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1728495

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Further Education: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to increase pay in the further education sector.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	5065
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2024 answer text <p>The government does not set or recommend pay in further education (FE), and the FE sector does not have a Pay Review Body (PRB). Colleges are not bound by the national pay and conditions framework for school teachers and are free to implement their own pay arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>The department will continue with its plans to invest in FE teachers, as part of approximately £600 million funding across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, including targeted retention incentive payments of up to £6,000 for eligible early career FE teachers.</p><p> </p><p>This government will consider the important contribution of non-PRB workforces, including FE, and will consider workforce sufficiency and what this might mean for FE funding in future years, as part of the Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency Lewisham East answering member printed Janet Daby question first answered 18/09/2024 15:42:45 answering member 4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1724264

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2024
	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	Sudan: Armed Conflict
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to use the UK's position as penholder for Sudan at the UN Security C Council to press for (a) a ceasefire before peace talks in August, (b) adherence to international humanitarian law and (c) the free flow of humanitarian aid.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	2358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2024 answer text <p>On 13 June, the UK successfully led a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate de-escalation in El Fasher and full, unimpeded humanitarian access, including the reopening of the Adre border crossing. It also requested that the Secretary-General provide recommendations on the protection of civilians. On 6 August, the UK called a UNSC session to urgently discuss the Famine Review Committee's findings and the need for the obstruction of aid by the warring parties to stop. The UK intervention re-iterated our support for UN efforts in Sudan, including through the recommendations set out by the UN Secretary White Note, released on 15 March 2024 under UNSC Resolution 2417. We continue to put pressure on the parties to ensure the recent move to re-open Adre is honoured in full and without excessive restrictions. The Foreign Secretary publicly welcomed the ceasefire talks co-hosted by the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in August and urged the warring parties to participate.</p> answering member constituency Oxford East answering member printed Anneliese Dodds question first answered 06/09/2024 14:03:15 answering member 4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1724350

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2024
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to help ensure mental health services are accessible to patients in rural communities.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	2359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2024 answer text <p>As set out in the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance for 2024/25, NHS England is continuing to expand access to mental health services, to increase the number of people accessing mental health support. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations.</p><p>We plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, including in rural areas.</p><p>The Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028, published in September 2023, sets out an ambition to conduct and commission research and data linkage projects, including supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look at agricultural workers, to understand the unique challenges in that occupational group and respond appropriately.</p><p>In addition, through its Farming and Countryside Programme, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with a range of farming charities, including the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Yellow Wellies charity, which have highlighted mental health challenges for farming communities.</p> answering member constituency Aberafan Maesteg answering member printed Stephen Kinnock grouped question UIN 2360 question first answered 02/09/2024 11:16:38 answering member 4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1724351

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2024
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with representatives from the farming sector to support people with mental health issues in rural communities.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	2360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2024 answer text <p>As set out in the NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance for 2024/25, NHS England is continuing to expand access to mental health services, to increase the number of people accessing mental health support. Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations.</p><p>We plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, including in rural areas.</p><p>The Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028, published in September 2023, sets out an ambition to conduct and commission research and data linkage projects, including supporting the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look at agricultural workers, to understand the unique challenges in that occupational group and respond appropriately.</p><p>In addition, through its Farming and Countryside Programme, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working with a range of farming charities, including the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the Yellow Wellies charity, which have highlighted mental health challenges for farming communities.</p> answering member constituency Aberafan Maesteg answering member printed Stephen Kinnock grouped question UIN 2359 question first answered 02/09/2024 11:16:38 answering member 4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1724398

	registered interest
	date	30/07/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Bottles: Plastics
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the aim of the Bottle Stop campaign to ensure that all bottles in clubs and bars are plastic instead of glass.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	2361
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2024 answer text <p>The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol in licensed premises across England and Wales and devolves decision-making to local licensing authorities.</p><p>The Government publishes guidance for licensing authorities to assist them in carrying out their functions under the Act in line with the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; the prevention of public nuisance, upholding public safety, and the protection of children from harm.</p><p>This guidance specifically states that a number of matters should be considered by a licensing authority in relation to public safety, which may include requiring, as part of a premises licence, the use of plastic containers and preventing customer access to glass bottles.</p><p>We keep under review licensing of alcohol premises.</p> answering member constituency Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham answering member printed Dame Diana Johnson question first answered 02/09/2024 09:37:08 answering member 1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1724213

	registered interest
	date	29/07/2024
	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	Sudan: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with humanitarian groups and partners in Sudan to provide (a) humanitarian aid and (b) support for (i) food systems and (ii) local agriculture in Sudan; and if he will take steps to increase the level of aid for refugees from Sudan.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	2089
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2024 answer text <p>The UK is working with international partners, including UN agencies, other donors and NGOs, to improve and increase the delivery of aid into Sudan. UK ODA to Sudan nearly doubled this year to £97m, with the vast majority of this funding going to humanitarian assistance. This aid will also provide additional support for food systems and local agriculture. As part of this, I recently announced an additional £15m to increase support for Sudan refugees fleeing to Chad and South Sudan. We will also continue to push for the best data and evidence to inform our policy and programming.</p> answering member constituency Oxford East answering member printed Anneliese Dodds question first answered 06/09/2024 14:01:13 answering member 4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1723266

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2024
	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	Development Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 210, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the fiscal circumstances within which the level of the Official Development Assistance budget will be raised to 0.7% of gross national income.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	1508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2024 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary and Chancellor regularly discuss a wide range of issues. This Government is committed to restoring ODA spending at the level of 0.7 per cent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow and will set out its approach to the House in due course.</p> answering member constituency Oxford East answering member printed Anneliese Dodds question first answered 01/08/2024 11:02:35 answering member 4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1722834

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2024
	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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish her Department's response to the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, published in April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	1285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2024 answer text <p>The consultation on the Modernising Support Green Paper closed on Monday 22 July. Over 16,000 responses have been received and we will review these responses.</p><p> </p><p>The proposals in this Green Paper were developed by the previous government. We will be considering our own approach to social security in due course.</p> answering member constituency East Ham answering member printed Sir Stephen Timms question first answered 29/07/2024 11:58:24 answering member 163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1722947

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2024
	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	Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to launch a consultation on which activities should be banned from being (a) advertised and (b) offered for sale under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	1286
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2024 answer text <p>The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of a future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. Future decisions on the next steps will be evidence-based and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver these commitments and will be setting out next steps in due course.</p> answering member constituency Cambridge answering member printed Daniel Zeichner question first answered 30/07/2024 16:44:40 answering member 4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith

1721322

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2024
	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	Gender Dysphoria: Children
	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 his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting puberty blockers for the treatment of gender incongruence on the (a) physical and (b) mental health of young trans people.
	tabling member constituency	Lancaster and Wyre
	tabling member printed	Cat Smith
	uin	87
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2024 answer text <p>The emergency banning Order, restricting the sale or supply of puberty blockers, was introduced by the previous Government. The Order enables those who were already on a course of treatment with Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues, before 3 June 2024 from a UK based private or National Health Service provider, to continue to have them supplied. Those who were already on a course of treatment prescribed by an EEA or Switzerland registered prescriber can legally switch to a UK based prescriber to continue their treatment.</p><p>The expert Cass Review, which is one of the most comprehensive reviews of gender identity services for children and young people to date, states that the rationale for early puberty suppressing hormones to treat gender dysphoria is unclear and the effects on cognitive and psychosexual development are unknown. This Government will always act in the interests of patient safety, which is why the Secretary of State signalled his intention to renew the Order and consult on a permanent ban (subject to the outcome of the ongoing judicial review).</p><p>We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review to ensure that young people presenting to the NHS with gender dysphoria are receiving appropriate and high-quality care. That is why NHS England and the National Institute of Health and Care Research, the research arm of the Department, are working together to commission a study into the potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence. The study team is now in place and are finalising their application for funding which will be assessed by an independent scientific review study ahead of the commencement of wider approvals, including ethics, and set up.</p><p>We will continue to monitor the impacts of the Order, including on mental health. Professor Louis Appleby, Chair of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group, has examined evidence for a large rise in suicides claimed by campaigners. His paper, which was published on 19 July 2024, concluded that the data do not support the claim that there has been a large rise in suicide in young gender dysphoria patients at the Tavistock clinic.</p><p>Some children and young people may be concerned by these changes. If they are already under the care of a Children and Young People’s mental health provider or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, they can contact their team for advice. If they are not, their general practice team will be able to assess whether further referrals for mental health support are required. Patients can also be signposted to the advice on getting mental health support available on the NHS.UK website. Anyone in need of urgent support can contact NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, option two. Further details are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/" target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/</a></p><p>Professor Appleby’s paper is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust-independent-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust/review-of-suicides-and-gender-dysphoria-at-the-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-foundation-trust-independent-report</a></p> answering member constituency Gorton and Denton answering member printed Andrew Gwynne grouped question UIN 109 91 question first answered 29/07/2024 13:55:40 answering member 1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne
	tabling member	4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith