Asked by: Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Care Quality Commission is responsible for ensuring entrants to England on Health and Social Care visas and work permits are employed under the same terms and conditions as UK domiciled staff; and if not, who is responsible for their conditions of employment.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) do not have a role to routinely ensure that entrants to England on Health and Social Care visas and work permits are employed under the same terms and conditions as United Kingdom domiciled staff. However, as part of CQC’s regulatory role, staffing governance is considered during CQC inspections at providers. If CQC identify areas of incorrect practice they would work with relevant agencies such as the Home Office to rectify any issues raised.
CQC regulate all health and care services that want to conduct a Regulated Activity, as defined by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. CQC’s scope of registration document defines the types of organisations which need to register, including domiciliary care providers, community nursing services or integrated care teams, including district nursing, community matrons and specialist nursing services, community therapy services such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy, community intermediate care, community rehabilitation or reablement services and community outpatient and diagnostic services.
All services are regulated by CQC to ensure they meet the minimum fundamental standards of care. CQC’s regulatory frameworks refer to national best practice, and CQC expect regulated providers to demonstrate how they meet these, or how alternative methods achieve the same or better outcomes for people using services.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of employing teachers supplied by recruitment agencies between 2010 and 2017.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Information on Local Authority maintained school expenditure is collected in Consistent Financial Reporting returns. Academy expenditure is collected in Academies Accounts Returns. This information is subsequently published on the School Financial Benchmarking website, and for Local Authority maintained schools, in the annual official statistic ‘Local Authority and school expenditure’. This can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/la-and-school-expenditure.
Data for Local Authority maintained schools covers 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2017, and for academies and academy trusts covers 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2016. Due to changes in the collection of academy data, and the increase in the number of academies, figures prior to 2017 are not comparable.
Expenditure on agency teaching staff recruitment in state-funded schools in England, by year1 (£1,000s)
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Local authority maintained schools2 | £483,220 | £431,839 | £469,078 | £523,195 | £559,627 | £554,643 | £520,419 |
Academies3,4 | - | - | £47,800 | £152,556 | £209,825 | £295,269 | £271,925 |
Total | £483,220 | £431,839 | £516,878 | £675,751 | £769,452 | £849,912 | £792,344 |
- Data not available.
Source: Academies Accounts Returns and Consistent Financial Reporting returns.
1 Year refers to financial year for local authority maintained schools (e.g. 2016 = 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017) and academic year for academies (e.g. 2016 = 1 September 2015 – 31 August 2016).
2 Local authority maintained school expenditure line E26 'agency supply teaching staff'.
3 Academy expenditure line BNCH21606 'agency supply teaching staff'.
4 Includes only complete year returns (i.e. excludes academies that were only open for part of the year) and excludes centra service expenditure.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to address, and (2) to prevent, cases in the UK of (a) forced labour, (b) people trafficking, and (c) exploitation of domestic workers from overseas countries.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling all forms of modern slavery and through the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we have given law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery, including maximum life sentences for perpetrators and enhanced protection for victims. Modern slavery is a complex crime that requires an end-to-end response both nationally and internationally – and that is why we are investing in a multi-agency approach across a range of activities, which include:
Asked by: Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that individual healthcare recruits from India are being charged significant sums of money to obtain a work permit and visa; and whether this is prohibited by section 6(i) of the Employment Agencies Act 1973.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We have noted the reports of unethical and exploitative practices in this sector. To address this the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has recently published guidance aimed at candidates who are applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad. It provides information on how to avoid scams, working rights and standards, what to consider when deciding whether to take a health or care job in the UK and where to go for further guidance, help or support.
Section 6 of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 (EAA 1973) prohibits the charging of work-finding fees to work-seekers wherever they are recruited from, provided the agency is operating in Great Britain. Agencies are permitted to charge fees for other paid-for services and can pass on visa costs to work-seekers, but this should be clearly set out in writing to the work-seeker. The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate continues to work closely with DHSC to ensure their guidance aligns with these requirements.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of HMRC's processes for collecting PAYE tax from agencies.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Agencies must deduct Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) at source from payments of earnings to agency workers. HMRC’s processes for collecting any Income Tax and NICs due from agencies under Pay As You Earn (PAYE) are the same as those for other employers.
Where HMRC finds that a UK agency has failed to account for Income Tax and NICs in circumstances where the agency rules apply to them, it will usually seek to recover unpaid amounts due from them. Whether the agency rules apply in a particular case is dependent on the facts of that case.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve the childcare offer for working families.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department is committed to supporting working families and parents back into employment, by improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. We have spent over £3.5 billion in each of the past three years on early education entitlements, supporting families with the cost of childcare.
In July 2022, the department announced measures to increase take-up of childcare support and reduce the costs and bureaucracy facing providers. We announced a £1.2 million marketing campaign via the Childcare Choices website to ensure that every parent knows about the government-funded support they are eligible for and encourage providers to take the necessary steps to offer the full range of childcare support to parents using their services. The Childcare Choices website is available at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The campaign has driven extensive reach, with adverts being viewed through paid search advertising and digital channels on social media 59 million times. There has also been strong engagement in the campaign, with 77,995 referrals to GOV.UK pages from the Childcare Choices website during the first burst of the campaign.
We also said that we will attract more people to childminding, expand the childminder market by reducing the costs and bureaucracy facing providers and encourage the growth of childminder agencies, enabling greater access to this flexible, affordable form of care. These plans aim to give providers more flexibility and autonomy and ensure families can access government support to save them money on their childcare bills. The full announcement can be found online at at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drive-to-reduce-the-cost-of-childcare-for-parents.
We continue to work across government, looking at ways to make childcare more affordable and accessible for working families, and to encourage families to use government-funded support they are entitled to.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce drug use in HMP Prescoed.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
HMPPS is committed to reducing the supply and demand of drugs in prisons, delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system, and reducing the harms drugs cause, including working closely with the privately managed HMP/YOI Parc. The following steps are being taken to help reduce drug use in prisons in Wales:
Restricting the supply of drugs:
Increasing investments in prison security, including introducing airport-style gate security to identify items such as drugs before they are conveyed into prisons as well as X-ray body scanners to find internally concealed items and x-ray baggage.
Increasing the number of drug trace detection machines, helping prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs, including through the mail.
Increasing the number and availability of specialist staff, drugs dogs and security equipment to help identify illicit substances at the first possible opportunity available across all sites.
Mandatory Drug tests in line with national guidance.
A Crime in Prisons initiative to support the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.
Preventing and pursuing incidents of staff corruption.
Reducing the demand for drugs:
Increasing opportunity for purposeful activities in prison to reduce boredom and in turn the temptation to engage in illicit substances through education and employment.
Providing opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate and resettle positively on release through meaningful employment, appropriate housing, mental health support.
Building recovery and reducing harm from drugs:
Providing opportunities for individuals to engage in Psychosocial Interventions to reduce substance misuse.
Providing all suitable individuals with appropriate clinical interventions for substance misuse. In Wales, this includes Buvidal which is a long-acting buprenorphine to treat dependence on opioids.
Providing Naloxone upon release, alongside associated training, to help prevent accidental overdose incidents.
Providing harm reduction advice about safer substance use and preventing blood borne viruses.
Providing individuals in all Welsh prisons with the opportunity to live on an incentivised substance-free living wing designed to support people to lead a substance-free life.
Exploring options for opening a drug recovery wing in HMP Berwyn to support those misusing opiates to abstain from drugs. Two drug recovery units have already been established at HMP/YOI Parc.
Providing 24/7 support to prisoners via peer mentors and staff.
Providing continuity of care through the gate care via collaborative working with agencies such as Dyfodol, NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce drug use in HMP Swansea.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
HMPPS is committed to reducing the supply and demand of drugs in prisons, delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system, and reducing the harms drugs cause, including working closely with the privately managed HMP/YOI Parc. The following steps are being taken to help reduce drug use in prisons in Wales:
Restricting the supply of drugs:
Increasing investments in prison security, including introducing airport-style gate security to identify items such as drugs before they are conveyed into prisons as well as X-ray body scanners to find internally concealed items and x-ray baggage.
Increasing the number of drug trace detection machines, helping prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs, including through the mail.
Increasing the number and availability of specialist staff, drugs dogs and security equipment to help identify illicit substances at the first possible opportunity available across all sites.
Mandatory Drug tests in line with national guidance.
A Crime in Prisons initiative to support the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.
Preventing and pursuing incidents of staff corruption.
Reducing the demand for drugs:
Increasing opportunity for purposeful activities in prison to reduce boredom and in turn the temptation to engage in illicit substances through education and employment.
Providing opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate and resettle positively on release through meaningful employment, appropriate housing, mental health support.
Building recovery and reducing harm from drugs:
Providing opportunities for individuals to engage in Psychosocial Interventions to reduce substance misuse.
Providing all suitable individuals with appropriate clinical interventions for substance misuse. In Wales, this includes Buvidal which is a long-acting buprenorphine to treat dependence on opioids.
Providing Naloxone upon release, alongside associated training, to help prevent accidental overdose incidents.
Providing harm reduction advice about safer substance use and preventing blood borne viruses.
Providing individuals in all Welsh prisons with the opportunity to live on an incentivised substance-free living wing designed to support people to lead a substance-free life.
Exploring options for opening a drug recovery wing in HMP Berwyn to support those misusing opiates to abstain from drugs. Two drug recovery units have already been established at HMP/YOI Parc.
Providing 24/7 support to prisoners via peer mentors and staff.
Providing continuity of care through the gate care via collaborative working with agencies such as Dyfodol, NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce drug use in HMP Cardiff.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
HMPPS is committed to reducing the supply and demand of drugs in prisons, delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system, and reducing the harms drugs cause, including working closely with the privately managed HMP/YOI Parc. The following steps are being taken to help reduce drug use in prisons in Wales:
Restricting the supply of drugs:
Increasing investments in prison security, including introducing airport-style gate security to identify items such as drugs before they are conveyed into prisons as well as X-ray body scanners to find internally concealed items and x-ray baggage.
Increasing the number of drug trace detection machines, helping prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs, including through the mail.
Increasing the number and availability of specialist staff, drugs dogs and security equipment to help identify illicit substances at the first possible opportunity available across all sites.
Mandatory Drug tests in line with national guidance.
A Crime in Prisons initiative to support the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.
Preventing and pursuing incidents of staff corruption.
Reducing the demand for drugs:
Increasing opportunity for purposeful activities in prison to reduce boredom and in turn the temptation to engage in illicit substances through education and employment.
Providing opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate and resettle positively on release through meaningful employment, appropriate housing, mental health support.
Building recovery and reducing harm from drugs:
Providing opportunities for individuals to engage in Psychosocial Interventions to reduce substance misuse.
Providing all suitable individuals with appropriate clinical interventions for substance misuse. In Wales, this includes Buvidal which is a long-acting buprenorphine to treat dependence on opioids.
Providing Naloxone upon release, alongside associated training, to help prevent accidental overdose incidents.
Providing harm reduction advice about safer substance use and preventing blood borne viruses.
Providing individuals in all Welsh prisons with the opportunity to live on an incentivised substance-free living wing designed to support people to lead a substance-free life.
Exploring options for opening a drug recovery wing in HMP Berwyn to support those misusing opiates to abstain from drugs. Two drug recovery units have already been established at HMP/YOI Parc.
Providing 24/7 support to prisoners via peer mentors and staff.
Providing continuity of care through the gate care via collaborative working with agencies such as Dyfodol, NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce drug use in HMP Berwyn.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
HMPPS is committed to reducing the supply and demand of drugs in prisons, delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system, and reducing the harms drugs cause, including working closely with the privately managed HMP/YOI Parc. The following steps are being taken to help reduce drug use in prisons in Wales:
Restricting the supply of drugs:
Increasing investments in prison security, including introducing airport-style gate security to identify items such as drugs before they are conveyed into prisons as well as X-ray body scanners to find internally concealed items and x-ray baggage.
Increasing the number of drug trace detection machines, helping prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs, including through the mail.
Increasing the number and availability of specialist staff, drugs dogs and security equipment to help identify illicit substances at the first possible opportunity available across all sites.
Mandatory Drug tests in line with national guidance.
A Crime in Prisons initiative to support the prosecution of those involved in the trafficking of illicit substances.
Preventing and pursuing incidents of staff corruption.
Reducing the demand for drugs:
Increasing opportunity for purposeful activities in prison to reduce boredom and in turn the temptation to engage in illicit substances through education and employment.
Providing opportunities for prisoners to rehabilitate and resettle positively on release through meaningful employment, appropriate housing, mental health support.
Building recovery and reducing harm from drugs:
Providing opportunities for individuals to engage in Psychosocial Interventions to reduce substance misuse.
Providing all suitable individuals with appropriate clinical interventions for substance misuse. In Wales, this includes Buvidal which is a long-acting buprenorphine to treat dependence on opioids.
Providing Naloxone upon release, alongside associated training, to help prevent accidental overdose incidents.
Providing harm reduction advice about safer substance use and preventing blood borne viruses.
Providing individuals in all Welsh prisons with the opportunity to live on an incentivised substance-free living wing designed to support people to lead a substance-free life.
Exploring options for opening a drug recovery wing in HMP Berwyn to support those misusing opiates to abstain from drugs. Two drug recovery units have already been established at HMP/YOI Parc.
Providing 24/7 support to prisoners via peer mentors and staff.
Providing continuity of care through the gate care via collaborative working with agencies such as Dyfodol, NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.