Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of vision rehabilitation.

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

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes supporting people with sight loss to develop practical skills and strategies to maintain independence.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is now assessing how local authorities are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. These assessments identify local authorities’ strengths and areas for development, facilitating the sharing of good practice and helping us to target support where it is most needed. This means that sensory services, including vision rehabilitation, form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will report on sensory services when there is something important to highlight, for example, something being done well, innovative practice, or an area for improvement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a maximum 28 days statutory time limit for immigration detention.

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

I would like to refer the Honourable Member to the written answer I gave to the Honourable Member for Stroud on 29 November 2024 (UIN 15894).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support grassroots live music venues in Liverpool.

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

Following the Autumn Budget, we are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) successful Supporting Grassroots Music Fund which provides grants to grassroots music venues, recording studios, promoters and festivals across England. ACE has provided funding to grassroots music venues in Liverpool, such as the multi-purpose venue District for the District Live Music Programme, to help support 6 months of accessible live music performances. There are also a number of ACE’s National Portfolio Organisations that support grassroots music in Liverpool, such as Liverpool Sound City, an annual music festival and industry conference, and Future Yard, a community music venue which provides training and artist development services alongside live music space.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the rights of children in countries most impacted by climate change.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government is committed to the promotion, protection and realisation of children's rights. We know that children are disproportionately at risk from the effects of climate change, and children and young people will be at the forefront of shaping a resilient, sustainable future. The UK-led Glasgow Climate Pact urges Parties and stakeholders to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral, national and local decision-making processes. We championed this approach at COP29, where I met with youth climate activists from developing countries, and where UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte attended events alongside universities and the UN Youth Office to highlight the critical role of youth in climate action.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of standing charges issued by energy suppliers on low and middle-income households.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Although standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers and are regulated by Ofgem under the price cap, the Government knows that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on them. Ofgem’s recently published update regarding reforming standing charges outlines 3 broad options it will take forward:

• Consulting on introducing a zero standing charge price cap tariff in the new year;
• Consulting on lowering standing charges by around £10 through a review of operating costs;
• Reviewing whether regional standing charge price differences should remain or not as part of a review of how system costs are recovered.

Ofgem’s review of standing charges considered the distributional impacts of potential changes to standing charges, and it can be found here:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/standing-charges-update-our-review.

The changes Ofgem are seeking to introduce are aimed at giving consumers, including those who may be struggling with their bills, more control over their energy costs. Consumers will be able to choose the right tariff to suit their consumption pattern.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment has she made of the potential impact of the under occupancy charge on rates of poverty.

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

The Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS), sometimes referred to as the underoccupancy charge, applies to claims for housing support - either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit - where the claimant is living in the social rented sector in a property that has more bedrooms than their benefit entitlement.

Easements are available which allow an additional bedroom to support disabled people and carers, the families of disabled children, foster carers, parents who adopt, parents of service personnel and people who have suffered a bereavement.

We continue to keep all policies under review, considering them against a range of factors, including the wider fiscal situation and fit with government missions.

Those unable to meet the shortfall in their rent can seek a Discretionary Housing Payment from their local authority.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reintroducing maintenance grants on widening access to higher education.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, universities and students, and the government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university.

The government recognises the impact that the cost of living crisis has had on students. That is why we are increasing maximum loans for living costs for the 2025/26 academic year by 3.1%, in line with the forecast rate of RPIX inflation, to ensure that the most support is targeted at students from the lowest income families. In addition, vulnerable groups of students, such as lone parents and some disabled students who are eligible for benefits, qualify for higher rates of loans for living costs.

Means-tested, non-repayable grants remain available to low-income students with children, or adults who are financially dependent on them. Students undertaking nursing, midwifery and allied health profession courses also qualify for non-repayable grant support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

However, the department recognises that there is more to be done to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and is determined to reverse the decline in participation rates for disadvantaged students.

The department will set out this government’s longer term plan for HE reform by summer 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support religious buildings of historic importance.

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

There is a range of support available via DCMS and the Department’s Arm’s-Length Bodies for listed places of worship. These include the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme; the National Lottery Heritage Fund's £15m Heritage in Need: Places of Worship initiative, funded through the National Lottery between 2023 and 2026; the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which funds repairs and maintenance of over 350 churches in the CCT portfolio; and Historic England's Heritage At Risk grants, which support certain religious buildings such as cathedrals on the Heritage at Risk register.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of supplies of (a) epilepsy and (b) Parkinson's medication.

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

The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, some issues, including with some carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and oxcarbazepine presentations, have been resolved.

We are aware of an ongoing supply issue with all strengths of topiramate tablets with the resupply date to be confirmed. Other manufacturers of topiramate tablets can meet the increased demand during this time.

The Department is aware of supply constraints with one supplier of amantadine 100 milligram capsules used in the management of Parkinson’s disease, however stocks remain available from alternative suppliers to cover this demand.

The Department continues to work closely with industry, the National Health Service and others to help ensure patients continue to have access to an alternative treatment until their usual product is back in stock.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating school food standards to promote (a) healthier and (b) more sustainable diets.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever. The school food standards regulate the food and drink provided throughout the school day. They aim to ensure that the right foods are available for children. For example, one or more portions of vegetables as an accompaniment and one or more portions of fruit must be provided every day. The standards also restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods, and ensures that pupils always have healthy options.

The department has committed to supporting schools to drive up their sustainable practices on food. Schools can voluntarily follow the government buying standards, which includes advice around sustainable sourcing.

As with all policies, the department will keep its approach to school food under continued review.

Knowsley Livv Housing industrial dispute

Israeli violence in the West Bank

Imprisonment of Alaa Abd El-Fattah (No. 2)

Garforth Town AFC and grassroots community football

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

UK support for the global effort to feed children at school

Import and sale of real fur

Sexual harassment in the workplace

Right to protest outside the BBC

Certificate of Common Sponsorship

British Nuclear Testing Programme veterans

Detainment of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya

Pesticides in public spaces

Impact of the Work Capability Assessment on disabled people

Prison maintenance insourcing

Ofwat price review

Uber and private hire drivers

25th anniversary of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust

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Found: Opher Cat Eccles Paula Barker Tonia Antoniazzi Zarah Sultana Kirith Entwistle Kim Johnson Ian Byrne

Found: _NC1 John McDonnell Ian Byrne .

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Found: Opher Cat Eccles Paula Barker Tonia Antoniazzi Zarah Sultana Kirith Entwistle Kim Johnson Ian Byrne

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Found: Opher Cat Eccles Paula Barker Tonia Antoniazzi Zarah Sultana Kirith Entwistle Kim Johnson Ian Byrne

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Found: Opher Cat Eccles Paula Barker Tonia Antoniazzi Zarah Sultana Kirith Entwistle Kim Johnson Ian Byrne

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Found: _NC1 John McDonnell Ian Byrne .