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1327402

registered interest
date	24/05/2021
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Conversion Therapy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to publish the findings of her Department's research into conversion practices in the UK that was conducted in 2020.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	6400
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2021 answer text <p>As set out in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month, we will bring forward legislation to ban conversion therapy. We will also launch a consultation before details of the ban are finalised to hear from a wide range of voices on how best to protect people from conversion therapy while protecting the medical profession, defending freedom of speech, and upholding religious freedom. We are considering all options for the scope of a ban and will be engaging the appropriate stakeholders, including organisations who support survivors of conversion therapy, to gather views. We have also already met with conversion therapy survivors, to hear about their experiences.</p><p>We have also undertaken research to understand practices, experiences and impacts associated with conversion therapy and will publish this in due course. Officials are also in discussion with international policy counterparts, to fully understand the detail and impact of other jurisdictions’ measures, in order to inform the UK’s next steps.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch grouped question UIN 6208 6401 6402 question first answered 01/06/2021 15:44:16 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1316399

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
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	Food: Labelling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidential basis is for the Government's legislative proposals on introducing calorie labelling on menus as announced on 12 May 2021.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	3986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>We have been careful to consider the views of a wide range of experts in response to our public consultation on introducing mandatory out-of-home calorie labelling including representatives from eating disorder groups. The Department has also engaged with the eating disorder charity BEAT, as well as others representing the views of people living with eating disorders, on several occasions since the Government published ‘Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives’ last July.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has published an impact assessment detailing the likely effect the policy will have, including the potential effect of the policy on people living with eating disorders. This and the Government’s response to its public consultation on calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector, set out the evidence used to support the policy. The impact assessment and consultation response are available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/calorie-labelling-for-food-and-drink-served-outside-of-the-home" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/calorie-labelling-for-food-and-drink-served-outside-of-the-home</a></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 3865 3983 question first answered 24/05/2021 13:34:51 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1313359

registered interest
date	11/05/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2021 to Question 179332, whether any of the £700 million catch-up funding will be allocated specifically to tackle social isolation in disabled children as part of wider covid-19 recovery plans.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	402
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2021 answer text <p>Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are disproportionately affected by being out of education, including missing out on important social interaction with their peers. The Department has kept schools open for vulnerable children, including those with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), during periods of national lockdown.</p><p>As part of the £1.7 billion funding announced so far for education recovery, the £302 million Recovery Premium will help schools to deliver evidence-based approaches for supporting the most disadvantaged pupils. We have applied additional weighting to special schools, alternative provision and hospital schools to recognise the significantly higher per pupil costs they face. Eligible pupils attending special units within mainstream schools will also attract the higher funding rate.</p><p>All schools should use the Recovery Premium funding available to them as a single total from which to prioritise support for particular pupils, including children with SEND or education, health and care plans, according to their need.</p><p>In addition, the National Tutoring Programme is a key part of the Government’s COVID-19 catch-up response and provides additional, targeted tuition to disadvantaged children who have been hardest hit from disruption to their education as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. People with SEND aged 19 to 24 who have an EHCP will be eligible for support via the 16 to 19 tuition fund, where they meet the fund criteria. Schools are asked to have regard to the needs of students with SEND when prioritising students that would benefit most for small group tuition.</p><p>The Department is also making £200 million available to all secondary schools, including specialist schools, to deliver face to face summer schools, providing opportunities for social interaction. Summer schools funding includes an uplift for pupils in special schools, maintained units in mainstream schools and alternative provision. Guidance for schools includes advice on helping to make a summer school accessible to vulnerable children and those with additional needs.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/05/2021 16:58:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1312093

registered interest
date	26/04/2021
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	Tree Planting
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 steps his Department is taking to support scientists to bring forward alternatives to plastic tree guards.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	187294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>Over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan, we want to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste and our Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how we will achieve this and move towards a circular economy. The Government continues to monitor the development of viable alternatives to the use of plastic tree guards and is committed to encourage recycling and the more thoughtful use of resources.</p><p> </p><p>Options for protecting young trees include biodegradable tree guards, temporary fencing and wildlife management, but currently these options are less effective than plastic tree guards in deterring browsers, particularly deer.</p><p> </p><p>The forestry sector is carrying out work to develop and trial more effective biodegradable tree guards and other alternatives - the forthcoming England Trees Action Plan will look at how to support this and eliminate unnecessary plastic waste.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, current practice demands that tree guards should be retrieved after they have reached a point where they are redundant. Plans to collect and recycle the tree guards have been introduced by a number of forestry institutions.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/04/2021 13:54:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1310194

registered interest
date	19/04/2021
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	Department of Health and Social Care: Disclosure of Information
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has written guidance on cost limits to the public purse on legal proceedings over whistleblowers.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	183236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government does not issue any specific written guidance on cost limits on legal proceedings over whistleblowers.</p> answering member constituency Mid Bedfordshire answering member printed Ms Nadine Dorries question first answered 28/04/2021 14:03:05 answering member 1481 label Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1309373

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
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	BT Group: Reorganisation
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 encourage BT to resume talks with its employees on the company's restructuring plans to protect the livelihoods of key workers.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	181376
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government encourages all employers and employees to engage in dialogue. Where there is a dispute between an employer and a trade union, the Government considers that the resolution of the dispute is a matter for the parties involved. ACAS stands ready to assist the parties to resolve their dispute, should they wish it.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 23/04/2021 13:44:00 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1309052

registered interest
date	14/04/2021
answering body	COP26
answering dept id	210
answering dept short name	COP26
answering dept sort name	COP26
hansard heading	Climate Change: Industry
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the President of COP26, what steps he is taking to ensure that large polluting industries do not have an outsized influence on the climate ambition of the UK and other nations preceding and during COP26.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	181085
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>I have set climate criteria for businesses who will be involved in COP26, including for our corporate sponsorship and for those organisations which have applied for space at COP26 itself.</p><p>The climate criteria include requiring businesses to commit to the most ambitious and robust action possible, joining the Race to Zero by committing to net zero by 2050 at the latest and setting science based targets to meet this goal.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/04/2021 13:09:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1307213

registered interest
date	12/04/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions officials in his Department have had with officials in the Department for Health and Social Care on the guidance on false positive lateral flow tests that have been administered by students in a controlled environment; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the receipt of those false positive tests on the education of those students.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	179331
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Department for Education has been working with the Department of Health and Social Care to support higher education (HE) providers to deliver twice-weekly asymptomatic testing of students and staff using lateral flow device (LFD) tests.</p><p>LFD tests are a vital tool in helping to identify cases of COVID-19 and to stop the spread of the virus. With up to a third of individuals who have COVID-19 showing no symptoms and potentially spreading it without knowing, rapid LFD tests enable us to find these cases and prevent the spread of infection.</p><p> </p><p>LFD tests used by the UK government have gone through a rigorous evaluation by the country’s leading scientists. Published analysis shows that LFD tests have a very high specificity, possibly as high as 99.97%. This means fewer than one false positive in every 1,000 lateral flow tests carried out.</p><p> </p><p>No test is perfect, and to minimise the chance of false positives, confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was introduced for positive lateral flow tests when the level of prevalence of the virus is low. Confirmatory PCR tests were re-introduced on 31 March, having been temporarily paused in January, for positive LFD tests conducted at an assisted testing site, such as those at universities. Where a PCR test is taken within 2 days of a positive LFD test result and the result is negative, students and their household can stop self-isolating.</p><p> </p><p>We are working closely with the HE sector in delivering asymptomatic testing, and we understand the impact that self-isolation can have on students. For those students who do need to self-isolate at university, we are asking HE providers to ensure their students are safe and well looked after during their self-isolation period. Universities UK has also produced a checklist for HE providers to support students who are required to self-isolate. They have also produced bespoke guidance for HE providers on how to prepare for and care for students who are required to self-isolate on arrival in the UK, and we encourage HE providers to use this guidance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 20/04/2021 10:26:28 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1307770

registered interest
date	12/04/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Disabled Children’s Partnership's Report entitled The Loneliest Lockdown, what plans his Department has to tackle social isolation among disabled children.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	179332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families is a priority for this government, and their educational, physical and mental wellbeing remains central to our cross-government response to the COVID-19 outbreak. That is why education settings have remained open for children and young people with an education, health and care plan throughout periods of national lockdown.</p><p>The return to school for all pupils was prioritised due to the significant and proven impact caused by being out of school, including on wellbeing. The support schools provide to their pupils as they return to face-to-face education should include time devoted to supporting wellbeing, which will play a fundamental part in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing recovery. The expectations for schools in this regard are set out clearly in the main Department for Education guidance to schools, which also signposts further support, available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak</a>.</p><p>We have worked with our partners, including the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), Health Education England, Public Health England and other key voluntary sector organisations to deliver the Wellbeing for Education Return programme, which has provided training and resources to help school staff respond to the wellbeing and mental health needs of pupils. This £8 million government backed programme provided schools and colleges all over England with the knowledge and access to resources they need to support children and young people, teachers and parents.</p><p>The return to school on 8 March 2021 has been supported with a new £700 million package, which includes a Recovery Premium for state primary, secondary and special schools to use as they see best to support disadvantaged students. This will help schools to provide academic and pastoral support for disadvantaged pupils that has been proven most effective in helping them recover from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>£200 million will be available to all secondary schools, including specialist settings, to deliver face-to-face summer schools. Schools will be able to target provision based on pupils’ needs. The size and shape of the summer schools will be decided by school leaders who know best what the most effective summer school will look like for their pupils, allowing them to tailor support for pupils, including those with SEND.</p><p>Additionally, we have expanded the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has provided healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children since 2018. From 2021, the programme will cover the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays at a cost of up to £220 million. It will be available to children in every local authority in England, building on previous programmes and we are working to ensure that the programme is fully inclusive and accessible for children with SEND.</p><p>Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as the Education Recovery Commissioner and is considering how schools and the system can more effectively target resources and support at pupils in greatest need. Additionally, Dr Alex George was appointed on 4 February as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to advise government and raise the profile of mental health education and wellbeing in schools, colleges and universities. He will use his clinical expertise and personal experience to champion government’s work on children’s and young people’s mental health and shape policy on improving support for young people in schools, colleges and universities.</p><p>In the long term, we remain committed to our joint green paper delivery programme with DHSC and NHS England, including introducing new mental health support teams for all schools and colleges, providing training for senior mental health leads in schools and colleges, and testing approaches to faster access to NHS specialist support.</p><p>The department will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and its subsequent COVID-19 recovery plans on all pupils, including those with SEND, to ensure it targets support across the system most effectively.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 178648 question first answered 20/04/2021 12:01:58 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1306507

registered interest
date	25/03/2021
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: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2021 to Question 128169, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that (a) GPs and (b) others administering the covid-19 vaccination programme at the local level are aware that (I) people with an eating disorder may be defined as experiencing severe mental illness and (ii) carers of someone with an eating disorder may meet the definition of an adult carer specified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and therefore also require prioritisation for COVID-19 vaccination.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	175970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2021 answer text <p>The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has determined that those with severe mental illnesses (SMI) are within cohort 6 for the vaccine rollout, and we are encouraging General Practitioners (GPs) to take a similar approach for this group of people to that being proposed for people with learning disabilities, working in partnership with secondary care mental health services and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise partners to ensure appropriate outreach mechanisms are in place.</p><p>People with SMI (including people who are severely unwell with an eating disorder, who have a high or low body mass index) and their carers should receive an invitation from their GP to get their COVID-19 vaccine. This might be by letter, text message or phone, or a combination of all three. If someone is unsure if they have an SMI which falls within the official definition above, they are encouraged to contact their GP, or mental health team. GP teams are encouraged to keep prioritising people with severe mental illness, applying a flexible approach to defining SMI.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 21/04/2021 09:36:39 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse