Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require new houses to be built to Passivhaus standards.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Passivhaus represents an example of innovative and efficient design that is leading the way in delivering highly efficient, low carbon buildings and stimulating the skills and supply chains that are needed to bring about a net zero future.
We recognise the fact that some homebuilders are already building to standards above the current Building Regulations or installing low carbon heating systems. However, it is important we strike a balance by setting standards that enable all parts of industry to be ready to build homes at scale that are fit for a zero-carbon future.
Future standards next year will set our new homes on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and towards more clean, secure energy. These homes will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon over time as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the insulation of housing.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future.
As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. In 2025-2026 alone, we will be upgrading up to 300,000 homes, using around £1 billion of Warm Homes Plan money, social housing provider co-funding, and further support through the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme.
We will set out further details on the Warm Homes Plan in due course.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's departure from the EU single market on the (a) administrative and (b) other costs faced by UK small businesses trading with EU customers; and what steps he plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to support the competitiveness of those businesses.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade continuously monitors the impact of leaving the EU on costs to businesses through our business surveys, ONS reports, and other intelligence sources, as well as through regular direct engagement with exporters - Minister Alexander and I recently hosted a roundtable with SMEs specifically about exporting to the EU. Indeed, a report published by the LSE just this week highlights the disproportionate detrimental impact that Brexit has had on small businesses, with goods exports to the EU dropping by an estimated 30% for the smallest firms.
This Government is addressing those challenges by resetting our relationship with the EU, as discussed between the Prime Minister and European Commission President Ursula Ven Der Leyen in October. We are exploring ways to prevent unnecessary border checks and strengthening our export support service - we launched the 'Unlock Europe' programme earlier this month as part of the Export Academy, which offers practical guidance that will help UK businesses enhance their exporting potential to the EU.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help develop deep geothermal energy resources.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We know that to achieve net zero, we must look at how we can accelerate the potential of all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The Government understands that geothermal can play a role in our decarbonisation ambitions. The Green Heat Network Fund is able to support applications for heat network investments utilising deep geothermal heat, and geothermal technologies that generate electricity are eligible for the Contracts for Difference scheme. We have also commissioned research into unlocking geothermal heat in the UK and will use this to understand how the government can support the sector to achieve its potential.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on SEND provision.
Answered by Bridget Phillipson - Minister for Women and Equalities
We are working across government and the sector to ensure children and young people with SEND receive the right support to succeed, in mainstream schools where possible.
High needs funding will increase by almost £1bn in 2025-26, compared to 2024-25. We have announced £740 million of capital funding to create more specialist places in both mainstream and special schools.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that diagnostic results are transmitted promptly between NHS hospitals and GPs; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using electronic communication for those results.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Ensuring that diagnostic test results are received quickly is a priority for the Government, including the transmission of results between National Health Service hospitals and general practices (GPs). Electronic communication is an important mechanism to enable this.
NHS England has formed 22 imaging and 27 pathology networks across the country, which are working to improve the quality, safety, and productivity of care, including by speeding up test reporting through the use of digital investment. Investment to improve network digitisation will enable diagnostic test results to get back to patients and GPs faster.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) leaving the EU single market and (b) ending free movement with the EU on economic growth; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of rejoining the EU single market.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. But we’ve been clear that there will be no return to the single market.
Hearing from businesses about how they have been impacted by Brexit and how the relationship with the EU can be improved is key. In addition to formal channels such as the UK TCA Domestic Advisory Group and Civil Society Forum, my ministerial colleagues, officials and I have been engaging directly with businesses including through round table events with industry leaders.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will take steps to provide financial support for pension-age carers providing full-time care but no longer eligible for Carer's Allowance.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Although there is no upper age limit to claiming Carer’s Allowance, it cannot normally be paid with the State Pension. It has been a long-held feature of the UK’s benefit system, under successive Governments, that where someone is entitled to two benefits for the same contingency, then whilst there may be entitlement to both benefits, only one will be paid to avoid duplication for the same need. Although entitlement to State Pension and Carer’s Allowance arise in different circumstances they are nevertheless designed for the same contingency – as an income replacement. Carer’s Allowance replaces income where the carer is unable to undertake full time employment due to their caring responsibilities, while State Pension replaces income in retirement. For this reason, social security rules operate to prevent them being paid together, to avoid duplicate provision for the same need.
However, if a carer’s State Pension is less than Carer's Allowance, State Pension is paid and topped up with Carer's Allowance to the basic weekly rate of Carer's Allowance which is currently £81.90.
Where Carer’s Allowance cannot be paid, the person will keep underlying entitlement to the benefit. This gives access to the additional amount for carers in Pension Credit of £45.60 a week and potentially other means-tested support. Around 125,000 people are receiving the Carer Premium with their Pension Credit. It is paid to recognise the additional contribution and responsibilities associated with caring. And even if a pensioner’s income is above the limit for Pension Credit, they may still be able to receive Housing Benefit.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in response times in mental health services in (a) Wiltshire and (b) Gloucestershire.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is unacceptable that too many people in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long.
That is why we will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers nationally across both adult and children and young people’s mental health services to improve response times, reduce delays, and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on busy mental health services.
In addition, people of all ages who are in crisis or who are concerned about a family or loved one can now call 111, select the mental health option, and speak to a trained mental health professional. National Health Service staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternative services, like crisis cafés or safe havens, which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to accident and emergency or a hospital admission.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the restructuring of Out-of-Hours GP services in (a) Wiltshire, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) other rural areas does not restrict patient access to urgent care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
General practices (GPs) are independent businesses who are contracted by National Health Service commissioners to perform medical services. The GP contract ensures that a consistent provision of healthcare is provided, including out of hours services which should be available to all patients, including in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and other rural areas.
Practices may provide out of hours services themselves, for which they will be paid, or they can opt out of providing these with their commissioner’s approval. If a practice chooses to opt out of delivering these services, they must be made available from an alternative provider for that practice’s registered patients. This is to provide practices with flexibility, as they are best placed to understand their own workforce and workloads. Any changes in services are determined by local commissioners.