Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to provide people with access to (a) professional dietary (i) information and (ii) support and (b) weight control support.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
We are delivering an ambitious programme of work to create a healthier environment to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. New Regulations on out of home calorie labelling for food sold in large businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, came into force in April 2022. Restrictions on the promotion by location of products high in fat, salt or sugar came into force in October 2022. We are also working with the food industry to make further progress on reformulation and ensure it is easier for the public to make healthier choices.
Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. A two-year pilot backed by up to £40 million will explore ways to make National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved weight loss drugs accessible to patients living with obesity outside of hospital settings. This pilot, in conjunction with the obesity healthcare mission and its additional £20 million of Government research funding, will work together to create a continuum of support for the most promising technologies for the treatment of obesity and ensure the United Kingdom is a world-class location to trial, pilot and rollout innovation.
The Department will continue to work on cross Government strategies to help reduce inactivity levels in the population and help address health issues arising from weight related conditions. We are working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the new Sport Strategy, which will include reducing inactivity levels and provide support for access to physical activity. We are also working with the Department for Education on the School Sport and Activity Action Plan to encourage more physical activity in children and young people in and out of school and helping schools to become healthier places.
The Department has also worked on the Moving Healthcare Professionals Programme with Sport England and NHS Horizons to help embed physical activity into the healthcare system and help healthcare professionals provide physical activity advice to their patients in order to assist them with maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
Our Better Health resources including free evidence-based apps and tools, support people to make and sustain changes to improve their health. These include the NHS Weight Loss app, Food Scanner App, ‘Couch to 5K’ and ‘Active 10’. Since Summer 2020, over 13 million positive actions have been taken a result of Better Health adult obesity campaigns, helping people eating more healthily and increase physical activity. The Department is also currently running ‘Better Health: Rewards in Wolverhampton’, a digital health incentives pilot that supports users to improve their physical activity and diet through financial incentives.
The Government encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the UK’s healthy eating model, the Eatwell Guide, which shows that foods high in saturated fat, salt or sugar should be eaten less often or in small amounts. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through the NHS.UK, Better Health and Healthier Families websites.
Our Major Conditions Strategy call for evidence, which closed 27 June, sought views on how the healthcare system can support people to live healthier lives, including supporting them to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 help people change (a) diet and (b) exercise to (i) achieve and (ii) maintain healthy BMI.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
We are delivering an ambitious programme of work to create a healthier environment to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. New Regulations on out of home calorie labelling for food sold in large businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, came into force in April 2022. Restrictions on the promotion by location of products high in fat, salt or sugar came into force in October 2022. We are also working with the food industry to make further progress on reformulation and ensure it is easier for the public to make healthier choices.
Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. A two-year pilot backed by up to £40 million will explore ways to make National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved weight loss drugs accessible to patients living with obesity outside of hospital settings. This pilot, in conjunction with the obesity healthcare mission and its additional £20 million of Government research funding, will work together to create a continuum of support for the most promising technologies for the treatment of obesity and ensure the United Kingdom is a world-class location to trial, pilot and rollout innovation.
The Department will continue to work on cross Government strategies to help reduce inactivity levels in the population and help address health issues arising from weight related conditions. We are working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the new Sport Strategy, which will include reducing inactivity levels and provide support for access to physical activity. We are also working with the Department for Education on the School Sport and Activity Action Plan to encourage more physical activity in children and young people in and out of school and helping schools to become healthier places.
The Department has also worked on the Moving Healthcare Professionals Programme with Sport England and NHS Horizons to help embed physical activity into the healthcare system and help healthcare professionals provide physical activity advice to their patients in order to assist them with maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
Our Better Health resources including free evidence-based apps and tools, support people to make and sustain changes to improve their health. These include the NHS Weight Loss app, Food Scanner App, ‘Couch to 5K’ and ‘Active 10’. Since Summer 2020, over 13 million positive actions have been taken a result of Better Health adult obesity campaigns, helping people eating more healthily and increase physical activity. The Department is also currently running ‘Better Health: Rewards in Wolverhampton’, a digital health incentives pilot that supports users to improve their physical activity and diet through financial incentives.
The Government encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the UK’s healthy eating model, the Eatwell Guide, which shows that foods high in saturated fat, salt or sugar should be eaten less often or in small amounts. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through the NHS.UK, Better Health and Healthier Families websites.
Our Major Conditions Strategy call for evidence, which closed 27 June, sought views on how the healthcare system can support people to live healthier lives, including supporting them to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle obesity-related ill health in adults.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
We are delivering an ambitious programme of work to create a healthier environment to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. New Regulations on out of home calorie labelling for food sold in large businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, came into force in April 2022. Restrictions on the promotion by location of products high in fat, salt or sugar came into force in October 2022. We are also working with the food industry to make further progress on reformulation and ensure it is easier for the public to make healthier choices.
Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. A two-year pilot backed by up to £40 million will explore ways to make National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved weight loss drugs accessible to patients living with obesity outside of hospital settings. This pilot, in conjunction with the obesity healthcare mission and its additional £20 million of Government research funding, will work together to create a continuum of support for the most promising technologies for the treatment of obesity and ensure the United Kingdom is a world-class location to trial, pilot and rollout innovation.
The Department will continue to work on cross Government strategies to help reduce inactivity levels in the population and help address health issues arising from weight related conditions. We are working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the new Sport Strategy, which will include reducing inactivity levels and provide support for access to physical activity. We are also working with the Department for Education on the School Sport and Activity Action Plan to encourage more physical activity in children and young people in and out of school and helping schools to become healthier places.
The Department has also worked on the Moving Healthcare Professionals Programme with Sport England and NHS Horizons to help embed physical activity into the healthcare system and help healthcare professionals provide physical activity advice to their patients in order to assist them with maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
Our Better Health resources including free evidence-based apps and tools, support people to make and sustain changes to improve their health. These include the NHS Weight Loss app, Food Scanner App, ‘Couch to 5K’ and ‘Active 10’. Since Summer 2020, over 13 million positive actions have been taken a result of Better Health adult obesity campaigns, helping people eating more healthily and increase physical activity. The Department is also currently running ‘Better Health: Rewards in Wolverhampton’, a digital health incentives pilot that supports users to improve their physical activity and diet through financial incentives.
The Government encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the UK’s healthy eating model, the Eatwell Guide, which shows that foods high in saturated fat, salt or sugar should be eaten less often or in small amounts. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through the NHS.UK, Better Health and Healthier Families websites.
Our Major Conditions Strategy call for evidence, which closed 27 June, sought views on how the healthcare system can support people to live healthier lives, including supporting them to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) research she has commissioned and (b) information her Department holds on the (i) prevalence and (ii) impact of cuckooing in vulnerable communities.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government fully recognises the serious impact that persistent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) can have on both individuals and the wider community. The ASB Action Plan, published on 27 March, commits to tackling ASB across five key themes: 1) stronger punishment, 2) making communities safer, 3) building local pride, 4) prevention and early intervention, 5) improving data, reporting and accountability for action.
As part of the plan, which is backed by £160m of funding, we are committed to tackling the exploitation and degrading behaviour that is associated with cuckooing. The targeted stakeholder engagement exercise commenced in the Spring of 2023 and is ongoing. We are engaging on the potential merits and scope of a new offence with a variety of key stakeholders such as the police, CJS partners, local authorities, other Government departments, specialists in the field and the Devolved Governments.
There is no centrally held data on the number of cuckooed properties. The National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, in which all police forces take part. The most recent week of intensification, which took place between 27th February to 5th March 2023, saw 887 cuckooed properties visited.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton 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 the National Disability Strategy published on 28 July 2021, which of his Department’s commitments in that strategy that have not been paused as a result of legal action have (a) been fully, (b) been partially and (c) not been implemented.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Please find below a table which sets out which of my department’s commitments in the National Disability Strategy published on 28 July 2021 have been fully and partially implemented. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had no commitments in the Strategy paused as a result of legal action, and no commitments that have not been implemented.
DLUHC commitments in the National Disability Strategy (2021) | Status of commitment |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will confirm plans to improve the framework to deliver accessible new homes by December 2021. | Fully implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] is commissioning new research to develop the statutory guidance on meeting Building Regulations, covering access to and use of buildings (Approved Document M). | Fully implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] has commissioned new research to develop robust evidence: - to inform building regulation guidance on the fire safety in new care homes and specialised housing. This will conclude by autumn 2021. - to inform policy in England on the means of escape for disabled people from new buildings. This will conclude by autumn 2021. | Partially implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] has committed that 10% of the 180,000 homes built through the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 will be for supported housing. | Partially implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will make the new Shared Ownership model, including the reduced (10%) minimum initial stake, available to disabled people buying a home under the HOLD scheme. | Fully implemented |
Following an independent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant published in December 2018, DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] and DHSC will jointly publish new government guidance for local authorities in England on effective delivery of the £573 million Disabled Facilities Grant during 2021. | Fully implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will consider how we can support projects that increase high street accessibility for disabled people in the design of any future local growth funding. | Fully implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will make £30 million available from summer 2021 to accelerate delivery of Changing Places toilets in existing buildings in England. | Fully implemented |
DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will publish a new National Model Design Code in the summer (2021), setting out design considerations for local planning authorities. The department will use guidance supporting the Code to stress the importance of providing accessible and inclusive play spaces and equipment for all. | Fully implemented |
Building on the experience of the Access to Elected Office fund and the EnAble fund, DLUHC [formerly MHCLG] will support a new scheme from April 2022 to support those seeking to become candidates and - as importantly - once they have been elected to public office. | Fully implemented |
The Cabinet Office (now DHLUC for Elections) has introduced the Elections Act which will improve the support provided to voters with disabilities who are voting in polling stations. Returning Officers will have a new responsibility to consider additional support for a range of disabled voters in the polling station. This includes meeting voters’ needs in a more tailored way, and providing equipment and resources that most support voters in their local area. The Act will also remove unnecessary barriers to voting including by widening the pool of people able to provide help to disabled people in casting their vote to any companion who is over the age of 18 in UK Parliamentary elections. The Elections Division also convenes the Access to Elections Working Group which meets with representatives of civil society organisations and charities and the elections sector across the UK to discuss and plan to improve accessibility for all disabled electors. | Fully implemented |
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will publish a timeframe for consulting on amending the National Planning Policy Framework to include (a) an understanding of local research and development needs and (b) the provision of additional laboratory space.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Last month, government announced that it will consult on adding requirements to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to say that decision makers should pay particular regard to research and development needs, including the need for additional laboratory space, and proactively engage with potential applicants. Government also announced that we will update the Planning Practice Guidance to help local authorities take fuller account of the commercial land needs of businesses and better plan for inward and high value investment. We will work with stakeholders to further understand the changes needed.
We will publish a government response to the recent NPPF consultation in due course. As signalled by the consultation a wider review of the NPPF will follow, this will involve further consultation on proposals, enabling those who wish to comment the opportunity to do so.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has taken recent steps to facilitate research on geothermal district heating.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department has contributed £31m in funding to UK Geoenergy Observatories, which will conduct geothermal energy-related research. This is in addition to supporting deep geothermal feasibility projects at the Eden Project in Cornwall and in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Department has also awarded £9.7m in capital funding to two district heating projects in Gateshead and County Durham via the Heat Networks Investment Project, which will use geothermal heat from mine-water to heat local communities.
The Government has commissioned a report, led by the British Geological Survey, into the potential contribution of deep geothermal energy in the UK. The report is expected to be published this year.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to help ensure that there is a public consultation with listeners on the planned changes to BBC local radio services.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery and how it consults with audiences are a matter for the BBC. However, we are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output. In the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC, we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. Ofcom recently published a new BBC Operating Licence, which sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
Under the new Operating Licence, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK. Ofcom monitor the BBC’s performance in this area closely and step in if they are concerned the BBC is not delivering for audiences. Ofcom also plans to commission new research to better understand what audiences need and value from local services.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the BBC Board on the provision of BBC local radio services.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery and how it consults with audiences are a matter for the BBC. However, we are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output. In the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC, we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. Ofcom recently published a new BBC Operating Licence, which sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
Under the new Operating Licence, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK. Ofcom monitor the BBC’s performance in this area closely and step in if they are concerned the BBC is not delivering for audiences. Ofcom also plans to commission new research to better understand what audiences need and value from local services.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her proposals for tackling anti-social behaviour will address alcohol-related (a) domestic and (b) community violence.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour (ASB). We know the serious impact that persistent ASB can have on both individuals and the wider community.
On 27 March we published the ASB Action Plan. The ASB Action Plan commits to tackling ASB across five key themes: stronger punishment, making communities safer, building local pride, prevention and early intervention, improving data, reporting and accountability for action. Cracking down on anti-social behaviour works in tandem with this government’s priorities to prevent more murders, drive down violent crime, including against women and girls, and burglaries.
This plan is backed by £160m of funding. This includes up to £60m to fund an increased police and other uniformed presence to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, targeting hotspots. Initially we will work with 10 police force areas, but from 2024 will support a hotspot approach across every police force area in England and Wales, which will see thousands of additional patrols taking place in places blighted by anti-social behaviour. It will be for the relevant Police and Crime Commissioners to determine the allocation of spending within their areas,.
The areas have been chosen to ensure that those areas with the greatest need when it came to tackling anti-social behaviour were able to benefit from pilot funding while ensuring there was sufficient geographical spread to allow the pilots to provide evidence for its likely impact across all of England and Wales.
There will be up to £5m to boost investment in green spaces in areas most in need, restoring parks and green spaces, giving more people access and improving pride in place.
We are on target to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by the end of March 2023. However, tackling anti-social behaviour is not just a police matter. It requires a strong and effective partnership response from all agencies working together to drive down anti-social behaviour. The measures we have outlined in the plan ensure the police, local authorities and other agencies have a wide range of powers and tools to deal with every situation of anti-social behaviour that may arise.
One of the commitments outlined in the Beating Crime Plan was to establish the principles required for a strong and effective partnership response to anti-social behaviour, working with PCCs, local authorities and other partners to help set expectations for local agencies, so that they work together to address ASB issues, including dealing with persistent offenders. This was published in July 2022.
We provided the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to ASB through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 including closure orders if there are reasonable grounds that the use of a particular premises has resulted or is likely to result in nuisance to members of the public and the notice is necessary to prevent the nuisance or disorder from continuing, recurring or occurring.
We have an ambitious programme of activity underway to tackle alcohol-related crime and work with police and licensing stakeholders to ensure thriving and safe night-time economies. We are piloting a training programme to help frontline practitioners identify where alcohol misuse and domestic abuse are co-occurring and to facilitate greater join-up with GPs and police.
In March 2022, we published the cross-Government Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. The Plan will seek to transform the whole of society’s response in order to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators, as well as to strengthen the systems processes in place needed to deliver these goals.
The Plan invests over £230 million of cross-Government funding into tackling this heinous crime. This includes over £140 million for supporting victims and over £81 million for tackling perpetrators.
Some of the commitments we have delivered to date includes:
We have published research reports alongside the ASB Action Plan. The findings from the research highlight evidence and best practice examples. We expect local partners to work together to deliver a multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and delivering the proposals set out in this plan. We will oversee the implementation and delivery of this action plan with a new Anti-social Behaviour Taskforce.