Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Union connectivity review: final report, published on 26 November 2021, what progress he has made in implementing recommendation 3.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Union Connectivity Review was an independent review, led by Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill. We agree that high quality data across all transport modes in the UK are vital for managing capacity, ensuring safety and future transport planning. We are considering the current scope of data collection with a view to expanding it where possible and beneficial. This will include improving collaborative working with the devolved administrations on data sharing.
For example, improving the collection of UK-wide data was discussed at the Transport Inter-Ministerial Group in May. Ministers have asked officials from all administrations to conduct an audit of existing data sharing arrangements and look for areas of improvement and further collaboration.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the Teacher Regulation Agency, dated 23 May, recommending that a prohibition order should be imposed on Mr Joshua Sutcliffe.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is important that processes relating to teacher misconduct are progressed without any political involvement. Decisions on whether to progress cases are taken independently by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
An independent Professional Conduct Panel is appointed to hear cases and determine whether the evidence proves unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, or a conviction of a relevant offence. If so, the Professional Conduct Panel will make a recommendation on whether to prohibit the individual from teaching.
Following the recommendation, the decision to impose a prohibition order is taken by a senior TRA official. Although that decision is taken on behalf of the Secretary of State, neither she or any other Ministers in the department can have any involvement in these independent investigations, related processes, and decisions.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether ministers in his Department are provided with training (a) in general and (b) on the Ministerial Code.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Ministers are provided with a range of training when they enter the department. The type of training varies depending on their experience as a Minister. The Ministerial code, provided when appointed, gives advice and guidance on the standards of conduct that they are expected to uphold and the way in which they should discharge their duties. Ministers are also traditionally able to seek further advice and guidance within the department.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with Ofcom on trends in the price of 1st class stamps over the last five years.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ministers and officials have met with Ofcom to discuss a range of issues in relation to its role as the regulatory authority for the postal sector.
The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions, including the price of stamps but, in setting prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom. This framework imposes prices controls, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.
Ofcom will conduct a review of the safeguard caps that should apply from April 2024 including a consultation in 2023-24.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the rules governing visits to NHS estate during local election campaigns are for (a) government and (b) shadow ministers.
Answered by Will Quince
Guidance on conduct for civil servants during the May 2023 local election campaigns, including in relation to Ministerial visits and National Health Service property, is available at the following link:
The Government does not advise on the conduct or activities of members of opposition parties.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has approved a 2 per cent pay award for the Independent Office of Police Conduct staff.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Yes, Ministers have agreed the 2022-23 pay award for staff of the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The funding for the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is determined through an annual budget setting process (in line with the rest of Government). The IOPC are allocated funding from the Police Settlement and from core Home Office funding. In-depth consideration takes place for both involving Departmental finance specialists, senior policy and strategy officials and Ministers agreeing, with input from the IOPC, the appropriate budget for them to undertake their role effectively.
The financial performance of the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) and any pressures and opportunities are then discussed regularly with Home Office officials, alongside consideration of IOPC performance against its objectives. Decisions are taken at a senior level as to whether any additional funding is required to fulfil the IOPC’s objectives and requirements.
The process for funding for 2023/24 is near conclusion. As announced in December, IOPC’s funding from the annual Police settlement will remain level for 2023/24 recognising the importance of ensuring that they are appropriately funded for their work.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary has confirmed that there will be formal review of the IOPC’s effectiveness this year, as part of the Cabinet Office’s programme of reviews of Government bodies.
Home Office Ministers gave evidence to the recent HASC inquiry on police conduct and complaints, including on the IOPC. The IOPC reports annually to the Home Secretary and performance is monitored through-out the year.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she last discussed the work of the Independent Office for Police Conduct with the Welsh Government.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with counterparts in the Welsh Government on various relevant issues. The IOPC’s effectiveness will be reviewed this year and the Welsh Government will be given an opportunity to input.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
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 Financial Conduct Authority's report entitled Report on insurance for multi‑occupancy buildings, published in September 2022, if he will take steps to implement that report's recommendations; and what steps he plans to take to reduce insurance premium costs for leaseholders in multi-occupancy buildings.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
On the 30 January 2023, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced that we will take action to ban property managing agents, landlords and freeholders from receiving commissions and other payments from insurance firms, replacing such payments with more transparent fees.
Leaseholders will also have more information to enable them to better scrutinise their insurance costs, while also ensuring that leaseholders are not subject to unjustified legal costs and that they can claim their legal costs back from their landlord.
The FCA are currently undertaking their own review of high broker commission identified in their 21 September report which will be published in March 2023. I intend to meet the FCA again to discuss their work.
On 1 December, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) confirmed they are working to launch a scheme to reduce high premiums for those in buildings with significant fire safety issues. Ministers will continue to monitor the progress of the scheme and have made clear that they expect the scheme to be delivered as soon as is feasible to provide urgent assistance to affected buildings.