Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will seek to expand partnerships with ethnic community-based organisations in Myanmar to ensure the provision of cross-border aid.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the February 2021 coup, the UK has provided over £120 million in humanitarian and development assistance in Myanmar, focussed on life-saving assistance, emergency healthcare, water, hygiene and sanitation services, and education. We provided a further £2 million in response to Cyclone Mocha in May. We are increasingly supporting local civil society networks with access to vulnerable communities, including in ethnic community areas, as the first responders to the crisis. This has ensured UK aid continues to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in the most remote and hard to reach places.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham, Deptford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the wellbeing of Jobcentre staff.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP continues to review and refine its wellbeing offer to ensure it remains up-to-date, relevant, and accessible to all. We have a DWP Colleague ‘My Wellbeing button’. The button enables quick, easy access to our DWP Wellbeing support offer from everyone’s desktop and takes colleagues to a newly designed wellbeing triage page where colleagues can quickly access the right information and support based on their needs. For example, ‘I need support today’ through to ‘I am looking for guidance as a line manager’. The purpose of this button is to raise the visibility of our wellbeing offer and provide a quick and streamlined journey to the service required, strengthening our culture of putting colleague wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Within the Wellbeing button, the below support can be found:
‣ Employee Assistance Provision which includes:
‣ Flu vaccinations: Information for all DWP colleagues who are not able to access, or are not eligible for, the NHS flu vaccine can claim a refund if they choose to have a flu vaccination in 2023/24.
‣ Details of key wellbeing dates across the year which includes events/webinars to promote the day along with helpful tips for staff.
‣ A network of over 1,000 wellbeing advocates. Colleagues who have been given permission to give 5% of their time to support employee wellbeing. Colleagues can call them to discuss the wellbeing support offer and they actively promote the offer through giving presentations locally. We also have a Buddy Network who are volunteers that colleagues can call if they ever feel lonely and simply want a chat and have a wellbeing check-in.
‣ Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) who are specially trained colleagues who offer immediate support to others experiencing mental ill health or emotional distress. They also look out for early signs of developing issues and promote mental health awareness across the Department.
‣ Community Networks, these range from networks offering support with the Menopause, Cancer, alcohol, religion and more. They offer peer to peer support and regularly run events.
‣ Eye test – colleagues can access a free eye test once every two years or more frequently if advised by an optician or medical advisor, or if they are having visual problems whilst working at a workstation.
‣ Sanitary provision - DWP provide free sanitary products across the DWP Estate for anyone with an immediate need, to support colleague health and wellbeing.
‣ Charity for Civil Servants who offer Independent, impartial financial and emotional support to all Civil Servants. Assistance includes help for carers, financial support and advice, wellbeing support, mindfulness, anxiety support, nutrition, sleep, menopause, bereavement and Podcasts and Webinars
‣ Wellbeing and Resilience Toolbox which can be accessed by Line managers to lead their own team training on resilience, slide packs and facilitator packs are available to talk their team through sessions.
‣ 5 step Wellbeing Conversation Tools - a tool to help colleagues discuss how they are feeling, identify early warning signs of emotional distress, and explore a way forward.
‣ Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) – This document is to aid employee and line manager discussions (related to mental health/wellbeing). The WRAP is designed to help employees to reflect on the causes and symptoms of their own workplace mental health and wellbeing challenges, and to take practical steps to manage these.
‣ Stress evaluation tool – this tool is designed to assist staff to concentrate on pro-active and preventative measures to good stress management.
Annually we update the DWP voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) voluntary report on Gov UK.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much additional aid his Department has announced for Gaza since 7 October 2023; whether any aid provided by his Department has not been able to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023; and what value of aid goods is currently stockpiled and unable to enter Gaza.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The flow of aid into and through Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom and we are exploring maritime options. As of the 13 December, 152 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies and four tankers of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt. This is above the daily volume recorded since the resumption of hostilities on 1 December but remains well below the daily average of 500 truckloads (including fuel and private sector goods) that entered every working day prior to 7 October.
The UK was among the first to call on Israel to open up Kerem Shalom fully. Israel has now decided to use the Kerem Shalom checkpoint to pre-screen trucks ahead of crossing through the Rafah checkpoint, which is welcome. This should speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza, levels of which reaching civilians remains wholly insufficient. However, we continue to call on Israel to open up Kerem Shalom fully so trucks carrying fuel and humanitarian assistance can enter directly into Gaza, as they did before the current conflict. This would be a much more significant step change.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of aid lorries that have been able to enter into Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The flow of aid into and through Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom and we are exploring maritime options. As of the 13 December, 152 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies and four tankers of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt. This is above the daily volume recorded since the resumption of hostilities on 1 December but remains well below the daily average of 500 truckloads (including fuel and private sector goods) that entered every working day prior to 7 October.
The UK was among the first to call on Israel to open up Kerem Shalom fully. Israel has now decided to use the Kerem Shalom checkpoint to pre-screen trucks ahead of crossing through the Rafah checkpoint, which is welcome. This should speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza, levels of which reaching civilians remains wholly insufficient. However, we continue to call on Israel to open up Kerem Shalom fully so trucks carrying fuel and humanitarian assistance can enter directly into Gaza, as they did before the current conflict. This would be a much more significant step change.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Legal Aid Agency's guidance entitled Housing loss prevention advice service: guidance for service providers, published on 1 August 2023, how many early legal advice claim forms submitted to his Department between 1 August 2023 and 11 December 2023 have been completed by the outcome codes listed in Annex 2.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Volume and value of HLPAS matters forms are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s official statistics. The first release of official data is scheduled for 21 December.
The figures will be in table 1.2. The breakdown for starts/completions by type of work etc. will be in the underlying Legal aid statistics data files.
The releases will then follow the publication cycle of quarterly updates and an annual release covering provider level breakdowns. The annual release is published in June of each year.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 1494 on Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, how much has been paid out to Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers for (a) early advice and (b) in court duty assistance as of 11 December 2023.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Volume and value of HLPAS matters forms are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s official statistics. The first release of official data is scheduled for 21 December.
The figures will be in table 1.2. The breakdown for starts/completions by type of work etc. will be in the underlying Legal aid statistics data files.
The releases will then follow the publication cycle of quarterly updates and an annual release covering provider level breakdowns. The annual release is published in June of each year.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 1493 on Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, what was the (a) number and (b) value of claims for in court duty assistance by Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers as of 11 December 2023.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Volume and value of HLPAS matters forms are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s official statistics. The first release of official data is scheduled for 21 December.
The figures will be in table 1.2. The breakdown for starts/completions by type of work etc. will be in the underlying Legal aid statistics data files.
The releases will then follow the publication cycle of quarterly updates and an annual release covering provider level breakdowns. The annual release is published in June of each year.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 1492 on Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service, what was the (a) number and (b) value of claims for early advice by Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers as of 11 December 2023.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Volume and value of HLPAS matters forms are published as part of the Legal Aid Agency’s official statistics. The first release of official data is scheduled for 21 December.
The figures will be in table 1.2. The breakdown for starts/completions by type of work etc. will be in the underlying Legal aid statistics data files.
The releases will then follow the publication cycle of quarterly updates and an annual release covering provider level breakdowns. The annual release is published in June of each year.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for (a) legal and (b) other expert support at benefits tribunals.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
At the First-tier Tribunal, proceedings are designed to be straightforward and accessible to all. The tribunal panel is trained and experienced in dealing with a wide range of appellants with individual needs. Accordingly, the Department does not consider that it needs to provide any advocacy funding at this level.
Legal Aid, which is administered by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), is still available for advice and assistance on welfare benefits appeals to the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. At the First-tier Tribunal, Legal Aid may be available through the exceptional case funding scheme, if failure to provide Legal Aid may risk a breach of an individual’s human rights.
At all appellate stages, claimants are able to appoint a representative to assist with their appeal and there is helpful signposting to free support available on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Home Office's publication entitled Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume 2: Emergency Response, published in November 2022, what steps she is taking to ensure Public Access Trauma kits are available in all locations where they are most likely to be needed.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department has accepted this recommendation and is working with a broad range of stakeholders, including NHS England and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, to finalise and implement an appropriate strategy to promote the use of Publicly Accessible Trauma Kits. A review of the equipment contained in the kits is also underway, in line with Recommendation 146 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume 2: Emergency Response.