Asked by: Jo Gideon (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with the SEND in the Specialists coalition on the specialist workforce for children and young people with SEND; and what the outcome was of those discussions.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, set out that the Department for Education will work with the Department of Health and Social Care to take a joint approach to SEND workforce planning, and a steering group has now been established to oversee this work.
As part of the steering group for joint SEND workforce planning, officials are working closely with the SEND in the specialists coalition to seek their views and have regular meetings with representatives from the coalition to gain sector insight and collaborate on ongoing policy work. On the 14 November 2023, officials from the Department for Education attended a coalition meeting where they presented ongoing policy work relating to SEND Practitioner Standards and introduced the department’s new ‘Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools’ (PINS) programme. Officials have taken on board the coalition’s feedback, and that of other stakeholders they have engaged with, in the development of products and guidance to support the delivery of the programmes. In addition to engagement at official level, the former Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing met with the representatives from the coalition last year, and the minister looks forward to continuing these important discussions when he meets with members in the coming months. The department will continue to engage and work together with a range of stakeholders to discuss ways in which we can improve access to the specialist workforce for the many children and young people who need support.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings were held between officials in her Department and representatives from NHS England on geographic variations in fertility treatment in the last year.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
There are regular meetings held between officials from NHS England and the Department as part of the Women’s Health Strategy commitment to address the current geographical variation in access to National Health Service-funded fertility services across England.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Cloudflare on removing the website linked to deaths by suicide reported on by the BBC on 24 October 2023.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Ministerial meetings are routinely published on gov.uk. We recognise the role of internet service providers in protecting people online. We are working with a range of organisations across the suicide prevention sector, and more widely, on this issue in order to enable better protection for individuals.
On 11 September, we published a new national suicide prevention strategy for England, with more than 100 actions to support our aim to reduce the suicide rate within two and a half years. This includes action across government and other organisations to tackle pro-suicide forums.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992) and 25 April (HL7108), what assessment they have made of whether the battery powered handsets which only last for a short time will be adequate for all but the briefest power cut and for those off the electricity grid.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992), what assessment they have made of whether BT has adequately consulted the residents affected, particularly the vulnerable such as those who are (1) over 70, (2) disabled, (3) in remote rural areas, and (4) digitally excluded.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992) and 25 April (HL7109), what assessment they have made of whether there will be universal access to emergency services following deinstallation of copper wire connection.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6988), whether residents without broadband will have to have a router installed and pay to be supplied with a broadband service.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6988), whether all makes of wrist-worn personal alarms will operate over WiFi.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992) and 25 April (HL7109), what assessment they have made of whether having a battery powered handset provided by BT in case of power cuts with a mobile sim card inside will be sufficient if there is no mobile signal.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has plans to work with professional eye care bodies and organisations to ensure that the principles identified in Royal National Institute of Blind People's report entitled The Eye Care Support Pathway, published in November 2023, are embedded into clinical pathways and are included in training curricula.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department welcomes the publication of the Royal National Institute of Blind People's Eye Care Support Pathway. NHS England contributed to its development and is looking to embed the pathway in the eyecare transformation programme. Furthermore, NHS England has offered to support the dissemination of the pathway to eyecare commissioners and providers.
I will be scheduling meetings with a range of eye care stakeholders over the coming weeks and months and am looking forward to discussing this with relevant stakeholders.