Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that PIP assessors take into account the hidden symptoms of multiple sclerosis when making their assessments; and what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the PIP assessment process on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
Assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are carried out by qualified health professionals (HPs), who receive training in assessing the impacts of a variety of disabilities including multiple sclerosis (MS), to ensure they are familiar with the clinical aspects of the conditions and their impact on daily functions.
HPs have access to Condition Insight Reports (CIRs) which are developed specifically to enable them to gain further insight into clinical and functional information, relating to specific conditions. Both Capita and Independent Assessment Services (IAS), who conduct PIP assessments on behalf of the department, hold CIRs on MS, which have been produced for them by representative groups.
DWP recognises that attending an assessment can be a stressful experience, which is why claimants are not invited to attend a face-to-face, telephone or video assessment where there is sufficient paper evidence to determine benefit entitlement.
Companions are also encouraged to attend and can play an active role in the assessment to support individuals or help them manage any anxiety they may feel.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to help support small businesses in the hospitality industry; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the VAT threshold for those businesses.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government understands the vital role the hospitality industry plays in the UK economy. This is why, for example, the Government announced a package of business rates support at Autumn Statement 2022 which means businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, including pubs, will receive a tax cut worth over £2 billion in 2023-24. Eligible properties will receive 75 per cent off their business rates bill, up to a cap of £110,000 per business.
The Government recognises that accounting for VAT can be a burden on small businesses. At £85,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU Member State and the second highest in the OECD. This keeps the majority of UK businesses out of VAT altogether. Views on the VAT registration threshold are divided and the case for change has been regularly reviewed over the years. While some businesses have argued that a higher threshold would reduce administrative and financial burdens, others contend that a lower threshold would provide a fairer competitive environment.
The Government continues to keep all taxes under review.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of implementing the recommendations on the sale of fireworks in the (a) Policy Statement BVA position on the use and sale of fireworks, published by the British Veterinary Association in October 2019, and (b) RSPCA campaign entitled Change firework laws to protect animals on the welfare of animals.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Government believes the legislative framework controlling fireworks strikes the right balance and has no plans to replace it at this current time.
The majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner and there are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are misused.
A number of animal welfare organisations provide advice and guidance to enable people to minimise the impacts of fireworks on animal welfare. We are working with these organisations to amplify this messaging during key dates when fireworks are commonly used.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to support the (a) development and (b) use of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
The UK is a world leader in the nuclear fuel cycle, and this is testament to the highly skilled workforce currently employed within the UK supply chain. The Government recognises the importance of establishing a secure, commercial supply of High-Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to support future reactors and deliver our net zero and energy security ambitions.
As such, we have launched the Nuclear Fuel Fund (NFF) to be used to alongside private sector co-investment, to preserve and develop the UK’s nuclear fuel production capability. Through the NFF, the Government is proud to have invested £10.5m towards the development and use of a supply chain for HALEU in the UK. The Government is considering any further steps that might be necessary to support the development of HALEU fuel.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to introduce the Alternative Fuel Payments scheme this winter to support consumers not connected to the gas grid who rely on alternative fuels to heat their homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Oil prices have fallen from their 2022 peak and there are currently no plans for the Alternative Fuel Payment scheme to be renewed for Winter 2023/24. However, the Government will continue to monitor the situation and will keep our options under review.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to support the development of (a) advanced nuclear technology and (b) routes to market for that technology.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
In 2020, the Government committed up to £385m to an Advanced Nuclear Fund to provide funding for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design and to progress plans for an Advanced Modular Reactor demonstration by the early 2030s. In July 2023, the Government shortlisted potential grants from the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund, releasing up to £77.1m of targeted support for new nuclear development.
Great British Nuclear, the arms-length body responsible for helping to deliver new nuclear projects, has launched a Technology Selection Process (TSP) to select the SMR technologies best able to deliver projects by the mid-2030s. Six companies have been down-selected for the next stage of the process. The Government is also consulting in the autumn on alternative routes to markets for new nuclear projects, in addition to the TSP.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to decouple the price of gas and electricity.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As part of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) programme, the Government is considering a range of potential options to shield consumers from the impacts of potential future commodity price spikes and to ensure they benefit from lower-cost renewables.
The Contracts for Difference scheme already insulates consumers against electricity price spikes. Over time, this scheme will significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuelled power generation, lowering consumer exposure to gas prices.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of levels of excess deaths in (a) 2023 and (b) the 2015-2019 average. what assessment he has made of the potential links between excess deaths and age; and what the most common causes of excess deaths are in people under 50.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
There are several organisations producing estimates of excess deaths using different methods. Excess deaths are the difference between registered deaths and the number expected each week.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) reports monthly on Excess Mortality in England and English regions, and more information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/excess-mortality-in-england-and-english-regions
OHID’s expected deaths are based on the trend in mortality rates in England for the five years 2015 to 2019. Estimates of excess deaths are therefore not available for the pre-pandemic period using the same methodology. OHID estimates take change in population size and ageing into account.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also publishes weekly estimates of excess deaths, which are available at the following link:
ONS expected deaths are based on a simple five-year average of deaths registered each week in previous years. For deaths in 2023, the five-year average is based on deaths in 2017 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022.
In the weeks ending 6 January 2023 to 29 September 2023, OHID estimates that there have been 23,001 excess deaths in England, 6% more deaths than expected. Over this period, there were only three weeks that did not have any excess deaths, namely the weeks ending 10 March 2023, 14 April 2023, and 7 July 2023.
Additionally, over the same period, ONS estimates that there have been 24,292 excess deaths in England which, like OHID’s estimate, is 6% higher than expected. However, ONS figures show that seven weeks over the period did not have excess deaths, these being the weeks ending 10 and 17 February 2023, 14 April 2023, 21 and 28 July 2023, 29 September 2023, and 6 October 2023.
Numbers of excess deaths generally increase with age and OHID estimates that excess deaths in England over this same period above were highest in those aged 85 and over, specifically 6,955 deaths. However, the relative excess was highest in the 50 to 64 age group where excess deaths were 14% higher than expected, specifically 5,278 deaths.
Of the causes of death which OHID routinely report on, deaths involving cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke, and acute respiratory diseases including flu and pneumonia had the highest numbers of excess deaths for those aged under 50 in England in January to June 2023. Data for later months are not available.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the UK is taking a leading role in the development of nuclear energy.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Veterans)
The British Energy Security Strategy set an ambition of up to 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 to support energy security and net zero objectives. To deliver on this objective, the Government is undertaking a range of activities. We have launched Great British Nuclear, which has an immediate focus on bringing forward small modular reactors, we have invested in Sizewell C to deliver the next large-scale project, and we have provided support for a range of enabling activities through the Low-Cost Nuclear Challenge, Nuclear Fuel Fund and the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund.
In addition, we will publish a Roadmap this autumn setting out the long-term trajectory for the nuclear sector, as well as publish a consultation on alternative routes to market for new nuclear projects.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure a resilient supply of ammonia as a future fuel for the maritime sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Hydrogen Production Business Model will provide revenue support to producers to overcome the operating cost gap between low carbon hydrogen and high carbon alternatives. This will provide a contractual, producer-focused business model that could facilitate hydrogen use in a broad range of sectors, including low carbon ammonia production.
The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund will help to stimulate the growth of the hydrogen economy by providing £240m to support the development and construction of new low carbon hydrogen production plants. In addition, the Government is supporting innovation for shipping decarbonisation through funds such as the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.