Judith Cummins

Over the course of the pandemic the Government has provided an unprecedented package of support to businesses, including those in the wedding sector, which it keeps under regular review.

I meet regularly with representatives of the wedding sector to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses.

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce, established to represent all parts of the UK Weddings sector, to understand the impact of COVID-19 on wedding businesses.

According to Cabinet Office’s guide for the new national restrictions, they are classed as personal care services. As their guide states, the Government cannot provide comments on individual cases of whether or not a business is permitted to open. It is for each business to assess whether they are a business required to close having considered the guidance and Regulations.

The UK is currently experiencing a public health emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical that employers, employees, the self-employed and clients take steps to keep everyone safe.

Incidence rates are growing and the NHS is under increasing pressure. From 5^th November to 2^nd December, non-essential retail and stores must close including close contact services such as hair, beauty, spa and wellness services. At the end of the period, we will look to return to a local and regional approach, based on the latest data.

Our guidance for the sector has a specific section, 3.3., covering equality in the workplace.

Cabinet Office guidance behind the new national restrictions has been brought because Government assessed that we had to take action immediately to protect the NHS and to get R decisively below 1.

The Government has, however, enabled click and collected services, as well as training and education (see guide) to enable COVID-secure businesses in this sector to operate where possible.

The expenditure with our primary market research provider, Kantar UK LTD, between January 2019 and March 2020 was £4 million. The table below shows spend by month. We are unable to breakdown the expenditure into the activities undertaken by the supplier.

The government is working at pace, and extensively with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), parents, carers, and those working in local government, education, health and care services to ensure that proposals from our SEND Review translate into improved outcomes for children and young people, with a focus on preparing them for later life and adulthood.

We will be bringing forward proposals for public consultation in the first quarter of 2022.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities. This includes places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), such as those with high functioning autism. We are supporting local authorities to meet this duty by investing £300 million in the 2021-22 financial year to support local authorities to deliver places and improve existing provision for pupils with SEND, or who require alternative provision.

The department will also be investing a further £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to deliver new places and improve existing provision for pupils with SEND, or who require alternative provision. This funding represents a transformational investment in new high needs provision and will help deliver tens of thousands of new high needs places. Details of how this funding will be distributed will be announced in due course.

Local authorities are best placed to say how many places are available in their area for pupils with high functioning autism. The government does not currently collect data centrally on available capacity in high needs provision but is continuing to work with local authorities to better understand demand for SEND provision, including for children with autism, as it considers how it can best support the sector going forwards.

The SEND Review is also looking at ways to make sure the SEND system is consistent, high quality, and integrated across education, health and care. It is also considering measures to make sure that money is being spent fairly, efficiently and effectively, and that the support available to children and young people is sustainable in the future, including for those with autism.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities. This includes places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), such as those with high functioning autism. We are supporting local authorities to meet this duty by investing £300 million in the 2021-22 financial year to support local authorities to deliver places and improve existing provision for pupils with SEND, or who require alternative provision.

The department will also be investing a further £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to deliver new places and improve existing provision for pupils with SEND, or who require alternative provision. This funding represents a transformational investment in new high needs provision and will help deliver tens of thousands of new high needs places. Details of how this funding will be distributed will be announced in due course.

Local authorities are best placed to say how many places are available in their area for pupils with high functioning autism. The government does not currently collect data centrally on available capacity in high needs provision but is continuing to work with local authorities to better understand demand for SEND provision, including for children with autism, as it considers how it can best support the sector going forwards.

The SEND Review is also looking at ways to make sure the SEND system is consistent, high quality, and integrated across education, health and care. It is also considering measures to make sure that money is being spent fairly, efficiently and effectively, and that the support available to children and young people is sustainable in the future, including for those with autism.

Employers are facing a skills shortage that we must act to address. It is vital in a fast moving and high-tech economy that technical education closes the gap between what people study and the needs of employers. This is why we are introducing over 20 T Levels, developed with 250 leading employers, and reviewing the wider post-16 qualifications system at level 3 and below. The department’s plans for reform of level 3 qualifications were published on 14 July 2021. We will continue to fund high quality qualifications that can be taken alongside or as alternatives to T Levels and A levels where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that T Levels and A levels cannot provide.

The department is streamlining and improving the quality of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below. We are strengthening the pathways to progression, creating clearly defined routes to further study, and/or skilled employment.

The call for evidence on qualifications and study at level 2 and below closed on 14 February. This asked for views on the range of options and types of support needed to support both 16 to 19 year olds and adults to progress to level 3 and above. We are considering feedback to the call for evidence and will consult on proposals later this year.

Our final plans setting out the groups of level 3 qualifications that will be available to adults in future were published on 14 July. This followed a consultation on level 3 qualifications that ran from 23 October 2020 to 31 January 2021.

It is intended that T Levels will be available for adults, and we believe these should exist alongside a range of other high-quality technical qualifications that are backed by employers. Adults will be able to study technical qualifications that allow entry to occupations, including those served by T Levels, and qualifications focusing on cross-sectoral skills that are transferrable across different occupations such as management, leadership and digital. Qualifications within safety critical industries will also be available for adults.

Adults progressing into further study will have access to the same range of academic qualifications as 16 to 19 year olds, as set out in the consultation response. We will also fund Access to HE Diplomas to support adults who do not have traditional qualifications to progress into higher education or to reskill.

Our final plans setting out the groups of qualifications that will be available alongside T Levels and A levels in future were published on 14 July.

We will fund two groups of technical qualifications alongside T Levels for 16 to 19 year olds. The first will be qualifications that are designed to enable entry into occupations where there are no T Levels. The second will be qualifications that develop more specialist skills and knowledge than could be acquired through a T Level alone, helping to protect the skills supply into more specialist industries or occupations.

Adults will be able to study a broader range of technical qualifications than 16 to 19 year olds. T Levels will be available for adults but we believe these should exist alongside a range of other high quality technical qualifications that are backed by employers. This includes smaller technical qualifications that enable entry into occupations that are already served by T Levels, and qualifications focusing on cross-sectoral skills that are transferrable across different occupations such as management, leadership, and digital. Qualifications within safety critical industries will also be available for adults.

We are phasing the introduction of reformed qualifications in line with the national rollout of T Levels, starting with a single test route (pathfinder) concentrating on the Digital route in the 2023/24 academic year. This means technical qualifications that lead to occupations in the Digital route that are not covered by T Levels will be available for young people and adults from 2023/24.

From the 2024/25 academic year, building on learning from the pathfinder, we will scale up the introduction of reformed technical qualifications including those which lead to occupations not covered by T Levels in the Education and Childcare, Construction, Health and Science, and Engineering and Manufacturing routes. All remaining technical and academic qualifications for young people and adults, including technical qualifications that lead to occupations in routes where there is no T Level will be introduced in 2025/26.

Detailed criteria for approval including qualification content and assessment are still in development and we will continue to work with sector experts to finalise these, including the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, Ofqual, employers, awarding organisations and post-16 providers. Guidance, qualification approval criteria and funding approval criteria for qualifications approved for delivery from 2023 will be published later in 2021. Approval criteria for qualifications to be delivered from 2024 and beyond will be published in 2022.

Employers are facing a skills shortage that we must act to address. It is vital in a fast moving and high-tech economy that technical education closes the gap between what people study and the needs of employers. This is why we are introducing over 20 T Levels, developed with 250 leading employers, and reviewing the wider post-16 qualifications system at level 3 and below. The department’s plans for reform of level 3 qualifications were published on 14 July 2021. We will continue to fund high quality qualifications that can be taken alongside or as alternatives to T Levels and A levels where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that T Levels and A levels cannot provide. This may include some Pearson BTECs provided they meet new quality criteria for funding approval.

The impact assessment published alongside the consultation response acknowledged that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to take qualifications that could have their funding approval removed. However, it stated that these students should gain the most from these changes because they are the most likely to be taking qualifications that do not deliver the skills employers need and will have access to higher quality qualifications in future.

We are strengthening progression pathways, creating clearly defined academic and technical routes with qualifications leading to further study, and/or skilled employment. This clarity of purpose will provide all students, including those from lower income and disadvantaged backgrounds, with a range of good options and allow them to see more easily how their study will help them to progress. For students progressing to higher education, A levels provide excellent preparation, either on their own or alongside other high-quality academic qualifications. Removing many qualifications that overlap with A levels and streamlining the system to a smaller number of high-quality qualifications will provide greater clarity for students, higher education institutions and employers and will give confidence that every option is high quality and will support progression.

Alongside our reforms to level 3 qualifications, we want to improve study at level 2 and below, which has been neglected for too long. Getting level 2 and below right is key to making sure that students have clear lines of sight to level 3, apprenticeships, traineeships, and for some, directly into other employment. We are considering feedback to the call for evidence which ran from 10 November to 14 February and will consult on proposals for reform later this year.

Employers are facing a skills shortage that we must act to address. It is vital in a fast moving and high-tech economy that technical education closes the gap between what people study and the needs of employers. This is why we are introducing over 20 T Levels, developed with 250 leading employers, and reviewing the wider post-16 qualifications system at level 3 and below.

The department’s plans for reform of level 3 qualifications were published on 14 July 2021. We will continue to fund high quality qualifications that can be taken alongside or as alternatives to T Levels and A levels where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that T Levels and A levels cannot provide. The future landscape may include some Pearson BTECs and/or qualifications similar to current Applied General qualifications, provided they meet new quality criteria for funding approval.

The impact assessment published alongside the consultation response recognised that some students may find it more difficult to achieve level 3 qualifications in future. However, the assessment stated that the changes will generally be positive as students will have access to higher quality qualifications in the future, including new T Levels. This will put students in a stronger position to progress onto further study or skilled employment. The assessment acknowledged that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to take qualifications that could have their funding approval removed. These students should gain the most from these changes because they are the most likely to be taking qualifications that do not deliver the skills employers need. We are committed to ensuring that T Levels are accessible to all young people and have introduced flexibilities for students with special educational needs and disabilities. The T Level Transition Programme will support young people who are not yet ready to progress to a T Level but have the potential to succeed on it after some further preparation.

All qualifications will need to meet new quality criteria to be approved for funding in future. Technical qualifications will need to be approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) to be considered for funding approval. For academic qualifications, the department will set criteria to ensure all qualifications approved for funding are necessary alongside A levels. Ofqual will provide advice about quality to both the Institute and the department. This will ensure that all qualifications are high quality and provide the skills needed to support progression either into skilled employment or further study.

Alongside our reforms to level 3 qualifications, the department wants to improve study at level 2 and below, which has been neglected for too long. Improving level 2 and below is key to making sure that every student has a clear progression route, whether that is to high quality level 3 qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships, or directly into skilled employment at level 2. The department is considering feedback to the call for evidence, which ran from 10 November 2020 to 14 February 2021, and there will be consultation on reform proposals later this year.

Ensuring sufficient childcare for families continues to be a government priority. This is why we have ensured that wraparound childcare settings have been able to remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers during the current national lockdown, in line with those children eligible to attend school for onsite provision; and have updated our guidance for providers of after-school and holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings to support providers to operate as safely as possible, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19.

However, we recognise that the wraparound childcare sector, like many sectors, is facing unprecedented financial pressures as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is for this reason, the Government has made a range of financial packages of support available for businesses to access throughout the current crisis. This includes tax relief, business loans or cash grants, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and the Self-Employed Support Scheme (SEISS), as well as a £594 million discretionary fund for councils and the Devolved Administrations to support local businesses that may not be eligible for other support, during the current national lockdown.

We have also encouraged all local authorities to consider using local grants that have been made available to them during the COVID-19 outbreak, to support the wraparound childcare sector in their areas, and to safeguard sufficient childcare provision for all families, but particularly those with vulnerable children and children of critical workers. This includes funding streams such as the discretionary fund already mentioned, as well as the expanded Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities. This programme will give children eligible for Free School Meals the option to join a free holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays in 2021 – giving disadvantaged young people opportunities they might otherwise lose out on.

The department does not hold a central register of wraparound providers, and so we are unable to make an official assessment of the effects wraparound closures on levels of children’s physical activity. However, we are acutely aware of the benefits to children’s physical and mental wellbeing of attending these settings. Therefore, the Youth Investment Fund remains an important manifesto commitment. In the recently announced Spending Review, £30 million of capital investment was committed for 2021-22. This will provide a transformational investment in new and refurbished safe spaces for young people, so they can access support youth workers, and positive activities out of school, including sport and culture.

Ensuring sufficient childcare for families continues to be a government priority. This is why we have ensured that wraparound childcare settings have been able to remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers during the current national lockdown, in line with those children eligible to attend school for onsite provision; and have updated our guidance for providers of after-school and holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings to support providers to operate as safely as possible, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19.

However, we recognise that the wraparound childcare sector, like many sectors, is facing unprecedented financial pressures as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is for this reason, the Government has made a range of financial packages of support available for businesses to access throughout the current crisis. This includes tax relief, business loans or cash grants, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and the Self-Employed Support Scheme (SEISS), as well as a £594 million discretionary fund for councils and the Devolved Administrations to support local businesses that may not be eligible for other support, during the current national lockdown.

We have also encouraged all local authorities to consider using local grants that have been made available to them during the COVID-19 outbreak, to support the wraparound childcare sector in their areas, and to safeguard sufficient childcare provision for all families, but particularly those with vulnerable children and children of critical workers. This includes funding streams such as the discretionary fund already mentioned, as well as the expanded Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities. This programme will give children eligible for Free School Meals the option to join a free holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays in 2021 – giving disadvantaged young people opportunities they might otherwise lose out on.

The department does not hold a central register of wraparound providers, and so we are unable to make an official assessment of the effects wraparound closures on levels of children’s physical activity. However, we are acutely aware of the benefits to children’s physical and mental wellbeing of attending these settings. Therefore, the Youth Investment Fund remains an important manifesto commitment. In the recently announced Spending Review, £30 million of capital investment was committed for 2021-22. This will provide a transformational investment in new and refurbished safe spaces for young people, so they can access support youth workers, and positive activities out of school, including sport and culture.

I can confirm that a response has been sent to the letter from the hon. Member for Bradford South dated 2 July.

The Department does not hold this informational centrally and could only obtain it at disproportionate cost.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has made it clear that schools will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates that it is the right time to do so, based on five key tests. The Department is working closely with the sector on our approach.

The safety of students, parents and staff is our top priority. The Department has published guidance on social distancing in education settings which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has made it clear that schools will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates that it is the right time to do so, based on five key tests. The Department is working closely with the sector on our approach.

The safety of students, parents and staff is our top priority. The Department has published guidance on social distancing in education settings which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings.

The government has set out specific measures to support childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak:

• We will continue to pay funding to local authorities for the early years entitlements for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds
• To support private nurseries, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has also announced that they will be eligible for a business rates holiday for one year from 1 April

Childcare providers will also benefit from the wider measures the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced to support the people and businesses of the UK:

• A three-point plan announced in the Budget providing £12 billion of support for public services, individuals and businesses whose finances are affected by the outbreak
• A package to provide additional support for businesses and individuals totalling £350 billion
• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment. This means that businesses can put workers on temporary leave and the government will pay them cash grants of 80% of their wages up to a cap of £2,500, providing they keep the worker employed
• A scheme to help the UK’s self-employed who are affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will enable those eligible to receive a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years. This covers 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment
• On 28 March, my right hon.Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, announced that the government will also temporarily suspend the wrongful trading provisions to give company directors greater confidence to use their best endeavours to continue trading during this pandemic emergency, without the threat of personal liability should the company ultimately fall into insolvency

The government is also providing the following additional support:

• deferral of Self-Assesment income tax payments due in July 2020
• VAT payments due with VAT returns between now and the end June 2020 will be deferred. UK VAT registered businesses will not need make those payments until March 2021
• grants for businesses that pay little or no bussiness rates
• increased amounts of Universal Credit
• the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

The latest guidance from the department for early years and childcare providers can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures and

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care.

Information on the average time taken between applying for a provisional driving licence and receiving it is not recorded. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services are the quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days.

However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application for a driving licence. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Ongoing industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union is leading to delays for customers who make paper applications.

Currently, paper applications are likely to take between six and ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed as part of a driving licence application. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.

We are expecting the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment report shortly and the Integrated Rail Plan will follow once Ministers have considered this advice.

The Secretary of State has had regular discussions with Transport for the North about Northern Powerhouse Rail, most recently in September. The Secretary of State also has regular conversations with Northern Leaders in his role as the Northern Powerhouse Minister, including several in preparation for the next Northern Transport Acceleration Council meeting.

In the Integrated Rail Plan, the Department will set out how projects, including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, can be connected strategically to deliver the train services that people need and deserve, as effectively as possible. We are expecting the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment report shortly and the Integrated Rail Plan will follow once Ministers have considered this advice.

Northern Powerhouse Rail aims to transform connectivity and economic growth. The assessment of proposals therefore includes their comparative connectivity and economic outcomes. Work to assess options is ongoing, including options serving Bradford. The Government is providing up to £500,000 funding to Bradford City Council to develop the city’s regeneration and development plans to support that work. We are currently awaiting the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment for the North and Midlands, which will inform the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan.

The Secretary of State has had regular discussions with Transport for the North about Northern Powerhouse Rail, most recently in September. The Secretary of State also has regular conversations with Northern Leaders in his role as the Northern Powerhouse Minister, including several in preparation for the next Northern Transport Acceleration Council meeting.

In the Integrated Rail Plan, the Department will set out how projects, including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, can be connected strategically to deliver the train services that people need and deserve, as effectively as possible. We are expecting the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment report shortly and the Integrated Rail Plan will follow once Ministers have considered this advice.

Northern Powerhouse Rail aims to transform connectivity and economic growth. The assessment of proposals therefore includes their comparative connectivity and economic outcomes. Work to assess options is ongoing, including options serving Bradford. The Government is providing up to £500,000 funding to Bradford City Council to develop the city’s regeneration and development plans to support that work. We are currently awaiting the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment for the North and Midlands, which will inform the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan.

On 24 November, the Government announced a financial support scheme to support eligible commercial airport and ground handling businesses by reducing cash burn and could unlock shareholder and lender support. This will provide support up to the equivalent of the site’s business rates liabilities in 2020/21 financial year, capped at up to £8m per eligible site, and subject to certain conditions. The scheme will open for applications in the new year, and we will be looking to make payments to successful applicants before the end of the financial year.

The information requested could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

The Integrated Rail Plan will be published by the end of the year. Government is committed to pressing ahead with HS2, NPR and related programmes.

As set out in the Terms of Reference, published on 21 February 2020, the Integrated Rail Plan will be published by the end of the year.

The Integrated Rail Plan will consider how best to integrate HS2 Phase 2b and wider transport plans in the North and Midlands, delivering benefits from investments more quickly. This will include a recommended way forward on scoping, phasing and sequencing delivery of HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Midlands Rail Hub and other proposed rail investments.

I am committed to ensuring the North and Midlands are fully engaged and consulted throughout the Integrated Rail Plan process. I plan to undertake a series of roundtables and visits with Northern and Midlands leaders in the coming months as we begin to develop our ambitious Integrated Rail Plan.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be targeted at reducing mortality, as well as protecting health and social care staff and systems. As a result, vaccines have first been prioritised amongst care home residents and staff, followed by people aged over 80 years old and health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors.

As set out by the JVCI, dental care staff fall under the second priority cohort during phase one, comprising of health and social care workers. The JCVI’s advice states that this not only includes those working for the NHS, but also those in independent, voluntary, non-standard and community healthcare settings.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be targeted at reducing mortality, as well as protecting health and social care staff and systems. As a result, vaccines have first been prioritised amongst care home residents and staff, followed by people aged over 80 years old and health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors.

As set out by the JVCI, dental care staff fall under the second priority cohort during phase one, comprising of health and social care workers. The JCVI’s advice states that this not only includes those working for the NHS, but also those in independent, voluntary, non-standard and community healthcare settings.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that frontline healthcare staff including dentists and other staff providing dental services be vaccinated in priority group two. This advice was on based on their increased personal risk of exposure to infection with COVID-19 and of transmitting that infection to vulnerable patients.

Vaccinating dental staff also protects public health and enables access to services for patients. Staff were invited for their first vaccine dose before 15 February 2021 and will be have been offered their second dose within 12 weeks of their first.

Information on the size and length of the waiting lists for children and adults who require dental treatment under a general anaesthetic is not collected centrally. This information may be collected at local level as secondary data.

We are working rapidly to provide all Members and external correspondents with accurate answers to their correspondence, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hon. Member’s letter will be answered as soon as possible.

The full evaluation has now taken place and the Department intends to publish its findings later in the year.

Data is not available in the format requested.

As a result of the safety restrictions brought in as part of the COVID-19 response, the General Dental Council (GDC) suspended Parts 1 and 2 of the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) earlier this year.

Following engagement with exam providers, the GDC has decided it will not be practicable to run any sittings of the exams in 2020. The GDC aim to resume the ORE as soon as it is safe and viable to do so.

In the meantime, regular discussions with exam providers continue and further information will be provided to candidates as soon as it is available. Candidates who booked a place on the cancelled exams have been advised they may request a refund.

We will continue to work closely with the dentistry sector to review whether any of the available testing technologies could be appropriately and safely deployed to further eliminate the risk associated with asymptomatic patients attending for treatment.

Data on the number of units of dental activity that have been performed by dentists in England since June 2020 is not available at this time. National Health Service dental activity statistics from June to December 2020 will be included in the ‘NHS Dental statistics for England 2020-21, Biannual Report’, due to be published on 25 February. Dental practices have been able to open for face to face NHS care from 8 June, with urgent provision backed up by over 600 urgent dental care centres across the country. NHS England and NHS Improvement have set out guidance that dentists should focus on care that is urgent, care to vulnerable groups and then overdue routine appointments.

A steady increase in dental activity has been made possible following updated Infection Prevention and Control guidance issued by Public Health England. Contractual arrangements for quarter four have been introduced by NHS England and NHS Improvement requiring dental practices to deliver 45% of contracted units of dental activity from 1 January to 31 March 2021 to be deemed to have delivered the full contractual volume. This is expected to increase available NHS dental care for patients.

The Department is working closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Chief Dental Officer for England to increase levels of service, as fast as is safely possible.

Guidance published by Public Health England (PHE) updating the infection prevention advice for supervised toothbrushing programmes has enabled these programmes to restart when schools reopened in the autumn term. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-supervised-toothbrushing-programmes

PHE does not have a complete picture of how many supervised toothbrushing or other oral health improvement schemes have restarted as these programmes are commissioned locally.

The need to carefully assess risks of use of certain epilepsy medications in pregnancy and the factors that should be considered by patient and clinician are set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ‘Epilepsies: diagnosis and management’ guideline (originally published January 2012 and updated in February 2020). The update includes strengthened warnings about the specific risks that the anti-epileptic medicine valproate presents to unborn children. As the guideline sets out, in pregnancy valproate is contraindicated and an alternative treatment should be decided on, with appropriate specialist consultation, taking into account the individual clinical needs of the patient and the risks and benefits of particular medications and treatment approaches. The NICE guideline is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137/resources/epilepsies-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-35109515407813

The Government has worked closely with universities on their safe reopening. We have issued guidance on GOV.UK to support this which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses#student-movement.

During the pandemic there have been no restrictions on individuals on being able to attend medical appointments and accessing prescriptions for their medical conditions. Where a student is self-isolating and needs to access essential supplies like prescriptions, NHS Volunteer Responders may be able to help if they meet the criteria. Details are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-accessing-food-and-essential-supplies.

Local authorities also have put in place support services which is another service students may be able to access alongside those provided by universities.

The Joint Biosecurity Centre’s contain framework outlines how the process for national decision-making works. The Chief Medical Officer chairs the Silver Committee. The remit of this group is to “assess the latest national and local epidemiological picture” and “review and evaluate local outbreak responses and consider further action or escalation”. The Gold Committee chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is the decision-making body and the Chief Medical Officer is a permanent member of this group. More information the process is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/containing-and-managing-local-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreaks/covid-19-contain-framework-a-guide-for-local-decision-makers

The Joint Biosecurity Centre’s contain framework outlines how the process for national decision-making works. The Chief Medical Officer chairs the Silver Committee. The remit of this group is to “assess the latest national and local epidemiological picture” and “review and evaluate local outbreak responses and consider further action or escalation”. The Gold Committee chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is the decision-making body and the Chief Medical Officer is a permanent member of this group. More information the process is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/containing-and-managing-local-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreaks/covid-19-contain-framework-a-guide-for-local-decision-makers

The Joint Biosecurity Centre’s contain framework outlines how the process for national decision-making works. The Chief Medical Officer chairs the Silver Committee. The remit of this group is to “assess the latest national and local epidemiological picture” and “review and evaluate local outbreak responses and consider further action or escalation”. The Gold Committee chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is the decision-making body and the Chief Medical Officer is a permanent member of this group. More information the process is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/containing-and-managing-local-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreaks/covid-19-contain-framework-a-guide-for-local-decision-makers

General practitioners and other National Health Service providers have been asked to prioritise flu vaccination for all those who are in the defined clinically vulnerable groups documented in the national guidance. In addition, this season household contacts of those who are on the shielded patients list are also eligible for a free NHS vaccine to allow us to offer additional protection.

NHS England and NHS Improvement will be introducing a call and recall service to ensure that all eligible individuals are aware that they can receive a free vaccination and how to access one. Alongside this, additional trained workforce is being made available to local providers to support them to access the most vulnerable patients who may be in care homes or require domiciliary visits.

The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working hard to ensure that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing inequalities is minimised.

During the pandemic peak face to face dentistry was limited to urgent care only provided from over 600 urgent dental centres. However, from 8 June all National Health Service dental services including practices, community dental services and bespoke services aimed at particular groups such as homeless people were permitted and encouraged to reopen for urgent and routine care at as fast a pace as is compatible with patient and staff safety.

In the letter announcing the restart, NHS England and NHS Improvement set out clear guidance that in the sequencing and scheduling of patients for treatment as services resume organisations should take into account the urgency of patient needs and the particular unmet needs of vulnerable groups.

A copy of the letter can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

The Chief Dental Officer issued a further letter and an updated standard operating (SOP) procedure to further assist NHS dental service recovery on 28 August. A copy of this letter and SOP can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0690-dental-update-letter-from-sara-hurley-28-aug-2020.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/dental-standard-operating-procedure-transition-to-recovery/

The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working hard to ensure that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing inequalities is minimised.

During the pandemic peak face to face dentistry was limited to urgent care only provided from over 600 urgent dental centres. However, from 8 June all National Health Service dental services including practices, community dental services and bespoke services aimed at particular groups such as homeless people were permitted and encouraged to reopen for urgent and routine care at as fast a pace as is compatible with patient and staff safety.

In the letter announcing the restart, NHS England and NHS Improvement set out clear guidance that in the sequencing and scheduling of patients for treatment as services resume organisations should take into account the urgency of patient needs and the particular unmet needs of vulnerable groups.

A copy of the letter can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Urgent-dental-care-letter-28-May.pdf

The Chief Dental Officer issued a further letter and an updated standard operating (SOP) procedure to further assist NHS dental service recovery on 28 August. A copy of this letter and SOP can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0690-dental-update-letter-from-sara-hurley-28-aug-2020.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/dental-standard-operating-procedure-transition-to-recovery/

With National Health Services (NHS) services under intense pressure as COVID-19 spread, we ensured that we had as many beds available as possible to care for patients with severe respiratory problems during the COVID-19 pandemic peak.

To enable this, every hospital in England suspended non-urgent elective operations to free up additional capacity needed to assist with the COVID-19 response. With the pandemic easing, NHS providers are now expected to recover the maximum elective activity possible between now and winter, making full use of available capacity both in the NHS and in contracted independent hospitals.

Elective care activity is now ramping up, and by October we expect the NHS to deliver:

1. The same number of outpatient attendances, follow ups, scans and endoscopy procedures as October last year; and
2. 90% of the overnight elective procedures and day cases carried out last October.

Face to face dental care has resumed across primary care and, as set out above, is expected to be quickly ramped up in hospital dental departments that provide the equivalent of primary care dental treatment. Likewise, where inpatient care is needed for dental extractions requiring general anaesthesia (GA) services are expected to quickly recover the maximum elective capacity possible ahead of winter to help address any backlog.

On 21 May the Government announced plans for a national roll-out of antibody testing in the National Health Service and care sector. Since the end of May, lab-based antibody tests have been available to all NHS staff that want one, with patients and care residents eligible at their clinician’s request. Since the end of May, over 1.36 million (27 July) COVID-19 antibody tests have been carried out.

The NHS staff include those working on NHS premises but not directly employed by the NHS, those working for the NHS but not on NHS premises, and those in primary, community, and mental health care including community pharmacists. This will include dentists and dental staff.

From Monday 8 June all National Health Service practices were able to start, at their own pace, seeing patients again once they have appropriate social distancing and other safety measures in place. Personal protective equipment for dentists is being made available through their business as usual wholesalers. We have also set up new distribution routes for dentistry to ensure continuity of supply for all urgent dental care centres and have placed them on the list of priority areas to receive supplies from local resilience forums.

The information requested is not held centrally and therefore can only be provided at disproportionate costs.

The Government is in the process of setting up a life assurance scheme for frontline health and social care staff in England who contract COVID-19 during the course of their work.

The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where staff die as a result of COVID-19 and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have recently contracted COVID-19. The scheme is also available to staff whose duties require them to be present in a frontline National Health Service or social care setting where COVID-19 is present. This includes agency staff and staff employed by NHS wholly owned subsidiary companies, providng their work requires them to be present in frontline NHS or social care settings where COVID-19 is present.

In relation to the NHS, the scheme covers frontline staff who are employed by a statutory NHS organisation, or who work for organisations that support the delivery of NHS services or who work on an NHS contract.

Both newly recruited staff, and staff returning to the National Health Service during the COVID-19 outbeak, where they take up employment alongside existing NHS staff, will be employed on standard NHS terms and conditions of service. Staff will also have access to the NHS Pension Scheme subject to them satisfying scheme eligibility criteria. Many of those who have retired are not permitted by the rules of the NHS Pension Scheme to re-join on their return to work.

In relation to other associated benefits, the Government is in the process of setting up a life assurance scheme for frontline health and social care staff in England who contract COVID-19 during the course of their work.

We recognise that students registered with a general practitioner (GP) practice near their university may need to access treatment from another GP when returning home or away from university. Anyone who requires treatment that a GP or healthcare professional regards as an emergency should be provided treatment free of charge, regardless of whether they are registered with a GP. A patient can receive emergency treatment for 14 days. If the patient needs treatment for more than 14 days, they can register with that GP surgery as a temporary patient for up to three months. Additionally, students will be able to access their repeat prescriptions from a GP practice near their home. Patients who have nominated a pharmacy local to their place of study through the Electronic Prescription Service will be able change their nominated pharmacy to their new preferred location by contacting the GP practice who prescribed the repeat prescription or set up a nomination if they do not have one.

There are currently no plans to reimburse tuition fees and students will continue to be required to pay fees for their final term.

The Government is extremely grateful to all students who are choosing to opt in to work in the National Health Service during this extremely difficult time and will be ensuring all students who do so are rewarded fairly for their hard work. Nursing students who opt in will receive a salary and automatic NHS pension entitlement at the appropriate band. They will also still receive their student maintenance loan and Learning Support Fund payments.

We have re-prioritised the services commissioned by the National Health Service and have delayed the introduction of new services and pilot programmes to maximise capacity in community pharmacy to supply medicines and provide health advice. We have also worked with the General Pharmaceutical Council to increase the workforce available.

NHS England and NHS Improvement has updated the COVID-19 standard operating procedure for community pharmacy to allow for all pharmacies to close to the public for two and half hours a day, if necessary. This will give pharmacy staff the time to focus on safely dispensing prescriptions and providing advice over the phone, together with giving them the opportunity to maintain the hygiene of pharmacies and take necessary rest breaks.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Source: NHS England

The information is not available in the format requested.

The information is not available in the format requested.

We expect to publish the refreshed all age autism strategy this spring, informed by the key findings from our National Call for Evidence, which was launched on 14 March 2019 and closed on 16 May 2019.

The UK remains clear that any Rohingya returns to Rakhine state must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and in line with UNHCR principles. At present, conditions in Myanmar preclude this possibility. The situation in Rakhine State is unpredictable following the military coup and we are monitoring the situation closely, including for the increased risk of atrocities. Until conditions improve, we will continue to support the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the surrounding host communities.

The Minister of State for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, most recently raised these issues with Bangladesh State Minister Shahriah Alam on 18th February 2021.

This information is not held centrally and to compile it would incur disproportionate cost.