Defra is working closely with our food and farming sectors and across Government, to understand labour demand and supply, and help our world-leading growers, farmers and food producers access the labour they need, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements.<\/p>
<\/p>
To reduce the risk of seasonal labour shortages in horticulture and the poultry sector, the Government announced last May that there would be 45,000 Seasonal Worker visas for the horticulture sector in 2024, with a further 2000 for seasonal poultry workers, ensuring these sectors can plan their workforce needs for the year ahead with confidence. This provides sufficient visas for growers to access all the workers they need, and if more visas are necessary within the year an additional 10,000 could be released. Reports on the Seasonal Worker visa route are available at GOV.UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
To help support the issue of labour shortages and inform future decisions on labour across the sector, the Government commissioned John Shropshire to carry out an Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain throughout 2022 and 2023. John Shropshire\u2019s Review considered how automation, domestic labour and migrant labour could contribute to tackling labour shortages in our sectors, including farming. This report was published on 30 June 2023 and the Government response \u2013 which will also be informed by the Review of Automation in Horticulture \u2013 is expected to be published in early 2024.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government response will consider all ten of the recommendations made in John Shropshire\u2019s Review, covering the four themes of Recruitment & Retention, Skills, Data and Automation.<\/p>
<\/p>
At the same time as the response, the Government will set out how it will support the sector to access the labour it needs alongside actions to reduce the sector\u2019s reliance on migrant labour including via our work on automation and promoting domestic labour procurement and training.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Douglas-Miller"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-14T12:17:57.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Agriculture: Vacancies"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the level of labour shortages in the farming sector; what measures they are taking to manage such shortages; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of such measures.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3687", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Rosser"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Rosser"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506474", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506474/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights provides new evidence of the extent of China's efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. It includes a broad range of evidence, including first-hand accounts from victims. The UK has already led international efforts to pressure China to change its behaviour. We have imposed sanctions, led joint statements at the UN, taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains, funded research to expose China's actions, and consistently raised China's human rights violations at the highest levels in Beijing. Given the seriousness of the report's findings, we are now supporting formal action at the current Human Rights Council (HRC) that will request a Council Debate on the situation in Xinjiang. If successful, this would be the first time we have succeeded in putting China on the Council's agenda. We have also raised the report's findings with the Chinese Embassy in London as well as senior officials in Beijing."} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4062", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-29T11:44:26.493Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Xinjiang: Ethnic Groups"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of crimes being committed against (1) Uyghurs, (2) Kazakhs, and (3) other Turkish Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang in China; and what discussions they have had with international partners about taking steps to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, any such crimes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Bishop of St Albans"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1349819", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1349819/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Industrial clusters account for just over half of the emissions by industry, which is why we committed in the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy to delivering four low-carbon clusters by 2030 and at least one fully net zero cluster by 2040. The North West cluster already covers the Liverpool City region. The cluster\u2019s decarbonisation plans will provide over £4bn in investment, delivering at least 33,000 jobs and abating 10m tonnes of carbon across the North West.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have already invested over £45 million into the Hynet Project in the region, through the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge and BEIS Hydrogen Supply and Industrial Fuel Switching competitions, to help kickstart hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-08-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-08-02T13:54:56.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Industry: Liverpool City Region"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to expand their Industrial Clusters Mission to other regions; and what consideration they have given to the Liverpool City Region being a suitable cluster.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Hooper"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Hooper"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1183212", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1183212/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
RFA ARGUS is the Ministry of Defence's Primary Casualty Receiving Ship. The consideration of options to deliver the capabilities provided by ARGUS after she leaves service remains ongoing.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-03-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL2305"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-03-10T12:27:48.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hospital Ships: Procurement"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any new hospital ship will be operational before the retirement of RFA Argus in 2024.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/542", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Touhig"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Touhig"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773589", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773589/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
National statistics on the number of unregistered schools that serve the faiths stated in the question are not held centrally. Neither are details on the nature of the curriculum. However, we know from Ofsted\u2019s Annual Report 2015/16 that at the time of publication, about a third of the settings inspected were associated with particular faith groups and were found to be deliberately teaching a restricted, faith-based curriculum.<\/p>
<\/p>
The annual report is available via the attached document. The section on unregistered schools begins at paragraph 251.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has had numerous discussions with a range of faith groups covering a number of matters, but no specific conversations about unregistered schools with the unregistered schools team. Nor have there been specific conversations between the unregistered schools team and the Children\u2019s Commissioner or Chief Constables. However, the unregistered schools team has had a series of meetings with local councils to discuss how they, as well as the Department and Ofsted, can work collaboratively to help ensure children found to be attending unregistered independent schools and out of school settings are safe and are receiving a suitable education. We have kept the Local Government Association informed on progress. We, together with Ofsted, have had regular discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service and are close to agreeing a formal memorandum of understanding, to be published in due course, that sets out how each body discharges its responsibilities in relation to prosecution of cases for the offence of operating an unregistered school.<\/p>
<\/p>
As reported by Ofsted in its annual report, the Ofsted team has only found a relatively small number of institutions operating as unregistered schools, and most of those have ceased operating.<\/p>
<\/p>
Ofsted did not include a figure for the number of children in the unregistered schools that they had discovered, but given that the number of such institutions is relatively small, the number of children being educated in them is likely to be limited.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773589/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Ofsted_annual_report_education_and_skills_201516_web-ready.pdf"} , "title" : "Ofsted Annual Report 2015/16"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2301"} , {"_value" : "HL2302"} , {"_value" : "HL2303"} , {"_value" : "HL2305"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-11-02T12:20:38.837Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Out-of-school Education"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had in the past 12 months with the Children's Commissioner, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Local Government Association and Chief Constables about unregistered schools; and what suggestions, if any, these parties have made for tackling the issues raised by unregistered schools.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1732", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Warner"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Warner"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/600964", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/600964/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of the New Care Models Programme, NHS England is supporting local health and care commissioners and providers to come together to improve the health and care they provide. This includes the development of population-based care models known as integrated Primary and Acute Care Systems and Multispecialty Community Providers (MCPs). Where and how to develop new care models are decisions taken by local partnerships, in response to local conditions. The Programme is not directing or requiring the amalgamation of primary care centres.<\/p>
<\/p>
There are 14 MCP vanguards, with a single organisation accountable for joined-up General Practitioner (GP) and community services and some specialist care, mental health services, and social care for a defined population. The building blocks of a MCP are the \u2018care hubs\u2019 of integrated teams. Each typically serves a community of around 30,000-50,000 people. These hubs are the practical, operational level of any model of accountable care provision. The wider the scope of services included in the MCP, the more hubs you may need to connect together to create sufficient scale. All 14 MCP vanguards now serve a minimum population of around 100,000.<\/p>
<\/p>
The majority of GP practices are already working in practice groups or federations. This provides opportunities to expand services, stabilise practice income and work at scale, which has benefits for patients, practices and the wider system. These include economies of scale, quality improvement, workforce development, enhanced care and new services, resilience and system partnerships.<\/p>
<\/p>
A new voluntary MCP contract will be introduced from April 2017, to integrate general practice services with community services and wider healthcare services. Measures from the GP Access Fund and vanguard sites that are currently piloting this approach, will be learned from to support mainstreaming of proven service improvements across all practices, and funding will be provided for local collaborations to support practices to implement new ways of working.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/127", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Prior of Brampton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2255"} , {"_value" : "HL2256"} , {"_value" : "HL2305"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-10-26T15:17:54.88Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Primary Health Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether it is their intention to amalgamate local primary care centres into larger units; and if so, when.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/121", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Mawhinney"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Mawhinney"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/419231", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/419231/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
To date, the UK has provided £59.5m of humanitarian assistance across Iraq. This goes to people most in need, including those in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). We are providing funding for a Joint Crisis Centre (JCC) within the Kurdistan Regional Government as part of this support. The JCC works closely with the UN, the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the international community to provide life-saving coordination. The UK also supports Iraqi-led stabilisation activities to enable the safe return of displaced people to their homes.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3790", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Verma"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Verma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-24T13:52:19.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Iraq: Kurds"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how they are supporting Kurdish authorities in Iraq to manage the civilians who have fled the fighting and are displaced in the region.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4257", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Worcester"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Lord Bishop of Worcester"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100567", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100567/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
From April 2015 it was intended funding for local welfare provision would be funded from the general grant to Local Government. The general grant took this into account.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has agreed to look again at how funding is provided for in 2015/16. Any decisions will be taken after we have reviewed how the current funds have been used and the on-going consultation and equality analysis on 2015/16 funding being co-ordinated by the Department for Communities and Local Government.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3893", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Freud"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Freud"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-29T15:16:01.1221704Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Welfare Assistance Schemes"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, in the light of their decision not to contest the judicial review of the decision to cease funding for Local Welfare Assistance, whether they will reinstate that funding for 2015\u201316.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/143", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness King of Bow"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness King of Bow"} ], "uin" : "HL2304"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 8, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }