Heather Wheeler

The Civil Service will be launching a new Apprenticeships Strategy in the new financial year. The first phase will have delivered 30,000 apprenticeships by April. In this strategy we will focus not just on numbers but on the quality of training on offer to ensure that departments are better equipped to nurture talent in house and in plugging skills gaps

To this end, we recently published the "Curriculum and Campus for Government Skills", with the goal of setting the highest standard in vocational training for all Civil Servants, including apprentices.

The Government is interested in the Xlinks UK-Morocco Power Project, which is a proposed large scale onshore wind, solar and battery storage site in Morocco that would exclusively supply renewable power to the GB grid via high voltage direct current subsea cables.

The Government recognises the potential of the project and is now developing an Outline Business Case, which is a more detailed phase of evaluating – without commitment – the viability and merits of the project and how it could contribute to the UK’s energy security.

The Government is interested in the Xlinks project and has established a dedicated team within the department to consider – without commitment – the viability and merits of the proposal to understand how it could contribute to the UK’s energy security.

In November last year the Automotive Council published a comprehensive report called The International Competitiveness of the UK Automotive Industry.

The report is intended to illustrate where the UK has a competitive advantage over other countries, and to identify where additional attention from government and industry is needed. It will assist the Automotive Council in ensuring it focuses its resources on the areas that will offer the greatest return for the UK automotive sector, and in ensuring that the UK remains one of the most attractive places for investment.

On 9 February 2015 the Government announced that 2 million premises have been passed by its Superfast Broadband Programme, meaning that superfast broadband is now available to almost 80% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010.

On 9 February 2015 the Government announced that 2 million premises have been passed by its Superfast Broadband Programme, meaning that superfast broadband is now available to almost 80% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010. Church halls which are included within this coverage will be able to gain access to superfast broadband services.

Small and medium sized enterprises, including places of worship which are registered as charities, are eligible for a grant of up to £3,000 under the Government’s Broadband Connection Vouchers scheme which runs in 22 UK cities. The Chancellor recently announced that £40 million will be made available to extend the scheme to more cities from April 2015.

I refer my hon. Friend for South Derbyshire to the answer I gave to my Rt hon. Friend for Haltemprice and Howden on 14 June 2021, UIN: 12938

We are in close discussion with Alstom about its plans for the future of its Derby site and about the potential for redundancies among its workforce. While any decision about the future of the Derby site is ultimately for Alstom, we are giving careful consideration to the potential impacts of this on future rolling stock competitions, our ability to secure value for money through procurements, and on businesses within the rail supply chain supporting the plant, as well as the implications for the local economy and employment. My officials are also leading a cross Whitehall task force to develop appropriate mitigation plans in the event of redundancies.

• I am pleased to inform my Hon. Friend that CDCs have now delivered over 6 million additional tests since July 2021 thanks to the hard work of NHS staff.

• The number of tests provided by these centres has grown by an average of 13,000 (6%) each month over the last 12 months.

• 150 centres are currently operational, and the programme is on track to meet its target of 160 CDCs by March 2025, with many due to open ahead of schedule.

The Government is committed to increasing the primary and community care workforce by at least 10,000 by 2020, including an estimated 5,000 extra doctors working in general practice and a further 5,000 other primary care. To release capacity in general practice we are also are working with NHS England to consider ways that we can reduce bureaucracy and re-shape patient demand.

In order to improve general practitioner (GP) access, £175 million (including £25 million from the Infrastructure Fund) has been invested in the Prime Minister’s GP Access Fund to test improved access to GP services. We have also committed £1 billion to a four year Primary Care Infrastructure Fund, to accelerate improvements in GP premises and infrastructure. Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has benefitted from both of these initiatives, having piloted new models of access (e.g. video consultations) through the Access Fund, and also three local GP premises have had their developments approved as part of the 2015/16 Infrastructure Fund.

We are also committed to promoting innovative models of primary care and wider out-of-hospital services, as well as making better use of pharmacists, which will improve capacity by breaking down barriers between care providers. For example community pharmacists can provide support to GPs is by providing seasonal flu vaccinations – a new advanced service under the community pharmacy contractual framework has recently been introduced. Southern Derbyshire CCG is also exploring the potential to pilot clinical pharmacists in general practice to reduce workload pressures on GPs. Furthermore, Dental practices in Derby City have been allocated £600,000 by NHS England to provide access for over 8,000 additional patients per annum.

The Government is currently consulting on its proposals for Basel 3.1. This includes its proposals for deleting retained EU law including that which relates to the prudential rules on secured and unsecured SME lending. The detailed implementation of the Basel package however, has been delegated to the UK’s expert regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). The PRA is also consulting and has requested information from firms on specific measures including those relating to SME lending.

The Government continues to work with the PRA and businesses closely to understand the impact of the proposed changes, including for competitiveness with the EU and the impact on SME lending. This includes monitoring the EU’s proposals, which also have not yet been finalised.

The Government is currently consulting on its proposals for Basel 3.1. This includes its proposals for deleting retained EU law including that which relates to the prudential rules on secured and unsecured SME lending. The detailed implementation of the Basel package however, has been delegated to the UK’s expert regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). The PRA is also consulting and has requested information from firms on specific measures including those relating to SME lending.

The Government continues to work with the PRA and businesses closely to understand the impact of the proposed changes, including for competitiveness with the EU and the impact on SME lending. This includes monitoring the EU’s proposals, which also have not yet been finalised.

The core armoured vehicle programme budget for the next 10 years is £6.7 billion. This includes the Warrior Upgrade, a new Armoured Utility Vehicle, improvements to the Challenger 2 Tank and the Scout. The latter £3.5 billion order is the biggest Army order in 30 years and will safeguard at least 1,300 jobs across the UK.

Derby City

In 2014-15, Derby City Council is forecast to receive £261 million in government grants, excluding mandatory housing benefits. Including mandatory housing benefits, the forecast is £351 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). Total grants (excluding mandatory housing benefits) are forecast to be equivalent to £2,430 per dwelling.

Leaving aside school spending which has changed due to the funding shift from Local Education Authorities to Academies, in 2014-15, Derby’s net current expenditure excluding education services is forecast to be £282 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). This compares with £258 million in 2009-10 (source: Revenue Outturn Summary returns). This represents a 9 per cent increase in cash terms.

South Derbyshire

In 2014-15, South Derbyshire District Council is forecast to receive £4.4 million in government grants, excluding mandatory housing benefits. Including mandatory housing benefits, the forecast is £22.3 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). Total grants (excluding mandatory housing benefits) are forecast to be equivalent to £109 per dwelling.

South Derbyshire residents will also benefit from funding given to the Derbyshire County Council for its statutory functions (e.g. police, fire, transport, strategic housing and planning). Derbyshire County Council is forecast to receive £648 million in government grant, equivalent to a Derbyshire average of £1,862 per dwelling in 2014-15. Taken together, this is equivalent to £1,971 per dwelling in South Derbyshire.

In 2014-15, South Derbyshire’s net current expenditure is forecast to be £29.2 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). This compares with £27.1 million in 2009-10 (source: Revenue Outturn Summary returns). This represents an 8 per cent increase in cash terms.

Derbyshire County

Derbyshire County’s net current expenditure excluding education services was £410.1 million in 2009-10 and £449.0 million in 2014-15, an increase of 9 per cent.

I am aware that Derbyshire County Council has issued a leaflet with its council tax bills making contentious claims on funding. I would note that Derbyshire’s revenue spending power is unchanged this year (2015-16, compared to 2014-15), and has a revenue spending of £1,575 per dwelling (compared to £1,505 in Hampshire County, which is mentioned in its leaflet).

Previous figures

Previous figures on local authority revenue expenditure and financing can be found online at:

Revenue Outturn 2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2012-to-2013-individual-local-authority-data-outturn

Revenue Outturn 2013-14:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2013-to-2014-individual-local-authority-data-outturn

Revenue Account 2014-15:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2014-to-2015-individual-local-authority-data

Derby City

In 2014-15, Derby City Council is forecast to receive £261 million in government grants, excluding mandatory housing benefits. Including mandatory housing benefits, the forecast is £351 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). Total grants (excluding mandatory housing benefits) are forecast to be equivalent to £2,430 per dwelling.

Leaving aside school spending which has changed due to the funding shift from Local Education Authorities to Academies, in 2014-15, Derby’s net current expenditure excluding education services is forecast to be £282 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). This compares with £258 million in 2009-10 (source: Revenue Outturn Summary returns). This represents a 9 per cent increase in cash terms.

South Derbyshire

In 2014-15, South Derbyshire District Council is forecast to receive £4.4 million in government grants, excluding mandatory housing benefits. Including mandatory housing benefits, the forecast is £22.3 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). Total grants (excluding mandatory housing benefits) are forecast to be equivalent to £109 per dwelling.

South Derbyshire residents will also benefit from funding given to the Derbyshire County Council for its statutory functions (e.g. police, fire, transport, strategic housing and planning). Derbyshire County Council is forecast to receive £648 million in government grant, equivalent to a Derbyshire average of £1,862 per dwelling in 2014-15. Taken together, this is equivalent to £1,971 per dwelling in South Derbyshire.

In 2014-15, South Derbyshire’s net current expenditure is forecast to be £29.2 million (source: Revenue Account Budget returns). This compares with £27.1 million in 2009-10 (source: Revenue Outturn Summary returns). This represents an 8 per cent increase in cash terms.

Derbyshire County

Derbyshire County’s net current expenditure excluding education services was £410.1 million in 2009-10 and £449.0 million in 2014-15, an increase of 9 per cent.

I am aware that Derbyshire County Council has issued a leaflet with its council tax bills making contentious claims on funding. I would note that Derbyshire’s revenue spending power is unchanged this year (2015-16, compared to 2014-15), and has a revenue spending of £1,575 per dwelling (compared to £1,505 in Hampshire County, which is mentioned in its leaflet).

Previous figures

Previous figures on local authority revenue expenditure and financing can be found online at:

Revenue Outturn 2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2012-to-2013-individual-local-authority-data-outturn

Revenue Outturn 2013-14:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2013-to-2014-individual-local-authority-data-outturn

Revenue Account 2014-15:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2014-to-2015-individual-local-authority-data

HMPPS does not collect or hold centrally, quality assured data in the form requested.

However, as part of our fundamental review of policy relating to pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units and women experiencing separation from children up to two in prison, we have committed to providing national pregnancy data in the future. We expect to complete this review this summer. Further information on the review, including our findings and resulting reforms regarding data collection, can be found in our summary report published in July 2020: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/905559/summary-report-of-review-of-policy-on-mbu.pdf

Maintaining family links, education and promoting aspiration are essential to helping female offenders turn their lives around. The women’s custodial estate has been reconfigured so that women offenders can be held as close as possible to their homes, with access to the right interventions and opportunities for meaningful resettlement.

In addition, Community Rehabilitation Companies are providing embedded resettlement services, which are required to be tailored to the specific needs of women.