Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether progress has been made on the national rollout of the Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme following the independent evaluation of the Midlands Voluntary Right to Buy pilot.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government remains committed to the Right to Buy and to spreading the dream of home ownership to even more people. The Midlands pilot of the Voluntary Right to Buy scheme completed in 2021 and an independent evaluation of the pilot was published in February 2021. The Government is looking at the evaluation's findings, which will be used to inform future policy, and we will announce further details on the Voluntary Right to Buy in due course.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to extend the Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme to housing association tenants following the Midlands Voluntary Right to Buy pilot.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government remains committed to the Right to Buy and to spreading the dream of home ownership to even more people. The Midlands pilot of the Voluntary Right to Buy scheme completed in 2021 and an independent evaluation of the pilot was published in February 2021. The Government is looking at the evaluation's findings, which will be used to inform future policy, and we will announce further details on the Voluntary Right to Buy in due course.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many applications for the Building Safety Fund are outstanding in (a) Slough, (b) the South East and (c) England.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
As of 31 December 2021, out of a total of 2825 registrations, there are 5 outstanding applications in Slough, 49 in the South East of England, and 717 across England. Outstanding applications are defined as registrations where eligibility is under review or where further information is required to determine eligibility.
The Department is awaiting further information for 515 registrations across England. Applicants should provide any information requested by the Department promptly to make sure that their registration is processed without delay.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer 6 December 2021 to Question 85353 on Dental Services: Coronavirus, for what reason an assessment has not been made.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is investigating why DVLA applicants are experiencing delays on the return of identification documents.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) routinely returns original identity documents to the applicant as soon as a driving licence application is processed. However, to reduce the impact of any processing delays, the DVLA has introduced a process of returning original documents as soon as the application is opened on selected transactions and is working to expand this.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate has she made of the number of people who have been impacted by the underpayment of benefits following transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Slough constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2021 to Question 85353 on Dental Services: Coronavirus, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from the dental industry on the impact of covid-19 on dentists and dental practices.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2021 to Question 85353 on Dental Services: Coronavirus, whether he plans to make an assessment of the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on the number of dental practices and dentists.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to provide support to paint recycling initiatives to reduce wastage of reusable paints; and what steps he is taking to make it easier for consumers to recycle paints.
Answered by Jo Churchill
We recognise that solvent-based paint, paint thinner and white spirit are hazardous and as such, disposal can be challenging.
We welcome voluntary action being taken by industry, such as the British Coatings Federation’s Paintcare proposals, and community initiatives, supported by local authorities, to allow donations to local community repaint schemes. The law at present encourages reuse and recycling through waste hierarchy obligations on all waste handlers.
To strengthen action on reuse, we will shortly publish our new Waste Prevention Programme for England on which we consulted in 2021, including on steps to improve local systems and services that facilitate reuse and recycling of this nature.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the long-term impact of the reduced rail timetable currently in place in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Department has been working closely with rail operators as they mitigate the impact of COVID-19 related staff absences on train services.
The current revised train timetable has been implemented temporarily, and is providing passengers, especially our key workers, with certainty so they can plan their journeys confidently.
In the longer term, the Department will continue working with rail operators to ensure that services meet demand and deliver good value for taxpayers.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the key workers identified by the Prime Minister as needing to test for covid-19 every day from 10 January 2022 work in the rail industry.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The precautionary testing scheme is intended to help isolate asymptomatic cases and limit the risk of outbreaks in workplaces, and is therefore focused on those who are at greater risk of infecting each other - for example, due to working together in an enclosed space as well as the criticality of their roles. Approximately 1,200 of all those taking part in the scheme work in highly specialised roles in the rail industry.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the waiting time is for people receiving (a) new and (b) renewed driving licences; and what steps he is taking to tackle ongoing delays in the issuance of those documents.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The DVLA understands the impact of delays on those who make paper applications and is working hard to process them as quickly as possible. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The large majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online here.
Employers wishing to check an employee or potential employee’s driving licence status can do so using the DVLA’s online enquiry services. These services allow third parties to obtain relevant information relating to an individual’s driver record, with the consent of the driving licence holder.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the impact of delays in issuing new driving licences on (a) individuals and (b) businesses.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The DVLA understands the impact of delays on those who make paper applications and is working hard to process them as quickly as possible. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
The large majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online here.
Employers wishing to check an employee or potential employee’s driving licence status can do so using the DVLA’s online enquiry services. These services allow third parties to obtain relevant information relating to an individual’s driver record, with the consent of the driving licence holder.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, published in April 2021, on treating and caring for people with ME, are being implemented across the NHS effectively.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
The Government is funding research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council. Current research projects include DecodeME, looking into the causes of the condition. In November 2021, we met with a group of research experts on ME/CFS and continue to work with stakeholders to consider how best to support continued research. NHS England and NHS Improvement are also collaborating with stakeholders, including Versus Arthritis, to coordinate support for people with chronic long-term pain conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its guideline on chronic pain in April 2021, which is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193
NICE published its guideline on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in October 2021, which is available at the following link:
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng206
Whilst guidelines are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into account in designing services that meet the needs of their local population and to work towards their implementation over time.
Questioner: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (LAB - Slough)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve NHS treatment and support for people with (a) ME, (b) chronic fatigue syndrome and (c) other chronic long-term pain conditions.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
The Government is funding research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council. Current research projects include DecodeME, looking into the causes of the condition. In November 2021, we met with a group of research experts on ME/CFS and continue to work with stakeholders to consider how best to support continued research. NHS England and NHS Improvement are also collaborating with stakeholders, including Versus Arthritis, to coordinate support for people with chronic long-term pain conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its guideline on chronic pain in April 2021, which is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193
NICE published its guideline on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in October 2021, which is available at the following link:
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng206
Whilst guidelines are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into account in designing services that meet the needs of their local population and to work towards their implementation over time.