Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1719275

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2024
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Northern Rock plc: Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a compensation scheme for Northern Rock shareholders.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	27037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>HM Treasury considers the issue of compensation for former Northern Rock shareholders to be settled. Both the Upper Tribunal in 2011 and the Court of Appeal in 2013 upheld the independent valuation of Northern Rock shares at nil value immediately prior to public ownership, and that no compensation was therefore due. HM Treasury does not intend to revisit this issue.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami grouped question UIN 27099 27100 question first answered 23/05/2024 15:51:54 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717864

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	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	Social Services: Migrant Workers
	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 her Department has made of the potential impact of the salary threshold for visas for social workers on the recruitment of social workers from overseas.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>Social workers are recruited under the Health and Care Worker visa, and therefore are exempt from the salary threshold of £38,700 required by the Skilled Worker visa. Social workers recruited from overseas are subject to national pay scales, and therefore must be paid in line with the National Health Service agenda for change pay scales.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 17/05/2024 08:05:42 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717865

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people have been referred onto the National Transfer Scheme in each of the last three months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The most recently available information is regularly published on the government website.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26149 26150 26151 question first answered 17/05/2024 11:09:33 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717866

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arrived in Kent in each of the last three months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The most recently available information is regularly published on the government website. <strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson question first answered 17/05/2024 11:07:25 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717867

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people have been referred by Kent County Council to the National Transfer Scheme in each of the last three months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26149
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The most recently available information is regularly published on the government website.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26147 26150 26151 question first answered 17/05/2024 11:09:33 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717868

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people are awaiting allocation to a transfer to an authority under the National Transfer Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26150
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The most recently available information is regularly published on the government website.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26147 26149 26151 question first answered 17/05/2024 11:09:33 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717869

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many young people have been (a) allocated to a local authority and (b) have yet to be relocated under the National Transfer Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26151
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>The most recently available information is regularly published on the government website.</p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26147 26149 26150 question first answered 17/05/2024 11:09:33 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717870

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of children who have been allocated a transfer to a local authority through the National Transfer Scheme have been refused by that local authority.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The decision for any UAS child to be referred to the NTS for transfer lies with the local authority as the child’s corporate parent. The NTS Protocol sets out the criteria for referring a child to the NTS, and the associated timeframes, which can be found here: Unaccompanied asylum seeking children: national transfer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The NTS Protocol also outlines the escalation procedure on how to proceed when any issues arise between the receiving local authority around a transfer.</p><p>The most recent published data can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rasi-resettlement-asylum-support-and-integration-data-q3-2023" target="_blank">RASI (Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration) data: Q3 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26153 26154 question first answered 21/05/2024 15:50:15 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717871

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of children have refused their (a) first and (b) second move on the National Transfer Scheme; and what guidance his Department issues on refusals by children to move through the National Transfer Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26153
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The decision for any UAS child to be referred to the NTS for transfer lies with the local authority as the child’s corporate parent. The NTS Protocol sets out the criteria for referring a child to the NTS, and the associated timeframes, which can be found here: Unaccompanied asylum seeking children: national transfer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The NTS Protocol also outlines the escalation procedure on how to proceed when any issues arise between the receiving local authority around a transfer.</p><p>The most recent published data can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rasi-resettlement-asylum-support-and-integration-data-q3-2023" target="_blank">RASI (Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration) data: Q3 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26152 26154 question first answered 21/05/2024 15:50:15 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717872

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has issued guidance on the time period within which young people should be (a) referred to the National Transfer Scheme and (b) moved to the receiving local authority.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	26154
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The decision for any UAS child to be referred to the NTS for transfer lies with the local authority as the child’s corporate parent. The NTS Protocol sets out the criteria for referring a child to the NTS, and the associated timeframes, which can be found here: Unaccompanied asylum seeking children: national transfer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The NTS Protocol also outlines the escalation procedure on how to proceed when any issues arise between the receiving local authority around a transfer.</p><p>The most recent published data can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rasi-resettlement-asylum-support-and-integration-data-q3-2023" target="_blank">RASI (Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration) data: Q3 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole answering member printed Michael Tomlinson grouped question UIN 26152 26153 question first answered 21/05/2024 15:50:15 answering member 4497 label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717484

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Women: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing a new Safety of Women at Night Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The independent evaluation of the Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Fund, worth £5 million and delivered over the 2021/22 financial year, was published on 10 April.</p><p>Learnings from the SWaN Fund were incorporated into rounds Four and Five of the Safer Streets Fund, worth £50m and £35m respectively, which included a primary objective around combatting violence against women and girls in public spaces, and have funded a range of interventions including CCTV, streetlighting and educational initiatives with a focus on changing attitudes and behaviours. Round five is currently ongoing.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/05/2024 11:33:11 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717485

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Passengers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any operators have lost their accreditation to the Safeguarding on Rail Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>Since the first Safeguarding on Rail Scheme accreditation for Great Western Railway (GWR) in 2021, no rail operator has lost their accreditation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Huw Merriman question first answered 16/05/2024 12:51:04 answering member 4442 label Biography information for Huw Merriman
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717486

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2024
	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	Alcoholic Drinks: Public Health
	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 requiring the labelling of alcohol products with consumer health information.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>Clear and accurate alcohol product labelling is crucial to ensuring consumers have access to essential information about the products they are purchasing, whilst also promoting transparency, responsible consumption, and safety.</p><p>Current alcohol labelling guidance recommends that health information, including pregnancy warnings, a drink driving warning, and the Chief Medical Officer’s weekly limit guidance, are included on the label for alcohol products. It is also a legal requirement to display alcohol by volume (ABV) labelling on drinks above the 1.2% ABV threshold.</p><p>The Department has recently consulted on updating labelling guidance for non-alcoholic and low alcohol products. This consultation closed on 23 November 2023, and the consultation response will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 16/05/2024 10:41:28 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1717487

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	School Meals: Processed Food
	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 reduce the proportion of ultra-processed foods in school meals.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>There is no universally agreed definition of ultra-processed foods. The term defines foods by how much processing they have been through rather than their nutritional composition.</p><p>The standards for school food are set out in The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014. These regulations are designed to ensure that schools provide pupils with healthy food and drink options and to make sure that pupils have the energy and nutrition they need throughout the school day.</p><p>The ‘School Food Standards’ define the foods and drinks that must be provided, those which are restricted and those which must never be provided. The standards already restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, including crisps, confectionery and high-sugar drinks, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods. They also ensure that the right foods are available for children every day. For example, one or more portions of fruit must be provided every day and at least three different fruits every week.</p><p>Compliance with the standards is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools. School governors and trustees have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations.</p><p>The department believes that the standards provide a robust yet flexible framework for school food provision. The government continues to keep the standards under review.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 16/05/2024 15:26:41 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1715998

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Bail: Remote Hearings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary on its decision to make second and subsequent bail applications remote by default.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>It is standard practice not to comment on discussions between Ministers and the judiciary.</p><p>The Lord Chancellor is supportive of any efforts to help ensure sufficient capacity in the courts to hear bail applications and to remove principal structural barriers to applications being submitted, and he welcomes the revised guidance launched by Judicial Office which sets out that all second and subsequent bail applications to the Crown Court should be heard remotely unless ordered otherwise by a judge.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 13/05/2024 08:49:11 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1715803

	registered interest
	date	03/05/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Crown Court: ICT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the potential additional cost to the public purse for the continued use of the digital case management system as well as Common Platform by Crown Courts.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2024 answer text <p>Whilst the detailed allocation of funding to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) for 2024/25 is still being finalised, the annual support cost for Digital Case Management system is expected to be £0.6 million for the foreseeable future, plus another £0.4 million to complete work on an interface between this and Common Platform in 2024/25.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 09/05/2024 14:23:05 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714760

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Restraint Techniques: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will end the use on children of (a) the inverted wrist hold and (b) other pain-inducing restraints.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The syllabus for training staff in under-18 young offender institutions and the secure training centre in Managing and Minimising Physical Restraint (MMPR) focuses exclusively on behaviour management and restraint.</p><p>It is essential that staff are trained for every aspect of their role, including in techniques they may need to use to prevent serious physical harm to a child or adult. Staff will continue to be trained in the safe use of pain-inducing techniques, as part of a separate package of interventions for use only in situations where that is the only means of preventing serious physical harm.</p><p>Any response must be necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in view of the risk of harm which is present. All instances where a pain-inducing technique is used are subject to detailed scrutiny by on site MMPR Coordinators, as well as by members of the Independent Restraint Review Panel.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 02/05/2024 08:37:06 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714761

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing time limits on asylum cases for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office takes our duty of care towards children and young people extremely seriously and we prioritise applications from children and young people.</p><p>The Home Office does not currently have a target time for processing applications for asylum, but is committed to ensuring claims are considered without unnecessary delay. We have already made progress in prioritising claims with acute vulnerability and those in receipt of the greatest level of support, including Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children.</p><p>Introducing a service standard for asylum claims is a complex consideration which needs to be balanced between the requirements of operational efficiency, the needs of service users and the integrity of asylum control measures, including the implementation of the Illegal Migration Act. A project to review these considerations, along with scope and potential implementation timescales, will be undertaken. Once the project is completed, a final decision will be taken on any potential asylum claim service standards.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/05/2024 15:26:31 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714762

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of No Recourse to Public Funds on people who are (a) destitute and (b) facing destitution.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office is committed to the continuous review of the NRPF policy and are engaging with public and private sector organisations on a regular basis to understand the impacts of the NRPF condition.</p><p>The Government published an overarching Equality Impact Assessment on the Compliant Environment measures, of which No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is part; <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compliant-environment-overarching-equality-impact-assessment/compliant-environment-overarching-equality-impact-assessment-accessible" target="_blank">Compliant environment: overarching equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). </a></p><p>In general, temporary migrants are expected to support themselves and any accompanying family members in the UK without recourse to public funds. This is a well-established principle that protects taxpayer-funded public services from becoming overburdened.</p><p>Nonetheless, there are important safeguards in place for those in genuine need. Migrants with permission under the Family or Private Life routes, or the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) routes, can apply, for free, to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘Change of Conditions’ application. An individual on these routes can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted if they are destitute or at risk of imminent destitution, if there are reasons relating to the welfare of a relevant child, or where they are facing exceptional circumstances affecting their income or expenditure.</p><p>For all other immigration routes (other than Family or Private Life, or the Hong Kong BN(O) routes), the general expectation is that they will return to their home country should they become unable to meet their essential living needs in the UK. If there are particularly compelling circumstances why leaving the UK is not possible, discretion can be used to consider if the circumstances justify access to public funds.</p><p>Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support, regardless of immigration status, if it is established either that there is a risk to the wellbeing of a child or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution: for example, where a person has community care needs or serious health problems. Support provided to a child by local authorities is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s).</p><p>Migrants with NRPF who have paid the necessary National Insurance contributions or have relevant periods of employment or self-employment, can claim contributory benefits and statutory payments such as New Style Jobseekers Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, and the State Pension.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/05/2024 13:33:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714763

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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 Capacity: Codes of Practice
	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 publish the revised Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice before the end of this parliament.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>We are continuing to discuss revisions to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, consulted on in 2022, with the Ministry of Justice. Further details on next steps will be shared with the sector in due course.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 02/05/2024 08:04:40 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714765

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Social Services: Employment
	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 developing a social worker workforce strategy that prioritises (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) professional pathways.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24038
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>In December 2021, the Government set out its strategy for the social care workforce in The People at the Heart of Care white paper. This set out our commitment to the continued success of the social work profession, and included plans to develop the domestic care workforce, including the launch of the care workforce pathway and an investment of over £20 million for adult social care nurse and social work apprenticeships.</p><p>On 10 January 2024, the Government announced a new fund to support the recruitment of social work apprentices into adult social care, over the next three years. Nearly £8 million from this fund has already been released to local authorities, and in the summer there will be another opportunity to apply to this fund.</p> answering member constituency Faversham and Mid Kent answering member printed Helen Whately question first answered 02/05/2024 09:59:44 answering member 4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1714769

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Social Services: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of specialist (a) training and (b) accreditation on (i) alcohol and (ii) other drugs for social workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	24039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The regulator for the social work profession, Social Work England, sets professional standards. These are standards all social workers must meet. The professional standards include that social workers must be able to address social care needs arising from substance misuse. Social workers complete initial education and training and then they are supported by an Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). For child and family social workers the ASYE is due to be replaced by an Early Career Framework. Post-qualification training of social workers is the responsibility of employers such as local authorities and the NHS.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 02/05/2024 16:56:02 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1713527

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2024
	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	Social Security Benefits: Housing
	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 made an assessment of the impact of changes in the level of social security benefits on people living in unsuitable housing.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	23477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions spends around £30bn a year on housing support for renters in both the private and social rented sectors. Benefit rates and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) are reviewed annually.</p><p>From April this year the Government is investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment ensures 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit gain on average, nearly £800 in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.</p><p>LHA provides a reasonable level of housing support towards rental costs in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.</p><p>The Department works closely with other government departments, stakeholders, jobcentres, and local authorities to understand the impact of its policies.</p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 29/04/2024 15:27:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1712763

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Criminology: Qualifications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned defunding of the level 3 Criminology qualification on the criminal justice workforce pipeline (a) in general and (b) for jobs that contribute to maintaining national security.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to ensuring that students in post-16 education have access to a high quality suite of qualifications that are easy to choose from and which provide the best chances for progression into higher study, or into a skilled job. The department firmly believes that, until the Advanced British Standard (ABS) is introduced, A Levels and T Levels are the best route at Level 3 to achieving those outcomes. A Levels are world class qualifications that provide the best preparation for higher education in most academic subject areas, including the social sciences.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s view is that A Levels should be the academic qualifications of choice at Level 3. This is based on evidence about progression and attainment for students who study A Levels compared to those who study other academic qualifications at Level 3. Students who study A Levels tend to both do better and have higher completion rates at university than students who studied other qualifications, even when taking into account background characteristics.</p><p> </p><p>An impact assessment was undertaken to consider the post-16 reforms at Level 3 as a whole, which can be read here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The study of criminology at Level 3 is not generally an entry requirement for criminology and other related degree courses. A Level sociology, which is in the same sector subject area of sociology and social policy, will serve students wishing to progress to criminology degrees. Students wishing to progress into other careers in criminal justice and national security, such as legal, policing or prison and probation services, could also undertake other A Levels such as law, combined with small alternative academic qualifications in approved subjects such as uniformed protective services.</p><p> </p><p>Development of the ABS is a decade long reform programme. Therefore, removal of funding from technical qualifications overlapping with T Levels is continuing as planned. The technical parts of the ABS are much closer to the T Level than any other qualification, meaning that T Levels will be the most future proof qualification for students at 16 to 19.</p><p> </p><p>As the department reforms applied general qualifications, it will be up to colleges to decide what they offer to ensure that students have access to a wide range of publicly funded qualifications. As education is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations may take a different approach to post-16 education.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 22940 22941 22942 question first answered 25/04/2024 16:28:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1712764

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Criminology and Sociology: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the extent of overlap in course content between (a) level 3 Criminology and (b) A level Sociology.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to ensuring that students in post-16 education have access to a high quality suite of qualifications that are easy to choose from and which provide the best chances for progression into higher study, or into a skilled job. The department firmly believes that, until the Advanced British Standard (ABS) is introduced, A Levels and T Levels are the best route at Level 3 to achieving those outcomes. A Levels are world class qualifications that provide the best preparation for higher education in most academic subject areas, including the social sciences.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s view is that A Levels should be the academic qualifications of choice at Level 3. This is based on evidence about progression and attainment for students who study A Levels compared to those who study other academic qualifications at Level 3. Students who study A Levels tend to both do better and have higher completion rates at university than students who studied other qualifications, even when taking into account background characteristics.</p><p> </p><p>An impact assessment was undertaken to consider the post-16 reforms at Level 3 as a whole, which can be read here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The study of criminology at Level 3 is not generally an entry requirement for criminology and other related degree courses. A Level sociology, which is in the same sector subject area of sociology and social policy, will serve students wishing to progress to criminology degrees. Students wishing to progress into other careers in criminal justice and national security, such as legal, policing or prison and probation services, could also undertake other A Levels such as law, combined with small alternative academic qualifications in approved subjects such as uniformed protective services.</p><p> </p><p>Development of the ABS is a decade long reform programme. Therefore, removal of funding from technical qualifications overlapping with T Levels is continuing as planned. The technical parts of the ABS are much closer to the T Level than any other qualification, meaning that T Levels will be the most future proof qualification for students at 16 to 19.</p><p> </p><p>As the department reforms applied general qualifications, it will be up to colleges to decide what they offer to ensure that students have access to a wide range of publicly funded qualifications. As education is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations may take a different approach to post-16 education.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 22939 22941 22942 question first answered 25/04/2024 16:28:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1712765

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Criminology: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the planned defunding of level 3 Criminology in England on the comparative ability of students from (a) England and (b) Wales to pursue careers in criminal justice.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to ensuring that students in post-16 education have access to a high quality suite of qualifications that are easy to choose from and which provide the best chances for progression into higher study, or into a skilled job. The department firmly believes that, until the Advanced British Standard (ABS) is introduced, A Levels and T Levels are the best route at Level 3 to achieving those outcomes. A Levels are world class qualifications that provide the best preparation for higher education in most academic subject areas, including the social sciences.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s view is that A Levels should be the academic qualifications of choice at Level 3. This is based on evidence about progression and attainment for students who study A Levels compared to those who study other academic qualifications at Level 3. Students who study A Levels tend to both do better and have higher completion rates at university than students who studied other qualifications, even when taking into account background characteristics.</p><p> </p><p>An impact assessment was undertaken to consider the post-16 reforms at Level 3 as a whole, which can be read here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The study of criminology at Level 3 is not generally an entry requirement for criminology and other related degree courses. A Level sociology, which is in the same sector subject area of sociology and social policy, will serve students wishing to progress to criminology degrees. Students wishing to progress into other careers in criminal justice and national security, such as legal, policing or prison and probation services, could also undertake other A Levels such as law, combined with small alternative academic qualifications in approved subjects such as uniformed protective services.</p><p> </p><p>Development of the ABS is a decade long reform programme. Therefore, removal of funding from technical qualifications overlapping with T Levels is continuing as planned. The technical parts of the ABS are much closer to the T Level than any other qualification, meaning that T Levels will be the most future proof qualification for students at 16 to 19.</p><p> </p><p>As the department reforms applied general qualifications, it will be up to colleges to decide what they offer to ensure that students have access to a wide range of publicly funded qualifications. As education is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations may take a different approach to post-16 education.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 22939 22940 22942 question first answered 25/04/2024 16:28:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1712766

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Criminology and Sociology: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the capacity on A level Sociology courses in the context of the planned defunding of level 3 Criminology.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22942
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to ensuring that students in post-16 education have access to a high quality suite of qualifications that are easy to choose from and which provide the best chances for progression into higher study, or into a skilled job. The department firmly believes that, until the Advanced British Standard (ABS) is introduced, A Levels and T Levels are the best route at Level 3 to achieving those outcomes. A Levels are world class qualifications that provide the best preparation for higher education in most academic subject areas, including the social sciences.</p><p> </p><p>The government’s view is that A Levels should be the academic qualifications of choice at Level 3. This is based on evidence about progression and attainment for students who study A Levels compared to those who study other academic qualifications at Level 3. Students who study A Levels tend to both do better and have higher completion rates at university than students who studied other qualifications, even when taking into account background characteristics.</p><p> </p><p>An impact assessment was undertaken to consider the post-16 reforms at Level 3 as a whole, which can be read here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The study of criminology at Level 3 is not generally an entry requirement for criminology and other related degree courses. A Level sociology, which is in the same sector subject area of sociology and social policy, will serve students wishing to progress to criminology degrees. Students wishing to progress into other careers in criminal justice and national security, such as legal, policing or prison and probation services, could also undertake other A Levels such as law, combined with small alternative academic qualifications in approved subjects such as uniformed protective services.</p><p> </p><p>Development of the ABS is a decade long reform programme. Therefore, removal of funding from technical qualifications overlapping with T Levels is continuing as planned. The technical parts of the ABS are much closer to the T Level than any other qualification, meaning that T Levels will be the most future proof qualification for students at 16 to 19.</p><p> </p><p>As the department reforms applied general qualifications, it will be up to colleges to decide what they offer to ensure that students have access to a wide range of publicly funded qualifications. As education is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations may take a different approach to post-16 education.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall grouped question UIN 22939 22940 22941 question first answered 25/04/2024 16:28:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1702468

	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	Freight: Carbon Emissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to develop a net zero road map for the haulage industry.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting the haulage industry to reach net zero. You may recall, in June 2022, this government published the first-ever cross modal and cross-government plan for the UK freight transport.</p><p>The Future of Freight Plan committed to a series of actions to support the decarbonisation of the freight sector and work is currently underway to deliver a strategy for the rollout of zero emission HGV infrastructure. This will support the haulage sector to achieve net zero.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:13:23 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1702469

	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	Large Goods Vehicles: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to introduce regulation for truck maintenance service providers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Roadworthiness standards for vehicles are set out in legislation. We have no plans to introduce regulations specifically for truck maintenance service providers.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2024 15:08:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1702157

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to invest all additional revenue from court and tribunal fees into the Courts and Tribunals Service to help tackle the civil case backlog.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22557
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Additional income raised from court and tribunal fees will make a significant contribution to vital work taking place across the Department to facilitate an effective and efficient justice system. This includes our continuous efforts to improve HMCTS service performance and reduce court backlogs.</p><p>Fees generated £727 million in income for the Ministry of Justice in 2022/23 out of the total c.£2.3 billion that it cost to run HMCTS. The recent round of fee uplifts is expected to raise another £30 million – £37 million a year in additional income.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 23/04/2024 14:08:21 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1701865

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoner Escorts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates court hearings have been delayed or could not go ahead due to a (a) failure to deliver a prisoner and (b) delay in bringing a prisoner to court by (i) SERCO and (ii) other providers of escort services since 2017, by court.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide the information requested without detailed examination of individual records for more than 220 courts, across two Prisoner Escort and Custody Services contract generations (Generation 3, 2011 – 2020, and Generation 4, 2020 – 2030), and this would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon grouped question UIN 22305 question first answered 22/04/2024 14:59:44 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1701866

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoner Escorts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions prisoners were delivered late to (a) a magistrates’ court hearing and (b) a Crown Court hearing, by each court, since 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	22305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide the information requested without detailed examination of individual records for more than 220 courts, across two Prisoner Escort and Custody Services contract generations (Generation 3, 2011 – 2020, and Generation 4, 2020 – 2030), and this would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon grouped question UIN 22304 question first answered 22/04/2024 14:59:44 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1700943

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	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	Social Security Benefits: Uprating
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it remains his Department's policy for benefits to continue to be increased in line with inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	21657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of State Pensions and benefits.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State will commence his 2025/26 up-rating review in the Autumn.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 18/04/2024 14:00:12 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1700946

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Debt Respite Scheme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) to 180 days.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	21658
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>The government launched the Breathing Space scheme on 4 May 2021, and as of February 2024, over 216,000 people in problem debt have benefited from Breathing Space protections.</p><p> </p><p>In developing the scheme, the government took the decision that sixty days is an appropriate period for breathing space to last to give individuals the time to engage with debt advice, whilst maintaining fairness and certainty for creditors.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 18/04/2024 13:21:26 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1698472

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Small Claims: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the official injury claim small claims portal.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	20308
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The Official Injury Claim (OIC) service is a free, easy-to-use online system owned and operated by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. OIC was built to be usable and accessible including to those with access needs or who prefer or require assistive or adaptive technologies.</p><p>On-screen guidance leads both represented and unrepresented claimants through the claims process, supported by an online help-hub and additional written guidance. There is also a dedicated telephone Portal Support Centre who can assist claimants who need to make a paper-based claim. The OIC also provides translation services in multiple foreign languages.</p><p>Ministry of Justice officials continue to work with MIB to increase awareness and improve the visibility of the OIC through identifying and implementing appropriate web optimisation. Regularly updated useful information on making a claim via the OIC is also available on GOV.UK.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 15/04/2024 11:20:18 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1698474

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings: Witnesses
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 4 of Practice Direction 1A - Participation of Vulnerable Parties or Witnesses, how many civil cases involve each of the vulnerability factors listed.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	20309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 15/04/2024 11:48:10 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1698475

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Business and Trade
	answering dept id	214
	answering dept short name	Business and Trade
	answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
	hansard heading	Holidays: Personal Injury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress she has made on establishing an exceptional compensation scheme for holidaymakers who have outstanding (a) loss of life and (b) serious personal injury claims against UK companies.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	20310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government understands that an alternative route for Thomas Cook personal injury claimants is being pursued that would potentially be financially beneficial to them.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to establishing a payment scheme for customers of Thomas Cook with serious and long-term injuries for which the company would have been liable but for its insolvency, if it is established that there are no alternative routes to compensation.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 15/04/2024 15:05:24 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697057

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings and Family Proceedings: Legal Representation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the document entitled Qualified legal representative appointed by the Court: Statutory guidance, published in July 2022, how many qualified legal representatives have been registered in (a) family and (b) other civil cases since the publication of that guidance.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19349 19350 19351 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697059

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases a qualified legal representative was (a) required and (b) available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19348 19350 19351 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697060

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases a qualified legal representative was (a) required and (b) not available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19348 19349 19351 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697062

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many qualified legal representatives had completed vulnerable witness training when they registered for the scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19348 19349 19350 19352 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1697063

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Legal Representation: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the requirement for qualified legal representatives to undergo vulnerable witness training within six months of registering.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Qualified Legal Representative (QLR) scheme was introduced in July 2022, following the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act (2021) which prohibited unrepresented perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims or alleged victims in family and civil proceedings, and vice versa. The prohibition ensures that vulnerable victims and witnesses are not traumatised by being cross-examined directly by their alleged perpetrator.</p><p>As of 20 March 2024, there are currently 366 QLRs registered to undertake work in the family courts and 78 QLRs registered to undertake work in the civil courts. We do not hold central data on total registrations since the publication of the statutory guidance.</p><p>Circumstances under which a QLR is required vary, for example, depending on whether parties have their own representation, and decisions on which cases require QLRs are taken by the courts. We do not collect data centrally on how many cases have required a QLR, or the number of QLRs that have presented cases under the scheme.</p><p>We do not hold central data on how many QLRs have completed training, which they are able to access from a range of external providers. The Government encourages legal professionals to take up this important work to assist in both the family and civil courts, and to complete the required training as early as practicable.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris grouped question UIN 19348 19349 19350 19351 question first answered 22/03/2024 14:43:29 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1696750

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoner Escorts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Crown Court hearings have been delayed due to a (a) failure to deliver a prisoner and (b) a delay in bringing a prisoner to a court by (i) Serco and (ii) other providers of escort services.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	19051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The number of contractual delays at the Crown Court attributable to the two PECS suppliers, in each month from September 2023 to February 2024, is shown in the table below.</p><p>Contractual delays include both failure to deliver a prisoner, and delay in bringing a prisoner to court. In contractual terms, a delay occurs when a prisoner who is at that time the responsibility of a PECS supplier, is not available in the courtroom at the required time so that courtroom business is delayed by 15 minutes or more. Whenever a delay occurs, its cause is investigated by the PECS Management Team in His Majesty’s Prison &amp; Probation Service. During the period for which data have been provided, there were no instances of failure to deliver a prisoner: all recorded instances are attributable to delay in bringing a prisoner to court.</p><p> </p><p>PECS contractual delays to Crown Court hearings, September 2023 to February 2024</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Serco</p></td><td><p>Total moves to Crown Court</p></td><td><p>Number of contractual delays</p></td><td><p>Performance %</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep 2023</p></td><td><p>4872</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>99.90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct 2023</p></td><td><p>4651</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>99.83</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov 2023</p></td><td><p>5408</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>99.69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec 2023</p></td><td><p>3803</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>99.48</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan 2024</p></td><td><p>5136</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>99.73</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb 2024</p></td><td><p>4733</p></td><td><p>7</p></td><td><p>99.86</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>GEOAmey</p></td><td><p>Total moves to Crown Court</p></td><td><p>Number of contractual delays</p></td><td><p>Performance %</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep 2023</p></td><td><p>4904</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>99.96</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct 2023</p></td><td><p>5169</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>99.95</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov 2023</p></td><td><p>5559</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>99.97</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec 2023</p></td><td><p>4419</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>99.99</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan 2024</p></td><td><p>5586</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>99.99</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb 2024</p></td><td><p>5223</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>99.99</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon question first answered 26/03/2024 16:39:57 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695809

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for a first hearing of a civil justice case was in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18431
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18432 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695810

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog in civil courts; and whether he has set targets to reduce average waiting times by case type.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18431 18435 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695811

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Personal Injury: Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average settlement time is for minor injury claims going through the Official Injury Claim portal.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Average settlement time for claims going through the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal at the end of February 2024 was 239 days. This can be broken down to 259 days for represented claimants and 115 days for unrepresented claimants. Further information and data on OIC can be found here: <a href="https://www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk/resources-for-professionals/data/" target="_blank">https://www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk/resources-for-professionals/data/.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 18/03/2024 17:33:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695812

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Motor Insurance: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Over £1 billion savings for motorists as whiplash reforms come into force, published on 31 May 2021, what estimate he has made of the average saving on motor insurance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Part 3 of the Civil Liability Act 2018 (the Act) requires motor insurers in England and Wales to provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with data on savings arising from its provisions and on how they have been passed on to policy holders. The Act also requires that a report on the savings made must be completed and laid before Parliament by no later than 1 April 2025. The data gathering phase has been completed and the FCA are now working with HM Treasury officials to prepare a report which will be published in line with statutory deadlines.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 18/03/2024 17:34:31 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695813

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Civil Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are waiting for their civil case to be heard by claim type.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the honourable Member for Stockton North to the answer I gave on 19 February 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13277" target="_blank">13277</a> and the answer I gave on the 23 January 2024 to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-01-15/9675" target="_blank">9675</a> in relation to the steps being taken to improve timeliness in civil courts.</p><p>Due to the nature of Civil claims, data relating to the number of people awaiting hearing is not held centrally. The time to hearing in relation to the small proportion of civil claims which are defended and proceed to trial is published quarterly: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">Civil justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.</a></p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer grouped question UIN 18431 18432 question first answered 18/03/2024 17:07:24 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1695338

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Helicopters
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Sikorsky-92 model helicopters have been licensed to operate in the UK offshore energy sector in each year since 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	18136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2024 answer text <p>As of 1 March 2024, there are 26 Sikorsky-92 aircraft licensed to operate in the UK oil and gas offshore sector, with their status being either ‘in service’ or ‘in storage’. Data for previous years has been taken as a snapshot as at 1 March for consistency: 29 (2023), 32 (2022), 29 (2021), 37 (2020), 36 (2019), 38 (2018), 43 (2017), 35 (2016), 32 (2015), 22 (2014) and 17 (2013).</p> answering member constituency South Cambridgeshire answering member printed Anthony Browne question first answered 15/03/2024 13:05:12 answering member 4801 label Biography information for Anthony Browne
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1693283

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Families: Social Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to tackle shortages in family social workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	16733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>Social workers play a valuable role in supporting the most vulnerable in society and the department is committed to ensuring there is an excellent child and family social worker for everyone who needs one. The department recognises the ongoing challenge facing local authorities across the country in recruiting and retaining child and family social workers, with reasons for social workers leaving the profession varied and complex.</p><p>On 2 February 2023, the department published the care reform strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, which set out proposals to help stabilise the workforce. This includes supporting the recruitment of up to 461 social worker apprentices, a new Early Career Framework that will set out the development plans for a social worker’s first five years, proposals to reduce the overreliance on agency social workers, and setting up a National Workload Action Group to tackle unnecessary workload drivers which keep social workers away from direct time with children and families.</p><p>Every year, through the department’s fast track and development programmes, the department trains an average of 800 new social workers and provides professional development for around 4,000 others.</p><p>The number of full time equivalent child and family social workers in post at 30 September 2023 was 33,100. This is the highest figure we've seen since gathering this data. The statistics show that the department’s £50 million average yearly investment over this Spending Review on recruitment and training child and family social workers, alongside the hard work of local authorities is generating positive results.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 14/03/2024 11:48:15 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham