Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times were for processing applications for certificates of sponsorship for skilled workers in each month from November 2023 to April 2024.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

The Home Office does not routinely publish data on these matters; however, we have recently deployed an IT change which introduces a new compulsory field for required mandatory information which enables defined certificate of sponsorship applications to move more expediently through the system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential cost to businesses of the reforms to skilled worker visas.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

As set out in the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Statement of Changes, laid on 14 March (HC 590), qualitative details on the impact of these changes on the welfare of the UK resident population, as well as quantitative impacts on business, charities, voluntary bodies and the public sector, have been considered.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking with international partners to (a) increase childhood immunisation rates, (b) make vaccine access more equitable and (c) support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted global health and immunisation. The UK Government is supporting efforts to get routine immunisation back on track and has committed £1.65 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, from 2021-2025 to support their mission to immunise 300 million children and save up to 8 million lives from vaccine preventable diseases over this period. The UK has supported Gavi since its inception in 2000, during which time Gavi has vaccinated more than 1 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, saving over 17 million lives. Alongside our Gavi investment, we are working with countries to build stronger primary health care systems as a core part of restoring immunisation services.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average waiting time was for processing a new application for Child Benefit in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston

In May 2023 HMRC launched a new digital service for child benefit claims.

The details requested by the Hon. Member are published by HMRC at: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/42980/documents/213810/default/

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department received a draft of the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman report on changes to Women’s State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.

Answered by Paul Maynard

The Department for Work and Pensions did not receive a draft of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report on changes to women’s State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to lay the Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations before Parliament.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government is continuing to take forward work on the arrangements for the movement of pet animals under the Windsor Framework and will set out further detail in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the level of paid carers leave on rates of economic activity.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

A new entitlement of up to a week of unpaid carer’s leave was introduced for employees from 6 April 2024. The published Impact Assessment (IA) contains a cost benefit analysis and full evaluation of the policy. We estimate there are 2.5 million people balancing employment and unpaid care, who could benefit from this new entitlement.

The IA commits to reviewing the effectiveness and rationale for the policy by seeking evidence from businesses and employees in 5 years. The IA was published during the passage of the Bill on https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3199/publications under the Impact Assessment tab.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits for (a) businesses and (b) workers of introducing paid carers leave.

Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

A new entitlement of up to a week of unpaid carer’s leave was introduced for employees from 6 April 2024. The published Impact Assessment (IA) contains a cost benefit analysis and full evaluation of the policy. We estimate there are 2.5 million people balancing employment and unpaid care, who could benefit from this new entitlement.

The IA commits to reviewing the effectiveness and rationale for the policy by seeking evidence from businesses and employees in 5 years. The IA was published during the passage of the Bill on https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3199/publications under the Impact Assessment tab.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people over the age of 50 receive adequate support through the Back to Work Plan.

Answered by Jo Churchill

The Government offers comprehensive support for eligible older jobseekers across the UK through the 50 Plus Choices Offer. This includes the provision of over 70 50plus Champions who play a key role in supporting delivery of a comprehensive package of support across the country.

The 2.5 billion Back to Work Plan, announced in the Autumn Statement 2023 includes measures to support all customers, including the over 50s, to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour market.

Through this Plan, the Government is boosting four key programmes, NHS Talking Therapies, Individual Placement and Support, Restart and Universal Support – to benefit up to 1.1 million people over the next five years and help those with mental or physical health conditions stay in or find work.

On 7 May, we announced that 15 areas across England will be piloting a new health support service as part of the Government’s plan to help people with health conditions back to work.

Peace in Israel and Gaza

Consumer water bills

Youth mobility visas

World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day 2024

Diagnosing Coeliac disease

Government surveillance of bank accounts

Tom Stoltman, Winner of World's Strongest Man Competition

Dementia Action Week

Water sports and pollution

Found: The group’s action for their ‘Work Stations’ event was also mentioned by MP Wendy Chamberlain

Found: Q12 Wendy Chamberlain: Yes, absolutely.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Pete Wishart (Chair); Wendy Chamberlain; Sally-Ann Hart; Christine

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Pete Wishart (Chair); Wendy Chamberlain; Sally-Ann Hart; Christine

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Pete Wishart (Chair); Wendy Chamberlain; Sally-Ann Hart; Christine

Found: Q423 Wendy Chamberlain: Thank you for being here today.

Found: Q423 Wendy Chamberlain: Thank you for being here today.

Found: Q423 Wendy Chamberlain: Thank you for being here today.

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams

Found: Chamberlain Debbie Abrahams Ian Mearns Mr Jonathan Djanogly Mohammad Yasin Dame Diana Johnson

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams

Found: Chamberlain Debbie Abrahams Ian Mearns Mr Jonathan Djanogly Mohammad Yasin Dame Diana Johnson

Found: Chamberlain Debbie Abrahams Ian Mearns Mr Jonathan Djanogly Mohammad Yasin Dame Diana Johnson

Found: Chamberlain Sir Julian Lewis Sir Edward Leigh Sir Simon Clarke Carolyn Harris Elliot Colburn

Found: Chamberlain David Mundell Mrs Paulette Hamilton Mr Philip Hollobone Wera Hobhouse Selaine

Found: REPORT STAGE Tuesday 14 May 2024 48 _NC1 Dame Diana Johnson Stephen Farry Caroline Lucas Wendy

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams

Found: Chamberlain Caroline Nokes Sarah Champion Ms Harriet Harman Daisy Cooper Hywel Williams