Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) pay and (b) other conditions of teaching assistants in schools.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Teaching assistants play a vital role in children’s education.
Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why the department is reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024.
The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions, and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake.
The SSSNB will give a voice to support staff, who make up roughly half of the school workforce, but are currently employed on terms and conditions negotiated by a wider framework for local government employees rather than a school specific body.
It will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to continue the work of the Rare Disease Action Plan 2024.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. The 2025 England Rare Diseases Action Plan was published on 28 February 2025 and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2025
This action plan includes details of how we have continued to progress actions introduced in the 2024 action plan.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of shortages of ADHD medication.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As a result of intensive work, some issues with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines have resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.
However, whilst supply of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets has improved, issues persist. We are continuing to work to resolve these remaining issues by engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to build further capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. The Department is also working with new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to improve supply and resiliency for the United Kingdom market.
We are supporting an ADHD taskforce established by NHS England to examine ADHD service provision. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education and justice, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we plan to combine modelling for future growth forecasts, which will be shared with industry to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.
The Department has worked with NHS specialists to develop advice on prescribing alternative ADHD medications. We expect that ADHD service providers should follow this guidance and offer rapid responses for urgent advice, especially for high-risk patients. To aid decision-making at the point of prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medicines, we continue to update a list of available ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility requirements for the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the Government on immunisations programmes.
In June 2023, JCVI advised on introducing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programmes to protect older adults and infants at greatest risk of harm from RSV infection.
Following a competitive tender and in line with JCVI advice, the new RSV vaccination programmes began in England on 1 September 2024 for pregnant women and adults aged between 75 and 79 years old. Both programmes use Pfizer’s Abrysvo® vaccine, which is approved only for use in pregnant women from 28 weeks, for infant protection, and older adults, following clinical trials in these groups.
When advising the introduction of an RSV vaccination programme for adults aged between 75 and 79 years old, the JCVI considered that there was less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and over, as there were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band.
The structure of an immunisation programme is dynamic and the JCVI will continue to keep evidence under review. The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation in due course.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of increases in airport drop off charges since 2021.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses. The provision of and charging for car parking at airports, including drop-off and pick-up charges, is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of renewal premiums for insurance.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has not made an assessment. The Government does not set the terms, conditions, or prices for insurance policies. Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing based on their assessment of the relevant risks.
The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator of the insurance industry, requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value. The FCA has stated that it will monitor firms to ensure they provide products that offer fair value and will take action if necessary.
In 2022, the FCA introduced rules that require firms to offer a renewal price that is no greater than the equivalent new business price the firm would offer to a new customer. The FCA estimated that these new rules would save consumers £4.2 billion over ten years.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of domestic abuse on levels of knife crime.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Physical abuse, violent or threatening behaviour often form part of controlling or coercive behaviour. As set out in the statutory guidance under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on controlling or coercive behaviour, this can involve use, or threats of use, of ‘weapons’, such as knives, and coercing the victim into carrying out criminal behaviour such as carrying weapons.
This government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency. As part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, we will ask the police to relentlessly pursue those perpetrators who pose the greatest risk to women.
We are clear that this is not a problem that can be solved by one government department, by one piece of legislation, or by one agency. It will require focused, coordinated, and joined up long-term action between all our key partners.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make a comparative estimate of the funding allocation provided to (a) Thames Valley Police and (b) other regional police forces.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
In December 2024, the Government published the 2025-26 provisional police funding settlement, which proposed funding of up to £19.5 billion for the policing system in England and Wales.
Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.4 billion, an increase of up to £987 million compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement.
In 2025-26, Thames Valley will receive up to £622.4 million, an increase of up to £35.8 million compared to 2024-25.
Funding allocations for all forces in England and Wales were confirmed via Written Ministerial Statement: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11774 on Labour Force Survey, when her Department plans to use Office for National Statistics Transformed Labour Force Survey data to inform its policies.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) has observed falling response rates, resulting in increased volatility in labour market data [1]. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is undertaking work to address these quality issues and continuing to develop the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) as the long-term solution for collecting labour market data. In July 2024, the ONS have provided the latest update on its plans for labour market transformation [2].
While these improvements are underway, LFS estimates are currently designated as ‘official statistics in development’, and the ONS advise caution when interpreting changes in headline LFS rates.
In line with ONS recommendations [3], LFS estimates are used alongside a number of other ONS labour market indicators, including Workforce Jobs (WFJ), Claimant Count data, and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Real Time Information (RTI), to support policy-making.
The ONS’ ambition for the TLFS is to allow a more adaptive and responsive survey to meet user needs, which will improve the quality of the labour market statistics [4] that the Department uses to support the development of policy.
[1] LFS performance and quality monitoring report: July to September 2024
[2] Labour market transformation – update on progress and plans - Office for National Statistics
[4] Labour market transformation – update on progress and plans - Office for National Statistics
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11774 on Labour Force Survey, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the designation of Labour Force Survey data as official statistics in development on her Department’s policy-making.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) has observed falling response rates, resulting in increased volatility in labour market data [1]. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is undertaking work to address these quality issues and continuing to develop the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) as the long-term solution for collecting labour market data. In July 2024, the ONS have provided the latest update on its plans for labour market transformation [2].
While these improvements are underway, LFS estimates are currently designated as ‘official statistics in development’, and the ONS advise caution when interpreting changes in headline LFS rates.
In line with ONS recommendations [3], LFS estimates are used alongside a number of other ONS labour market indicators, including Workforce Jobs (WFJ), Claimant Count data, and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Real Time Information (RTI), to support policy-making.
The ONS’ ambition for the TLFS is to allow a more adaptive and responsive survey to meet user needs, which will improve the quality of the labour market statistics [4] that the Department uses to support the development of policy.
[1] LFS performance and quality monitoring report: July to September 2024
[2] Labour market transformation – update on progress and plans - Office for National Statistics
[4] Labour market transformation – update on progress and plans - Office for National Statistics