Helen Hayes

Community energy will play an essential role in meeting our mission for clean power by 2030.

Great British Energy will provide support to deliver the Local Power Plan, putting communities at the heart of restructuring our energy economy. Through partnering with and providing funding and support to Community Energy Groups, the Local Power Plan will roll out small and medium‑scale renewable energy projects, using established technologies to develop up to 8GW of cheaper, cleaner power. This will include shared ownership projects in partnership with private developers.

Some suppliers already offer local tariffs, and other products and services are available that provide community benefits. Small-scale generation sites can benefit from an exemption, which means that they do not require a licence from Ofgem to generate electricity or to supply to local customers. Ofgem has further flexibility to award supply licences to generation sites that are above the exemptions threshold when they are restricted to specified local area.

The requirement for all schools to publish Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Information Reports was introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014. Information Reports must contain details of a school’s provision for pupils with SEND and must be reviewed annually.

As part of the department’s work on long-term options for improving the SEND system, we will explore the role of SEND Information Reports.

On 9 May, the department published the consultation ‘Strengthening Protections in Unregistered Alternative Provision (AP)’ which sought views on proposals intended to improve practice and raise standards in unregistered AP. The consultation closed on 5 July.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or who are in AP, including those in unregistered AP, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Departmental officials are currently analysing the responses of the consultation, and the department will set out the next steps in due course.

As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.

The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce processing times including making changes to legislation in 2022 for operational efficiencies and providing additional funds of £7.1 million to clear the backlog of cases inherited from the previous regulator. Further activities being undertaken by Social Work England are set out in its annual business plan and in reports to Social Work England’s board.

As at 31 August 2024, 113 Social workers are currently subject to an interim suspension order and unable to practise whilst awaiting the conclusion of their fitness to practise case.

As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.

The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce processing times including making changes to legislation in 2022 for operational efficiencies and providing additional funds of £7.1 million to clear the backlog of cases inherited from the previous regulator. Further activities being undertaken by Social Work England are set out in its annual business plan and in reports to Social Work England’s board.

As at 31 August 2024, 113 Social workers are currently subject to an interim suspension order and unable to practise whilst awaiting the conclusion of their fitness to practise case.

As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.

The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce processing times including making changes to legislation in 2022 for operational efficiencies and providing additional funds of £7.1 million to clear the backlog of cases inherited from the previous regulator. Further activities being undertaken by Social Work England are set out in its annual business plan and in reports to Social Work England’s board.

As at 31 August 2024, 113 Social workers are currently subject to an interim suspension order and unable to practise whilst awaiting the conclusion of their fitness to practise case.

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulations 2014) requires that anyone who has seen or experienced poor-quality care must have a route available to complain to the organisation that provided or paid for the care.

To meet this requirement, adult social care providers must have an effective and accessible system in place for identifying, receiving, handling and responding to complaints from people using the service, or people acting on their behalf. All complaints must be investigated thoroughly and any necessary action taken where failures have been identified.

This means that although adult social care providers are not required to signpost to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), there are clear avenues for individuals to raise concerns or complaints about their care and support. If an individual is not satisfied with the way a provider or local authority has dealt with a complaint, they may escalate it to the LGSCO who can investigate individual concerns.

The LGSCO has recently published its annual report of social care complaints, which provides information on the numbers of complaints received. Departmental officials meet regularly with the LGSCO.

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulations 2014) requires that anyone who has seen or experienced poor-quality care must have a route available to complain to the organisation that provided or paid for the care.

To meet this requirement, adult social care providers must have an effective and accessible system in place for identifying, receiving, handling and responding to complaints from people using the service, or people acting on their behalf. All complaints must be investigated thoroughly and any necessary action taken where failures have been identified.

This means that although adult social care providers are not required to signpost to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), there are clear avenues for individuals to raise concerns or complaints about their care and support. If an individual is not satisfied with the way a provider or local authority has dealt with a complaint, they may escalate it to the LGSCO who can investigate individual concerns.

The LGSCO has recently published its annual report of social care complaints, which provides information on the numbers of complaints received. Departmental officials meet regularly with the LGSCO.

Like so many Hon. members across the House, I dearly miss the late Baroness McDonagh, who was sadly taken from us by glioblastoma. I’m determined to improve overall survival rates and treatment for rarer cancers like these and I met with officials and leading clinicians on glioblastomas this week to discuss what more we can do.

The Lifetime ISA (LISA) property price cap supports most first-time buyers across the UK while targeting households that might find it most difficult to get on the property ladder. Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

Any unauthorised withdrawals are subject to a 25% withdrawal charge. This recoups the Government bonus, any interest or growth arising from it, and a proportion of the individual’s initial savings.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.

The Lifetime ISA (LISA) property price cap supports most first-time buyers across the UK while targeting households that might find it most difficult to get on the property ladder. Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values.

Any unauthorised withdrawals are subject to a 25% withdrawal charge. This recoups the Government bonus, any interest or growth arising from it, and a proportion of the individual’s initial savings.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.

The Chancellor and I know the loan charge is a very important matter for many members and their constituents. We have been considering this matter since taking office and will provide an update in due course.

The Government recognises the importance of a bank account for day-to-day life and understands the frustration of UK citizens living in the EU who have had their accounts closed.

The Government does not hold statistics on account closures for UK citizens living abroad. UK banks take these decisions on closures according to a variety of factors including the local law and regulation in individual countries, an assessment of profitability, or other commercial drivers.

Some UK banks offer specific accounts aimed at citizens living abroad, which may provide an alternative option. People who have had their accounts closed may also wish to refer to MoneyHelper - which offers free, impartial guidance on financial decisions - for further advice on their options.

The Government recognises the importance of a bank account for day-to-day life and understands the frustration of UK citizens living in the EU who have had their accounts closed.

The Government does not hold statistics on account closures for UK citizens living abroad. UK banks take these decisions on closures according to a variety of factors including the local law and regulation in individual countries, an assessment of profitability, or other commercial drivers.

Some UK banks offer specific accounts aimed at citizens living abroad, which may provide an alternative option. People who have had their accounts closed may also wish to refer to MoneyHelper - which offers free, impartial guidance on financial decisions - for further advice on their options.

We recognise the valuable work and significant progress that Violence Reductions Units (VRUs), including the London Violence Reduction Unit, have made in understanding and preventing serious violence.

All decisions on funding post March 2025 will be subject to the spending review.

Ensuring that all children are effectively safeguarded is a key priority for this Government including those who are looked after, and in whatever type of placement they may be.

The Children’s Wellbeing Bill will put children and their wellbeing at the centre of the education and social care systems, and make changes so they are safe, healthy, happy and treated fairly.

The police have a range of powers to investigate allegations of criminal offences. This includes the power to apply for search warrants to search and seize relevant evidence and to enter properties without a warrant to arrest suspects for indictable offences.

Yes, the Home Office plans to review the list of material sub-contractors.

This government is committed to improving service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC).

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and the standards expected. Details can be found at:

AASC_-_Schedule_2_- _Statement_of_Requirements.pdf (parliament.uk)(opens in a new tab).

Since 2020, the Home Office accommodation providers are required to visit each property at least monthly, and assurance that contractual requirements are met is tested by the Home Office Contract Assurance Team, which inspects properties and undertakes other assurance activities on an intelligence-led basis. Formal governance mechanisms are in place, to oversee performance and delivery against contractual requirements.

The Home Office has published the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) regime covering the contractual obligations accommodation providers and others working in the asylum sector are required to deliver. This has been done since April 2020. The most recent data is available at:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

This government is committed to improving service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC).

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and the standards expected. Details can be found at:

AASC_-_Schedule_2_- _Statement_of_Requirements.pdf (parliament.uk)(opens in a new tab).

Since 2020, the Home Office accommodation providers are required to visit each property at least monthly, and assurance that contractual requirements are met is tested by the Home Office Contract Assurance Team, which inspects properties and undertakes other assurance activities on an intelligence-led basis. Formal governance mechanisms are in place, to oversee performance and delivery against contractual requirements.

The Home Office has published the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) regime covering the contractual obligations accommodation providers and others working in the asylum sector are required to deliver. This has been done since April 2020. The most recent data is available at:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).