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1690164

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Afghanistan: Refugees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many visas have been issued to members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy as of 19 February 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	14769
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 11984.</p><p> </p><p>The hon. Member should also note that the Home Office are responsible for issuing visas to ARAP eligible principal applicants and their family members, once further security checks have been conducted in line with existing immigration rules.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 27/02/2024 14:45:30 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey attachment 1 file name UIN 11984.docx title Afghanistan: Refugees
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1689439

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent progress his Department has made on ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement; and what his latest estimate is of the timescale for ratification.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	14338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The UK was pleased to be among the first signatories to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement when it opened for signature at the UN on 20 September 2023 and the Agreement was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 16 October 2023. Work is in hand on the legislation and other measures needed to translate the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement into UK law before we can ratify the Agreement, which will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 26/02/2024 17:41:36 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1689448

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	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	Epilepsy: Cannabis
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she expects the randomised controlled trials to test medicinal cannabis for adults and children with epilepsy to begin; which NHS Trusts will be participating in these trials; how many patients will be involved in the trials; and whether patients will be approached to participate.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	14347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2024 answer text <p>The Department, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is developing a programme of two randomised controlled trials to test the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis products to treat epilepsy in adults and children. The trials will start as soon as possible, and results will be published once the trials have been completed and the findings peer reviewed. The trial details are in development.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 21/02/2024 16:02:23 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1688612

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Health and Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help improve workplace safety on farms.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13837
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>The safety and health of people at work in agriculture is a concern to the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) and the industry. HSE has a long-term strategy to drive up industry ownership of the challenge and influence farmer behaviour. Since 2018 we have had an annual programme of delivering training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. This sits alongside specific interventions on transport, cattle, and falls: the three main areas responsible for farm workplace deaths. HSE continues engagement activity with a full range of stakeholders through the Farm Safety Partnerships. The latest work has covered child safety, management of cattle in fields with public rights of way, safe use of quad bikes and farm transport. HSE regularly holds formal consultation with the industry about its initiatives through an industry advisory committee.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 19/02/2024 14:08:07 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1688613

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment on the level of (a) training and (b) guidance provided to teachers on autism in girls.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>The department is committed to ensuring that all pupils can reach their potential and receive excellent support from their teachers. Therefore, consideration of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) underpins both the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF) and Early Career Framework (ECF) which set out the entitlement of trainee teachers and early career teachers (ECTs) to the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching. To identify opportunities to build teacher expertise, the department reviewed the CCF alongside the ECF during 2023, combining an Education Endowment Foundation-assured review of the ‘Learn that’ statements and underpinning CCF and ECF evidence with evaluation data, lessons learned from the first years of implementation, and extensive expert and sector feedback including from SEND specialists. This included a public call for evidence. Following this review, the updated and combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) was published on 30 January 2024, for delivery from September 2025.</p><p>The department's review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. The ITTECF is based on the best peer-reviewed evidence about what works, and it is designed to emphasise the importance of high-quality teaching. The framework therefore deliberately does not detail approaches specific to particular additional needs, such as autism, but what makes the most effective teaching. During the review, the department tested this approach with SEND educational experts, with consensus that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ would be the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with Special Educational Needs.</p><p>The department’s Universal Services contract brings together SEND-specific training and support for staff working in schools and further education. It aims to improve outcomes for children and young people through one programme which reaches 70% of schools and colleges in England per year. The contract offers autism awareness training and resources, which align with the national all-age autism strategy and its ambition to improve autistic children and young people’s access to education and support positive transitions into adulthood. Over 135,000 professionals have undertaken autism awareness training since the Universal Services programme began in May 2022. More information on the strategy can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026</a>.</p><p>The large majority of pupils diagnosed with autism as their primary type of need are boys. However, there is emerging research and awareness on the different presentation of autism traits according to gender and the late, under and misdiagnosis of girls and women. This gender imbalance is greater for autism than for any other primary type of need. To help raise awareness of this imbalance, the Universal Services autism awareness training addresses autism in girls and helps education staff understand more about how autism may present differently in girls.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 19/02/2024 17:01:55 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1688615

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Rodents: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of legislation on the welfare of (a) pet and (b) wild rodents.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to take positive action to protect the welfare of companion animals - including rabbits and pet rodents such as gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 regulations) require anyone who is in the business of selling rodents as pets to obtain a valid licence from their local authority.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 amended the 2006 Act to deliver the Government's manifesto commitment to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. Anyone who is cruel to an animal (including domestic rabbits and pet rodents) faces being sent to prison for up to five years, or receiving an unlimited fine, or both. This strengthened measure sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.</p><p> </p><p>Advice is available to educate pet owners on providing for the welfare needs of their pet, including fact sheets produced by the Royal Veterinary College.</p><p> </p><p>We also have legislation in place regarding the welfare of wild rodents. A number of native wild species of rodent such as Hazel Dormouse, Red Squirrel, and Water Vole are afforded full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to intentionally: kill, injure or take them. The welfare of all rodents is protected under both the Wild Mammals Act 1996 which makes certain acts of deliberate harm illegal and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it unlawful for wild rodents to be subject to unnecessary suffering while under human control. Further to this, through the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, the Government is banning the use of glue traps in England in all but the most exceptional circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/02/2024 09:47:05 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1688616

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Farmers: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department's guidance to officials visiting farms about (a) farmers' mental health, (b) signs of concern, (c) early intervention and (d) avenues of support.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Mental health provision is a matter for the Department for Health and Social Care. In working with farmers Defra takes very seriously the need to support farmers' health.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the importance of giving field officers the appropriate tools to be able to support farmers. There are processes in place across Defra to ensure officials visiting farms have adequate guidance about farmers’ mental health, signs of concern, early intervention and avenues of support.</p><p> </p><p>The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has rolled out mental health training for new and existing field officers and visit support staff, which all staff in RPA will have completed by the end of March 2024. Alongside this, staff are also having training on customer vulnerability which will help them to be able to effectively signpost to farming welfare organisations. RPA helpline staff have all undertaken mental health training which is in the process of being refreshed in close collaboration with the Farming Community Network (FCN). Similar training is in place for all Environment Agency officers who are engaged in regulatory inspections of farms, and Animal and Plant Health Agency staff are also engaging with local FCN representatives to share best practice.</p><p> </p><p>We think we can do even more to make sure that we provide the right help and support to farmers when they need it. The Secretary of State has announced that work will be taken forward across all of Defra group to improve the relationships with farmers. As part of this work, we will explore opportunities to make our processes and training more consistent.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/02/2024 11:06:20 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1691001

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Sports: Girls
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to help encourage girls' participation in grassroots sport.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	901494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone can be active.</p><p>Our sport strategy, Get Active, includes the target of getting 1.25 million more women active by 2030. This will be supported by over £600 million to boost equal access in school sport. In addition, the £30 million Lionesses Futures Fund will deliver up to 30 artificial pitches across the country, creating opportunities to play for almost 8,000 women and girls.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 22/02/2024 16:03:57 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1687534

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2024
	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	Mental Health Services: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the adequacy of the provision of mental health services in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2024 answer text <p>While there are no plans for a specific assessment, the Government remains committed to supporting rural communities, as set out in its Unleashing Rural Opportunity report, published in June 2023. Since the launch of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry into Rural Mental Health in 2021, considerable progress has been made to help ensure access to mental health services in rural areas, as outlined in the Government's response to the committee in November 2023.</p><p>Notably, since 2018, we have invested an extra £2.3 billion a year to expand mental health services in England, with the aim of enabling two million more people, including those in rural areas, to access mental health support by March 2024.</p><p>Integrated care boards (ICB) are responsible for decisions about the provision of services in their area and on how funding allocations should be used to meet the needs of people in their areas. There are a range of adjustments made in the ICB allocations formula to account for how the costs of providing health care may vary between different types of rural and urban areas. We expect all ICBs to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard, increasing their mental health spend in line with their overall funding allocations.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 13/02/2024 16:03:13 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1687535

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Farmers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) literacy levels, (b) learning disabilities, (c) internet access and (d) the (i) length and (ii) number of communications on the accessibility of her Department's communications to farmers.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2024 answer text <p>During the agricultural transition we are supporting farmers and land managers with varying rates in literacy and internet capabilities through the changes. The October 2023 Farmer Opinion Tracker (published 7 February 2024) found farmers on 74% of holdings said they either had all or most of the information they need for business planning; or that they knew where they could find information.</p><p> </p><p>We test the readability and users’ understanding of content language via user research panels made up of farmers and in consultation with farming membership bodies and charities.</p><p> </p><p>To further ensure our offer is accessible we have provided free support to over 18,000 farmers through the Farming Resilience Fund. The support has included group workshops, one-to-one advice from experts and farm visits.</p><p> </p><p>We have also funded the Farming Advice Service which provides free, confidential advice both in person and over the phone to help farmers and land managers in England understand farming policy and their legal requirements.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 12/02/2024 16:36:15 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke