Pearce's review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The department regularly discusses the ongoing development of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) with the Office for Students (OfS). We expect the OfS to consider the implementation of the TEF in light of the report of the independent review of TEF by Dame Shirley Pearce, as well as the government’s response. We intend to lay Dame Shirley’s report before Parliament and publish it alongside the government’s response as soon as possible.
The department’s analysts provided Dame Shirley and her advisory group background information and analytical support. This will be published as part of the supporting evidence base, which will be presented as appendices to her report.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and his officials have not discussed the paragraphs on the TEF in the strategic guidance letter to the OfS with representative groups from the HE sectors. Discussions of this type would not normally be held with these groups in advance of issuing guidance.
The department provides grants to the OfS for the development and delivery of the TEF. Further discussions will be held with the OfS on estimating costs in future years when planning for the implementation of the TEF. This will take into account that the recommendations in the report of the independent review are clear.