Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Building Safety Act 2022, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of capping the cost that construction companies can charge for building work.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The department has a robust cost framework in place using earlier tender price data, industry benchmarks and modelling to drive best value for grant funded remediations. It would be difficult in practice to establish price caps given the wide range of building types and materials. Price ceilings also risk distorting the market and industry practice, as well as reducing the appetite of suppliers to participate in remediation projects.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teachers in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Manchester Withington constituency do not have qualified teacher status.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Information on the school workforce in England is published in the annual ‘School Workforce in England’ national statistics release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england.
The number of teachers without qualified teacher status in all state funded schools in England, including a breakdown by primary and secondary, and by local authority, is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/29d83b82-2aba-44c7-bb82-08db371944c7.
Data relating to schools in individual constituencies can be found in the ‘teacher and support staff numbers by school’ file, within the additional supporting files section, available at: https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/releases/0728fb07-f014-492c-aac9-fd11bb441601/files/2dfcc772-c410-46ac-cb9d-08da713e9200.
There are 24,000 more teachers now than in 2010. The quality of teaching is the most important in school factor in improving outcomes for children, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence is clear that high quality professional development can lead to improved pupil attainment.
The Department has invested in transforming training for teachers and head teachers. Every teacher and head teacher now has access to high quality, evidence based training and professional development at every stage of their career, starting with initial teacher training (ITT).
By 2024, a reformed ITT provider market will be delivering quality assured training leading to qualified teacher status (QTS) that places a greater emphasis than ever before on embedding structured practice into courses, ensuring trainees are ready to thrive in the classroom.
A new system of higher quality training provider partnerships will be supported by £36 million to introduce new Quality Requirements, including better training for mentors and the delivery of new, cutting edge, intensive training, and practice activity. Every teaching school hub will be involved in ITT to ensure that training places are available across the country.
QTS is considered desirable for teachers in most schools in England. In some schools, including academies, free schools, and independent schools, QTS is not a legal requirement. Academies have a fundamental freedom to employ talented people who do not necessarily have QTS.
Most teachers in all schools, including academies, have QTS and have undertaken initial teacher training. In the 2021/22 academic year, the latest data available, 14,771 teachers (headcount) did not have qualified teacher status, equivalent to 2.9% of teachers.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to end the TransPennine Express contract in May 2023.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Every week I review the figures and performance related to TransPennine Express. It has been said before that those figures are not good enough; there has been some improvement, but they are still not good enough. As the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have informed the House, the contract expires on 28 May 2023. We have made clear that all options are on the table and a decision will be announced in the House shortly.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the intended implementation date is of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on 1 December 2021.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed on 1 December 2021 enables UK Tour Operators to regain access to the ECDC’s database in order to be informed of legionella clusters in the EU.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the ELDSNet notification system is part of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon between the UK Health Security Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on 1 December 2021.
Answered by Will Quince
On 1 December 2021, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) signed and implemented the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the collaboration between the two agencies on communicable diseases prevention and control. Further details on the cooperation activities and areas of mutual interest are set out at the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-ecdc
The European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) notification system is one of the EpiPulse surveillance systems that facilitates collection, analysis and dissemination of indicator- and event-based surveillance data on infectious diseases and associated health issues, including global epidemic intelligence, whole-genome sequencing, and health determinants.
Appointed experts from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EU countries within ECDC’s cooperation framework, and international organisations, can access the EpiPulse platform to report and analyse cases of infectious diseases and pathogens that may threaten public health in the EU/EEA.
The United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-EU country within ECDC’s cooperation framework. Two experts from each of the four nations have been nominated to have access to disease specific domains on ECDC’s EpiPulse platform. EpiPulse incorporates the functions of ELDSNet. UK tour operators do not have access to the database as they are provided only to EU/EEA. Tour operators are advised by ABTA – The Travel Association to liaise with their suppliers and about the importance of following the Legionella 15 point plan to reduce the potential risk of Legionnaires’ disease and to keep accurate records of this as part of their due diligence procedures.
Further to the memorandum of understanding, UKHSA and ECDC have worked on a Joint Action Plan to maximise technical cooperation on specific topics to enhance UK health security. This plan is at an advanced stage and is expected to be signed off this year once the Windsor Framework is agreed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of Energy Bill Support Scheme prepayment meter vouchers claimed in (a) March 2023 and (b) January 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) collects information about the payments made under the Energy Bills Support Scheme GB (EBSS GB) in England, Wales and Scotland. Transparency data on Energy Bills Support Scheme GB payments made by electricity suppliers to customers is reported monthly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-payments-made-by-electricity-suppliers-to-customers.
In January 2023, 1,953,160 prepayment vouchers were delivered across England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting for the four months of the scheme up to 31 January 2023 shows that 7,916,490 vouchers were issued to customers using prepayment meters, of which 5,992,390 (76%) had been redeemed. Data for March 2023 will be published via the link above in April.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the value of unclaimed Energy Bill Support Scheme prepayment meter vouchers in Manchester Withington constituency.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Reporting to the three months to December 31st 2022 shows an estimated 8,170 Energy Bills Support Scheme traditional prepayment meter vouchers were issued to households in Manchester Withington, with 5,930 (73%) of these redeemed. October and November vouchers were valued at £66 and the December voucher at £67 meaning the 2,240 unredeemed vouchers have a value of approximately £150,000. Transparency data on Energy Bills Support Scheme GB payments made by electricity suppliers to customers is reported monthly and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-payments-made-by-electricity-suppliers-to-customers.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve the uptake of Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Department has been engaging with stakeholders and suppliers to increase the uptake of traditional prepayment vouchers in GB and continues to work with the sector, as well as consumer groups, charities and local leaders to reach eligible customers with unused vouchers that have not yet benefitted from this support.
This includes ongoing government information campaigns to raise awareness via roaming advert vans, community radio, social media and national magazine titles.
The latest figures published in March indicate that in the first five months of the scheme 78% of issued vouchers were redeemed.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with energy companies on the uptake of Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
In December, the Secretary of State wrote to all relevant electricity suppliers and Ministers have chaired two roundtables with CEOs of suppliers providing traditional prepayment meters on 7 December and 25 January. I intend to host a further roundtable with these suppliers. The Department continues to work with stakeholders to ensure every effort is made to reach all eligible households.
The latest figures published in March indicate that in the first five months of the scheme, 78% of issued vouchers were redeemed.