Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how she plans to roll out additional funding for social homes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor announced a one year top up of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme.
Bidding is already open to local authorities and other social landlords through Homes England and the Greater London Authority.
In addition, at the multi-year Spending Review, the government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to prohibit landlords from requiring more than one month's rent in advance.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Renters’ Rights Bill already makes such provision. I refer the hon. Member to the Report Stage proceedings on 14 January 2025.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help (a) support women in the workplace and (b) help tackle (i) pregnancy and (ii) maternity discrimination.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Women’s equality is at the core of this Government's missions. As part of the Employment Rights Bill, we are introducing robust measures to support and safeguard working women. This includes strengthening protections against workplace sexual harassment and requiring employers to develop gender pay gap and menopause action plans.
The Employment Rights Bill will also make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on Maternity Leave, and mothers who return to work for a six-month period after they return – except in specific circumstances.
The Bill will also make Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave ‘day one’ rights and ensure flexible working is the default, except where it is not reasonably feasible. These changes will provide further support for both men and women balancing work and care.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the homelessness strategy.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.
The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.
We expect to publish the strategy following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department to tackle shortages of NHS dentists in Devon.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of the challenges people face in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the building of social housing in Devon.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to support the manufacture of dental appliances in Devon.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.
The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support NHS dental laboratories in Devon.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.
The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to support dental laboratories to achieve next day manufacture of dental appliances in Devon.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.
The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support dental laboratories affected by rising energy costs in Devon.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.
The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.