Nesil Caliskan

The Business Growth Service will provide a national service and brand with locally led delivery and local business support services at its core. Local authorities are therefore key partners in the design and implementation of the Business Growth Service as well as the development of the broader Small Business Strategy aimed at helping SMEs to thrive.

DBT is currently consulting on these areas with the Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including the Greater London Authority, and other local government representatives via roundtables and other engagement routes, and this will continue as the Department prepares to the launch the Business Growth Service later this year.

Information on pupil absence, including breakdowns by characteristic, is published at local authority level in the Pupil absence in schools in England statistics publication. This can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2022-23. The number of overall absence sessions, and absence rates, in Barking and Dagenham for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e975658f-5526-4b87-c3cc-08dce8260458.

Absence data is also published at school level. This can be combined with information from ‘Get Information About Schools’ (GIAS) to identify parliamentary constituency. This can be accessed here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/. GIAS currently reflects the changes made following the general election parliamentary constituency changes.

The government recognises school absence as a key barrier to learning and tackling this must be a top priority. Thanks to the sector's efforts, more students are attending school this year compared to last. However, 1.6 million children remain persistently absent, missing 10% or more of lessons.

To address this, backed by £15 million investment, the government will expand the reach of attendance mentoring to 10,000 more children and to cover an additional ten areas with some of the worst attendance rates across the country, which will help to get more children into school where they can be supported to achieve and thrive.

The department will additionally roll out funded breakfast clubs to all primary schools so that all children get a strong start to the day and are ready to learn. The department will also introduce new annual Ofsted reviews on safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling. Mental health support is being expanded, with specialists in every school.

The ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ statutory guidance promotes a 'support first' approach, encouraging schools, trusts, and local authorities to work with families to address attendance barriers. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance.

Information on school capacity in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and mainstream schools as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity statistics publication, which can be accessed at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity.

There are 1,506 places in SEND units and 4,476 places in resourced provision in mainstream schools in London. This data is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/91adc73e-edec-4645-a91a-08dce6ed00e6.

There are 21,118 school places in SEND schools in London. This data is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/02e993b4-22c1-445e-c3ba-08dce8260458.

There are 470 school places in SEND schools in Barking & Dagenham. This data is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/9c99ec5d-eea7-4b5b-c3c5-08dce8260458.

There are 100 school places in SEND units and 282 places in resourced provision in mainstream schools in Barking & Dagenham. This data is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/5d08e800-fbdb-4d82-c3c6-08dce8260458.

School capacity data is also published at school level. This can be combined with information from Get Information About Schools (GIAS) to identify parliamentary constituency. GIAS currently reflects the changes made following the general election parliamentary constituency changes and can be accessed at the following link: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND or in alternative provision (AP) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs, restoring parents’ trust that their child will get the special educational provision they need.

As part of this, local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including children and young people with SEND. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEND under review, including its sufficiency, by working with parents, young people and providers.

Local authorities have received high needs provision capital allocations to support them to deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND, or who require AP. For 2023/24 and 2024/25, Barking and Dagenham Council received £15.3 million and all inner and outer London boroughs received £467 million.

The department will work with the sector as valued partners to ensure that children and young people can access the special educational provision they need.

The Government recognises the depth of public concern about the question of regulation for micromobility.

As you will appreciate, the new Government is still in its early stages, and I am carefully considering next steps and potential policy solutions for micromobility.

The table below shows the average waiting time for driving test centres in the wider London area, located within the M25, in the financial years (a) 2019/20 and (b) 2015/16.

1. No 2015/16 data exists for Bromley DTC as it opened as a new DTC in December 2019.
2. Data for Bromley DTC covers the period December 2019 – March 2020.
3. No 2015/16 data exists for Tottenham DTC as it opened as a new DTC in November 2016.
4. No 2015/16 data exists for Yeading DTC. DVSA did not regularly make car practical driving tests available from this location until the 2020/21 financial year to help it recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The table below shows the number of tests available and the current average waiting time at Barking driving test centre (DTC), and other London DTCs near the Barking constituency, as of 7 October 2024.

The average waiting time in the wider London area (DTCs inside the M25) is 22.9 weeks.

a). Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides extensive support to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to help them live independent lives, contributing up to £9,583 a year, tax free, to help cover extra costs.

b) DWP has set standards for the quality of assessments and closely monitors all aspects of the process including the performance of the assessment suppliers. Our audit process considers the initial review, evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the advice within the assessment report completed by a health professional (HP).

c) PIP award rates, and their durations, are set on an individual basis, based on the claimant’s needs and the likelihood of those needs changing. Award durations can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review at the ten-year point. Award reviews remain an important feature of PIP to ensure customers receive the correct level of benefit.

This government is committed to reforming the system of health and disability benefits. We are working to develop proposals for reform and will set them out in a Green Paper ahead of the spring statement later this year.

The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, most issues, including with carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and oxcarbazepine presentations, have been resolved.

We are currently aware of an ongoing supply issue with all strengths of topiramate tablets from one manufacturer. This supply issue is expected to resolve by the end of May 2025. We are also aware of a shortage of phenobarbital 15 milligram tablets from one manufacturer, with the resupply date to be confirmed. In both cases, alternative suppliers are in stock with sufficient supply to support patients, and these issues have been communicated to the National Health Service.

The Department is aware of supply constraints with one supplier of amantadine 100 milligram capsules used in the management of Parkinson’s Disease, however stocks remain available from alternative suppliers to cover demand. The Department has also been notified of a discontinuation of apomorphine (APO-go PFS) 50 milligram/10millilitre pre-filled syringes from April 2025. Alternative formulations of apomorphine remain available for patients, and management guidance has been issued to the NHS.

There is no set timeframe for which general practitioners (GPs) must authorise repeat prescriptions. However, GPs should ensure that their patients know when to request the next batch of their repeat prescriptions, to allow sufficient time for it to be authorised and dispensed.

Under the GP Contract, practices in England are able to transfer any clinically appropriate patients onto Electronic Repeat Dispensing if they are already receiving, or have agreed to receive electronic prescriptions. This means, for patients who regularly receive the same medicine, GPs can issue up to 12 months’ worth of regular prescriptions without the patient needing to visit their GP. Instead, the prescription can be sent straight to their pharmacist for dispensing.

GPs are also required to offer patients the ability to order repeat prescriptions for drugs, medicines, and appliances online.

Uptake of breast screening declined during the pandemic but is now increasing although London uptake levels remains below England levels. The national acceptable level for coverage in the NHS Breast Screening Programme is 70%.

The following table shows the 2022/23 coverage by local authority in the North East London Health and Care Partnership, with an average coverage of 50.8%:

Source: Breast screening annual statistics, NHS England

The Department does not hold this data centrally. NHS England is investing £45 million to increase neonatal cot capacity. This investment has started to improve cot capacity in London, and will continue to do so by March 2025.

No specific recent assessment has been made. The Government will continue to work with the National Health Service as it delivers its three-year maternity and neonatal plan to grow the maternity workforce, develop a culture of safety, and ensure women receive safe, compassionate care. NHS England is boosting the midwifery workforce through undergraduate training, apprenticeships, postgraduate conversion, and return to midwifery programmes. Theme two of the Three Year Delivery Plan covers growing, retaining, and supporting our workforce. This includes establishing a retention midwife in every unit to co-ordinate recruitment and retainment activities for their own units.

Heathrow expansion could result in billions invested into the economy to create over 100,000 jobs, and support many more jobs by boosting UK economic growth.

Our pledge to use more sustainable aviation fuel, part of our Plan for Change, will also support thousands of jobs, bring down our transport emissions, and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

The government is committed to supporting the creative industries, and film and TV companies benefit from a number of generous and equitable tax reliefs, ranging from a rate of 34% for the standard Audio Visual Expenditure Credit to 53% for the Independent Film Tax Credit.

The credits are available to all companies that meet the eligibility criteria, which are outlined in the BFI’s Creative Sector Expenditure Credits and Tax Relief guidance. The criteria ensure that the credits meet their objectives of incentivising investment in culturally British film and TV productions and support the domestic industry. As with all taxes, the government keeps the film and TV reliefs under review.

The government also provides significant funding for the film and TV sector and has included the creative industries in its Industrial Strategy. A £60 million package of support for the creative industries announced in January included including £7 million for the Global Screen Fund and funding to 6 Mayoral Authorities to help develop creative clusters. The British Film Institute (BFI) administers the Global Screen Fund on behalf of government and follows the BFI Diversity Standards for all BFI funding.

The Housing Delivery Test, published annually, measures how well authorities have delivered against their housing requirements over a three-year period.

In the latest publication, published on 12 December 2024, 110 of 302 authorities delivered below 95% of their requirements.

The consequences that result from this under-delivery are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework which can be found on gov.uk here.

The Ministry of Justice only holds data on possession proceedings issued at court. We do not hold data on all eviction proceedings, such as those where a tenant leaves the property voluntarily following receipt of a notice.

Statistics on the number of possession claims are published here: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Data is published covering the period to June 2024.

The Ministry of Justice does not publish statistics by constituency area. They are published by Local Authority areas. For the period that we have published data, the Local Authority that covers the Barking constituency is the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.