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1713139

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Palliative Care: Integrated Care Boards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that integrated care boards have clear accountability over their funding decisions for (a) hospices and (b) palliative and end of life care services.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for determining the level of locally available, National Health Service funded palliative and end of life care, including hospice care. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.</p><p>The majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by NHS staff and services. However, we also recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, play in providing support to people at end of life, and their families. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding hospices receive is dependent on many factors, including what other statutory services are available within the ICB footprint. Charitable hospices provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this.</p><p>In July 2022, NHS England published statutory guidance and service specifications for commissioners on palliative and end of life care, setting out the considerations for ICBs to meet their legal duties, and making clear reference to the importance of access to services.</p><p>The Department and NHS England, alongside key partners, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face, including that of future funding pressures. The Department is in ongoing discussions with NHS England, including its National Clinical Director, about the oversight and accountability of National Health Service palliative and end of life care commissioning.</p><p>From April 2024, NHS England will include palliative and end of life care in the list of topics for its regular performance discussions between national and regional leads. These national meetings will provide an additional mechanism for supporting ICBs in continuing to improve palliative and end of life care for their local population.</p><p>NHS England has commissioned the development of a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of those in their local population, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities. Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has established a new Policy Research Unit to build an evidence base on palliative and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately grouped question UIN 23229 23232 question first answered 26/04/2024 09:56:37 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713141

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Palliative Care: Integrated Care Boards
	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 provide financial support to integrated care boards to tackle regional inequalities in (a) hospice, (b) palliative and (c) end of life care services.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for determining the level of locally available, National Health Service funded palliative and end of life care, including hospice care. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.</p><p>The majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by NHS staff and services. However, we also recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, play in providing support to people at end of life, and their families. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding hospices receive is dependent on many factors, including what other statutory services are available within the ICB footprint. Charitable hospices provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this.</p><p>In July 2022, NHS England published statutory guidance and service specifications for commissioners on palliative and end of life care, setting out the considerations for ICBs to meet their legal duties, and making clear reference to the importance of access to services.</p><p>The Department and NHS England, alongside key partners, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face, including that of future funding pressures. The Department is in ongoing discussions with NHS England, including its National Clinical Director, about the oversight and accountability of National Health Service palliative and end of life care commissioning.</p><p>From April 2024, NHS England will include palliative and end of life care in the list of topics for its regular performance discussions between national and regional leads. These national meetings will provide an additional mechanism for supporting ICBs in continuing to improve palliative and end of life care for their local population.</p><p>NHS England has commissioned the development of a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of those in their local population, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities. Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has established a new Policy Research Unit to build an evidence base on palliative and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately grouped question UIN 23228 23232 question first answered 26/04/2024 09:56:37 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713142

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Palliative Care: Health Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to increase health literacy for services to support people at the end of life.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The National Health Service website and the NHS App are our main digital tools available to citizens, to support them in accessing services and making decisions about their health. Clinicians across the NHS also support patients’ health literacy by providing clear information, increasing patients’ knowledge, and sharing decision-making on their care.</p><p>Additionally, through the Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme, the Department, NHS England, and the UK Health Security Agency work together with VCSE organisations to drive transformation of health and care systems, promote equality, address health inequalities, and help people, families, and communities to achieve and maintain wellbeing. The current projects include increasing health literacy through intersectional considerations at the end of life, digital inclusion, and barriers for those likely to be in the last year of life without a life-limiting diagnosis.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 26/04/2024 10:05:06 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713143

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Palliative Care
	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 take steps to ensure that best practice in palliative and end of life care is shared across the NHS.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises that access to high-quality palliative and end of life care can make all the difference to individuals and their loved ones. NHS England meets regularly with regional and system leaders, providing a forum for the sharing of best practice. In addition, there is a palliative and end of life care workspace available on the FutureNHS Collaborative Platform, which includes a range of resources, case studies, and discussion fora, with access to the platform available for anyone with a NHS.net email account.</p><p>NHS England has developed a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of their local population, enabling integrated care boards (ICBs) to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities, and ensure that funding is distributed fairly, based on prevalence.</p><p>As of April 2024, NHS England is including palliative and end of life care in the list of topics for regular performance discussions between national and regional leads. These meetings will provide an additional mechanism for supporting ICBs to continue improving palliative and end of life care for their local population.</p><p>The Ambitions Framework, refreshed by the National Palliative and End of Life Care Partnership, which is made up of NHS England and 34 partner organisations with experience of, and responsibility for, end of life care, sets out the vision to improve end of life care through partnership and collaborative action between organisations at local level throughout England, by setting out six key ambitions.</p><p>Furthermore, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance and quality standards on end of life care for adults, and children and young people. These are based on best practice in developing and delivering care and, while not statutory, there is an expectation that commissioners and service providers take the guidelines into account when making decisions about how to best meet the needs of their local communities.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 26/04/2024 10:37:37 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713145

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Palliative Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions she has had with (a) clinicians, (b) hospice leaders and (c) academics on future funding requirements for hospice and end of life care.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23232
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for determining the level of locally available, National Health Service funded palliative and end of life care, including hospice care. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.</p><p>The majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by NHS staff and services. However, we also recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, play in providing support to people at end of life, and their families. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding hospices receive is dependent on many factors, including what other statutory services are available within the ICB footprint. Charitable hospices provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this.</p><p>In July 2022, NHS England published statutory guidance and service specifications for commissioners on palliative and end of life care, setting out the considerations for ICBs to meet their legal duties, and making clear reference to the importance of access to services.</p><p>The Department and NHS England, alongside key partners, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face, including that of future funding pressures. The Department is in ongoing discussions with NHS England, including its National Clinical Director, about the oversight and accountability of National Health Service palliative and end of life care commissioning.</p><p>From April 2024, NHS England will include palliative and end of life care in the list of topics for its regular performance discussions between national and regional leads. These national meetings will provide an additional mechanism for supporting ICBs in continuing to improve palliative and end of life care for their local population.</p><p>NHS England has commissioned the development of a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of those in their local population, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities. Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has established a new Policy Research Unit to build an evidence base on palliative and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately grouped question UIN 23228 23229 question first answered 26/04/2024 09:56:37 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713195

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Flood Control: Yorkshire and the Humber
	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 he will work with metro mayors to create a plan for flooding across Yorkshire.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Lead Local Flood Authorities have a duty to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area, and the Government is supportive of them working together to deliver shared mitigations for a wider area.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to reform the current approach to local flood risk planning by 2026, ensuring every area of England will have a more strategic and comprehensive plan that drives long-term local action and investment and supports a catchment-based approach. To strengthen collaboration, we will encourage flood and coastal erosion risk management activities across local authority boundaries and explore options to join up flood resilience with other responsibilities held by Mayors or Combined Authorities.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s six-year £200 million flood and coastal innovation programme (FCIP), £8 million is allocated to four adaptation pathways to support work in the Thames and Humber estuaries, the Severn Valley and Yorkshire to trial and develop ways of planning ahead and making wise investment choices for the decades to come in the face of the long-term uncertainties brought by climate change. The West Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (WYAP) project is developing a community-scale surface water flood risk adaptation plan for a town in West Yorkshire. The South Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (SYAP) project aims to develop an adaptation pathway plan for South Yorkshire which will ensure that all decision-making on, and implementation of, long-term, future adaptation is as efficient and effective as possible.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/04/2024 09:00:11 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1712821

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Intensive Care: Rehabilitation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department provides to NHS trusts on ensuring that patients transitioning from intensive care units to hospital wards receive the necessary specialist care on those wards.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>A quality standard for patient transfers, from critical care to general wards, has been published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and endorsed by NHS England. The quality standard, which emphasises the importance of continuity in rehabilitation, is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs158/chapter/Quality-statement-2-Transfer-from-critical-care-to-a-general-ward" target="_blank">https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs158/chapter/Quality-statement-2-Transfer-from-critical-care-to-a-general-ward</a></p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 25/04/2024 09:29:44 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1712822

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Intensive Care: Rehabilitation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that intensive therapy unit patients have access to rehabilitative therapies on their discharge from hospital.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Rehabilitation, and therapy-led reablement, are critical in ensuring that patients discharged on intermediate care pathways from acute settings receive appropriate support to recover.</p><p>As set out in the hospital discharge and community support guidance, local authorities and integrated care boards should ensure that, where appropriate, they commission rehabilitation, including therapy-led reablement, for those who need it.</p><p>Every acute hospital now has access to a care transfer hub. These hubs bring together professionals from the National Health Service and social care to ensure that patients with more complex needs have in place the most appropriate support package for their safe discharge.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 25/04/2024 11:00:07 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1712825

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Health Services: Rehabilitation
	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 amend the NHS Constitution to ensure that rehabilitation is seen as the third pillar of healthcare.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22973
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government will shortly be consulting on specific changes to the NHS Constitution, in addition to seeking views on the NHS Constitution as a whole. Feedback submitted will be considered during the post-consultation review. The Government will endeavour to issue a response 12 weeks after the consultation has closed.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 25/04/2024 15:57:27 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1712826

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Health Services: Rehabilitation
	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 develop a (a) rehabilitation strategy and (b) single accountable lead in every NHS Trust and Integrated Care Board area.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22974
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>National Health Service bodies and local authorities should ensure local recovery, rehabilitation, and reablement services are commissioned effectively and sustainably, and meet the needs of their local population. This may be provided as part of intermediate care services, and should be done in collaboration with relevant organisations, including the voluntary and community sector, and care providers.</p><p>NHS England has published the Intermediate care framework for rehabilitation, reablement and recovery following hospital discharge, which recommends systems identify an Allied Health Professional lead to progress implementation of the new model, both within the hospital and in the community.</p><p>Integrated care boards have flexibility over the arrangements of their own governance, including board membership, and are able to go beyond the statutory minimums to appoint more local authority, NHS provider, or primary care representatives to board membership, in order to tackle local priority issues.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 25/04/2024 10:56:55 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1712833

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Universal Credit: Lone Parents
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation report entitled Guarantee our Essentials, published on 27 February 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of that report's findings on levels of essential costs for single parent families claiming Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22980
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 24/04/2024 15:01:29 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702424

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the amount that local authorities have spent on repairing potholes (a) nationally and (b) in York in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority, such as the City of York Council, to maintain and manage the highway network they are responsible for. The Government provides highway maintenance and other funding to local authorities but does not collect data on how much each one spends on repairing potholes: this is a matter for each local highway authority.</p><p> </p><p>In 2023/24, the Government provided the City of York Council with £3.69 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance. This represents an increase of around 30% compared to the previous year, made possible in part by reallocating funding that would otherwise have been spent on the HS2 programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Department annually collects and publishes statistics on gov.uk that detail the condition and maintenance of the highways in England. This includes total expenditure on the local highway network in England, broken down by structural maintenance, routine treatments, and highways planning and strategy on different categories of road:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/road-condition-statistics-data-tables-rdc" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/road-condition-statistics-data-tables-rdc</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:06:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702425

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on repairing potholes (a) nationally and (b) in York in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22749
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority, such as the City of York Council, to maintain and manage the highway network it is responsible for.</p><p> </p><p>The Government allocates funding to local highways authorities so they can most effectively spend this funding on maintaining and improving their respective network, based upon their local knowledge, circumstances and priorities. It is up to the respective highway authority how best to spend this funding to fulfil their statutory duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. In 2023/24, the Department for Transport provided £1.3 billion of Highway Maintenance Block capital funding to local highway authorities in England outside London and the Mayoral Combined Authority areas, of which the City of York Council received £3.699 million. This was 30% higher than the equivalent figure for 2022/23.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:15:19 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702426

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the road network is safe for (a) cyclists and (b) cars in the context of trends in the number of potholes.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22750
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority to maintain and manage the highway network that it is responsible for.</p><p> </p><p>The Government allocates funding to local highways authorities so that they can most effectively spend it on maintaining and improving their respective network for all road users, based upon their local knowledge, circumstances and priorities. The Government has recently announced an £8.3 billion funding uplift for the resurfacing of local roads over the period 2023/24 to 2033/34, which will allow local authorities to make their roads smoother and safer for cyclists and drivers alike.</p><p> </p><p>To assist local authorities in treating potholes and other road defects, in March 2019 the Department worked with the Association of Directors, for Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport to publish Potholes: a repair guide. The Government has also worked with the UK Roads Leadership Group’s Footway &amp; Cycletrack Management Group to produce guidance on maintaining assets for cycleways and footways. This can be found on the CIHT website.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:19:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702427

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Accidents
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of accidents there have been involving (a) cars and (b) cyclists due to potholes in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22751
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department publishes road casualty statistics based on personal injury road collisions reported to the police via the STATS19 reporting system.</p><p>STATS19 does not identify the cause of collisions, but reporting police officers can identify up to 6 factors which in their opinion may have contributed to the collision.</p><p>In 2022 (the most recent year for which figures are available) there were 215 cars and 42 pedal cycles involved in injury collisions where the contributory factor ‘poor or defective road surface’ was assigned.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:11:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702428

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the number of potholes on the number of people cycling.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The number of people cycling depends on a range of factors including the availability and maintenance of safe, high-quality routes for cycling. Active Travel England and the Department are undertaking joint research to better understand journey quality which would consider the impact of potholes. In the meantime, the Department has announced an unprecedented £8.3 billion funding uplift for roads resurfacing over the next decade, which will enable local highway authorities to transform the state of their local roads.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:21:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702429

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Property Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up on the obligations of developers to repair roads (a) adjacent to development sites and (b) on routes where used by trucks accessing development sites.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>This is a matter for Local Authorities and developers, who must agree any works that are needed to be made to the public road network resulting from developments. This is usually formalised in agreements under section 278 of the Highways Act 1980. Highway authorities will also agree traffic management and routes for Heavy Good Vehicles accessing development sites. Highway authorities are empowered to manage their own networks in line with their duties.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/04/2024 10:40:44 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702133

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria her Department uses to assess the adequacy of funding for each school (a) nationally and (b) in York.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22580
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to providing a world class education system for all children and has invested significantly in education to achieve that.</p><p> </p><p>Including the additional funding for teachers’ pay and pensions, funding for both mainstream schools and high needs is £2.9 billion higher in 2024/25, compared to 2023/24. The overall core school budget will total £60.7 billion in 2024/25, which is the highest ever level in real terms per pupil. This means school funding is set to have risen by £11 billion by 2024/25, compared to 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>Each year, the government publishes an assessment of schools’ costs and funding increases in the Schools’ Costs Technical Note. In the most recent publication, the department’s analysis shows mainstream school funding rising by 7.6% in 2023/24 compared to the previous year, while costs were estimated to have risen by 6.7% at the national level. This analysis reflects averages across all schools in England.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Dedicated Schools Grant, York is receiving an extra £2.0 million for mainstream schools in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24, taking total school funding to over £125.5 million. This represents an increase of 2.0% per pupil compared to 2023/24, and an increase of 13.4% per pupil compared to 2021/22 (excluding growth funding). On top of this, all schools will receive additional funding through the Teachers’ Pay Additional Grant and Teachers' Pension Employer Contribution Grant.</p><p> </p><p>The precise funding and cost increases that individual schools in York, and across the country, will face depend on each school’s unique circumstances and the decisions that it has made about how to deploy its funding. The national funding formula is designed to fund each school according to its relative needs, and is updated annually to reflect how those needs change over time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/04/2024 16:38:23 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702134

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children with SEND are provided with the (a) educational and (b) wider support required by their education, health and care plan in school.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22581
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The department shares the ambition that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should receive the vital support they need across Education, Health and Care (EHC). As set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, the local authority has a legal duty to ensure that the special educational provision specified in an EHC plan is delivered. The department also has a number of measures in place to ensure that children receive the educational and wider support they need.</p><p> </p><p>Where local authorities are failing to deliver consistent outcomes for children and young people with SEND, the department works with them using a set of improvement programmes and SEND specialist advisors to address weaknesses. The department is also investing heavily in the SEND system, including £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to fund new special and alternative provision (AP) places and improve existing support, including the announcement of 41 new special free schools.</p><p> </p><p>The department is also taking steps to improve the SEND system in the longer term, so that EHC plans can be issued as quickly as possible when needed and enable children and young people to access the support they require. In March 2023, the government set out its plans to reform and improve the SEND system through its SEND and AP Improvement Plan. This plan commits to establishing a single national system that delivers for every child and young person with SEND so that they enjoy their childhood, achieve good outcomes and are well prepared for adulthood and employment. The department is currently testing measures which it believes will make the biggest improvements to both the quality of plans, the experience of getting a plan and the quality and speed with which support is put in place.</p><p> </p><p>The department is strengthening accountability across the system so that everyone is held to account for supporting children and young people. This includes the new Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Area SEND inspection framework, which gives more prominence to the quality integration and commissioning of EHC services, and a national and local dashboard, which gives parents the opportunity to monitor the performance of their local systems.</p><p> </p><p>If a child or young person does not receive the support detailed in their EHC plan, the young person or parent can raise their concern with the school or local authority directly. Families can appeal to the First-Tier SEND Tribunal if they are unhappy with a local authority’s decision regarding an EHC assessment or plan. The Tribunal can also hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social aspects of EHC plans.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/04/2024 12:53:53 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702215

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept id	215
	answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information her Department holds on how many homes were retrofitted for energy efficiency in the (a) social and (b) private sector in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22582
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department publishes information on the number of homes retrofitted for energy efficiency in the last five years through the following government schemes: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fhousehold-energy-efficiency-national-statistics&amp;data=05%7C02%7CParliamentary.PQ%40energysecurity.gov.uk%7C2bc684d904694474690608dc639addae%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638494764006795663%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=cQm9AqRjgF8mgk%2B9wlAdBEB4tUvufwhs9EZjs%2BX8Ffg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Energy Company Obligation (ECO)</a>, <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fgreat-british-insulation-scheme&amp;data=05%7C02%7CParliamentary.PQ%40energysecurity.gov.uk%7C2bc684d904694474690608dc639addae%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638494764006795663%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uu3aB2vjttE%2FR0LSUdKQU0sC1EXwKmbm%2BvNMcLwysQw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)</a>, <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fgreen-home-grant-statistics&amp;data=05%7C02%7CParliamentary.PQ%40energysecurity.gov.uk%7C2bc684d904694474690608dc639addae%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638494764006951938%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GmEpTpK%2Ftfe29jsnT6LlziIWoRsN6FYajVj6sLn%2FTmY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Green Homes Grant Vouchers Scheme, Local Authority Delivery, Home Upgrade Grant</a>, and <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fsocial-housing-decarbonisation-fund-statistics&amp;data=05%7C02%7CParliamentary.PQ%40energysecurity.gov.uk%7C2bc684d904694474690608dc639addae%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638494764006951938%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=DoxkRJuFnbXgB7SxgCSjKtKEtpTnLxwAf02C%2FMNI68o%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>SHDF retrofits social housing only. A breakdown of the number of homes retrofitted in the social and private sector can be found in the ECO and GBIS statistical releases.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 24/04/2024 05:28:29 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702217

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept id	215
	answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	hansard heading	Energy Company Obligation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will review the effectiveness of the Energy Company Obligation flex scheme.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22583
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department monitors and is evaluating all aspects of ECO4, including ECO Flex.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 24/04/2024 05:26:37 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702218

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept id	215
	answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	hansard heading	Housing: Energy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the number of people that are accredited to retrofit residential housing stock.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22584
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>To build retrofit workforce capacity, the government has invested nearly £29m since 2021 to deliver around 34,000 retrofit training opportunities. This includes an £8.85m Home Decarbonisation Skills Training Competition to deliver 8,000 insulation installation and retrofit professional qualifications, and a £5m Heat Training Grant to support 10,000 training opportunities relevant to heat pumps and heat networks up to 2025. The government launched a new Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship in Autumn 2023 and is working with industry to develop occupational standards for insulation and building treatments to create new apprenticeships and T Levels for retrofit work.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 25/04/2024 05:57:22 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702219

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept id	215
	answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
	hansard heading	Private Rented Housing: Energy Performance Certificates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to ensure that homes owned by private landlords achieve an energy performance certificate rating of C or above.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22585
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government will not raise Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) to EPC Band C for privately rented homes, but continues to encourage homeowners to improve the energy performance of their homes where they can.</p><p> </p><p>We are spending £6bn this Parliament on making buildings cleaner and warmer. That is in addition to the £5bn that will be delivered through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme up to March 2026. We have also announced a further £6bn worth of support up to 2028 to help around a million families cut their energy use.</p> answering member constituency Derby North answering member printed Amanda Solloway question first answered 24/04/2024 05:29:34 answering member 4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702220

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Health: Men
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of a men's health strategy for the economy.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22586
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Whilst no specific assessment has been made, we are already taking action to address the health issues that disproportionately impact men. This includes through policies announced on International Men’s Day, such as the appointment of a Men’s Health Ambassador, to raise the profile of men’s health issues. The Major Conditions Strategy will also focus on improving health outcomes linked to major condition areas like cancer, cardiovascular, and chronic respiratory diseases that disproportionately impact men.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 25/04/2024 11:29:18 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702222

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	NHS: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the BALM programme.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22587
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>NHS England is currently undertaking a review of how health and wellbeing support could be delivered more effectively. As part of this review, the team will: assess NHS England’s current contracts; work with integrated care boards, National Health Service trusts, and primary care organisations to understand the scale and impact of locally provided provision; and work with system partners and stakeholders including royal colleges, the voluntary sector, and the independent sector to understand how demand for these services has changed over recent years.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 24/04/2024 15:00:47 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702223

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Men
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help men identify poor mental health symptoms.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22588
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, National Health Service spending on mental health has increased by £4.7 billion in cash terms, as compared to the target of £3.4 billion in cash terms set out at the time of the Long Term Plan. Almost £16 billion was invested into mental health in 2022/23, enabling 3.6 million people, including men, to be in contact with mental health services, a 10% increase on the previous year.</p><p>In addition, our campaign on dealing with loneliness as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, encouraged people, including men, to reach out and support others who may be feeling lonely, helping themselves to also feel more connected. We will continue to work across the Government and with our Tackling Loneliness Network to explore how we can support further action to tackle men’s loneliness.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield grouped question UIN 22590 question first answered 24/04/2024 10:40:58 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702224

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Men
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) stigma and (b) gender norms on trends in the number of men accessing mental health services.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>NHS England’s Advancing Mental Health Equalities Strategy launched in September 2020, to assess inequalities in access, including those based on gender, and to set out guidance on how services should be taking this into account.</p><p>Fundamentally, this strategy aims to ensure that access to the timely, high-quality mental healthcare as described in the NHS Long Term Plan is equitable, by equipping systems with the tools and enablers they need to bridge the gaps between people, such as men, faring worse than others in mental health services.</p><p>Middle-aged men are identified in Suicide prevention in England: 5-year cross-sector strategy, as a priority group for action. The strategy acknowledges that stigma can be a barrier to people seeking support, and it encourages local government, the National Health Service, and voluntary sector organisations to work together to encourage the reduction of this stigma.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 25/04/2024 13:32:57 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702225

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Men
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help improve men's mental health services.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22590
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, National Health Service spending on mental health has increased by £4.7 billion in cash terms, as compared to the target of £3.4 billion in cash terms set out at the time of the Long Term Plan. Almost £16 billion was invested into mental health in 2022/23, enabling 3.6 million people, including men, to be in contact with mental health services, a 10% increase on the previous year.</p><p>In addition, our campaign on dealing with loneliness as part of the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign, encouraged people, including men, to reach out and support others who may be feeling lonely, helping themselves to also feel more connected. We will continue to work across the Government and with our Tackling Loneliness Network to explore how we can support further action to tackle men’s loneliness.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield grouped question UIN 22588 question first answered 24/04/2024 10:40:58 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702227

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Health Education: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on steps to help improve levels of health literacy in school children.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22592
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Pupils need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal, and social lives in a positive way. That is why the department has made health education compulsory in all state-funded schools in England alongside making Relationships Education (for primary pupils) and Relationships and Sex Education (for secondary pupils) compulsory, collectively known as Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE).</p><p>The department has also published implementation guidance and teacher training modules covering all the RSHE topics to help schools develop their curricula and teach subjects confidently and effectively, which is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health</a>. Topics in the RSHE curriculum at both primary and secondary include health and prevention, healthy eating, mental wellbeing and physical health and fitness.</p><p>The department is reviewing the RSHE statutory guidance this year, working with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social care to do so. The department is taking a comprehensive, evidence-based approach in deciding what should be included and will consider whether the current content on health education could be amended or expanded to enhance the health literacy of pupils. The department intends to publish revised guidance later in 2024.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 26/04/2024 11:23:41 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1702228

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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: Men
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to take steps to use technology to help improve (a) boys' and (b) men's mental health.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22593
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Digitally enabled therapies and other technological innovations are already used in the provision of mental health support in England. We are building on the progress made by services in using digital approaches and remote delivery during the pandemic, to give people a greater choice in the way they access care, and to enable services to be more productive. For many people, digitally enabled support through apps or online will mean that they might receive help earlier, or in a way that is easier for them to fit into their lives.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS Long Term Plan included several commitments on the use of technology in mental health, including that: 100% of mental health providers will meet required levels of digitisation; local systems will offer a range of self-management apps, digital consultations, and digitally enabled models of therapy; and that systems utilise digital clinical decision-making tools.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 24/04/2024 10:52:38 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701830

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Public Buildings: Concrete
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) museums, (b) theatres, (c) art galleries, (d) sports venues and (e) other public buildings for which her Department is responsible have reported RAAC in their roofs; and what estimate she has made of the cost of remediation in each such area.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Individual building owners are responsible for health and safety, including responding to safety alerts such as the one relating to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).</p><p>The Department for Culture Media &amp; Sport is in regular contact with our arm’s-length bodies about all aspects of building management, including RAAC. We are aware of one instance of RAAC in an arm’s-length body and have advised it, and other organisations in the cultural and sporting sector for which DCMS does not have direct responsibility, to follow the latest guidance from the Office of Government Property and Institution of Structural Engineers.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 25/04/2024 10:28:38 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701837

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on steps Israel is taking to ensure aid is able to reach citizens in Gaza.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The British Government has pressed with Israeli counterparts the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza to alleviate the desperate situation.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary visited Israel on 17 April and met with Israeli counterparts. During his visit he said to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Affairs Minister Katz that we must maintain focus on getting more aid into Gaza and getting hostages out.</p><p>On 5th April Israel committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting to Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint.</p><p>The UK has urged Israel to take these steps for a long time and they are welcome. We are resolved that the international community will work with Israel to see these vital changes fully implemented.</p><p>The British Government has also called on Israel to reform its deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safety of aid workers, and to make progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.</p><p>Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating that suffering. We are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 23/04/2024 12:40:41 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701838

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Gaza: Israel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart on ceasing Israel's military campaign over (a) areas where (i) residents are residing and (ii) aid is being distributed and (b) hospitals.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary was in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 17 April and held high-level talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog and Foreign Minister Katz. He reiterated the need for an immediate pause in the fighting in Gaza to get aid in and hostages out, to allow progress towards a sustainable ceasefire.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 25/04/2024 15:22:20 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701839

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Gaza: Humanitarian Situation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he plans to take through the UN Security Council to improve the humanitarian situation of people in Gaza.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the need to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis and welcomed the adoption of UNSCR 2720, which calls for expanded humanitarian access in Gaza, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.</p><p>More recently, the passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2728 on 25 March reflected international consensus behind the UK's position that we need an immediate pause in the fighting to get aid into Gaza, secure the release of hostages and make progress towards a permanent, sustainable ceasefire. We continue to use public and private diplomatic channels as well as multilateral fora to underline this.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 24/04/2024 15:47:19 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701840

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of infrastructure within Gaza to effectively distribute aid.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is closely monitoring the situation in Gaza and is in regular contact with humanitarian partners who operate there.</p><p>HMG have underlined the need for increased capacity inside Gaza including fully enabling the UN's minimal operating requirements. Both have also conveyed to their Israeli counterparts the importance of effective deconfliction.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 26/04/2024 13:01:33 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701842

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the main causes of poverty in (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) adults.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Poverty is a complex subject and there are different ways to measure and assess it.</p><p> </p><p>DWP tracks and monitors many different aspects of poverty, including our four statutory measures for children of relative income, absolute income, combined low income and material deprivation and persistent poverty that are published annually.</p><p> </p><p>National statistics on the number of individuals living in absolute and relative poverty are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a><strong>. </strong>The latest statistics published on 21 March 2024 are for the financial period 2022/23.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/04/2024 13:26:12 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701843

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Children in Care: North of England
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations of Child of the North APPG's report entitled Children in Care in the North of England, published on 17 April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22330
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>DWP recognises the challenges care leavers face as they move out of the care system and has in place a series of easements aimed at simplifying and improving their interaction with the benefit system. In addition to the intensive tailored support the Youth Offer provides for young people with additional barriers to work, we are working with employers through the Care Leaver Covenant to help care leavers find more employment opportunities; and with DfE to ensure care leavers can access the right skills, opportunities and wider support, to move towards sustained employment and career progression.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, to help achieve the missions set out in the Department for Education’s response to the independent review of children’s social care 'Stable Homes, Built on Love' DWP has already committed to proactively explore additional easements to enhance the support offer for care leavers and work with DfE officials to explore how to improve transition for care leavers entering the benefit and employment support system.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to supporting families on lower incomes and expects to spend around £306bn through the welfare system in Great Britain in 2024/25 including around £138bn on people of working age and children. We have uprated working age benefits by 6.7% and raised the Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local market rents, benefiting 1.6 million low-income households.</p><p> </p><p>We have consistently set out a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling child poverty based on evidence about the important role of work, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risk of child poverty. The latest statistics show that in 2022/23, children living in workless households were over 6 times more likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than those where all adults work. This is why, with over 900,000 vacancies across the UK, our focus is firmly on supporting people into and to progress in work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/04/2024 16:10:57 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701845

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on steps to end child poverty.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>We have set out a clear approach to tackling child poverty based on evidence about the important role of work, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risk of child poverty.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23, children living in workless households were over 6 times more likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than those where all adults work. This is why our focus is firmly on supporting parents into and to progress in work.</p><p><br> We have no plans to reintroduce an approach to tackling child poverty focused primarily on income-based targets. This can drive action that focuses primarily on moving the incomes for those ‘just in poverty’ just above a somewhat arbitrary ‘poverty line’ whilst doing nothing to help those on the very lowest incomes or to improve children’s outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions currently works across Government to support the most vulnerable households. Ministers and officials work with their counterparts in other departments and external stakeholders to better understand the multidimensional nature of poverty. This includes a cross-government senior officials’ group on poverty.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 22332 question first answered 25/04/2024 10:11:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701847

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has targets for ending child poverty.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>We have set out a clear approach to tackling child poverty based on evidence about the important role of work, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risk of child poverty.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23, children living in workless households were over 6 times more likely to be in absolute poverty (after housing costs) than those where all adults work. This is why our focus is firmly on supporting parents into and to progress in work.</p><p><br> We have no plans to reintroduce an approach to tackling child poverty focused primarily on income-based targets. This can drive action that focuses primarily on moving the incomes for those ‘just in poverty’ just above a somewhat arbitrary ‘poverty line’ whilst doing nothing to help those on the very lowest incomes or to improve children’s outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions currently works across Government to support the most vulnerable households. Ministers and officials work with their counterparts in other departments and external stakeholders to better understand the multidimensional nature of poverty. This includes a cross-government senior officials’ group on poverty.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 22331 question first answered 25/04/2024 10:11:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701849

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of social security payments on levels of child poverty.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23 there were 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to supporting people on lower incomes and expects to spend around £306bn through the welfare system in Great Britain in 2024/25 including around £138bn on people of working age and children.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We estimate that in 2024/5 around 20 million families will benefit from the uprating of DWP and HMRC benefits in Great Britain. Over 11 million children in Great Britain will benefit from the uprating of DWP and HMRC benefits in 2024/5.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/04/2024 10:56:51 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701850

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the benefits cap for families with children living in poverty.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23 there were 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Where possible, it is in the best interests of children to be in working households and the benefit cap provides a clear incentive to move into work. Children living in workless households were over 6 times more likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than those where all adults work.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure the most vulnerable are supported, exemptions also apply to households who are entitled to disability benefits and/or carer benefits.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/04/2024 16:41:07 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701851

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what impact the under occupancy penalty has had on levels of (a) child poverty and (b) child poverty for children with a disability.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>No assessment has been made of the impact of the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS) on child poverty. It is not possible to produce a robust assessment of the impact of RSRS on child poverty because we do not have the data to fully measure behavioural impacts that may have resulted from the policy.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23 there were 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on the number of Children living in absolute and relative poverty by disability in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication in “table 1_7c” and “table 1_7d” (respectively) of<strong> “</strong>summary-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2022-23-tables<strong>”</strong> found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">here.</a><strong> </strong>The latest statistics published on 21 March 2024 are for the financial period 2022/23. The latest available data can also be found on Stat-Xplore <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p> </p><p>The RSRS policy applies to claims for housing support where the claimant is living in a social rented sector property that is considered to have more bedrooms than the household requires.</p><p> </p><p>The policy helps to encourage mobility within the social rented sector to make better use of the existing social housing stock and strengthens work-incentives.</p><p> </p><p>There are easements available which allow for the provision of an additional bedroom in certain circumstances, such as to support families of disabled children, foster carers and parents who adopt.</p><p> </p><p>For individuals who may require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) may be available. DHPs are paid entirely at the discretion of the local authority and since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion to local authorities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/04/2024 16:14:22 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701852

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of levels of child poverty among (a) BAME, (b) Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and (c) disabled children.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Statistics on the number of Children living in absolute and relative poverty by disability in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication in “table 1_7c” and “table 1_7d” (respectively) of<strong> “</strong>summary-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2022-23-tables<strong>”</strong> at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a><strong>. </strong>The number of children living in absolute and relative poverty by ethnic group of head of household can be found in “table 4_1db_BHC” and “table 4_1db_AHC” at the link above. Poverty statistics for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are not available.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics published on 21 March 2024 are for the financial period 2022/23. The latest available data can also be found on Stat-Xplore: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/04/2024 13:28:59 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701853

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) pre-school, (b) primary school and (c) secondary school-aged children living in poverty other than through the provision of free school meals.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Spreading opportunity and ensuring every child can reach their potential no matter their background or where they live remains a key priority for the department. The department has a range of support in place for pupils, families and schools.</p><p> </p><p>Low-income families and children experiencing other forms of disadvantage can qualify for 15 hours free early education for 2 year olds, a year before all children become eligible for 15 hours at ages 3 and 4. These entitlements support children’s development and helps prepare them for school.</p><p> </p><p>Within schools, the department has consistently taken steps to help economically disadvantaged pupils, including improving the quality of teaching and curriculum resources, strengthening the school system and providing targeted support where needed. Underpinning this is pupil premium, worth over £2.9 billion this year. In 2024/25, the department has targeted a greater proportion of schools National Funding Formula towards disadvantaged pupils than ever before; 10.2% (over £4.4 billion) of the formula has been allocated according to deprivation in 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>To offer children from low-income families a free nutritious breakfast, the department is investing up to £35 million in the National School Breakfast Programme until the end of July 2025. This funding is reaching up to 2,700 primary and secondary schools in disadvantaged areas to better support attainment, wellbeing and readiness to learn.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2021, the department has also provided more than £200 million of funding every year to local authorities across England for holiday provision for school-aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals and other families that most need it. The department has also published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform to ensure uniform is affordable for all families.</p><p> </p><p>Family hubs are a one stop shop for families to get the help they need. They provide services for children of all ages, or between 0 to 19 or 0 to 25 for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities, with a great Start for Life offer at their core.</p><p>To support families with the cost of living in recent years, the government has provided one of the most generous support packages in Europe. The total support over 2022 to 2025 to help households and individuals with higher bills amounts to £108 billion, which is on average £3,800 per UK household.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/04/2024 13:47:42 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701856

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Family Hubs: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that family hubs have adequate funding to help support all children that require their services.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The department is investing around £300 million in 75 local authorities to transform their family support services to family hubs. Funding has been targeted to the most deprived local authorities to ensure that families get the support they need. This will fund a network of family hubs and specific support within those hubs for parent–infant mental health, infant feeding services, parenting support, home learning environment, and to establish parent-carer panels. In addition, all 75 local authorities will publish their Start for Life offer and the department is providing funding for trials of innovative workforce models to a smaller number of local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Family hubs provide services for children of all ages, and from 0 to 19 for families who have children with SEND, with a great Start for Life offer at their core.</p><p>In allocating funding to each local authority, the department has balanced the variable costs that local authorities face due to different population sizes, such as greater service demand resulting from a bigger population, against the fact that some costs will be similar regardless of these differences, for example the costs of establishing a parent carer panel. Each local authority’s total funding allocation therefore consists of two elements. The first is a fixed amount for each of the programme’s strands. The second element is a variable amount for each strand based on each local authority’s relative population size.</p><p> </p><p>As outlined in the 'Family Hubs and Start for Life programme: local authority guide' each element of the programme focuses on a specific age range. Further information can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-hubs-and-start-for-life-programme-local-authority-guide" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-hubs-and-start-for-life-programme-local-authority-guide</a>. The variable amounts were, therefore, based on the most relevant population age ranges for the objectives of each programme strand.</p><p> </p><p>For further information please see the following link: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62ed30f98fa8f5033275fce8/Family_Hubs_and_Start_for_Life_programme_-_methodology_for_allocating_funding_to_local_authorities.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62ed30f98fa8f5033275fce8/Family_Hubs_and_Start_for_Life_programme_-_methodology_for_allocating_funding_to_local_authorities.pdf</a>.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/04/2024 13:38:14 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701857

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to provide support for children living in poverty who are at risk of being taken into the care system.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>This government published ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ in February 2023. ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ is an implementation strategy and consultation that sets out the department’s plans to reform children’s social care. It set out how the department will help families overcome challenges, keep children safe and make sure children in care have stable loving homes, long-term loving relationships and opportunities for a good life.</p><p><br> This government has announced over £1 billion for programmes to improve early help services, including delivering on Family Hubs and helping families facing multiple disadvantage through the Supporting Families programme and Holiday Activities and Food programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme is investing £84 million over five years between 2019 and 2024 to support 17 local authorities to adopt improvement approaches that have strong evidence of reducing the numbers of children requiring statutory support and entering care.</p><p> </p><p>The department is also testing innovative new approaches to provide earlier help to families when they face challenges through the Families First for Children Pathfinder.</p><p><br> Over recent years, this government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable with one of the largest support packages in Europe. The total support over 2022 to 2025 to help households and individuals with higher bills amounts to £108 billion, which is an average of £3,800 per UK household.</p><p> </p><p>Through an extension of the Household Support Fund, local authorities in England will receive an additional £421 million to support those in need locally, including supporting vulnerable households with the cost of essentials such as food and utilities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/04/2024 14:30:58 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701270

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the primary category of need for children in care aged (a) under one year, (b) one to four years, (c) five to nine years, (d) aged ten to 15 years and (e) 16 to 17 years in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22055
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The figures requested can be found in the attached table.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/04/2024 14:50:33 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston attachment 1 file name 22055 Table Attachment .xlsx title 22055 Table Attachment
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701419

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Electronic Cigarettes: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of research by Professor Martin Schwendler and Dr Chiara Herzog on changes to epithelial cells caused by vaping.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22056
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Vaping is never recommended for children, and carries the potential harms of future addiction while their lungs and brains are still developing. The health advice is clear, vapes can be an effective tool to help smokers quit, but young people and those who have never smoked should not vape, or be encouraged to vape.</p><p> </p><p>As stated by Cancer Research UK, this study contributes to our understanding of e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, but does not show that e-cigarettes cause cancer. Decades of research has proven the link between smoking and cancer, and studies have so far shown that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking, and can help people quit. This paper does, however, highlight that vapes are not risk-free, and so we need additional studies to uncover their potential longer-term impacts on human health.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 24/04/2024 13:04:14 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701420

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Electronic Cigarettes: Health Hazards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the risk of people moving from non-nicotine to nicotine vapes.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Our health advice regarding vapes covers both non-nicotine as well as nicotine vapes, that while vaping can play a useful role in helping adult smokers to quit, non-smokers and children should never vape. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown, and the nicotine contained within nicotine vapes can be highly addictive.</p><p>We recognise the risk of non-nicotine vapes being used as a gateway to nicotine vapes by children. That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill includes new regulation making powers that will cover all vapes, nicotine as well as non-nicotine, to reduce their appeal and availability to children and non-smokers.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 24/04/2024 12:49:50 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701421

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	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	Electronic Cigarettes: Advertising
	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 of the potential merits of a full advertising ban on companies promoting vaping products.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	22058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The health advice is clear, if you don’t smoke, don’t vape and children should never vape. Advertising of vapes is already restricted by existing regulations. This includes a ban on advertising on television and radio, and through internet advertising, or commercial email. However, products can still be promoted elsewhere, such as on digital billboards.</p><p>Whilst we are not currently planning on making any further changes to the rules regarding vape advertising, we are taking action to protect children from the harms of vaping by taking new regulation making powers that can be used to limit vape flavours, how vapes are packaged, and where and how they can be displayed in retail settings. Collectively, these actions will reduce the appeal and accessibility of vapes to children, whilst ensuring vapes remain an effective smoking cessation tool for adult smokers.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 24/04/2024 12:53:30 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell