Sharon Hodgson

The Period Poverty Taskforce was an initiative under a previous government, and last met in 2020. I thank them for their hard work.

Rather than re-launch a standalone initiative, this Government's approach is to resolve the issue at the source by tackling the reasons women and girls are pushed into period poverty to start with. We are protecting women’s living standards, alongside the public services they rely on, so that no one has to go without life's essentials.

The UK Government works closely and discusses a range of matters with colleagues in the Welsh Government. Consideration of the effectiveness of devolved legislation is a matter for the relevant devolved legislature and government. The Cabinet Office therefore has not carried out a specific assessment of the effectiveness of the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015.

The transfer of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme investment reserve was a manifesto commitment which the Government has fulfilled. The BCSSS scheme has some differences to the MPS, but we are working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals.

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content including extreme pornography, much of which disproportionately affects women and girls. The Act requires services in scope to understand risks from illegal content online and take mitigating action.

Separate to provisions in the Online Safety Act, the Independent Pornography Review, led by Independent Lead Reviewer Baroness Gabby Bertin will explore the effectiveness of regulation, legislation and the law enforcement response to pornography. The government expects the Review to present its final report by the end of the year.

The Government is committed to keeping children safe online. Our priority is the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act so that children benefit from its wide-reaching protections.

The Act requires that all in scope services that allow pornography use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing it, including services that host user-generated content, and services which publish pornography. Ofcom has robust enforcement powers available against companies who fail to fulfil their duties.

On the 22nd of January, I was pleased to announce that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme would continue from March 2025 to March 2026 with a budget of £23m. Further details can be found in this Written Statement.

Both myself and my officials have met with a range of stakeholders since July 2024 and discussed as part of those meetings the future and impact of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. The Department also received and responded to a large number of correspondence on the scheme including from representatives from faith communities sharing their views.

The early adopter scheme will test and learn how schools are able to use programme funding, support and guidance to ensure inclusive and accessible provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, in a range of schools, including special schools and alternative provision (AP).

In recognition of the need for higher staff to pupil ratios in these settings, special schools and AP will receive a higher funding rate per pupil in addition to the fixed termly payments and set up cost funding.

The Music and Dance Scheme grant funding of both private schools and Centres for Advanced Training relates to financing places via means-tested bursaries only and is not intended as direct funding to meet wider employment costs.

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​The government is committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget statement in October 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-funded provision.

​The OfS has made clear that it expects to restart work on registrations, degree awarding powers and university titles in August 2025, although the changes will remain under review until then. The department understands the OfS will keep providers updated throughout this period about its plans, including confirming application arrangements from August onwards. The government supports the reasons for the temporary pause so that the OfS can refocus its efforts on provider financial sustainability. As the independent regulator, it is for the OfS to process registrations in the manner it deems most appropriate.

​The government will continue to engage closely with the OfS and providers to support timely transition arrangements for the launch of the LLE. The government, together with the OfS, will provide further information on the regulation of providers under the LLE in spring 2025.​

​The government is committed to delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) as set out in the Autumn Budget statement in October 2024. From the LLE’s launch in January 2027, the Office for Students (OfS) will regulate all providers offering LLE-funded provision.

​The OfS has made clear that it expects to restart work on registrations, degree awarding powers and university titles in August 2025, although the changes will remain under review until then. The department understands the OfS will keep providers updated throughout this period about its plans, including confirming application arrangements from August onwards. The government supports the reasons for the temporary pause so that the OfS can refocus its efforts on provider financial sustainability. As the independent regulator, it is for the OfS to process registrations in the manner it deems most appropriate.

​The government will continue to engage closely with the OfS and providers to support timely transition arrangements for the launch of the LLE. The government, together with the OfS, will provide further information on the regulation of providers under the LLE in spring 2025.​

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. Some children with medical conditions may be considered to be disabled under the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010. Where this is the case, governing bodies must comply with their duties under that Act.

Governing bodies should ensure that all schools develop a policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions that is reviewed regularly and is readily accessible to parents and school staff. They must ensure that the arrangements they put in place are sufficient to meet their statutory responsibilities and should ensure that policies, plans, procedures and systems are properly and effectively implemented.

The statutory guidance ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’ recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. They can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom. The school, healthcare professionals and parents should agree, based on evidence, when a healthcare plan would be appropriate. The guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce6a72e40f0b620a103bd53/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of mandatory food waste reporting.

This Government is committed to setting a clear roadmap to a circular economy – a future where our resources are used as efficiently and productively as possible for as long as possible, and waste is reduced. We are reviewing policies to address the challenges associated with tackling food waste in the supply chain and we are working with businesses to drive down food waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in greatest need. This includes supporting surplus food redistribution to charities and programmes to help citizens reduce their food waste.

In our manifesto, the Government committed to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy.

The Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy and a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts across government, industry, academia, and civil society has been established to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis. Preventing food waste will be a key part of this work and we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy to evaluate what interventions may be needed as we develop the strategy.

The Government is committed to setting a clear roadmap to a circular economy – a future where our resources are used as efficiently and productively as possible for as long as possible, and waste is reduced. Preventing food waste will be a key part of this work, and the Department is reviewing a range of issues associated with food waste in the supply chain, including mandatory food waste reporting requirements. These will be announced in due course.

Food Security is national security which is relevant to all five Government Missions and central to our primary Mission to grow the economy. Boosting Britain’s food security is one of the core priorities of this Government.

We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British Farmers. The only way to do this effectively is to listen to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside, and nature. We will consider relevant evidence and analysis, including that contained in Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy, as we develop our plans to support our farmers and food and drink businesses, boost food security, invest in rural communities, deliver growth, manage waste more effectively across the supply chain, improve resilience to climate change and tackle biodiversity loss.

The Government is committed to setting a clear roadmap to a circular economy – a future where our resources are used as efficiently and productively as possible for as long as possible, and waste is reduced. Preventing food waste will be a key part of this work, and the Department is reviewing a range of issues associated with food waste in the supply chain, including mandatory food waste reporting requirements. These will be announced in due course.

Ensuring the safety of passengers on the rail network is a priority for the department. We work closely with BTP, the rail industry, and Home Office police forces for cross government strategies to tackle violence against women and girls, and we have ambitions in this space to reduce offences on the transport network.

There are currently no plans to change existing roles and responsibilities regarding safety and tackling crime and anti-social behavior. The British Transport Police will continue to police the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales.

Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a priority for the Government. We have set ourselves the ambitious target to halve VAWG offences in the next decade using every lever available to us.

My Department and the rail industry, including the British Transport Police are committed to ensuring the safety of women and girls on trains. As we deliver rail reform, we will ensure that plans are in place to build on the good work being done by the rail industry to improve the safety of the rail network for all who use it.

The department and ministers are in regular contact with the British Transport Police (BTP), who are a member of the National Police Chiefs Council, regarding their commitment to tackling VAWG offences on the rail network. The Force are a key partner in supporting the Government’s mission to take back our streets which includes a commitment to halve VAWG offences in the next decade.

The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. The force has provided the following information on arrests and prosecutions against female victims for Violence, Sex and Public Order (Serious) offences in the previous 5 calendar years.

Arrests

Prosecutions

*To note 1) passenger numbers were reduced in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in reduced numbers of crimes and arrests; 2) Arrest and any subsequent prosecution may not occur in the same calendar year.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. It is paid to contribute to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives. PIP can be paid to those who are in full or part-time work as well as those out of work.

From 09 September 2024 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) took ownership of the core training and guidance material (CTGM) for the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS); this is provided by DWP to the HAAS assessment suppliers (AS). AS must use the material to inform the development of their final training product(s) and use all content from CTGM that relates to specific condition(s) and assessment policy.

DWP has provided AS with CTGM on mesh injury/implants. This contains clinical and functional information relevant to the condition and is quality assured to ensure its accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective.

Under the Enhanced health in care homes framework, every care home must be aligned to a primary care network (PCN) and must have established protocols between the PCN, the care home, and system partners, such as local general practices and pharmacies, for information sharing, shared care planning, use of shared care records, and clear clinical governance.

Pharmacies are expected to maintain a reasonable stock holding to meet their legal obligations to dispense all prescriptions, including to patients in care homes, with reasonable promptness, recognising that it is not feasible for a pharmacy to maintain stock of every medicine. The Pharmacy Quality Scheme rewards community pharmacy contractors that deliver quality criteria, one of which is the Palliative and End of Life Care scheme. Participating pharmacy contractors must declare if they intend to routinely stock 16 critical end of life medicines, including controlled drugs such as morphine and midazolam and/or parenteral haloperidol, and must have an action plan in place to support local access. This enables palliative medicines to be quickly sourced when prescribed.

Most care homes with nursing can hold stocks of controlled drugs and will not require a licence to access medicines containing controlled drugs for patients who need them. This is because care homes run by public authorities or charities are exempt from the need for a Home Office controlled drug licence. Care homes without nursing cannot store controlled drugs unless they are prescribed for individual residents.

The Government seeks to have a coordinated approach to prevent wastage as much as possible, to improve inefficiencies and reduce costs for the taxpayer. PCNs are required to ensure that Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for high-risk cohorts, such as care home patients, are implemented. SMRs are an evidence based comprehensive review of a person’s medication, their views, concerns, and safety. The use of SMRs can reduce harmful polypharmacy and medicine wastage.

Under the Enhanced health in care homes framework, every care home must be aligned to a primary care network (PCN) and must have established protocols between the PCN, the care home, and system partners, such as local general practices and pharmacies, for information sharing, shared care planning, use of shared care records, and clear clinical governance.

Pharmacies are expected to maintain a reasonable stock holding to meet their legal obligations to dispense all prescriptions, including to patients in care homes, with reasonable promptness, recognising that it is not feasible for a pharmacy to maintain stock of every medicine. The Pharmacy Quality Scheme rewards community pharmacy contractors that deliver quality criteria, one of which is the Palliative and End of Life Care scheme. Participating pharmacy contractors must declare if they intend to routinely stock 16 critical end of life medicines, including controlled drugs such as morphine and midazolam and/or parenteral haloperidol, and must have an action plan in place to support local access. This enables palliative medicines to be quickly sourced when prescribed.

Most care homes with nursing can hold stocks of controlled drugs and will not require a licence to access medicines containing controlled drugs for patients who need them. This is because care homes run by public authorities or charities are exempt from the need for a Home Office controlled drug licence. Care homes without nursing cannot store controlled drugs unless they are prescribed for individual residents.

The Government seeks to have a coordinated approach to prevent wastage as much as possible, to improve inefficiencies and reduce costs for the taxpayer. PCNs are required to ensure that Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for high-risk cohorts, such as care home patients, are implemented. SMRs are an evidence based comprehensive review of a person’s medication, their views, concerns, and safety. The use of SMRs can reduce harmful polypharmacy and medicine wastage.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, including support for innovative care models that bring services closer to patients, and the piloting of gynaecology pathways within community diagnostic centres.

As a first step towards improving the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and reducing misdiagnosis, the National Health Service is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. The NHS is also improving pathways to get people diagnosed once they are referred, including non-specific symptom pathways for patients who do not fit clearly into a single urgent cancer referral pathway. Combined, these interventions will help ensure early diagnosis and faster treatment, including for women with ovarian cancer, with further actions to be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

The most recent data available from the National Disease Registration Service shows that in England in 2022, 3,151 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at stages 3 & 4, which is classed as advanced.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, including support for innovative care models that bring services closer to patients, and the piloting of gynaecology pathways within community diagnostic centres.

As a first step towards improving the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and reducing misdiagnosis, the National Health Service is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. The NHS is also improving pathways to get people diagnosed once they are referred, including non-specific symptom pathways for patients who do not fit clearly into a single urgent cancer referral pathway. Combined, these interventions will help ensure early diagnosis and faster treatment, including for women with ovarian cancer, with further actions to be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

The most recent data available from the National Disease Registration Service shows that in England in 2022, 3,151 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at stages 3 & 4, which is classed as advanced.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of gynaecological conditions, including ovarian cancer. NHS England has taken urgent action to address gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Recovery Plan, including support for innovative care models that bring services closer to patients, and the piloting of gynaecology pathways within community diagnostic centres.

As a first step towards improving the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and reducing misdiagnosis, the National Health Service is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. The NHS is also improving pathways to get people diagnosed once they are referred, including non-specific symptom pathways for patients who do not fit clearly into a single urgent cancer referral pathway. Combined, these interventions will help ensure early diagnosis and faster treatment, including for women with ovarian cancer, with further actions to be outlined in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.

The most recent data available from the National Disease Registration Service shows that in England in 2022, 3,151 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at stages 3 & 4, which is classed as advanced.