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Written Question
Department of Health and Social Care: Staff
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what staff networks there are in her Department.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following staff-led support networks currently operate in the Department:

- EnABLE, a disability and long-term conditions network;

- Autism Network;

- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Network;

- Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Network;

- Race Equality Matters Network;

- Prism, an LGBT+ network;

- Women’s Network;

- Parents’ Network;

- Age Diversity Network;

- Carers’ Network;

- Care Leavers’ Network;

- Social Mobility Network;

- Men’s Health Network;

- Christian Network;

- Jewish Network;

- Muslim Network;

- Hinduism and Sikhism Group;

- Humanists Network;

- Diversity and Inclusion Analytical Network;

- Domestic Abuse Support Group;

- Working Through Cancer Network; and

- Mental Health First Aid.

The following networks support and promote professional development and operational delivery:

- International Network;

- Flexible Working Network;

- Green Network;

- Social Workers Network;

- Health Science and Engineering Network;

- IT User Engagement Group;

- Clinicians’ Network;

- Nutritionist Network;

- Perspectives Network;

- History Network;

- Culture and Engagement Champions Network;

- Active Travel Network;

- International Network;

- First Aid Network;

- Administrative Officer and Executive Officer Network;

- Personal Assistant Network;

- Senior Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer Network;

- G6 and G7 Network; and

- Direct Appointment Scheme Network.


Written Question
Cabinet Office: Staff
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what staff networks there are in his Department.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

There are 15 active networks listed below:

  • Flexible working and job share,

  • Carers,

  • Parenting,

  • CORE (Race),

  • ABLE (disability),

  • Social Mobility,

  • Menopause,

  • Faith & Belief,

  • Christian Network,

  • Civil Service Jewish Network,

  • LGBT+,

  • EU Nationals

  • EngAge (intergenerational/age)

  • Gender Equality Group.

  • Neurodiversity Network


Written Question
Ministry of Justice: Written Questions
Wednesday 27th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to respond to Questions 3012, 3013, 3020, 3022, 3028, 3030, 3032, 3033, 3034, 3035, 3036, 3037, 3038, 3040, 3041 and 3043, which were tabled on 21 November 2023.

Answered by Gareth Bacon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and the Department remains committed to providing the highest level of service.

I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to these PQs. The information requested in these PQs is detailed and complex, and we have been working hard to identify what information we can provide to accurately answer the questions raised. We hope to be able to provide an answer shortly


Written Question
Retail Trade: Empty Property
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 to initiate high street rental auctions; and what steps he has taken to support local authorities to use these powers.

Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The framework of the High Street Rental Auction policy is set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, which is now law, however many aspects need to be defined by secondary legislation before local authorities can begin to use the power. The Government is working to introduce the associated statutory instruments.

We recognise the resource constraints faced by local authorities and have considered how the burden on local authorities can be reduced. We are providing up to £2 million of financial support to make sure that areas which need this the most are not priced out by prohibitive refurbishment costs to bring the properties up to standard. We will also publish guidance for local authorities and relevant stakeholders to support them in implementing High Street Rental Auctions.


Written Question
Department for Education: Personnel Management
Tuesday 26th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the job titles are of people working in her Department's Human Resources and Transformation Directorate.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The job titles for everyone working in the Human Resources & Transformation Directorate are as follows:

  • Business Partnering and Organisation Development
  • HR
  • HR Services & Specialist Advice
  • Payroll, Reward, Policies and ER
  • Transformation
  • Workforce, Skills and Strategy

Written Question
Visas: Graduates
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the data to be provided to the Migration Advisory Committee as part of the review of the graduate route.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)

The Home Office publishes a range of migration statistics, including statistics relating to the Graduate route, in its quarterly statistics releases.

The Migration Advisory Committee will publish their findings of the Graduate route review in May.


Written Question
Refugees: Loans
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people (a) received and (b) repaid a refugee integration loans since 2007.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)

Refugee Integration Loans were introduced in 2007 following a public consultation and are intended to help people with the costs of integrating into UK society. They are funded by the Home Office, who make the initial decisions on applications. They are then administered and recouped by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Refugee integration loans are interest-free loans with favourable repayment terms for individuals who are over 18 and meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • a refugee;
  • you have humanitarian protection;
  • a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection.

Individuals are currently able to borrow between £100 and £500. Between £100 to £780 can be borrowed if submitting a joint application with a partner.

The specific data requested cannot be provided as it comes from live operational databases that have not been quality assured.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 19 Mar 2024
Israel and Gaza

Speech Link

View all Neil O'Brien (Con - Harborough) contributions to the debate on: Israel and Gaza

Division Vote (Commons)
19 Mar 2024 - Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Neil O'Brien (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 293 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 218 Noes - 305
Division Vote (Commons)
19 Mar 2024 - Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Neil O'Brien (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 293 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 217 Noes - 305