Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to local authorities recommending a minimum proportion of accessible parking spaces (a) in local authority car parks and (b) on high streets.
Answered by Richard Holden
The Department has already published guidance for local authorities on provision of accessible parking spaces in off-street car parks in Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure. This is available free to download at
Provision of on-street disabled parking bays is a matter for local authorities. There are no recommended minimum proportions, it is for them to determine what provision is appropriate based on local circumstances.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling applicants for Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments who are unable to complete application forms by hand to complete them online.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
We recognise it is essential to consider the impacts which disabilities and health conditions can have on a person’s ability to apply for support.
For the vast majority of people who claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), their claim begins with a phone call to start their application. To complete the claim, applicants are either signposted to an online form to provide further information, or sent forms in the post if they prefer. Both options are available to everyone who applies and are not dependent on having any specific accessibility needs.
The Health Transformation Programme is going further and transforming the entire PIP service. A key element of this transformation will be the option for people to apply for PIP entirely online should they wish to.
On 27 July we launched a service for limited numbers of people to make their claim for PIP entirely online, 24/7, without needing to call the department. The service is currently available on a limited basis while it is being tested. It is currently open to those living in selected postcodes in England, claiming PIP for the first time, who do not have a third party acting on their behalf and are not claiming under the Special Rules for End of Life criteria.
Over 3000 claimants have so far applied fully online; we will gradually and carefully expand the scope of the service in the months ahead. We intend to make online PIP applications an option for everyone who needs to apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024. Offering telephony, postal and now online applications will increase the choice available for those who need to claim PIP and allow them to apply for support in whichever way best suits their needs and circumstances.
As DLA has been replaced for adults by PIP and Attendance Allowance, new applications are no longer accepted. For child DLA, a digital form can be completed online provided it can then be printed and posted in. A home visit can also be arranged to facilitate a new claim in exceptional circumstances. We are reviewing the processes of applying for child DLA as part of the department’s service modernisation strategy.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a breakdown by nation of origin of the number of physiotherapists granted visas in the last 12 months.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Data for workers and temporary worker visas by occupation can be found at published occupation data
The Home Office does not routinely publish data that breaks this down by nationality or nation of origin.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero,if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of energy costs on the viability of the businesses of self employed physiotherapists.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government has made no such assessment.
However, the Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK's energy transition are fair and affordable for all consumers. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will continue to provide energy support to businesses until March 2024.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
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 press release entitled Supply of accessible homes to receive vital boost, published on 29 July 2022, what recent progress his Department has made on raising the minimum accessibility standard for new homes; and what his planned timetable is for the implementation of this standard.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN HL8422 on 26 June 2023.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the speed of the roll-out of Project Gigabit.
Answered by John Whittingdale - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Over 76% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband. We are on track to meet our target of 85% coverage across the UK by 2025 and more than 99% by 2030.
I am proud to see the progress we have made on Project Gigabit, with twelve contracts awarded so far to suppliers to extend gigabit-capable coverage in hard-to-reach areas.
On top of this, over 117,000 vouchers have been issued so far under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and its previous iterations. 89,000 of these have been used to provide a gigabit-capable connection.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many inspections of (a) adult social care providers, (b) primary medical services, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services were carried out by the Care Quality Commission in the (i) London and (ii) East of England network in each of the last 24 months.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
A table showing how many inspections of (a) adult social care providers, (b) primary medical services, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services were carried out by the Care Quality Commission in (i) London (ii) East of England network (iii) the South East and (iv) the South West, in each of the last 24 months, is attached.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many inspections of (a) adult social care providers, (b) primary medical services, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services were carried out by the Care Quality Commission in the (i) south east and (ii) south west in each of the last 24 months.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
A table showing how many inspections of (a) adult social care providers, (b) primary medical services, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services were carried out by the Care Quality Commission in (i) London (ii) East of England network (iii) the South East and (iv) the South West, in each of the last 24 months, is attached.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of food price inflation on levels of demand for emergency parcels from food banks.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Tackling inflation is this Government’s number one priority. We continue to support households through our £94 billion package, worth £3,300 on average per household this year and last. We are also providing £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England targeted at supporting critical frontline services.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon and Consett)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the results of the Special School Eye Care Service trial; and what steps he is taking to support the long-term commissioning of that service.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I refer the hon. Member to the written statement HCWS861 that I gave to the House on 19 June 2023 regarding Sight Testing in Special Schools. The Department will continue to support NHS England with implementation, including considering whether any regulatory changes may be necessary. The written statement is available at the following link:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-06-19/hcws861