Winter planning for the National Health Service started earlier this year than in previous years. The urgent and emergency care recovery plan was published in January 2023 which included £1 billion of dedicated funding to support capacity. In July 2023, NHS England wrote to integrated care boards, trusts and primary care networks to set out a national approach to 2023/24 winter planning and the key steps to be taken across all parts of the system to meet the challenges expected from winter pressures.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4527", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Helen Whately"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Faversham and Mid Kent"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Helen Whately"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-28T09:44:56.597Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health Services: Weather"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help prepare the NHS for winter 2023-24.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"} ], "uin" : "3561"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672644", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672644/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Official NHS England statistics show that between September 2023 and September 2024 (latest National Health Service published data) the total number of elective surgeries cancelled in England for non-clinical reasons was 76,021. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include ward beds being unavailable, surgeon or theatre staff being unavailable, or emergency cases needing the theatre.<\/p>
Further information is available at the following link:<\/p>
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancelled-elective-operations/cancelled-ops-data/<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672644/answer/previousversion/3976", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4044", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Stephenson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pendle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Stephenson"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-29T14:35:46.423Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Surgery: Waiting Lists"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of elective surgeries cancelled in the last 12 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"}
], "uin" : "3562"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672378", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672378/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department set out plans to build a consistent national SEND and AP system which parents and carers can trust, easily navigate, and have confidence in, whether they live in an urban or rural area.<\/p> The foundation for the new nationally consistent SEND and AP system will be new evidenced-based National Standards for early and accurate identification of need, and timely access to support to meet those needs. The standards will include clarifying the types of support that should be ordinarily available in mainstream settings and who is responsible for securing the support.<\/p> This will help families, practitioners and providers understand what support every child or young person should be receiving from early years through to further education, no matter where they live or what their needs are. By the end of 2025 the department will publish a significant proportion of the National Standards.<\/p> New local SEND and AP partnerships will support this work by bringing together Education, Health and Care partners with local government to produce evidence-based Local Area Inclusion Plans setting out how to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND and in AP in the local area, in line with National Standards.<\/p> The department is testing and refining reforms through the £70 million Change Programme to collect evidence about what works for children and young people with SEND and their families at a local level. The department is working with 32 local authorities and their local areas in each of the nine regions. To form a Change Programme Partnership<\/ins> Funding for specialist Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services is allocated to local authorities through the high needs funding block of their Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).<\/p> Local authorities are responsible for deciding how much of that funding to spend on appropriate local SEND services, to ensure there is effective support for the education of children and young people with SEND in all local schools, including rural schools.<\/p> Nationally, high needs funding is increasing to over £10.5 billion in the 2024/25 financial year, which is an increase of over 60% since the 2019/20 allocations. The department has already announced provisional 2024/25 high needs allocations for local authorities, and\u202fLancashire County Council\u2019s allocation is £203 million, which is over £10 million more than the Council will receive for 2023/24.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4761", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Johnston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Johnston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-27T17:53:15.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Special Educational Needs: Rural Areas"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure there is adequate funding for the provision of SEND services in rural schools.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"}
], "uin" : "3388"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671758", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671758/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " My Department meets regularly with the hospitality sector and understands the challenges businesses face. The Hospitality Sector Council is focusing on steps to build the sector\u2019s resilience.<\/p> <\/p> In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a business rates support package worth £4.3 billion over the next five years to support small businesses and the high street. The small business multiplier will be frozen for a fourth consecutive year, and Retail, <\/p> The Chancellor also announced a freeze on alcohol duties until 1 August 2024 to give businesses time to adapt to the duty system introduced on 1 August 2023.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-28T14:00:33.423Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hospitality Industry: Cost of Living"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department has taken to support the hospitality sector in the context of the rise in the cost of living.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"}
], "uin" : "2965"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671771", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1671771/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Many businesses benefitted from the £13.6 billion support package provided at Autumn Budget 2022, including those in rural communities. The government has gone further at this year\u2019s Autumn Statement, announcing a business rates support package worth £4.3 billion. This includes protection for businesses who lose eligibility for Small Business or Rural Rate Relief through a generous Supporting Small Business scheme worth over £500 million.<\/p> <\/p> The government provides extensive support to businesses, through Help to Grow Management, Business Support Helpline and a network of Growth Hubs. The Government has also increased the British Business Bank\u2019s regional financing programmes by £1.6 billion.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-01T11:47:12.14Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Small Businesses: Rural Areas"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support small businesses in rural areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"}
], "uin" : "2971"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1670560", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1670560/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Home Office does not hold data in relation to the number, status or levels of vetting for individuals working in policing. Vetting and recruitment matters are handled independently, and on a case-by-case basis, by each force. Decisions on vetting should be made in accordance with the statutory Vetting Code of Practice and vetting authorised professional practice (APP), issued by the College of Policing.<\/p>Child Protection Plan<\/del>, in the majority of cases, a lead local authority will work in partnership with up to three neighbouring local authorities which will ensure impact is spread across a range of local areas, with differing levels of performance and demographics.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4761", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Johnston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Johnston"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672378/answer/previousversion/3062", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4761", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Johnston"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wantage"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Johnston"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-27T17:55:06.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-26T16:40:15.693Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Special Educational Needs: Standards"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure equitable standards of SEND provision in (a) urban and (b) rural communities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4981", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ashley Dalton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Lancashire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ashley Dalton"}
], "uin" : "3387"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672380", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672380/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief will be extended, ensuring the most vulnerable
businesses continue to be supported.<\/p>