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1027375

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Vetting: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to reduce waiting times for checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service; and what support is being given to local police forces to help with the workload these checks require of them.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202698
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) process over 4 million checks every year and operate to published service standards set out here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-business-plan-2018-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-business-plan-2018-2019</a> The Home Office, as the sponsoring Department for the DBS, monitors performance to track attainment of these standards.</p><p>The Home Office has published statutory guidance to assist chief officers of police to provide the correct information for enhanced criminal record certificates. The guidance is published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-disclosure-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-disclosure-guidance</a></p><p>The DBS monitor and work closely with local police forces to minimise any delays to applications being processed. All police force disclosure unit performance data is published in line with DBS’ publication scheme. This can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-5-police-disclosure-unit-performance%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-5-police-disclosure-unit-performance </a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/12/2018 16:37:36 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027389

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Nurses: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many complaints have been received by NHS Business Services Authority in relation to the removal of the Special Class Status of nurses in each region.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202699
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Special Class Status allows an NHS Pension Scheme member to retire from the age of 55 with an unreduced pension, was abolished for all new members from 6 March 1995. Special Class Status continues to apply to 1995 Scheme members with full protection and to 1995 Scheme/2015 Scheme transition members though only in respect of the 1995 Scheme pension benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS Business Services Authority administers the NHS Pension Scheme in England and Wales has confirmed that the requested information is not readily available, and is not held on a regional basis. In order to obtain the requested information, the NHS Business Services Authority would need to manually interrogate all records for members whose employment type includes nurses, then identify those who were afforded Special Class Status. The NHS Business Services Authority would then need to identify members who are no longer afforded Special Class Status and who have made a complaint.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 20/12/2018 16:20:25 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027397

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Nurses: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether requirement were placed on the NHS Business Services Authority or its predecessor organisations to inform nurses on (a) changes to and (b) the removal of Special Class Status.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2018 answer text <p>When Special Class Status was withdrawn for new members from 6 March 1995, the NHS Pensions Agency which was an Executive Agency of the Department, issued guidance in December 1994 to inform members of changes to Special Class Status.</p><p> </p><p>It is for employers to decide locally how they communicate changes to the NHS Pension Scheme to their staff, including changes to Special Class Status. In accordance with the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations, employers are required to keep accurate and up to date local pension records and to submit an annual pension return in respect of every employee to the Scheme manager within two months of pension year end.</p><p> </p><p>At the inception of the 2015 Scheme, the NHS Business Service Authority published the following guidance on changes to Special Class Status for members moving between Schemes:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2018-10/Special%20Class%20status%20member%20factsheet-20181017-%28V7%29%20.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2018-10/Special%20Class%20status%20member%20factsheet-20181017-%28V7%29%20.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The NHS Business Services Authority Functions Directions 2016[1] require the NHS Business Services Authority to exercise on behalf of the Secretary of State all functions relating to the NHS Pension Schemes that are conferred upon the Secretary of State, with the exception of making scheme regulations and directions. Specifically, the Directions require the NHS Business Services Authority to provide advice and guidance to employers operating within the schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Note:</p><p><sup>1</sup><a href="https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2017-02/Section_2_-_B1_NHSBSA_Directions_2016.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2017-02/Section_2_-_B1_NHSBSA_Directions_2016.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 21/12/2018 13:40:27 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027400

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	NHS: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which groups of NHS workers, excluding nurses, are entitled to Special Class Status; and whether those groups have been subject to changes to their retirement age.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2018 answer text <p>Special Class Status is a reserved right that permits eligible members of the 1995 NHS Pension Scheme to retire from age 55 with an unreduced pension. The right is available for nurses, physiotherapists, midwives, health visitors and mental health officers who joined the scheme before 6 March 1995 and have not subsequently had a break in membership of over five years. It is a conditional right, which in the case of nurses requires the individual to be employed continuously in a nursing role for the five years immediately preceding the date of retirement.</p><p> </p><p>The right was withdrawn for new members from 6 March 1995. Staff in the 1995 NHS Pension Scheme who did not acquire or satisfy the conditions for Special Class Status have a normal scheme retirement age of 60. Subsequent reforms saw new NHS Pension Schemes introduced in 2008 and 2015 with a later retirement age of 65 and state pension age respectively for all staff in those schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Upon introduction of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme, transitional arrangements permitted staff closest to retirement to continue accruing pension in the closed 1995 Scheme. A small number of 1995 Scheme members with Special Class Status were too young to benefit from this protection and therefore transferred to the 2015 Scheme for future service. Such members can claim their 1995 Scheme pension accrued prior to transfer, on a Special Class basis from age 55 should they satisfy the conditions. The pension built up under the 2015 has a retirement age equal to the member’s state pension age.</p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 21/12/2018 13:42:50 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027298

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Schools: Notice Boards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will meet with the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor to discuss issuing strategic advice and guidance for (a) fire and rescue authorities and (b) local education authorities on the installation and inspection of school classroom notice boards to ensure they are legally compliant with respect to fire standards.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2018 answer text <p>The role of Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser was abolished in 2017.</p><p>The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 places a responsibility on manufacturers to put only safe products on to the market. Products, and their constituent materials, must be safe for any reasonable foreseeable use.</p><p>Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person (usually the owner, employer or managing agent) is required to ensure adequate fire protection measures are in place and maintained appropriately. To help responsible persons identify and mitigate fire risk and comply with the provisions of the Order, Government has made available guidance, including a specific guide for education premises, which is available here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premises." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premises.</a></p><p>Additional guidance on design for fire safety in schools, known as Building Bulletin 100, was published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families in 2007 and refers to the safe use of notice boards. The guide is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools." target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.</a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 21/12/2018 15:57:59 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027297

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Notice Boards: Fire Regulations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require companies manufacturing notice boards for schools, colleges and universities to promote clear information on the product’s compliance with fire standards.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202696
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 any product that is intended for or likely to be used by consumers, including where the product was originally intended for professional use, must be safe before it can be placed on to the market.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 producers and importers are responsible for any damage caused by an unsafe product. This will apply to any noticeboards which are for sale to businesses or public bodies, for use at work. Products used in the workplace by workers are also subject to health and safety legislation.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to legislate to require mandatory information on compliance with specific standards to be provided by manufacturers of noticeboards.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 20/12/2018 17:48:30 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027242

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance he provides to the higher education sector on providing a safe and understanding environment for students who (a) have existing and (b) develop mental health conditions at college.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Mental health is a priority for this government, which is why the government is working closely with Universities UK on embedding the Step Change programme within the sector. Step Change calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority. Step Change also advocates a whole-institution approach to transform cultures and embed mental health initiatives beyond student services teams.</p><p>The University Mental Health Charter announced in June 2018 is backed by the government and led by the sector, and will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. The charter will reward institutions that deliver improved student mental health outcomes.</p><p>UK Research and Innovation launched eight new mental health networks in September, including the SMARTEN Network. This will work with researchers with a range of expertise and key stakeholders across the Higher Education sector to improve the understanding of student mental health.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 202695 question first answered 20/12/2018 16:45:45 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1027243

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has (a) commissioned and (b) funded an assessment of the correlation between student mental health and (i) the number of contact hours they have and (ii) other aspects of the type of course they study; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	202695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Mental health is a priority for this government, which is why the government is working closely with Universities UK on embedding the Step Change programme within the sector. Step Change calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority. Step Change also advocates a whole-institution approach to transform cultures and embed mental health initiatives beyond student services teams.</p><p>The University Mental Health Charter announced in June 2018 is backed by the government and led by the sector, and will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. The charter will reward institutions that deliver improved student mental health outcomes.</p><p>UK Research and Innovation launched eight new mental health networks in September, including the SMARTEN Network. This will work with researchers with a range of expertise and key stakeholders across the Higher Education sector to improve the understanding of student mental health.</p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore grouped question UIN 202694 question first answered 20/12/2018 16:45:45 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew