Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help support disabled employees in his Department.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for zero and low emission buses.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Since February 2020, an estimated 4,200 Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) have been funded across the UK, including 1,300 ZEBs supported by £280m through the ZEBRA 1 programme. We announced a further £129m in September 2023 under the ZEBRA 2 programme.
My department has an ongoing monitoring and evaluation project for ZEBRA. An interim evaluation report was published in June 2023.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of his Department's employees work on a fully remote basis.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The DWP has 407 members of staff that are recorded as being permanent Homeworkers which equates to 0.46%. This is data as of 30th November 2023.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the system readiness to introduce whole genome sequencing for newborns as part of the NHS.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Generation Study is a research study that will evaluate the utility and feasibility of screening newborns for a larger number of childhood-onset rare genetic conditions in the National Health Service, using whole genome sequencing. Genomics England are working closely with the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to ensure the research generates the right evidence to inform any potential screening recommendations by the UK NSC and commissioning decisions by the NHS. If the evidence from the study indicates that the use of whole genome sequencing in newborn screening is effective, meets the criteria set by the UK NSC and a positive recommendation is made by the UK NSC, health ministers in the United Kingdom will then decide if this recommendation should be accepted. In the meantime, the UK NSC continues to assess proposals for additional conditions for newborn screening as they are received.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made on the NHS Generation Study.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Genomics England has established a set of four principles to determine which rare genetic conditions should be looked for as part of their research study. In October 2023, Genomics England published a list of over 200 conditions which will be screened for as part of the study. Recruitment to the study is due to begin in early 2024. Genomics England have been working with a group of National Health Service sites who will be among the first to recruit participants.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the capacity of the UK National Screening Committee to review new rare conditions for inclusion in a national newborn heel prick screening programme.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) remit was expanded last year to consider targeted, and risk stratified screening proposals, in addition to covering population screening programmes. A recruitment campaign is ongoing to expand capacity to be able to manage the increased volume of work expected. In terms of reviewing the evidence for newborn blood spot conditions the UK NSC has an annual call mechanism where proposals to screen for new topics can be submitted. The annual call for 2024 will open in July.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of carbon monoxide alarms in all health settings.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to make an assessment. Guidance on ventilation and air filtration systems in National Health Service facilities is provided in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 03-01: Specialised Ventilation for Healthcare Premises. As with all guidance provided on the NHS estate, it is reviewed on an ongoing basis and will be updated to reflect changes in approach to relevant areas. The memorandum is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HTM0301-PartA-accessible-F6.pdf
There is a range of national resources available to promote carbon monoxide safety. This includes guidance on GOV.UK, the NHS website and from the Health and Safety Executive. The UK Health Safety Agency also has a programme of work, much of it delivered in partnership with other organisations, to increase awareness of carbon monoxide exposure risks and help to prevent them.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of carbon monoxide alarms in all health settings.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of franchising more local bus services.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Government will support any Local Transport Authority wishing to franchise their bus services.
The Bus Services Act 2017 provides automatic access to franchising powers to Mayoral Combined Authorities in England.
Other authorities can request those powers from the Secretary of State but need to demonstrate that they have the capability and resources to deliver franchising, and that franchising is the best option to deliver improvements for passengers.
The Department is currently revising the Bus Services Act 2017 Franchising Scheme Guidance, published in November 2017, to provide updated and detailed advice on the franchising process.
Regarding the current action on Go North East, I hope both sides can come to a mutually acceptable agreement that delivers for passengers.
Asked by: Liz Twist (Labour - Blaydon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to findings in the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group's report entitled Prepare, Practice, Protect: Improving Carbon Monoxide Safety in Health and Care Services, published July 2023, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for national resources on carbon monoxide funding.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
No recent assessment has been made.
There is a range of national resources available to promote carbon monoxide safety. This includes guidance on GOV.UK, the National Health Service website and from the Health and Safety Executive. The UK Health Security Agency also has a programme of work, much of it delivered in partnership with other organisations, to increase awareness of carbon monoxide exposure risks and help to prevent them.