Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to issue serious shortage protocols for (a) lisdexamfetamine and (b) methylphenidate.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of ADHD. While serious shortage protocols (SSPs) can be a useful tool to help manage and mitigate medicine and medical device shortages, they cannot be used for all patients and all medicines. Further, they are only issued if there is sufficient supply of suitable, alternative medicines, otherwise issuing an SSP risks causing a ‘knock on’ shortage of the alternative. For these reasons, there are currently no plans to issue SSPs for ADHD medicines, including lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate.
We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the UK, in the short and long term.
We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 August 2023 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, case reference 30420793.
Answered by Lee Rowley
I apologise to the Hon Member for the delay in responding to his correspondence. A response issued on 13 November 2023.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 August 2023 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on Union Park, Greenwich SE10.
Answered by Lee Rowley
I apologise to the Hon Member for the delay in responding to his correspondence. A response issued on 13 November 2023.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) investigate allegations of and (b) prevent potential exploitation of the Skilled Worker route by third parties that results in financial loss for skilled worker visa applicants.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
UKVI Work Services have numerous functions which focus and respond to allegations of Worker Exploitation.
A bespoke Seasonal Agricultural Compliance team exists for the Farming Sector and for other issues, we have an Embassy Team function who engage with foreign missions on the matter.
Underpinning all of this is our Investigations team who translate compliance and safeguarding issues into tangible disruption activity. Where exploitation is identified, referrals are also made to other relevant functions to take forward such as the Police and National Referral Mechanism.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many allegations of exploitation of the Skilled Worker route by third parties have been investigated by her Department in the last 12 months; and how many and what proportion of those investigations have resulted in (a) the recovery of funds and (b) other forms of compensation for skilled worker visa applicants who were found to have been exploited.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government is committed to tackling all forms of modern slavery and through the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and has given law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery, including maximum life sentences for perpetrators and enhanced protection for victims.
However, the Home Office does not routinely publish data on this matter.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme to allow people without an Energy Performance Certificate for their home to be eligible for the scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Households without an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) can be eligible under the scheme. The Government reformed the scheme in England and Wales in 2022 to focus the support for low-income households living in properties with the highest heating costs, based on characteristics of the property. This data primarily comes from the Valuation Office Agency, which has complete data for almost all domestic properties.
If a household believes the information held on their property is inaccurate, they can ask that alternative information, in the form of an EPC, be used instead. In the very small minority of cases where there is incomplete data for a property, an EPC can be used to confirm eligibility, based on whether the property meets the high-cost-to-heat criteria.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Nuclear and Networks of 19 July 2023 on Planning and Solar Farms, Offical Report, column 344WH, for what reason solar farm clustering was not addressed in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reforms action plan.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Hon. Friend the Minister for Nuclear and Networks replied to the Hon. Member on 5th September.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, when the motion to approve the Houses in Multiple Occupation (Asylum Seeker Accommodation) (England) Regulations 2023 will be brought to the floor of the House for a decision.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Houses in Multiple Occupation (Asylum Seeker Accommodation) (England) Regulations 2023 were laid by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30th March 2023 and debated in Delegated Legislation Committee on the 10th May 2023. All future business will be set out on the Order Paper in the usual way.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the letter of 9 May 2023 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on his constituent's case, reference MC2022/102475.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
A reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member was sent by the relevant Minister on 16 June 2023.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to commission a (a) review and (b) redraft of the housing health and safety rating system guidance, published on 23 August 2006.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Reviewing and updating the HHSRS is integral to the government's commitment to ensuring that everyone has a safe and decent standard of housing free from dangerously hazardous conditions.
The review aims to streamline the process that local councils take in inspecting properties to assess hazards and, make it easier for landlords and tenants to understand the standards required, supporting increased compliance. This included reviewing the statutory Operating and Enforcement Guidance.
We will make any announcements in the usual way.