Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the International Longevity Centre UK The Mayhew Review – Future-proofing retirement living: Easing the care and housing crises, published on 1 November; and in particular the recommendation that His Majesty’s Government should aim to build 50,000 new homes for older people each year to address issues in the (1) housing, and (2) social care, sectors.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Ensuring older people have access to the right homes that suit their needs can help them to live independently for longer and feel more connected to their communities.
We announced in the Levelling Up White Paper an older people’s housing taskforce, to explore how we can improve the choice of and access to housing options for older people.
We are continually increasing our understanding of this market, and note the recommendations in Professor Mayhew's recent review alongside contributions from other stakeholders.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Departments policy paper entitled Levelling Up the United Kingdom published on 2 February 2022, when he plans to launch the Task Force on Older People's Housing.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Ensuring older people have access to the right homes that suit their needs can help them to live independently for longer and feel more connected to their communities. Our Government is committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people and boosting the supply of specialist elderly accommodation, including housing with care.
The taskforce on older people's housing, which we announced in the Levelling Up White Paper will explore how we can improve the choice of and access to housing options for older people
Arrangements for the taskforce are still ongoing and further details will be released in due course.
We continue to work in partnership with DHSC colleagues and with housing, health and social care stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people's housing sector.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of older people’s housing.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
My department works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to provide capital funding to incentivise supply. This includes my department's £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme which includes delivery within the programme for new supported housing for older, disabled and other vulnerable people.
DHSC's Adult Social Care Reform White Paper reiterated the Government's commitment to the important role of supported housing. This included the continuation of the Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) Fund.
In February 2022, the Levelling Up White Paper announced a taskforce on older people's housing to explore how we can improve the choice of and access to housing options for older people. We continue to work in partnership with DHSC colleagues and with housing, health and social care stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people's housing sector.
We note the recommendations in Professor Mayhew's recent review alongside contributions from other stakeholders.
I would be happy to meet with my Rt. Hon. Friend to discuss this important issue.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations of the Mayhew Review on future-proofing retirement living.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
My department works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to provide capital funding to incentivise supply. This includes my department's £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme which includes delivery within the programme for new supported housing for older, disabled and other vulnerable people.
DHSC's Adult Social Care Reform White Paper reiterated the Government's commitment to the important role of supported housing. This included the continuation of the Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) Fund.
In February 2022, the Levelling Up White Paper announced a taskforce on older people's housing to explore how we can improve the choice of and access to housing options for older people. We continue to work in partnership with DHSC colleagues and with housing, health and social care stakeholders to look at how we can further support the growth of a thriving older people's housing sector.
We note the recommendations in Professor Mayhew's recent review alongside contributions from other stakeholders.
I would be happy to meet with my Rt. Hon. Friend to discuss this important issue.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to protect the NHS from rises in the level of (a) covid-19 and (b) flu infections.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The COVID-19 autumn booster programme aims to increase immunity in those at higher risk of severe illness during winter 2022/23. In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, all those aged 50 years old and over, all frontline health and care workers, all residents and staff in care homes for older people, carers and those aged five years old and over who are either at higher clinical risk from COVID-19 or are household contacts of people with immunosuppression are offered a booster dose. We have expanded the flu vaccination programme to include all adults aged 50 to 64 years old and secondary school children in Years 7, 8 and 9.
The National Health Service is also increasing bed capacity and staffing, maximising the use of virtual wards and is considering acute respiratory infection hubs to support same day assessment.
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, what steps his Department is taking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social care to increase the supply of (a) older people’s housing and (b) housing with care.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Ensuring older people have access to the right homes that suit their needs can help them to live independently for longer and feel more connected to their communities. The Government is committed to improving the diversity of housing options available to older people and boosting the supply of specialist elderly accommodation, including housing with care.
My department works closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
DHSC's Adult Social Care Reform White Paper reiterated the Government's commitment to the important role of supported housing.
In February 2022, the Levelling Up White Paper announced a taskforce on older people's housing to explore how we can improve the choice of and access to housing options for older people.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing a discretionary exception for under-75s for the fourth covid-19 booster vaccine.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out that COVID-19 vaccinations should target those who are vulnerable to serious outcomes from infection. Therefore, the autumn booster programme includes those who are vulnerable through age, clinical condition or who are at high risk of transmission of COVID-19 to vulnerable individuals. This includes many people aged under 75 years old.
On 15 July 2022, the Government accepted the advice of the JCVI to offer a booster vaccination in autumn to those at higher risk from severe COVID-19 in winter 2022/23. The booster dose will be offered to residents and staff in care homes for older adults; frontline health and social care workers; carers aged 16 years old and over; all adults aged 50 years old and over; and those aged five to 49 years old in a clinical risk group or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a timescale for the rollout of the fourth covid-19 booster vaccine to under-75s.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
The autumn COVID-19 vaccination booster programme commenced on 5 September 2022 in England and National Health Service systems have been asked to offer vaccinations to eligible groups by the start of December 2022. The booster dose will be offered to residents and staff in care homes for older adults; frontline health and social care workers; carers aged 16 years old and over; all adults aged 50 years old and over; and those aged five to 49 years old in a clinical risk group or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression.
The oldest and most vulnerable cohorts have received the first invitations. During the week commencing 5 September 2022, more than 700 care homes in England have been visited by vaccination teams. Since 7 September, approximately four million people, including those aged 75 years old and over, people who are immunosuppressed and health and care workers can book an appointment online or by calling 119. The National Health Service will extend the offer to the remaining eligible groups in due course.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to all people over the age of 12.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
The Government continues to be guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on COVID-19 vaccinations. On 15 July 2022, the Government accepted the advice of the JCVI to offer an autumn COVID-19 booster dose to those at higher risk from severe COVID-19 in winter 2022/23. Therefore, the autumn COVID-19 booster dose will be offered to residents and staff in care homes for older adults; all adults aged 50 years old and over; those aged five to 49 years old in a clinical risk group or who are household contacts of someone with immunosuppression; frontline health and social care workers; and carers aged 16 years old and over.
Asked by: James Davies (Conservative - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to extend the eligibility for the spring booster vaccine to people with motor neurone disease who are clinically extremely vulnerable to covid-19.
Answered by Maggie Throup
On 21 February 2022, the Government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to offer a COVID-19 booster vaccination to specific vulnerable groups. This included residents in care homes for older adults; adults aged 75 years old and over; and individuals aged 12 years old or over who are immunosuppressed.
On 15 July 2022, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI to offer a booster vaccination to additional vulnerable patient cohorts in autumn 2022. This includes all clinical risk groups and those with motor neurone disease.