Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that there is an adequate supply of oxcarbazepine for patients with epilepsy.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department was informed of supply issues with oxcarbazepine 150 milligram and 300 milligram tablets by one supplier, which are out of stock until the end of March and the end of February 2024, respectively. Alternative oxcarbazepine tablets remain available. The Department has worked extensively with alternative suppliers and clinical colleagues and has since issued communications to the National Health Service which includes detailed management advice.
While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, the Department has a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise and help mitigate risks to patients. There is a team within the Department that deals specifically with medicine supply problems, and it works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the devolved administrations, and others operating in the supply chain to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when shortages do arise.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme were processed within (a) 12 to 18, (b) 18 to 24 and (c) more than 24 months in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The following table shows the number and proportion of claims where a decision was reached within: (i) 0-12 months; (ii) 12 – 18 months; (iii) 18 – 24 months; and (iv) more than 24 months after the date of application. This information is taken from the latest period for which data is available (year 1 April 2022- 31 March 2023) which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-injuries-compensation-authority/about/statistics.
Claims processed | Number | Proportion |
Total | 34,723 | - |
0 - 12 Months | 23,456 | 67% |
12 – 18 Months | 3,745 | 11% |
18 – 24 Months | 2,345 | 7% |
More than 24 Months | 5,177 | 15% |
Based on the latest period for which data is available, the average number of days to reach a decision on claims was 391. This information is also for year 1 April 2022-31 March 2023 and can be found at the web address above.
CICA recognises that timely compensation can help victims in their recovery both practically and emotionally. CICA aims to assess claims as quickly as possible and the majority are assessed within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own merits and determined based on the evidence available to support the application.
CICA continually reviews its operating practices with the aim of improving the rate of claims of assessed. Last year, the volume of claims resolved was 12% higher than in the previous year and CICA provided £173m in compensation to victims of violent crime.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average processing time was for claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The following table shows the number and proportion of claims where a decision was reached within: (i) 0-12 months; (ii) 12 – 18 months; (iii) 18 – 24 months; and (iv) more than 24 months after the date of application. This information is taken from the latest period for which data is available (year 1 April 2022- 31 March 2023) which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-injuries-compensation-authority/about/statistics.
Claims processed | Number | Proportion |
Total | 34,723 | - |
0 - 12 Months | 23,456 | 67% |
12 – 18 Months | 3,745 | 11% |
18 – 24 Months | 2,345 | 7% |
More than 24 Months | 5,177 | 15% |
Based on the latest period for which data is available, the average number of days to reach a decision on claims was 391. This information is also for year 1 April 2022-31 March 2023 and can be found at the web address above.
CICA recognises that timely compensation can help victims in their recovery both practically and emotionally. CICA aims to assess claims as quickly as possible and the majority are assessed within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own merits and determined based on the evidence available to support the application.
CICA continually reviews its operating practices with the aim of improving the rate of claims of assessed. Last year, the volume of claims resolved was 12% higher than in the previous year and CICA provided £173m in compensation to victims of violent crime.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of average processing times for claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) exists to compensate for serious physical or psychological injury attributable to being a direct victim of a crime of violence. It provides an important avenue of redress for such victims and is part of the wider package of general and specialist support available to victims of crime.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice, administers the Scheme and reports on its performance in an Annual Report laid in Parliament. This report includes data on the time it takes for decisions under the scheme to be made. While the CICA publishes this data on the length of time it takes to conclude cases, each case is necessarily considered on its own merits and complex cases can take longer to be determined.
We engage regularly with the CICA, including to consider its service levels and how it responds to resource demands. We also work closely with the CICA when considering policy development, and when we consult on potential reforms to the Scheme we consider the implications of any policy changes on the CICA and others in an impact assessment. In addition, the Ministry of Justice reviews the CICA as part of the government’s Public Bodies Review Programme, the most recent of which concluded in February 2023 and concluded that the CICA was in good health.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Online Advertising Taskforce action plan, published on 30 November 2023, what her Department's expected timeline to publish its further consultation on the online advertising programme policy package.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.
The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.
To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made implementing the objectives set out in its online advertising taskforce action plan, published on 30 November 2023.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.
The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.
To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Online Advertising Taskforce action plan, published on 30 November 2023, what her Department's expected timeline is to undertake research on online users’ experiences of advertising harms.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.
The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.
To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the impact of changes in the level of interest rates on homeowners in Wales.
Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales
The Government is working to support homeowners by driving down inflation which leads to lower interest rates. In doing this, the Government has already met its goal to halve inflation this year.
We are also supporting borrowers struggling with their mortgage payments through the Mortgage Charter, helping customers manage their mortgage payments.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Afghanistan who were resettled to the UK under the (a) ARAP and (b) ACRS have been evicted from bridging accommodation in each of the last 12 months; of those people, how many and what proportion were (a) moved to temporary accommodation and (b) without accommodation upon eviction; and how many and what proportion of those people are (i) in temporary accommodation and (ii) without accommodation as of 13 October 2023.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Our recent release of transparency data, published on 19 September 2023, following the end of hotels being used as bridging accommodation can be accessed at Afghan bridging hotel exit operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest statistics (published on 24th August 2023) from the immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) provides a quarterly breakdown of the number of individuals resettled under both the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) in temporary accommodation up until the end of June 2023. For detailed data, see table Asy D02.
From the end of April 2023, resettled Afghan families staying in hotels and serviced apartments began to receive Notices to Quit their bridging accommodation. Residents received at least three months' notice to make arrangements to leave their hotel or serviced accommodation and were given clear guidance on the support they could access to help them find their own accommodation.
Despite all efforts, some families have been unable to find their own accommodation or unwilling to take up offers of housing and have needed to present as homeless. The statutory homelessness system provides a safety net, and no family will be left without a roof over their head.
We are unable to provide a running commentary on bridging accommodation occupation. When the notices to quit were announced by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 28 March, there were over 8,000 Afghans living in bridging accommodation.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Afghanistan who were resettled to the UK under the (a) ARAP and (b) ACRS remain in a bridging hotel after their notice to quit date has passed because they have not found alternative accommodation as of 13 October 2023.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Our recent release of transparency data, published on 19 September 2023, following the end of hotels being used as bridging accommodation can be accessed at Afghan bridging hotel exit operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The latest statistics (published on 24th August 2023) from the immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) provides a quarterly breakdown of the number of individuals resettled under both the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) in temporary accommodation up until the end of June 2023. For detailed data, see table Asy D02.
From the end of April 2023, resettled Afghan families staying in hotels and serviced apartments began to receive Notices to Quit their bridging accommodation. Residents received at least three months' notice to make arrangements to leave their hotel or serviced accommodation and were given clear guidance on the support they could access to help them find their own accommodation.
Despite all efforts, some families have been unable to find their own accommodation or unwilling to take up offers of housing and have needed to present as homeless. The statutory homelessness system provides a safety net, and no family will be left without a roof over their head.
We are unable to provide a running commentary on bridging accommodation occupation. When the notices to quit were announced by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 28 March, there were over 8,000 Afghans living in bridging accommodation.