Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve approaches to tackling online crime.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

As the Prime Minister has made clear the Government recognises the serious impact that online crime has on victims and wider society.

This Government is working closely with tech companies to tackle criminal activity on their platforms. We are pressing ahead with the implementation of the Online Safety Act, which places duties on tech companies to take action to prevent the spread of illegal content online. The Act covers the full range of online harms including the most serious offences that can originate online, including child sexual exploitation and terrorism. We expect Ofcom to publish the first codes of practice on illegal content in December 2024. This will mark a significant shift in what we expect from platforms, as they will be required to assess illegal harms risk and implement appropriate safety measures by March 2025.

Harmful content is just one component of online crime. Cybercrime where criminals gain unauthorised access to systems through hacking and other illegal methods is a significant challenge to the UK and our prosperity and security. This international problem requires an international response. Recently in conjunction with Singapore the UK has led innovative new policy guidance for ransomware victims.

The new guidance agreed on 1st October 2024 at the Counter Ransomware Initiative summit will encourage organisations to carefully consider their options instead of defaulting to make payments to cyber criminals. This guidance also marks collaboration between government and the insurance industry on a global basis.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to improve wi-fi connectivity on the rail network.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I have asked my officials to explore the feasibility of a range of technology options to improve passenger connectivity on the rail network. The Department is also measuring the strength of mobile signals along the rail network to fully understand where interventions are needed.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to encourage local planning authorities to (a) ring-fence and (b) use developer contributions to provide routes identified in local cycling and walking infrastructure plans.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, so that opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued. Plans should also set out the contributions expected from development, such as that needed for transport and green infrastructure.

Any local authority that receives a contribution from development through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or section 106 planning obligations must prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. The Infrastructure Funding Statement should set out future spending priorities on infrastructure in line with up-to-date or emerging plan policies.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to extend free school transport in rural areas to include schools other than the nearest suitable school.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so.

There are extended rights to free home to school travel for children who are eligible for free school meals or whose parents claim the maximum amount of Working Tax Credit. These are intended to support school choice for families where the cost of travel may otherwise be a barrier. For children up until age 11, the walking distance remains set at 2 miles. Children aged 11 to 16 are eligible for free travel to one of their three nearest schools, provided it is between 2 and 6 miles from their home, or to a school that is between 2 and 16 miles from their home that their parents have chosen on the grounds of their religion or belief and there is no suitable school, having regard to that religion or belief, nearer to their home. Local authorities have the discretion to arrange travel for other children but are not required to do so.

I am keen to understand how well home-to-school transport supports children to access educational opportunity and will be working with departmental officials on this. In addition, this government has set out an action plan to deliver better bus services and drive opportunity to under-served regions. The government will introduce the Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services in the hands of local leaders to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will support the preservation of a coal-fired power station cooling tower.

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

The power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar was previously assessed for protection as a Listed Building in 2017 but deemed not to possess the requisite special architectural or historic interest. A new listing application is currently being assessed by Historic England, which administers the listing process on the Secretary of State’s behalf. The application will be determined by DCMS in line with the Secretary of State’s Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it is his Department's policy to introduce a UK low carbon hydrogen certification scheme.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are considering the role of a UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Certification Scheme in achieving clean power by 2030. Further detail on the Government's approach will be announced in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Competition and Market Authority's publication entitled Housebuilding Market Study, published on 26 February 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings that (a) that some housebuilders may be sharing commercially sensitive information and (b) some estate management charges are (i) high and (ii) unclear to homebuyers.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government welcomes the Competition and Market Authority’s final report following their year-long market study on housebuilding. Government will carefully consider the Authority’s recommendations and respond in due course.

The Government is already clear that it is committed to bring the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ private estates and unfair costs to an end – we will consult on the best way to achieve this. We will also implement new protections for homeowners on private estates in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of routinely using S106 agreements to pay for new sewage treatment plants in order that large developers always make a direct contribution to upgrades of the water and sewerage network to support new housing.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

National planning policy sets out that local planning authorities should include policies in their Local Plan for making sufficient provision for water and sewerage infrastructure.

A developer can be required to enter into a section 106 agreement, as a requirement of obtaining planning permission, to make their development ‘acceptable in planning terms’. The section 106 requirement might, for example, require a contribution towards the provision of water and sewerage network upgrades needed due to the development.

Separately, developers also pay water companies for new connections to a water main, with water companies entitled to reclaim reasonable costs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that only appropriately accredited psychologists are able to (a) diagnose and (b) treat illnesses and psychological disorders.

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

The British Psychological Society accredits undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programmes. Accreditation is an important hallmark of quality that is extensively acknowledged by employers in the field, and an essential stepping-stone for students who are looking to progress to become a Chartered Psychologist after graduation.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is independent of the Government, is the statutory regulator of practitioner psychologists in the United Kingdom, meaning that only those who are registered with the HCPC and meet its standards can practise as practitioner psychologists.

In addition, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care holds a list of accredited voluntary registers, which they have independently assessed against nine standards. In relation to psychological professions, accredited registers include: the British Psychoanalytic Council (a professional association of the psychoanalytic psychotherapy profession)’ s Register of practitioners; and the British Psychological Society’s Wider Psychological Workforce register of Wellbeing Practitioners and Associate Psychologists.

Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the (a) sale and (b) installation of spray foam insulation.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed.

We will bring forward proposals for system wide reform to the construction products regulatory regime in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his keynote speech at the Energy UK conference 2024 on 17 September 2024, what steps he plans to take to help protect communities with an above-average number of substations resulting from high volumes of large projects being simultaneously submitted by different developers.

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

The strategic network planning processes led by the Government’s new National Energy System Operator ensures community impact is considered when recommendations for new transmission infrastructure are made and that new infrastructure locations are considered strategically and sensitively. Where such infrastructure is needed, developers seek to reduce impacts through its design.

It is also important to this Government that, where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they should directly benefit from it, and we are considering how to most effectively deliver this. This includes developing guidance on community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure, which we will publish in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to ensure that people with a prepayment meter are eligible for electric vehicle friendly tariffs.

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

Prepayment meter households can be eligible for a range of tariffs, depending on their circumstances. To take advantage of charging an electric vehicle at off-peak rates a smart prepayment meter, or other meter that works on a time of use basis, is required and can be fitted free of charge.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she will take steps to restrict the ability for psychologists not accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council to act as expert witnesses in all court settings.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is aware of concerns regarding unregulated experts, often using the title psychologist, being instructed in the family courts. We are working with the Family Procedure Rule Committee on this issue to make changes to the Family Procedure Rules and their associated Practice Directions to restrict the instruction of these experts.

In the criminal courts, the evidence of expert witnesses is governed by the law on admissibility. Expert evidence is only admissible if the witness is competent to give that opinion and the expert opinion is sufficiently reliable to be admitted. When determining the reliability of expert opinion, the court may take into account the validity of the methodology employed by the expert, the extent to which the opinion is based on material falling outside the expert’s own field of expertise, and lack of an accreditation or other commitment to prescribed standards where that might be expected. The factors that courts should consider are clearly set out in Practice Directions.

In civil proceedings the role of experts is governed by Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules. The court’s permission is required for expert evidence to be used. Before permission is granted the relevant party must confirm the field in which expert evidence is required, the issues which the expert will address and, where practicable, the name of the expert. Their report must state the expert’s qualifications and confirm any question or issue which falls outside their expertise. While experts always owe a duty to exercise reasonable skill and care to those instructing them and to comply with any relevant professional code, they have an overriding duty to the court to help the court on matters within their experience and their evidence must be independent of the party instructing them. It is open to parties in civil disputes to challenge the qualifications or suitability of an expert witness if they have any concerns. The adversarial nature of civil litigation enables challenges and cross-examination to expert evidence.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of SEND childcare requirements on parents in full employment; and what steps she plans to take to help support these parents.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Every child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should be able to access high quality early years provision, with a workforce who can nurture a child’s needs, recognise their strengths and build effective working relationships with parents to ensure all children are safe, cared for and able to learn.

All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours per week of funded childcare and early education for 38 weeks of the year, regardless of the income or working status of their parent or carer. This is termed the ‘universal entitlement’.

Two year olds can get free childcare if they have an education, health and care plan, or are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The duty on local authorities to secure sufficient childcare extends to children with SEND. The SEND Code of Practice and Equality Act 2010 place certain requirements on providers, holding both local authorities and providers to account.

Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006 sets out the responsibilities for local authorities to ensure that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area.

The local authority statutory guidance on Early Education and Childcare sets out a clear requirement that local authorities must report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, including for children with SEND and make this report available and accessible to parents.

Departmental officials have regular meetings with each local authority in England about the sufficiency of their early education and childcare offer and any issues they are facing. This includes one-to-one support through our childcare delivery support contractor, Childcare Works, where appropriate. Childcare Works, is contracted to help local authorities and providers scale up delivery of the expanded early education entitlements and to meet their childcare sufficiency duty. Their activity includes support for local authorities to deliver for children with SEND, for example via national or regional events and supportive materials for use by both local authorities and providers.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his keynote speech at the Energy UK conference 2024 on 17 September 2024, what steps he plans to take to promote formal local area energy planning at local authority level.

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

The Department is considering the role of local energy planning including how it might interact with new initiatives such as Great British Energy Local Power Plan and Ofgem’s Regional Energy Strategic Plan, which Ofgem are consulting on.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding existing water fluoridation arrangements in Nottinghamshire to cover the whole of (a) Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire.

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

No such assessment has been made. Public consultation is required on proposals for new, or the expansion of existing, community water fluoridation schemes. The Water Fluoridation (Consultation) (England) Regulations 2022 set out the requirements, and is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/1163/contents/made

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) experienced GPs not covered by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme and (b) other GPs to find employment.

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

We remain committed to growing the number of doctors in general practice (GP) and we are working to increase the GP workforce in England.

NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future, and we will provide £82 million to fund the recruitment of over 1,000 newly qualified GPs, via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, so patients can get the care they need. GPs are self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, and it is largely up to employers to determine how best to staff their Primary Care Network or GP to best meet the needs of their population.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to take steps to (a) understand more about the relationship between smartphone use and young people’s mental health, (b) reduce any negative impact of those devices on young people’s mental health and (c) bring forward legislative proposals on the use of smartphones in schools.

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

Schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy that sets out what is expected of all pupils, including what items are banned from school premises. Additionally, the government’s non-statutory guidance supports schools on how to develop, implement and maintain a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones throughout the school day. Headteachers are responsible for implementation of guidance within their schools.

Research suggests excessive screentime can be detrimental to children’s wellbeing. The Online Safety Act aims to protects children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content and to ensure that technology companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users, particularly children.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, last updated on 2 August 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying golden rule b to non-Green Belt land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Green Belt serves a number of specific national planning purposes, including checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns merging into one another, and assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

It is precisely because the Government recognises the public value provided by the Green Belt that we believe any major development on land release from it should be subject to golden rules, including providing necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure, to ensure public benefit.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. This will remain the case irrespective of whether any proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework or wider national planning policy are taken forward.

When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

Additionally, the Government provides financial support through the £1.5 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund which will boost local areas by transforming disused sites and investing in vital infrastructure to help create vibrant communities for people to live and work, while also protecting green spaces.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that play areas are (a) designed and (b) upgraded to be accessible for children with SEND.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is firmly committed to creating better access to play areas, and parks more widely. They are an essential part of local social infrastructure which supports more connected, stronger communities.

Local authorities must consider their obligations under the Equalities Act of 2010 in relation to work being done on play areas, this includes ensuring that they are accessible and inclusive. Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places. The Government is committed to improving opportunities and outcomes for all disabled people and putting their voices at the heart of what we do.