Asked by: Josh Simons (Labour - Makerfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to return money the Government (a) has received and (b) will receive from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our Manifesto committed to reviewing the surplus sharing arrangements and transferring the Investment Reserve back to scheme members. We are committed to ending the injustice of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and work on delivering these commitments is already underway.
Asked by: Josh Simons (Labour - Makerfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on British Gas's billing system migration; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that migration on customers.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Regulation of energy suppliers is a matter for Ofgem. All retail energy suppliers are required to meet the standard license conditions set out by Ofgem which detail the minimum standards customers must be provided. Suppliers are expected to provide customers with clear and easily understandable ways to contact them about a problem, question or other request for assistance.
Asked by: Josh Simons (Labour - Makerfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people being removed from dentist registries due to (a) missing appointments and (b) failing to make timely appointments.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Patients in England are not registered with a National Health Service dental practice, although many NHS dental practices do tend to see patients regularly. NHS dental practices are contracted to deliver a course of treatment to an individual irrespective of where they live, allowing patients the choice of where they would like to receive care.
NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK website profiles up to date, so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. In circumstances where patients are unable to access an urgent dental appointment directly through an NHS dental practice, they should contact NHS 111.
Asked by: Josh Simons (Labour - Makerfield)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to compensate women wrongly underpaid their state pension.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department is addressing two areas which have resulted in the underpayment of State Pension. We expect the majority of customers affected to be women.
On the State Pension Underpayment Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practices (LEAP) exercise and the Home Responsibilities Protection LEAP exercise we are identifying and correcting any errors, making arrears payments and amending ongoing State Pension awards.
The Department understands the importance of putting right any errors we find and adjusting State Pension payments without delay. Everyone should receive the State Pension payments to which they are entitled. Giving pensioners the security and dignity they deserve in retirement is a priority for this Government.
Asked by: Josh Simons (Labour - Makerfield)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her planned timetable is for the expansion of HMP Hindley.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The expansion at HMP Hindley will deliver c.500 places through two new houseblocks, as part of our wider prison build programme. The contract is being finalised and once concluded we expect the construction period to take c.3 years.