The Government Communication Service (GCS) is committed to ensuring that all government communications are available and accessible to all audiences. Its crisis communications operating model commits to improving preparedness plans across the risks facing the government. This includes meeting statutory requirements and setting standards of best practice for accessible communications.<\/p>
Departments make commonly-requested alternative formats of communications such as Easy Read and Large Print available in order to meet people\u2019s needs. The recently published British Sign Language (BSL) report details what the government is doing to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in its communications with the public.<\/p>
During the Covid-19 pandemic, GCS continuously engaged with disability charities, using polling and focus groups with hard-to-reach audiences, to better understand how our communications were received. Examples of new guidance were also discussed in regular sessions with disability charities and experts in accessibility, so these groups could review and make recommendations on how to improve government communications. We used these insights to improve government messaging and challenge misinformation.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4613", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Burghart"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brentwood and Ongar"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Burghart"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-05T16:51:47.683Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Disasters and Disease Control: Disability"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the provision of accessible communications for disabled people in (a) pandemic and (b) disaster preparedness work.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} ], "uin" : "3799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463752", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463752/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
All teachers are teachers of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the department is committed to ensuring that all pupils can reach their potential and receive excellent support from their teachers. To support all teachers to meet these standards, the government are implementing a \u2018golden thread\u2019 of high-quality teacher training reforms which begins with initial teacher training and continues into early career teaching, through to the reformed suite of leadership and specialist National Professional Qualifications, ensures that teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed, including those with SEND.<\/p>
The revised initial teacher training core content framework, which all new entrants to the profession benefit from, has been designed around how to support all pupils to succeed, including those pupils identified within the four areas of need, set out in the SEND Code of Practice.\u202fAll trainees who achieve qualified teacher status must demonstrate that they can adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils, including those with\u202fSEND.<\/p>
The early career framework (ECF) has been designed around how to support all pupils to succeed and seeks to widen access for all. This includes those pupils identified within the four areas of need set out in the SEND code of practice, and children in need of help and protection as identified in the Children in Need Review.<\/p>
Consideration of SEND underpins both the CCF and ECF which were both produced with the support of sector experts.<\/p>
Once teachers qualify and are employed in schools, headteachers use their professional judgement to identify any further training, including specific specialisms, for individual staff that is relevant to them, the\u202fschool,\u202fand its pupils.<\/p>
In February 2022, we announced more than £45 million of funding for continued targeted support for families and parents of children with SEND and SEND services. This includes funding that will directly support schools and colleges to work with pupils with SEND, for example through training on specific needs like autism.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-25T10:05:46.893Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Teachers: Training"} , "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 the Government is taking to ensure that all teachers are well trained to teach children with SEND in the classroom, in the context of SEND training not being mandatory for mainstream teachers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4866", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alexander Stafford"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rother Valley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alexander Stafford"} ], "uin" : "3799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1316275", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1316275/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is committed to publishing the Children Not in School consultation response in due course. We hope to have this published in the coming months.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-24T14:33:55.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Education: 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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2021 to Question 618 on Home Education: Standards, what his planned timetable is for publishing his Department's response to the consultation which closed on 24 June 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/429", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Derek Twigg"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Halton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Derek Twigg"} ], "uin" : "3799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1171015", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1171015/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK believes in robust legislation on accessibility as evidenced by the landmark Disability Discrimination Act. We have always supported the aims of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in seeking to improve the accessibility of a range of products and services to citizens with disabilities. Once we leave the EU, the Government will consider how to improve or enchance accessibility in domestic legislation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1171015/answer/previousversion/1797", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-01-21T16:19:06.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Disability: EU Law"} , "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, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to replicate the European Accessibility Act when the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"} ], "uin" : "3799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151466", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151466/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are making good progress on putting mental health services on an equal footing as those for physical health.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, published in 2016, made a set of recommendations for the National Health Service to achieve the ambition of parity of esteem between mental and physical health for children, young people, adults and older people. We continue to work with the NHS to deliver on these recommendations with the majority expected to be met by 2020/21.<\/p>
<\/p>
Investment in mental health services continues to rise. Total mental health spend in 2018/19 was £12.5 billion, up from £9.15 billion in 2015/16. The mental health investment standard requires clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to increase the amount spent on mental health by at least as much as their overall budget. In 2018/19, all CCGs achieved this level of investment.<\/p>
<\/p>
The NHS Long Term Plan committed at least a further £2.3 billion a year to mental health services by 2023/24. This ring-fenced investment will continue the transformation and expansion of services for people with mental health conditions, building on our current targets. For the first time, children and young people\u2019s mental health services will grow as a proportion of all mental health services, which will themselves also be growing faster than the NHS overall.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ms Nadine Dorries"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "3657"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-29T14:53:35.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mental Health"} , "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 progress his Department has made on achieving parity of esteem for mental and physical health.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"} ], "uin" : "3799"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750205", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/750205/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We launched our five year National Cyber Security Strategy in 2016 to ensure that the UK has the right capability and capacity to defend our people, businesses, and assets; deter our adversaries; and develop the skills and capabilities we need across all sectors.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> The NCSC regularly publishes advice and guidance for securing organisations\u2019 networks operating in the UK, including universities, and it works closely with law enforcement partners to tackle all forms of cyber-crime.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-18T14:25:40.14Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cybersecurity: Universities"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the National Cyber Security Centre has to help universities (a) fight organised cyber-crime and (b) further prevent a cyber-attack.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4479", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Torfaen"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nick Thomas-Symonds"}
], "uin" : "3799"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/384971", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/384971/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have no plans to make such representations as this is a matter for the UN.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1530", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Brokenshire"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Old Bexley and Sidcup"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Brokenshire"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-09T15:11:52.123Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refugees"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make representations to the UN on specifying that 20 June should be commemorated as World Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Day.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bob Blackman"}
], "uin" : "3799"}
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