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1055777

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Children: Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of child protection procedures on families affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	217626
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Education has made no recent assessments of the impact of child protection procedures on families affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis.</p><p>Local authorities must undertake enquiries if they believe a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm and decide if any action must be taken under section 47 of the Children Act 1989. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) sets out the parameters and principles of high quality child protection assessments and procedures. The local authority is under a duty to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare and child protection decisions are based on the professional judgement of social workers and the circumstances of the individual child. The Equality Act 2010 is clear that all institutions, including local authorities, cannot discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability.</p><p>The Government is undertaking wide-ranging reforms to improve the quality of social work practice and decision-making, including through assessment and accreditation against Knowledge and Skills Statements, which are also the post qualifying standards for child and family social work.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/02/2019 17:53:16 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

931512

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Crime Prevention
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to tackle the socio-economic factors behind knife and gang-related crime.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	157839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>The Serious Violence Strategy represents a step change in the way we think and respond to violence, including gangs. The strategy sets out the key risk factors which may mean a young person may have a greater propensity to get involved in crime than would otherwise be the case such as school absence and peer pressure.</p><p>The strategy also outlines the importance of early intervention to tackle criminal involvement by young people and the importance of providing positive activities to help them lead productive lives free from crime. We are also supporting work to build local resilience and awareness by match funding local area reviews, which help local areas to respond to gang-related threats.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 157840 question first answered 02/07/2018 16:33:38 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

931515

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Gangs: Crimes of Violence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department plans to take to proactively tackle the socio-economic root causes of gang violence in communities.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	157840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>The Serious Violence Strategy represents a step change in the way we think and respond to violence, including gangs. The strategy sets out the key risk factors which may mean a young person may have a greater propensity to get involved in crime than would otherwise be the case such as school absence and peer pressure.</p><p>The strategy also outlines the importance of early intervention to tackle criminal involvement by young people and the importance of providing positive activities to help them lead productive lives free from crime. We are also supporting work to build local resilience and awareness by match funding local area reviews, which help local areas to respond to gang-related threats.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 157839 question first answered 02/07/2018 16:33:38 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

984795

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2018
	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	Fibromyalgia
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will review the clinical guidelines on the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome to ensure clearer treatment pathways for people with that syndrome.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	177775
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department is not directly responsible for developing or reviewing clinical guidance for identification and management of diseases and disorders. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence was established by the Government to develop evidence based best practice for the National Health Service. Other organisations, such as the clinical Royal Colleges, and charitable organisations also convene expert groups to develop guidance for health professionals.</p><p> </p><p>A range of support exists to help general practitioners (GPs) identify and manage fibromyalgia in primary care. This includes an e-learning course developed by the Royal College of GPs and Arthritis Research UK on musculoskeletal care, including fibromyalgia, and a medical guide developed by the Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMUK) for health professionals.</p><p> </p><p>People with fibromyalgia can usually be managed through routine access to primary or second care provide via a GP or consultant. Treatment will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but may include pain relieving medication; physiotherapy; dietary and exercise advice; counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. For patients whose pain cannot be adequately controlled by routine access to NHS services, a referral may be made to a specialist pain service or specialist fibromyalgia clinic, such the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, subject to their having met certain criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Information for the public can be found on the NHS website and is also available in a patient’s information guide produced by FMUK. The medical guide, patient information booklet and NHS choice webpage on fibromyalgia can be found at the following links:</p><p><br> <a href="http://www.fmauk.org/dmdocuments/Medical%20Pack.pdf" target="_blank">www.fmauk.org/dmdocuments/Medical%20Pack.pdf</a></p><p><br> <a href="http://www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet" target="_blank">www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet</a></p><p><br> <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/" target="_blank">www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine grouped question UIN 177776 question first answered 15/10/2018 14:42:42 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

984797

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2018
	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	Fibromyalgia
	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 his Department will take to raise awareness of the condition of fibromyalgia syndrome.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	177776
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department is not directly responsible for developing or reviewing clinical guidance for identification and management of diseases and disorders. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence was established by the Government to develop evidence based best practice for the National Health Service. Other organisations, such as the clinical Royal Colleges, and charitable organisations also convene expert groups to develop guidance for health professionals.</p><p> </p><p>A range of support exists to help general practitioners (GPs) identify and manage fibromyalgia in primary care. This includes an e-learning course developed by the Royal College of GPs and Arthritis Research UK on musculoskeletal care, including fibromyalgia, and a medical guide developed by the Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMUK) for health professionals.</p><p> </p><p>People with fibromyalgia can usually be managed through routine access to primary or second care provide via a GP or consultant. Treatment will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but may include pain relieving medication; physiotherapy; dietary and exercise advice; counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. For patients whose pain cannot be adequately controlled by routine access to NHS services, a referral may be made to a specialist pain service or specialist fibromyalgia clinic, such the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, subject to their having met certain criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Information for the public can be found on the NHS website and is also available in a patient’s information guide produced by FMUK. The medical guide, patient information booklet and NHS choice webpage on fibromyalgia can be found at the following links:</p><p><br> <a href="http://www.fmauk.org/dmdocuments/Medical%20Pack.pdf" target="_blank">www.fmauk.org/dmdocuments/Medical%20Pack.pdf</a></p><p><br> <a href="http://www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet" target="_blank">www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet</a></p><p><br> <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/" target="_blank">www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine grouped question UIN 177775 question first answered 15/10/2018 14:42:42 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

984957

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2018
	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	Fibromyalgia
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to place fibromyalgia in a distinct medical category of its own to facilitate research.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	177780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2018 answer text <p>Classification of diseases and disorders is achieved through international clinical and scientific consensus.</p><p> </p><p>The current version of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) includes fibromyalgia under ‘Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue’ in the category ‘Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified’. ICD-11, which will be presented at the World Health Assembly in May 2019 for adoption by member states, includes fibromyalgia under ‘General symptoms, signs or clinical findings’ in the category of ‘chronic widespread pain’.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including fibromyalgia. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions; applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. NIHR support for fibromyalgia research over the last five years includes £1.8 million funding for research projects and £0.6 million funding for clinical trials through the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The NIHR has also managed infrastructure supporting fibromyalgia research. Information on individual projects funded by the NIHR can be found at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/" target="_blank">www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/</a></p> answering member constituency Winchester answering member printed Steve Brine question first answered 17/10/2018 13:50:08 answering member 4067 label Biography information for Steve Brine
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

931511

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Offensive Weapons: Sentencing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has plans to increase the length of prison sentences recommended for people caught in possession of bladed weapons in public.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	157838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2018 answer text <p>Knife crime can have devastating consequences and the government is determined to take action to address serious violence. Sentencing is a matter for our independent judiciary but anyone who continues to carry a knife in public can expect to face a custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>In 2015, Parliament agreed a minimum custodial sentence for a second or subsequent conviction for possession of a bladed article or offensive weapon. For adults, this is a minimum sentence of 6 months’ imprisonment whilst for 16 and 17 year olds the Act created a minimum custodial sentence of a 4 month Detention and Training Order (DTO). Since the introduction of the minimum custodial term people caught carrying a knife for a second time are now more likely than ever before to go to prison – recent statistics show that 83% of offenders received a custodial sentence for repeat possession offences in 2017.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 02/07/2018 16:59:46 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

934270

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation: Low Incomes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to legal representation for people with low incomes.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	160335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2018 answer text <p>The ability of individuals to resolve their legal problems is vital to a just society. Legal aid continues to be available in the highest priority cases – for example, when an individual’s life or liberty is at stake, when someone faces the loss of their home, in domestic violence cases, or when children may be taken into care – subject to an applicant passing the test of means and merits. In the Crown Court, over 99% of applications for legally-aided representation are granted.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the evidence gathering phase of the Post-Implementation Review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, we are gathering evidence on people’s ability to access legal support to resolve their legal issues. The evidence gathered will be used to inform our wider considerations for the future of legal support in the justice system.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 06/07/2018 13:59:18 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

984963

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Holiday Accommodation: Non-domestic Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the procedures for assessing the liability of holiday lets for business rates.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	177781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>Holiday lets are a valuable part of the local business landscape. They are assessed for business rates if they are available for short-term lets for 140 days or more per financial year. This rule is widely understood and provides a clear method of deciding whether a property should be liable for council tax or business rates. It ensures that properties do not switch year-to-year between council tax and business rates merely due to success in letting out the property. However, the Department is aware of concerns about this criterion, and is considering whether it remains appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 16/10/2018 14:19:01 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

985632

	registered interest
	date	11/10/2018
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Second Homes: Council Tax
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the level of Council Tax receipts of the practice of second homeowners avoiding the payment of council tax by registering a second home as a business.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	178364
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2018 answer text <p>Owners of second homes are generally liable for council tax. Only where a property is available for short-term lets for 140 days or more per financial year, is it considered a holiday-let, and therefore assessed for business rates instead. However, the Government is aware of concerns about holiday homes and is looking into this issue to see if the criteria under which holiday lets are valued for business rates are appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Richmond (Yorks) answering member printed Rishi Sunak question first answered 19/10/2018 09:17:43 answering member 4483 label Biography information for Rishi Sunak
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse