Simon Opher
Labour - Stroud
11,388 (20.6%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 4th July 2024
Division Voting information
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(4 debate interactions)
(3 debate interactions)
(3 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(8 debate contributions)
(6 debate contributions)
(5 debate contributions)
(4 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,235 words contributed)
(491 words contributed)
Stroud Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 21,221 signatures (0.94%)
of 121,189 signatures (0.25%)
of 58,848 signatures (0.21%)
of 137,666 signatures (0.20%)
of 121,189 signatures (0.25%)
of 137,666 signatures (0.20%)
of 141,380 signatures (0.19%)
of 21,221 signatures (0.94%)
Latest EDMs signed by Simon Opher
UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran
Tabled by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)That this House welcomes the landmark Atrocity Crimes report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, published by the OHCHR in July 2024, which sheds light on grave human rights violations, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners; notes that the report states that …
(Most recent: 17 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 53
Labour: 28
Conservative: 5
Scottish National Party: 5
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Independent: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Work of St John Ambulance
Tabled by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)That this House recognises the lifesaving work of St John Ambulance volunteers across the country, training 250,000 members of the public in first aid every year, providing event first aid cover at 11,000 events and delivering 4,000 hours of emergency support to the NHS per month as the nation’s ambulance …
(Most recent: 3 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 22
Liberal Democrat: 11
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 3
Conservative: 3
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Simon Opher, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Simon Opher has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Simon Opher has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Simon Opher has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Simon Opher has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)When an employer enters insolvency, the Government’s Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) can pay statutory amounts owed to employees from the National Insurance Fund. These include redundancy pay, holiday pay, arrears of pay, compensatory notice pay and pension contributions.
In 2023-24 RPS paid out more than £490 million in redundancy and related payments, with claims processed in an average of 10 days.
It is important to ensure that employees are not left in vulnerable situations where their employer has become insolvent. It is also important to ensure that the framework provides good value for taxpayers.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to increasing employment tribunal time limits from 3-6 months, which is in line with the Law Commission recommendation from 2020. Measures to extend the time limit for bringing claims to Employment Tribunals will be added via amendment during the passage of the Employment Rights Bill.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to bringing a new era of partnership that sees representatives of employers and unions working together in co-operation and through negotiation. The Government is always willing to speak to the representatives of employers and trade unions about how to deliver this partnership.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to reducing emissions from high carbon products and will continue to bring forward proposals to do so.
The Committees of Advertising Practice and Advertising Standards Authority regulate the content and targeting of advertising in the UK, both on television and online, and the advertising codes include rules on environmental claims. The ASA system operates independently of the Government.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Online Safety Act will require all in-scope services, including X, to tackle mis- and disinformation where it is illegal or harmful to children.
The Act will also hold Category 1 services to account over the enforcement of their terms of service, including those on mis- and disinformation.
Our immediate focus is getting the Online Safety Act implemented quickly and effectively. Social media companies have a clear responsibility to keep people safe on their platforms, and this is a government priority.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Grassroots sports programmes provide important opportunities to bring communities together and to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of participants. Active lifestyles are also associated with 375,000 fewer people being diagnosed with depression.
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to and can maximise the benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.
The Government has committed to continue funding for grassroots facilities through the £123 million UK-wide Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25. The evaluation of this programme, which has already published a first interim report and will publish a further two reports in April 2025 and 2026, will consider the impacts on mental wellbeing and physical health. These future reports will seek to demonstrate a causal link between the programme and positive outcomes for mental wellbeing.
The latest report from Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey (November 2022-23) notes that there is a positive association between activity levels and mental wellbeing, and provides data split by gender. Being physically active can improve mood, decrease the chance of depression and anxiety and lead to a better and more balanced lifestyle.
The Active Lives Adult Survey (November 2022-23) survey shows 14.9 million men who are active have higher mental wellbeing scores than those who are inactive. Active Lives Children and Young People Survey (Academic year 2022-23) indicates that boys are more likely than girls to have three or more positive attitudes towards sport and physical activity.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for nominating sites across the United Kingdom to UNESCO for World Heritage status. The Department last updated the Tentative List of prospective World Heritage nominations in 2022/23 and it is not due to be updated until at least 2033.
Following the conclusion of this exercise, guidance was published on GOV.UK, which sets out the process for sites seeking World Heritage status and emphasises that the UK is looking to reduce the amount of World Heritage nominations that we submit to UNESCO.
Recognising the important contribution that Dr Edward Jenner’s house makes to our country’s heritage, Historic England, as the body in England responsible for designating heritage assets, is best placed in the first instance, to advise on and explore the range of potentially suitable heritage designations.
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the department provides the Eligibility Checking System, which allows local authorities to quickly verify eligibility for FSM.
The department is aware of a range of measures aimed at maximising take up of FSM, including through approaches being trialled by local authorities. We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data-protections requirements.
In addition to FSM, the department supports families through the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides free childcare places, enriching activities and healthy meals to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning throughout the school holidays.
We are also rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, so children start the day ready to learn. This is part of the department‘s commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all children have the freedom to achieve and thrive in education.
The department is also working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to develop a child poverty strategy to reduce child poverty by tackling its root causes and giving every child the best start in life. The strategy will be published in the spring.
As with all government programmes, the department will keep its approach to FSM under continued review.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the department provides the Eligibility Checking System, which allows local authorities to quickly verify eligibility for FSM.
The department is aware of a range of measures aimed at maximising take up of FSM, including through approaches being trialled by local authorities. We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data-protections requirements.
In addition to FSM, the department supports families through the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides free childcare places, enriching activities and healthy meals to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning throughout the school holidays.
We are also rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, so children start the day ready to learn. This is part of the department‘s commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all children have the freedom to achieve and thrive in education.
The department is also working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to develop a child poverty strategy to reduce child poverty by tackling its root causes and giving every child the best start in life. The strategy will be published in the spring.
As with all government programmes, the department will keep its approach to FSM under continued review.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is aware of a backlog with the number of outstanding Cash Equivalent Transfer Value figures that are used by members in divorce proceedings. The backlog has arisen as a result of the Transitional Protection (McCloud) remedy and the need for complex guidance to be provided before affected cases could be processed by the scheme administrator.
The scheme administrator has undertaken IT development to help expedite these cases in order to increase capacity. Discussions are ongoing regarding any additional efficiencies and resource that can be used, as the department appreciates the impact that a delay has on members in these circumstances.
Minister of State (Education)
The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and giving every child the best start in life. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is set-up for the day and ready to learn by providing a supportive start to the day. The government is committed to making quick progress to deliver on its commitment to offer breakfast clubs in every primary school.
The department has taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school in England will offer a 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 closely with the sector to make sure the right support, including funding, guidance and resources are in place.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Rules around schools entering into leases fall within the remit of the department. Schools may enter into leases for solar panels on school rooftops where the arrangements do not constitute borrowing, but as these often require granting an energy company rights over the roof space and school land, schools must involve the department. The process for gaining consent has recently been simplified, and the department receives around 20 to 30 applications per year.
Where a solar panel arrangement does constitute borrowing, this would require specific approval by exception. The department is aware of an increasing amount of interest in this area from schools and suppliers and is engaging with the sector to look at how it can further support schools in the move to solar.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
6 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Simon Opher's Defra questions)The Government is not, at this time, planning to make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory codes of practice for businesses to reduce litter.
We want to see businesses recognising what they can do to discourage the littering of their products and packaging, and the potential benefits to their brand of being associated with tackling, rather than causing, litter. Local councils do, however, have powers to intervene where needed. These include Community Protection Notices which can be used to require the owner of premises to take certain actions to tackle litter created by their activities. Planning guidance also clarifies the powers available to councils to ensure new hot food takeaways do not increase the impact of litter on local communities.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers are considering the further implementation of the rights of way reform programme.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is working with the Environment Agency to assess the regulatory framework for sludge. We recognise the importance of improving the regulatory framework, however, further work is required before any proposal for change may be progressed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to tackling the challenges faced by our health system with the shift to prevention central to this ambition. Under the Government’s Health Mission we are considering what preventative action is needed to support people live longer, healthier lives, to reduce the amount of time spent in ill health, tackle health inequalities and drive economic growth. We face an obesity crisis and will explore the most impactful interventions to shift food business sales to healthier food.
Defra is not planning to introduce a sector-specific legislative requirement for food and drink companies to report metrics related to the environment such as greenhouse gas emissions. This is because the Department for Business and Trade are currently considering the endorsement of the International Sustainability Disclosure Standards, to create UK Sustainability Reporting Standards that may include reporting against some environmental metrics. The Government and Financial Conduct Authority will consider whether to mandate these Standards for certain economically significant entities across all sectors.
Through the Food Data Transparency Partnership, Defra is supporting food and drink businesses with greenhouse gas emissions reporting by standardising the data and methods used by the industry. The initial focus has been on GHG emissions, where the science and the reporting requirements are most mature. Moving forwards, the ambition is to consider a broad range of environmental metrics beyond carbon.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 30 August, the new Government announced the start of work to refresh the Bovine TB strategy for England, to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and drive down disease to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods. This will be undertaken in co-design with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists, ensuring a refreshed strategy continues to be led by the best scientific and epidemiological evidence and advice.
As part of this announcement, existing cull processes will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out and take effect.
Further details can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.
Under the previous Government, an application for a badger disease control licence was received in respect of a TB hotspot in Cumbria in the Low Risk Area, which was established over 18 months ago following an increase in cattle TB cases in 2021 and 2022. This application was processed by Natural England, as the delegated licensing authority, in accordance with the published policy guidance for this licence type, as introduced by the previous Government in 2018.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is dedicated to ensuring EV drivers can charge across the country, wherever they live. Through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund, local authorities in England are being supported to install tens of thousands of chargepoints.
For those without off-street parking, the Government also offers the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can get up to £350 off the cost of installing a domestic chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution.
Going forward, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will be investing over £200 million in 2025-26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout, including funding to support local authorities to install on-street chargepoints across England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes the safety of learner drivers extremely seriously and investigates thoroughly any complaints about approved driving instructors (ADI), involving the police if necessary. DVSA encourages pupils to report any incidents of inappropriate ADI conduct, and its complaints procedure is open for anyone to use.
DVSA requires every prospective ADI to apply for an enhanced disclosure and barring check before beginning the ADI qualification process, to find out whether an individual has been convicted of a criminal offence or barred from working with children. The role of an ADI is classed as regulated activity, which means that if someone has been barred from working with children, they would be committing an offence by applying for the role. An ADI is required to repeat the disclosure process every four years when they renew their ADI registration.
The ADI Registrar has the power to remove an ADI who falls below the standard of fit and proper person, and to suspend an ADI if they have been charged or convicted of a sexual or violent offence. These safeguards protect not just women, but everyone using the services of an ADI.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the need to ensure that housing growth is appropriately supported by transport infrastructure provision. I am unable to comment on specific proposals, it is for the local authority in consultation with infrastructure providers to determine the infrastructure requirements to support proposed growth in local plans. National Highways has worked collaboratively with the local council throughout the Local Plan process and continues to work constructively with them.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Improving bus services is a key part of this Government’s growth mission. We are determined to deliver better services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. We have set out our plan to achieve this, centred around supporting local transport authorities to take back control of local bus services.
We will work closely with local authorities to understand what is needed to improve and grow their bus networks by learning from their experiences and building on their successes.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities, and the government is committed to working at pace with local transport authorities, bus operators and passengers to ensure that our vital bus services truly reflect the needs of the local communities.
As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including in Gloucestershire.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Following the General Election and the State Opening of Parliament, the Government is now formulating its plans. The Department will announce its policy intentions in due course and aims to provide an update on next steps for the proposed Stonehouse (Bristol Road)/Stroudwater station project soon.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry report on Defined Benefit pension schemes, published in March 2024 helpfully outlines areas to be considered, including the lack of pre-April 97 indexation in the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme. I recognise the importance of this issue for affected members. I will need to consider this issue in the coming weeks as I receive further briefing on Defined Benefit pensions.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/supplementary-information/
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have cancer.
Blood cancer is included as a distinct category in the NDRS, labelled haematological neoplasms. The NDRS’ website also shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. Further information is available at the following link:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/supplementary-information/
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have cancer.
Blood cancer is included as a distinct category in the NDRS, labelled haematological neoplasms. The NDRS’ website also shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. Further information is available at the following link:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.
The National Disease Registration Service, through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have blood cancer, labelled as haematological neoplasms. The National Disease Registration Service’s website shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. This data supports service provision and commissioning in the NHS, clinical audits, and public health and epidemiological research, all of which contributes to improved outcomes, including for blood cancer patients. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/
As part of the Government’s five long-term missions, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention, and will be co-designed with the public, staff, and patients. I would encourage you to engage via our online portal, which is available at the following link:
https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been clear that there should be a National Cancer Plan. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be. We will provide updates on this in due course, including on how we plan to engage blood cancer partners.
I met with the Hon. Member for Poole and Blood Cancer UK, a member of the Blood Cancer Alliance, on 22 October 2024 to discuss the UK Blood Cancer Action Plan.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.
The National Disease Registration Service, through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have blood cancer, labelled as haematological neoplasms. The National Disease Registration Service’s website shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. This data supports service provision and commissioning in the NHS, clinical audits, and public health and epidemiological research, all of which contributes to improved outcomes, including for blood cancer patients. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/
As part of the Government’s five long-term missions, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention, and will be co-designed with the public, staff, and patients. I would encourage you to engage via our online portal, which is available at the following link:
https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/
My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been clear that there should be a National Cancer Plan. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be. We will provide updates on this in due course, including on how we plan to engage blood cancer partners.
I met with the Hon. Member for Poole and Blood Cancer UK, a member of the Blood Cancer Alliance, on 22 October 2024 to discuss the UK Blood Cancer Action Plan.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know that reducing physical inactivity is beneficial for everyone and evidence suggests that cycling has positive physical and mental health benefits. Public Health England’s cycling and walking evidence review, published in 2018, found mixed evidence for whether increasing cycling in deprived socioeconomic status groups is more beneficial than in the general population. This review is available at the following link:
The Department of Health and Social Care is currently working with the Department for Transport, and Active Travel England, on an updated evidence review, which will further examine active travel’s impact on mental health, physical health, and health inequalities. Findings are expected by mid-2025.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a universal varicella chickenpox vaccination programme be introduced as part of the routine childhood schedule. The JCVI statement is available at the following link:
Ministers have accepted the JCVI recommendation, and the Department is in discussions with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency on the potential implementation of the recommendation.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including ADHD assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
We are supporting a taskforce that NHS England is establishing to look at ADHD service provision and its impact on patient experience. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD and to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand.
Alongside the work of the taskforce, NHS England will continue to develop a national ADHD data improvement plan, carry out more detailed work to understand the provider and commissioning landscape, and capture examples from local health systems which are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services to ensure best practice is captured and shared across the system.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made regarding a policy to increase the ratio of healthcare assistants to midwives in stand-alone midwife-led maternity units.
NHS England have committed to ensuring that the right numbers of the right staff are available to provide the best care for women and babies through regular local workforce planning.
The Government recognises that there are serious issues within maternity services and we will learn from the findings from recent inquiries and investigations such as that carried out at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and from the emerging lessons from the ongoing inquiry at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The Government’s policy is that the National Health Service as a whole is in crisis, and my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned an investigation into the NHS, led by Professor Lord Darzi, which will focus on assessing patient access to healthcare, the quality of healthcare being provided and the overall performance of the health system.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The latest data available to NHS England indicates that there are 25 midwifery led units (MLUs) operating in England. The following table lists each unit, as well as their provider:
Midwifery led unit name | Provider name |
Samuel Johnson Freestanding birth unit | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust |
Netherbrook | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust |
Dewsbury Hospital | Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust |
Berwick Maternity Unit | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
Hillcrest Maternity Unit | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
Hexham Maternity Unit | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
The Friarage | South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
South Tyneside Midwifery-led Birthing Unit | South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust |
Blackburn Birth Centre | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust |
Rossendale Birth Centre | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust |
Helme Chase Midwifery Unit | University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust |
Maidstone Birthing Centre | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust |
Crowborough Birthing Centre | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust |
Wallingford MLU | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Wantage MLU | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Horton MLU | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Cotswold MLU | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Aveta Birth Centre | Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Stroud Maternity Unit | Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Tiverton Birth Centre | Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust |
Paulton Maternity Unit | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust |
Frome birthing Centre | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust |
Chippenham Birthing Centre | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust |
Trowbridge maternity unit | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust |
Ashcombe Birthing Unit | University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust |
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Financial transparency is key to ensuring cash-based businesses meet their legal obligations, such as registering with HMRC and paying taxes promptly.
However, these benefits must be balanced against the burdens on business created by new regulation.
While cash-based businesses such as hairdressers are not regulated for money laundering purposes, they will regularly interact with regulated financial businesses, such as banks. These regulated entities are required to report any suspicious financial activity by their customers.
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Cycle to Work scheme is a benefit-in-kind provided by employers to their employees. A benefit-in-kind is a form of non-cash remuneration provided by employers to their employees. Income tax and National Insurance contribution relief is provided on the scheme to both employers and their employees via salary sacrifice arrangements.
Employees earning at or near the National Minimum Wage (NMW) cannot access salary sacrifice if the arrangement will take their contractual salary below the relevant NMW rate. The Government is not currently considering changing the NMW legislation to apply to an employee’s salary after deductions have been made for salary sacrifice.
HMRC has commissioned an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Cycle to Work scheme and will publish its findings in due course.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Home Office has published guidance for determining who can be detained under immigration powers including those who are seeking asylum.
‘Detained Asylum Casework’ sets out for the criteria for our caseworkers to determine under which circumstances asylum claimants may be detained, and their claims routed for consideration and decision under the process. This is available at the link below:
detained-asylum-process-v5.0.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).
‘Detention: general instructions’ sets out the criteria for making detention decisions and deciding whether to maintain detention. This is available at the link below:
Detention: general instructions (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has made clear the that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Consequently, the Government is considering all options connected with ending that partnership, including for the entirety of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. Legislative plans will be published in due course.
I refer the Honourable Member to PQ 4812.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We expect all suppliers operating on behalf of the Home Office to treat detained individuals with decency and respect, behaving in line with the high standards outlined in the Detention Centre Rules, published operating standards and service delivery contracts.
A range of safety and security safeguards operate in all IRCs to ensure the safety of all detained individuals, staff and visitors.
The Home Office is reviewing current processes in relation to violence prevention and use of force and have introduced a programme focused on improving the overall culture in IRCs. A new staffing model delivers a considerably improved ratio of custodial staff per detained individual. This is tailored to each centre’s requirements and layout, deploying staff where they are most needed as they support detained individuals in their journey through detention.
Minister of State (Home Office)
There are currently no plans to introduce a time limit on immigration detention. This would risk significantly weakening our ability to remove those who have breached our immigration laws or who refuse to leave the UK voluntarily.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This list is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.
Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no immediate plans to change the existing policy. It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules.
The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system after it has been put under unprecedented pressure. We will ensure that the system operates fairly and with quicker processing of claims. This will see recognised refugees being able to work, whilst failed asylum seekers can be removed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Government has made clear the that the Migration and Economic Development (MEDP) Policy with Rwanda will end. We will bring forward a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill as promised in the King’s Speech.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers may be detained for immigration purposes only in accordance with Home Office detention policy, as set out in the Detention General Instructions, the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention guidance and the Detained Asylum Casework guidance.
There are various factors which influence a decision to detain, as set out in published policy. In asylum cases concerning Foreign National Offenders, there may be a higher risk of absconding and harm to the public on release and therefore it will normally be appropriate to detain as long as there is a realistic prospect of removal with a reasonable timescale.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission, That is why we are working with policing to introduce a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, providing a more visible police presence in town centres, recruiting thousands of extra additional police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables, We will set out our plans for the Guarantee, and the recruitment of additional officers, shortly.
Minister of State (Home Office)
For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers. Should a decision be made to use a site then the local MP will be notified in writing.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 will be conducted two years after royal assent.
Minister of State (Home Office)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. We are committed to making sure veterans make full use of the skills, qualifications and capabilities they gained in the military after they leave the Armed Forces.
An aligned employment support offer for veterans and their families is key to achieving this, bringing together the newly refreshed Career Transition Partnership, Veterans’ Sector-Based Employment Pathway and Defence Relationship Management, as well as partners across Government and civil society.
For example, the NHS recognise the range of benefits that veterans and members of the Armed Forces community have to offer their organisation, as demonstrated through the dedicated ‘Step into Health’ recruitment pathway across NHS England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)