Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to produce clinical guidance for the treatment of rhabdomyolysis.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has no such plans.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service to drive best practice. Topics for the development of NICE clinical guidelines are commissioned by NHS England and selected through a topic selection process that takes into account the burden of disease, evidence base and variation in practice.
The British Medical Journal has published best practice guidance on rhabdomyolysis which is available at the following link:
https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/167
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to help low-income households afford essential appliances; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the Household Support Fund to provide funding for these appliances.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work & Pensions will spend £245 billion through the welfare system in 2022/23. This includes £111 billion on people of working age and around £134 billion on pensioners.
Budgeting Advances are available to help finance intermittent or unforeseen expenses (for example, essential items like furniture or household equipment) or expenses related to maternity, obtaining or retaining employment. These advances ensure that low-income families that have an emergency financial need and do not have access to adequate savings or affordable loans can access funding to meet the emergency. Budgeting Advances are available to Universal Credit claimants who have been in receipt of Universal Credit continuously for at least six months or in receipt of a combination of existing benefits and Universal Credit continuously for at least six months.
For claimants currently in receipt of Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit, Social Fund Budgeting Loans are available, which mirror the rules for Universal Credit Budgeting Advances.
The Household Support Fund is a discretionary scheme run by Upper Tier Local Authorities in England to provide support to those most in need. The Household Support Fund should primarily be used to provide support vulnerable households with energy, food, and water costs, but may also provide support with essentials linked to these items and wider essentials. The guidance specifically states that this can include white goods such as fridges, freezers, ovens and slow cookers. Local Authorities have the ties and local knowledge to best determine how the Household Support Fund should be provided to their local communities. They have the discretion to design their own local schemes, within the parameters of the grant determination and guidance for the fund.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the financial support offered to people for buying furniture is equitable across regions.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work & Pensions will spend £245 billion through the welfare system in 2022/23. This includes £111 billion on people of working age and around £134 billion on pensioners.
Budgeting Advances are available to help finance intermittent or unforeseen expenses (for example, essential items like furniture or household equipment) or expenses related to maternity, obtaining or retaining employment. These advances ensure that low-income families that have an emergency financial need and do not have access to adequate savings or affordable loans can access funding to meet the emergency. Budgeting Advances are available to Universal Credit claimants who have been in receipt of Universal Credit continuously for at least six months or in receipt of a combination of existing benefits and Universal Credit continuously for at least six months.
For claimants currently in receipt of Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit, Social Fund Budgeting Loans are available, which mirror the rules for Universal Credit Budgeting Advances.
The Household Support Fund is a discretionary scheme run by Upper Tier Local Authorities in England to provide support to those most in need. The Household Support Fund should primarily be used to provide support vulnerable households with energy, food, and water costs, but may also provide support with essentials linked to these items and wider essentials. The guidance specifically states that this can include white goods such as fridges, freezers, ovens and slow cookers. Local Authorities have the ties and local knowledge to best determine how the Household Support Fund should be provided to their local communities. They have the discretion to design their own local schemes, within the parameters of the grant determination and guidance for the fund.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a list of projects funded by the Youth Endowment Fund in (a) Blackpool and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Sarah Dines
The Youth Endowment Fund have funded the following the projects in Blackpool and Lancashire:
Respect (Essex model delivered in Lancashire Association of Boys and Girls Clubs).
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential socio-economic impact of strikes in the aviation ground services sector and possible disruption to critical just-in-time cargo and essential connectivity.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government recognises the value and critical role of the aviation ground handling sector. However, it is also important to recognise that the sector operates predominately in the private sector. It is the responsibility of industry to ensure that appropriate contingency plans are in place to manage periods of industrial action effectively, to meet the contractual obligations they may have and ensure positive outcomes for passengers.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the value of aviation ground services to the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman
As part of the Government’s 22-point plan to deal with summer disruption, it has been carrying out a review of the ground handling sector to assess whether it is providing quality and efficiency.
The Government have been building a strong understanding of the value of the ground handling industry in the UK. It will be publishing the findings of the review shortly on GOV.uk, including information on the value of aviation ground services to the UK.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the (a) membership, (b) terms of reference and (c) minutes from the first meeting of the Aviation Council.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has published the membership and the Terms of Reference of the Aviation Council online. [Aviation Council - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)]. The Minutes of meetings will also be published, shortly after each meeting, on the same forum.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has met with operators of aviation ground services to discuss strikes disruption in that sector.
Answered by Jesse Norman
UK aviation operates in the private sector and industrial relations are managed between the employer and the union. During strike action, the Department expects ground handling services to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place which minimise any potential disruption, work with the airlines and airports and put the consumer first.
Officials engage regularly with ground handling companies, along with all of the aviation sector in order to understand preparedness for any disruption caused by industrial action.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has met with representatives of the aviation ground services sector to discuss the potential disruption caused by possible strikes in that sector.
Answered by Jesse Norman
UK aviation operates in the private sector and industrial relations are managed between the employer and the union. During strike action, the Department expects ground handling services to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place which minimise any potential disruption, work with the airlines and airports and put the consumer first.
Officials engage regularly with ground handling companies, along with all of the aviation sector in order to understand preparedness for any disruption caused by industrial action.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the (a) membership, (b) terms of reference and (c) minutes of meetings of the Financial Inclusion Policy Committee.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Since March 2018, the Government has convened the Financial Inclusion Policy Forum, bringing together senior stakeholders to promote collaboration and provide the leadership needed to tackle financial exclusion.
The forum’s membership includes leaders from industry, the third sector, and consumer groups, as well as representation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and government. The forum seeks to ensure that individuals, regardless of their background or income, have access to useful and affordable financial products and services.
A summary of each forum meeting is published on the government website and can be accessed using the following link - Summary of Financial Inclusion Policy Forum meetings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). I convened the most recent forum on 14 February at the Money Advice Trust (MAT) which included discussion of affordable credit and accessibility in financial services. A summary of the meeting will be published in due course.