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1355286

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Housing: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to increase the supply of specialist housing for the elderly.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49106
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2021 answer text <p>Offering vulnerable people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them live independently and feel more connected to their communities. This Government is committed to the provision of suitable homes for older people, including extra care housing, which contributes to levelling up across communities. Housing-with-care allows individuals to choose where they want to live, with whom, how they can best be supported, and what happens in their home. Both the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department of Health and Social Care provide capital funding to incentivise their supply. Our planning rules already mean councils must consider the needs of older people when planning for new homes. In 2019, we published guidance to help councils implement the National Planning Policy Framework policies.</p><p>We are investing over £12 billion in affordable housing over 5 years, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. This includes the new £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, where 10 per cent of delivery over the course of the programme will be used to increase the supply of much needed specialist or supported housing, including retirement housing. The Department of Health and Social Care are also continuing to subsidise new supply of specialist housing for older and disabled people through the Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) Fund.</p><p>The Government's plan for health and social care, announced on Tuesday 7 September, also recognised the important role of housing, and supported housing in particular, in providing care and support to people in the community.</p><p>We continue to work closely with the older people's housing sector and across Government to look at how we can further support its growth. I look forward to engaging with representatives in the sector further and value their insight.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher grouped question UIN 49065 question first answered 22/09/2021 16:06:54 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355333

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Sheltered Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will provide guidance to local authorities on planning provision for extra care housing communities,
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2021 answer text <p>This Government is committed to the provision of suitable homes for older people, including extra care housing, which contributes to levelling up across communities.</p><p>Our planning rules already mean councils must consider the needs of older people when planning for new homes. In 2019, we published guidance to help councils implement the National Planning Policy Framework policies.</p><p>We continue to work closely with the older people's housing sector and across Government to look at how we can further support its growth. I look forward to engaging with representatives in the sector further and value their insight.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 22/09/2021 16:03:34 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355398

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Food
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a 12-month covid-19 recovery visa for people involved in the food and drinks sector supply chains.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49108
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government position remains we will not be introducing a short-term visa route allowing recruitment at or near the minimum wage with no work-based training requirements, such as the ‘Covid recovery visa’ which has been suggested.</p><p>Most of the solutions for labour shortages are likely to be driven by industry, with a big push towards improving pay, conditions and diversity needed. This includes business facing recruitment issues engaging with the Department for Work and Pensions about the support they can provide, rather than turning to the Home Office for immigration based solutions instead.</p><p>The UK labour market has changed rapidly in recent months and we need time to monitor the impact of the new Skilled Worker route, as well as how the economy recovers post-Covid 19<em> </em>including those individuals who will begin returning to the labour market from the furlough scheme.</p><p>The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found some roles in the food production, supply and agricultural sectors meet the RQF3 skills threshold for the Skilled Worker route so are eligible to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa and can therefore be recruited on global basis. The threshold was previously set at degree-level jobs. Modelling by the MAC suggests the new, broader RQF3 threshold strikes a reasonable balance between controlling immigration and business access to labour.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 20/09/2021 12:04:07 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355400

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will conduct a review of the Apprenticeship Levy focused on what further potential flexibility for businesses can be introduced into the scheme.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49109
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2021 answer text <p>In response to employer feedback, we are continuing to improve apprenticeships, making them more flexible for employers and making it easier for employers to make greater use of their levy funds.</p><p>The department is making it easier for large employers to transfer levy funds to support new starts in small businesses, or in a certain sector or region. On 13 September 2021, we launched a new online service to allow levy paying employers to advertise funding pledges, enabling a much wider range of businesses to browse and apply for available funds.</p><p>In addition, the department is making apprenticeships more flexible so that they better meet the needs of employers in all sectors. We are encouraging greater use of innovative apprenticeship training models, such as the front-loading of off-the-job training so apprentices can be productive from day one in the workplace. We are also developing accelerated apprenticeships so that apprentices with substantial prior learning from other skills programmes, such as traineeships and T Levels, can complete an apprenticeship more quickly.</p><p>In August, the department launched a new £7 million flexi-job apprenticeship fund to support greater use of apprenticeships in sectors, such as creative and construction, where flexible working practices are commonplace. Flexi-job apprenticeships will enable apprentices to move between different host employers in a sector or region as they complete the training requirements for their apprenticeship.</p><p>The department currently has no plans to review the apprenticeship levy and what funds can be spent on.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 22/09/2021 15:37:35 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355441

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
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	Coronavirus: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has placed advance purchase orders for (a) next-generation universal coronavirus or (b) nasal-spray covid-19 vaccines.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49110
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2021 answer text <p>The UK government has secured early access to 332 million vaccines doses through supply agreements with five separate vaccine developers. This includes agreements with:</p><ul><li>Pfizer/BioNTech for 135​ million doses</li><li>University of Oxford/AstraZeneca for 100 million doses</li><li>Moderna for 17 million doses</li><li>Novavax for 60 million doses</li><li>Janssen for 20 million doses.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We have not purchased any next-generation universal coronavirus or nasal-spray covid-19 vaccines; however, the Vaccine Taskforce keeps our portfolio and emerging vaccines under review.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 22/09/2021 16:41:14 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355442

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
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	Coronavirus: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is (a) funding or (b) plans to fund the development of emerging covid-19 antibody therapy drugs (i) Ronapreve, (ii) Sotrovimab and (iii) AstraZeneca’s AZD7442.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2021 answer text <p>We are monitoring clinical trials and development of monoclonal antibodies including Ronapreve, Sotrovimab and AZD7442.</p><p>Ronapreve was part of the Government supported RECOVERY trial and in August the Medicines and althcare products Regulatory Agency approved Ronapreve as the first neutralising monoclonal antibody combination product for use in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. While we have not funded the development of Sotrovimab or AZD7442, company-funded trials for AZD7442 were prioritised by the National Institute for Health Research as urgent public health COVID-19 studies.</p> answering member constituency Erewash answering member printed Maggie Throup question first answered 11/10/2021 13:56:40 answering member 4447 label Biography information for Maggie Throup
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355443

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
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	Coronavirus: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has (a) funded or (b) has plans to fund the development of the antiviral treatment for covid-19 Pfizer’s PF-07321332/Ritonavir.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2021 answer text <p>We have monitored company trials and development of a number of antivirals including Pfizer’s PF-07321332/Ritonavir but are not funding development. We are in contact with a number of manufacturers to ensure that United Kingdom patients have access to COVID-19 antivirals as evidence emerges.</p> answering member constituency Erewash answering member printed Maggie Throup question first answered 11/10/2021 13:59:50 answering member 4447 label Biography information for Maggie Throup
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355446

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
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	Coronavirus: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has ordered doses of the covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment Sotrovimab produced by GSK.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government has entered into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for the procurement of 100,008 doses of sotrovimab.</p><p><br>This procurement is subject to independent approval of sotrovimab by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency who will assess the medicine for safety and efficacy for treatment of COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Erewash answering member printed Maggie Throup question first answered 11/10/2021 14:05:25 answering member 4447 label Biography information for Maggie Throup
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355448

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Ventilation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to improve ventilation in schools to inhibit the spread of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2021 answer text <p>On 21 August, the department announced that carbon dioxide monitors will be provided to all state-funded nurseries, schools, and colleges from September. Backed by a £25 million government investment, the new monitors will enable staff to act quickly where ventilation is poor and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working.</p><p>The programme will provide nurseries, schools, and colleges with sufficient monitors to take representative readings from across the indoor spaces in their estate, assessing all spaces in a relatively short space of time. On 6 September, the department also provided new information to settings on how to use CO2 monitors to better manage ventilation.</p><p>The department has committed to supplying around 300,000 carbon dioxide monitors across England in the Autumn term. From 6 September, the department started to despatch carbon dioxide monitors to special schools and alternative provision, who have been prioritised to receive their full allocation given their higher-than-average numbers of vulnerable pupils.</p><p>The government has also launched a trial of air purifiers in 30 schools in Bradford, which is designed to assess the technology in schools and whether they could reduce the risk of transmission.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 20/09/2021 16:15:45 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1355456

registered interest
date	14/09/2021
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	Business: Ventilation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to inform businesses in the (a) retail, (b) hospitality and (c) leisure sectors of the role of ventilation in inhibiting the spread of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	49115
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2021 answer text <p>The Working Safely <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19" target="_blank">guidance</a> encourages businesses to ensure that their ventilation is adequate as a mitigation against COVID-19. We have amplified messages around ventilation through our wider engagement with businesses including regular discussions with sector bodies and meetings with business representatives.</p><p> </p><p>Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also used existing communication routes to direct members of their Hospitality Industry Liaison Forum to their ventilation guidance. To increase messaging impact, BEIS added a link to a HSE video on ventilation to our Working Safely guidance. Our guidance is kept under constant review and is updated when new evidence arises.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 20/09/2021 16:32:31 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker