Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress her Department has made on preparing a response to the principal findings of the report by the Care Quality Commission on the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, published on 24 January 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report, and the recommendations are being worked on as a matter of urgency. An improvement programme is underway, and progress against this is being reported monthly to the CQC. CQC inspectors are attending the trust’s clinical boards, committees, patient safety groups, and board meetings. Trust staff also attend a monthly quality improvement board with other stakeholders, of which the CQC is part. I would consider a meeting with members representing the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to discuss the findings of the report.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if (a) she and (b) a Minister in her Department will meet hon. Members representing Newcastle to discuss the findings of the report by the Care Quality Commission on the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, published on 24 January 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report, and the recommendations are being worked on as a matter of urgency. An improvement programme is underway, and progress against this is being reported monthly to the CQC. CQC inspectors are attending the trust’s clinical boards, committees, patient safety groups, and board meetings. Trust staff also attend a monthly quality improvement board with other stakeholders, of which the CQC is part. I would consider a meeting with members representing the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to discuss the findings of the report.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason veteran cards are not acceptable as a form of photo ID for voting in elections.
Answered by Simon Hoare
Further to the answer I gave to Question UIN 902484 on 25 April 2024, when the voter identification policy was being developed and the legislation being written, the Veteran Card – as distinct from the Armed Forces ID card - was a new development. It was not widely distributed, and the application process had not been formalised. For these reasons it was not included at that time.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing minimum unit pricing for alcohol; and what other steps he is taking to help reduce alcohol harm.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Government continues to watch the impact of MUP in Scotland with interest.
In England and Wales there is an ambitious programme of work in train to tackle alcohol-related harms including significant investment in treatment and recovery services, equipping the police and local authorities with the right powers to take effective actions against alcohol related-crime and harms in the night-time economy.
The Government has delivered on its commitment to review the outdated and complex alcohol duty system and introduced the biggest reform of alcohol duties for 140 years. From 1 August 2023, all alcohol has been taxed by strength, putting public health at the heart of alcohol duty.
This is helping to target problem drinking by taxing products associated with alcohol-related harm at a higher rate of duty. This new system is incentivising the production and consumption of lower strength products by introducing a reduced rate of duty for products of a lower alcohol by volume (ABV).
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a national register of student accommodation.
Answered by Robert Halfon
Student accommodation is a busy part of the housing market. As universities and landlords are private, autonomous bodies, the government has no role in the provision of student accommodation, nor a remit to intervene in how it is allocated.
The department has no plans to create a register of student accommodation. Applicants who require student accommodation should take its availability into account when making decisions about where to study. The department expects universities and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, clear, and promote the interests of students.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of hours that people on student visas can work.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The Student route is primarily for study, not for work, but many students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time outside of term time.
We currently have no plans to increase these working hour limits. They ensure the route is not being used as a backdoor to the UK’s labour market and protects the UK’s reputation for educational excellence.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will take steps to passport people infected with haemophilia that are eligible for compensation via the Infected Blood Inquiry, and their affected partners, onto (a) PIP and (b) ESA.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The Infected Blood Inquiry is ongoing, and it is only reasonable that the inquiry concludes and provides its final recommendations before the Government responds. The Government is undertaking the necessary work to enable a swift response to the full report, when it is published.
People affected by the infected blood issue can already use independent benefit calculators that can be accessed via the Government website at www.gov.uk, by searching for 'benefit calculators'. These calculators allow a person to enter details of their own financial position and receive instant advice as to whether they may be entitled to any benefits. Capital disregard rules in means-tested benefits mean that recipients of infected blood compensation payments can receive these without it affecting their means-tested benefit entitlement.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise from needs related to a long-term health condition or disability. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is an income-replacement benefit for individuals who have a health condition or disability that limits their capability to work.
Eligibility to these benefits is not based on the diagnosis of a health condition or disability. Instead, both the Work Capability Assessment, which determines entitlement to ESA and the additional health-related amount of Universal Credit, and the PIP assessment, assess the impact of a person’s health condition or disability on doing everyday tasks to determine eligibility for the benefit.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's expected timescale is for receiving the final report of Sir Brian Langstaff on the contaminated blood inquiry.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Honourable Member to the written ministerial statement of 23 October 2023.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-10-23/debates/23102320000007/InfectedBloodInquiry
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding public spaces protection orders to all public places as defined by her Department.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Government is committed to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour (ASB). We know the serious impact that persistent ASB can have on both individuals and the wider community.
We provided the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances. They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.
Asked by: Nicholas Brown (Independent - Newcastle upon Tyne East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of what the income would be for a claimant who is eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit in the event that the Local Housing Allowance had increased in line with local rents for each year since 2020 in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
A claimant’s income will vary according to their individual circumstances. Therefore, an assessment of a claimant’s income which could include wages and other benefits cannot be estimated without incurring disproportionate costs and would not be representative of all Local Housing Allowance (LHA) claimants.
The 30th percentile levels of local market weekly rents for the Tyneside Broad Rental Market Area for each year from 2020 can be found here. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publish 30th percentile rental data alongside weekly LHA rates. This is not available as a monthly equivalent for Universal Credit.