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1604776

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Chelmsford Prison: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the transparency data entitled Ministry of Justice: spend control data for April 2022 to June 2022, published on 30 September 2022, what information his Department used to inform its decision to spend £13.9 million on fire safety at HMPPS Chelmsford; and if he will publish that information.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	167125
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Decisions on investment in the prison estate are made on the basis of risk and in the interest of the health safety and well-being of prisoners and staff. We are investing heavily to ensure prison fire safety systems are brought up to a modern standard.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 21/03/2023 14:54:53 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1604777

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
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	Coronavirus: Vaccination
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held recent discussions with medical advisers on covid-19 vaccination roll outs; and what steps he is taking to use medical evidence to inform decisions on future vaccination roll outs.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	167270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>Each COVID-19 vaccine candidate is assessed by teams of scientists and clinicians on a case-by-case basis and is only authorised once it has met robust standards of effectiveness, safety and quality set by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).</p><p>The independent Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) is the expert body set up to provide advice on national vaccination and immunisation programmes to all four United Kingdom health departments. The JCVI considers vaccines once they are authorised by the MHRA.</p><p>As set out in the Living with COVID strategy published in 2021 the Government intends to continue to be guided by JCVI advice on which groups should be offered vaccination for COVID-19 and when and to whom any booster doses should be offered.</p><p>The most recent advice from JCVI on COVID-19 announced on 7 March 2023 was to offer a precautionary spring booster to those in the population most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19, including older people and those who are immunosuppressed.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 24/03/2023 14:14:31 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1604778

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Business Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility of November 2022, what recent discussions he has had with that Office on the factors behind the projected increase in revenue from business rates.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	167093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>OBR forecasts are produced independently of ministers, objectively, transparently and impartially, as set out clearly by law. The spring forecast is available at: <a href="https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2023/" target="_blank">https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2023/</a></p><p> </p><p>For the spring forecast, the OBR have been engaged with the Treasury in the normal way and there have been regular discussions of the economic and fiscal outlook.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury and the OBR, the forecast process involves the OBR producing multiple draft iterations of the forecasts which it shares with the Chancellor.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to business rates, the 5-year forecast takes account of the Government’s £13.6 billion package of support announced at Autumn Statement 2022, and annual CPI indexation of the multiplier.</p><p> </p><p>Future decisions regarding business rates will be taken in line with the normal Budget process.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 21/03/2023 15:58:17 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

1604779

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC Radio: Local Broadcasting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the BBC on extending local content on BBC Local Radio.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	167168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area.</p><p>The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery are a matter for the BBC. However, we are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output. In the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC, we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.</p><p>The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. The Government has already asked Ofcom about how they are considering this issue, and Ofcom has now set out its assessment of the market impact of the BBC’s proposals. I understand that Ofcom is continuing discussions with the BBC on the impact of its proposals on audiences.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/03/2023 10:25:37 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1604780

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Performing Arts: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of (a) performing arts teachers and (b) associated curriculum hours in schools and further and higher education institutions.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff North
tabling member printed	Anna McMorrin
uin	167209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>Information relating to ITT recruitment performance in England is published annually in the ITT census, available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-census/2022-23" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-census/2022-23</a>. In 2022/23, there were 329 postgraduate trainees who started an ITT course in drama, 301 in music, and 1,405 in physical education. Performance versus target in 2022/23 for drama was 113%, for music was 64%, and for physical education was 143%.</p><p>Information on the school workforce in England, including the number of subject teachers in state funded secondary schools, is collected each November as part of the annual school workforce census. Information is published in the ‘school workforce in England’ statistical publication, available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england</a>. Those who are designated as teachers of dance are included within the total for physical education/sports teachers.</p><p>As of November 2021, there were 8,976 teachers of drama, 7,003 teachers of music, and 23,708 teachers of physical education/sport at Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 in state funded secondary schools in England. In a typical week, they taught 85,003 hours of drama, 86,480 hours of music, and 290,033 hours of physical education/sport. Drama, music and physical education/sport teachers designate any teacher timetabled to teach the subject for any period in a typical week in November. These teachers do not necessarily have a specific post-A level qualification. This timetabling does not cover an entire year of teaching. If there are variations in timetabling across the year, this is not covered in the data available to the Department.</p><p>The Department does not hold data on the number of teachers who teach performing arts in further education institutions.</p><p>For 2022/23, the Department increased funding for world-leading specialist HE providers by an additional £5 million, from £53 million in 2021/22 to £58 million in 2022/23. This is on top of the increase of £10 million the Department provided in 2021/22. The Department wants to ensure that specialist institutions, many of which specialise in arts provision, receive additional support, and that grant funding is used to effectively support students.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 21/03/2023 17:51:40 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4632 label Biography information for Anna McMorrin

1604781

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Performing Arts: Extracurricular Activities
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of rises in the cost of living on the uptake of extracurricular performing arts classes in (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) further and (d) higher education; and whether she is taking steps to increase engagement in the performing arts in (i) schools and (ii) other educational establishments.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff North
tabling member printed	Anna McMorrin
uin	167210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>All state funded schools are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, and this includes promoting pupils' cultural development. The performing arts are a core part of the school curriculum and also supported through extracurricular activities to children and young people.</p><p>The Department regularly asks about pupil participation in extracurricular performing arts activities in ‘parent, pupil and learner panel’ surveys. In the most recent published wave in which the questions were asked (the November wave from the 2022/23 academic year), 19% of pupils reported that they had participated in extracurricular performing arts activities in that term. The Department will continue to monitor the uptake of performing arts and other extracurricular activities, and investigate reasons for any significant changes or trends.</p><p>An additional £1.6 billion in funding has been made available for 16-19 education between the 2021/22 and 2024/25 academic years. This includes an up-front cash boost which will see the rate of funding per student increase by over 8% in 2022/23.</p><p>The Department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year which have affected university students. In addition to the cost of living measures already announced, the Department discusses cost of living pressures that are affecting students in its regular meetings with stakeholders, including the Office for Students (OfS), Universities UK and other HE representative groups. The Department also consulted with the National Association of Student Money Advisers to understand the ongoing situation in relation to increased requests from students for hardship awards from their universities.</p><p>The Department will continue to spend around £115 million per annum on cultural education over three years, through its music, arts and heritage programmes. With the real terms per pupil increases to core school funding and the nearly £5 billion that has been announced for education recovery, schools will continue to have the flexibility to deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum and enrichment activities, including in arts and creative subjects.</p><p>The Department will be publishing a Cultural Education Plan in 2023, working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England. The Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel was announced last year, and other panel members will be announced in due course. The Plan will focus on how the Government can support access and participation in a wide range of arts subjects and activities, particularly for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and in underrepresented groups. It will also further support young people who wish to pursue careers in the creative, cultural, and heritage industries.</p><p>In addition, the Department wants to ensure that HE specialist providers, many of which specialise in arts provision, receive additional support, and that grant funding is used to effectively support students.</p><p>On 8 December 2022, the OfS published the list of successful HE providers who have been identified as world-leading specialists by the Specialist Provider Panel. The current list of world-leading specialist providers includes 13 providers specialising in the arts. This funding will help improve the diversity and quality of creative education provision available to students.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 21/03/2023 17:54:38 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4632 label Biography information for Anna McMorrin

1604782

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Voter Authority Certificates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of Voter Authority Certificate applications in England have been rejected as of 1 March 2023.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	167221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-03-14/165271" target="_blank">165271</a> on 20th March 2023.</p> answering member constituency Bishop Auckland answering member printed Dehenna Davison question first answered 24/03/2023 14:10:18 answering member 4737 label Biography information for Dehenna Davison
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1604783

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the average annual cost of childcare for households with (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) more than two children (i) under the age of two and (ii) between the ages of two and five; and what recent steps she has taken to improve access to affordable childcare.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	167271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>The department does not estimate the average annual cost of childcare in the way the question has set out. The reporting year 2021 ‘Childcare and early years survey of parents’ incorporates a breakdown of weekly childcare spend at family level, which includes families with 1, 2 or 3+ children, and also at child level, including child age. It is also the case that some parents use formal childcare in term time only (38 weeks) whereas others use it year-round.</p><p>In the Spring Budget announcement of 15 March 2023, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children, and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p><p>The reforms include:</p><ul><li>Providing over £4.1 billion by 2027/28 to fund 30 hours of free childcare for children over the age of nine months</li><li>Investing £204 million from September 2023, rising to £288 million in 2024-25 to uplift the rates for existing entitlements</li><li>Increasing the supply of wraparound care through £289 million start up funding</li><li>Attracting more people to childminding through an up to £7.2 million start up grant fund</li><li>Giving providers more flexibility by changing staff-to-child ratios to 1:5 for two year olds in England</li><li>Launching a consultation on further measures to support reform of the childcare market, to explore further flexibilities for providers</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 24/03/2023 14:44:25 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1604784

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of levels of pay for graduates in the early years sector.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	167217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2023 answer text <p>The department publishes data on pay for early years staff by qualification level. The most recent data is available in the 2021 provider survey here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providers-finances-survey-of-childcare-and-ey-providers-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providers-finances-survey-of-childcare-and-ey-providers-2021</a>.</p><p>The majority of the early years sector is made up of private, voluntary and independent organisations who set their own rates of pay. The department acknowledges the concerns raised by the sector regarding workforce recruitment and retention, including the perceived impact of salary rates.</p><p>Following the transformational Spring Budget 2023 announcement and the extension of the 30 hours free childcare entitlement, we will work closely with the sector to develop a plan to grow and develop the workforce, including how to improve professional development within the sector. We will share further information in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 24/03/2023 11:27:32 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1604785

registered interest
date	16/03/2023
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	Employment Schemes: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Financial Statement and Budget Report of 15 March by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Official Report, column 843, how he plans to assess the degree of illness or disability of people who will be supported back into work.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	167272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2023 answer text <p>We published <em>Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15<sup>th</sup> March 2023. </em>This responds to feedback from <em>The Health and Disability Green Paper</em> consultation.</p><p> </p><p>In the White Paper, we announced that we will legislate to remove the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), so that in future there will only be one health and disability assessment, the PIP assessment. This will remove the need to be found to have limited capability for work, and limited capability to prepare for work, to receive additional income-related support for a disability or health condition, giving people confidence that they will receive support, for as long as it is needed, regardless of whether they are working.</p><p> </p><p>We will also introduce a new personalised system of health conditionality and support which will be tailored to the individual and will involve work coaches having personalised conversations with claimants focused on what they can do, rather than on what they cannot do.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that, for many disabled people and people with health conditions, work or work-related activity is not possible or appropriate; and where this is the case, they will not be expected to participate in these activities to receive their benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>We will work with our work coaches to develop these proposals and ensure they have the right training and support needed to fulfil this change in their role. We will also continue to work with disabled people, people with health conditions and their representatives as we develop this approach.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 21/03/2023 14:00:28 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell