Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to review the (a) distribution and (b) quantum of local government funding.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement.
We understand that improving how local government is funded is crucial to enabling councils to deliver for local residents and ensuring we can deliver our missions. We will provide councils with more stability and certainty through multi-year funding settlements and by ending wasteful competitive bidding. This will ensure councils can plan their finances for the future properly, delivering better value for money for taxpayers.
We want to hear from councils about the financial challenges they are facing and we are committed to improving the local government finance landscape in this Parliament.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to consult stakeholders on her Department's proposed policy to implement VAT on private school fees.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child has access to high-quality education, which is why we have made the tough decision to end tax breaks for private schools. This will raise revenue for essential public services, including investing in the state education system.
Further details on this policy will be set out in due course. The Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in Government policy as a matter of course, and this will include engagement with stakeholders with an interest in VAT being applied to private school fees.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will increase the use of Armed Forces personnel in supporting movements of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office leads on coordinating the HMG’s humanitarian response to deliver lifesaving assistance to the civilian population in Gaza.
The Ministry of Defence has provided military support when requested to facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance. Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay is in the Eastern Mediterranean and tasked with providing support to the Cypriot Maritime Aid Corridor.
We continue to monitor the situation and consider what further assistance Defence could contribute to the HMG and international efforts.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that the Army continue to have a presence in the city of York.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army remains committed to retaining an Army Regular, Reserve and Cadets presence in and around York in Yeomanry and Worsley Barracks, Queen Elizabeth Barracks and Towthorpe Lines.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the Third Report of the Health and Social Care Committee of Session 2023-24 on Pharmacy, HC 140, published on 29 May 2024.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is committed to responding to the report published by the Health and Social Care Committee ahead of his next appearance before the committee. Together we are considering the report’s recommendations, and the Department and NHS England are currently in consultation with Community Pharmacy England on many of the matters raised in the report.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a per capita funding arrangement for NHS dentistry.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
One of our missions is to rescue and rebuild National Health Service dentistry. To do this, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
There are no perfect payment systems, and careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system, so that we deliver a system better for patients and professionals.
Between 2011 and 2022, the Department tested a prototype system which included a mix of capitation and activity payments. The results of that trial are available at the following link:
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to tackle the backlog in autism and ADHD assessments.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments, in line with the relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to deliver improved outcomes in all-age autism assessment pathways. This guidance will help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people and adults referred to an autism assessment service.
The Department are supporting a cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has launched into challenges in ADHD service provision. The taskforce is expected to report on its findings and recommendations later this year.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to introduce breakfast clubs in every school; and what her planned timescale is for the introduction of breakfast clubs in every school.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to making quick progress to deliver on its commitment to offer breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and set-up to achieve by providing a supportive start to the day.
The government has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with schools to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the proposed closure of (a) Imphal Barracks in York and (b) other barracks.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are no plans to review the closure of barracks identified as becoming surplus to military requirements under the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio, which are due to release enough land for over 32,000 new homes as well as supporting schools, offices, shops and parks.
This includes Imphal Barracks which has been identified in the emerging City of York Local Plan to deliver over 750 new homes when it is due for disposal from 2030.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to extend the Housing Support Fund.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
£500 million is being provided to enable the current Household Support Fund, including funding for Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means Local Authorities in England are receiving £421 million to support those in need locally.
The current Household Support Fund will be in place until 30 September 2024.
As a new government, we are reviewing all policies, including the Household Support Fund.