Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has undertaken financial modelling for a potential compensation scheme for issues raised in the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, published on 21 March 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As part of our work on the Ombudsman’s investigation and report, we have been considering the costs of setting up a compensation scheme. The Ombudsman used DWP’s broad estimates in their report published 21 March 2024, stating that “Compensating all women born in the 1950s at the level 4 range would involve spending between around £3.5 billion and £10.5 billion of public funds”. This estimate excludes administration costs.

This government is giving its full and proper consideration to all areas of the Ombudsman's report.

Once this work has been undertaken, we will be in a position to outline our approach.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce (a) the right to paid employment leave and (b) legal safeguarding for kinship carers.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government greatly values kinship carers who care for children who cannot live with their parents. The Government has committed in the Plan to Make Work Pay to review the system of parental leave to ensure that it best supports all working families. We will set out more information in due course

In relation to legal safeguarding, the Law Commission will carry out a review into the legal statuses and orders for kinship carers, to ensure that the legislative framework is fair, modern, and meets the needs of its users.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time civil servants are working on the response to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, published on 21 March 2024.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Work is ongoing by civil servants across grades who work both full and part-time.

The Ombudsman’s report is detailed and complex. It took around 6 years to complete and the issues it considers span a period of some 30 years.

It is not possible to determine the exact number of people working on this as it fluctuates as we review and consider different elements of the Ombudsman’s report and evidence.

The work includes input from teams across the Department, who support it as and when needed.

Once this work has been undertaken, we will be in a position to outline our approach.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reforms to business rates.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high-street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

Autumn Budget 2024 announced the first steps including an intention to introduce permanently lower multipliers for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from April 2026. To fund this sustainably the government also intends to introduce a higher multiplier on properties with Rateable Values (RV) of £500,000 or more.

During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL properties will receive a 40% relief on business rates bills up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. The small business multiplier paid by properties with RVs below £51,000 will also be frozen for a further year.

The government published a discussion paper at Budget which sets out priority areas for further reform and invites stakeholders to a conversation about transforming the system over the Parliament.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the over-25 rate of universal credit to care leavers.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government supports care leavers by offering a series of safeguards and easements aimed at simplifying and improving their interaction with the benefit system. This includes single care leavers qualifying for the more generous one-bedroom Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate until their 25th birthday.

The Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit. Details of the review will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of the stronger nudge to pensions guidance on Pension Wise guidance usage by pension savers.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Stronger Nudge to pension guidance regulations were introduced in June 2022. In the year following this (June 2022 to May 2023) around 124,000 Pension Wise appointments were attended, and in the subsequent year (June 2023 to May 2024) around 119,000 appointments were attended. These figures represent a 14% and 9% increase, respectively, on the number of appointments prior to the introduction of the regulations.

Overall, Stronger Nudge has accounted for around 16% of attended Pension Wise appointments between June 2022 and October 2024, according to unpublished data from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).

Increases in Pension Wise uptake cannot be solely attributed to the Stronger Nudge regulations. The Department for Work and Pensions works closely with MaPS to understand what pensions guidance people are using and to help people get the right guidance at the right time, with further support available through multiple channels.

Depending on individual circumstances, these channels may direct people, through triaging, to Pension Wise (delivered by MaPS) or may help them decide Pension Wise is not appropriate for them at that time. For example, in the 2023/24 financial year, 258,000 people accessed the more holistic Money Helper pensions guidance (also delivered by MaPS). This is a 13% increase from 2022/23.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that care leavers below the age of 26 are given priority need status for homelessness support.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people and care leavers. We will look at these issues carefully and will consider youth and care leaver homelessness as we develop our long-term, cross-government strategy working with Mayors and councils across the country, to get us back on track to ending homelessness.

Helping care leavers to make a successful transition from care to independence is a priority for this Government. We will improve access to social housing for care leavers under 25 and exempt them from local connection and residency tests for social housing. We will work with the sector and engage with relevant stakeholders to bring forward these changes in due course.

The Homelessness Reduction Act places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. These duties apply irrespective of whether a person has 'priority need' or if they are 'intentionally homeless'.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of compensating commercial fishermen who are displaced from fishing grounds by offshore wind development projects.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Impacts of proposed offshore wind developments on affected stakeholders, including fishers, is considered during the development consent process. The Government encourages offshore wind developers and the fishing industry to discuss potential impacts at an early stage.

In cases where there have been monetary settlements for disruption or displacement, these have been agreed on an individual project basis between the offshore wind developer and the affected fishers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to establish a formal pathway for the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Patients who experience Charles Bonnet symptoms who are already under hospital eye services can access support services via an Eye Care Liaison Officer within the hospital. Otherwise, a patient should contact their general practice (GP). The GP will make sure that the patients is not suffering hallucinations for any other reason, and then refer them directly to local Low Vision Services, which will incorporate support for Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring their clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase the number of healthcare professionals trained to (a) diagnose and (b) treat Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Patients who experience Charles Bonnet symptoms who are already under hospital eye services can access support services via an Eye Care Liaison Officer within the hospital. Otherwise, a patient should contact their general practice (GP). The GP will make sure that the patients is not suffering hallucinations for any other reason, and then refer them directly to local Low Vision Services, which will incorporate support for Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

Healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring their clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.

100th anniversary of Kingswear Castle paddle steamer

Paignton Rotary Club centenary

D-Day veteran George Chandler

Work of St John Ambulance

Family visas

Saudi Arabia’s bid to join the UN Human Rights Council

Children's Grief Awareness Week 2024

Occupational Therapy Week 2024

Support for community energy initiatives

Cuts to the International Development Budget

Spirit duty on Scotch whisky

Use of swift bricks

Release of Emily Damari

Contribution of animals to the Armed Forces

Humanitarian situation in Sudan

Visually impaired cricket team Australia tour

GWR Sunday timetable

OVO Energy monthly fees for paper format bills

Haggis the pygmy hippo

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication shortages

Islamophobia Awareness Month 2024

Work of Fishing 4 Mental Health

360 years of the Royal Marines in the South West

Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran

Found: incredibly, we have Jim Shannon from Northern Ireland; we have Jayne Kirkham from Cornwall; we have Steve

Found: Perteghella Anna Sabine Ann Davies Munira Wilson Susan Murray Alison Bennett Edward Morello Steve

Found: Perteghella Anna Sabine Ann Davies Munira Wilson Susan Murray Alison Bennett Edward Morello Steve