Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many private recruitment agencies his Department uses to fill senior vacancies; what the potential cost to the public purse is of these services; and what steps his Department is taking to monitor performance.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
To date in financial year 2024-25, there have been three permanent Senior Civil Servant (SCS) Payband 1 or 2 recruitment campaigns, and three SCS Payband 3 or 4 campaigns that have engaged a private sector Executive Search firm. The cost of these services is commercial-in-confidence so cannot be provided at this time.
Top Level Budgets in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) hold individual commercial contracts with Executive Search firms and are responsible for monitoring performance, with the MOD also overseeing this centrally.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning entitled Leasehold and Commonhold Reform of 21 November 2024, HCWS244, when the consultation on (a) service charges and (b) legal costs under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will commence.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation on introducing permitted insurance fees for landlords, freeholders and property managing agents was launched on 2 December and can be found on gov.uk here.
As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will look to consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s provisions on service charges and on legal costs next year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.
We remain firmly committed to our manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.
The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of urgent provision of legal aid for leaseholders facing unfair charges.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation on introducing permitted insurance fees for landlords, freeholders and property managing agents was launched on 2 December and can be found on gov.uk here.
As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will look to consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s provisions on service charges and on legal costs next year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.
We remain firmly committed to our manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.
The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning entitled Leasehold and Commonhold Reform of 21 November 2024, HCWS244, when the consultation on the detail of the ban on buildings insurance remuneration under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will commence.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation on introducing permitted insurance fees for landlords, freeholders and property managing agents was launched on 2 December and can be found on gov.uk here.
As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will look to consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s provisions on service charges and on legal costs next year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.
We remain firmly committed to our manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.
The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which mental health apps are (a) recommended and (b) linked to by the NHS on its website; and if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the promotion of these apps by the NHS.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Health Service website does not currently display or recommend any mental health apps, as the commissioning of these digital tools is done locally. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Early Value Assessment conditionally recommends products for use in the NHS. So far five mental health topics have been assessed. These assessments have conditionally recommended a wide range of products to be used, while further evidence is generated.
The products that have been conditionally recommended within the five mental health topics can be found on the NICE website.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools provide swimming lessons for Key stage (a) 1 and (b) 2 pupils.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department does not collect data on primary schools’ provision of swimming and water safety lessons. Sport England collects some data on swimming and water safety in from their annual Children and Young People’s Survey. This includes whether and how many swimming and water safety lessons are provided by primary schools who participate in the survey. This information can be found here: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fsportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fs3fs-public%2F2023-12%2FActive%2520Lives%2520CYP%252022-23%2520Tables%252041-43%2520School%2520data.xlsx%3FVersionId%3DxCNGsG7bgs5I3oTWIn4Z9fmFsmfQvEdO&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of higher education degree apprenticeships on (a) local educational opportunities, (b) the development of a skilled workforce and (c) career outcomes.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government knows that earnings for those undertaking higher apprenticeships compare well to the earnings of first-degree graduates five years on. The latest data shows the median first-degree graduate earnings five years after graduation were £29,900 compared to £33,800 for level 4 apprentices and £31,380 for level 5+ apprentices.
In addition, latest data shows that 95% of those who achieved a level 6 apprenticeship in 2020/21 moved into sustained employment or sustained employment and learning in the following academic year.
The department will work with Skills England to ensure that degree apprenticeships continue to offer good value for money and drive economic growth.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support providers and (b) encourage the uptake of higher education degree apprenticeships.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government knows that earnings for those undertaking higher apprenticeships compare well to the earnings of first-degree graduates five years on. The latest data shows the median first-degree graduate earnings five years after graduation were £29,900 compared to £33,800 for level 4 apprentices and £31,380 for level 5+ apprentices.
In addition, latest data shows that 95% of those who achieved a level 6 apprenticeship in 2020/21 moved into sustained employment or sustained employment and learning in the following academic year.
The department will work with Skills England to ensure that degree apprenticeships continue to offer good value for money and drive economic growth.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the number of specialist practitioners (a) researching and (b) treating Tourette’s syndrome.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England’s e-Learning for Healthcare has produced modular online learning resources in relation to Tourette’s and other tic disorders within its neurodevelopmental disorder and healthy schools programme domains, which are freely accessible to all, including service providers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. This guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and social care, including Tourette’s syndrome. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The NIHR has funded a number of research projects on Tourette’s syndrome. For example, the NIHR has funded the Online Remote Behavioural Treatment for Tics study to evaluate online behavioural interventions for children with tics and Tourette’s syndrome. Researchers at the NIHR’s Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre are also supporting the TIC Genetics programme, which aims to identify the genetic factors that cause Tourette Syndrome using a family-based approach.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase funding into (a) the causes of and (b) treatments for Tourette’s syndrome.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England’s e-Learning for Healthcare has produced modular online learning resources in relation to Tourette’s and other tic disorders within its neurodevelopmental disorder and healthy schools programme domains, which are freely accessible to all, including service providers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on suspected neurological conditions, which includes recommendations on treatment for tics and involuntary movements in adults and children. This guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127/
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and social care, including Tourette’s syndrome. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. In all areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The NIHR has funded a number of research projects on Tourette’s syndrome. For example, the NIHR has funded the Online Remote Behavioural Treatment for Tics study to evaluate online behavioural interventions for children with tics and Tourette’s syndrome. Researchers at the NIHR’s Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre are also supporting the TIC Genetics programme, which aims to identify the genetic factors that cause Tourette Syndrome using a family-based approach.