To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made at the UNHCR regarding violations of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Government of China.
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made at the UNHCR regarding violations of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Government of China.
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, and the repression of Buddhists in Tibet. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We continue to coordinate efforts to hold China to account through our position at the UN, for example, by joining a statement led by Australia on Xinjiang and Tibet at the UN General Assembly on 22 October, and joining a statement led by the USA on Xinjiang at the Human Rights Council on 24 September.
My Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution (Jim McMahon OBE MP) has today made the following statement:
Local Government Best Value
All Honourable Members will recognise the importance of having well-functioning local councils which provide essential statutory services local residents rely upon. Government will continue to...
My Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution (Jim McMahon OBE MP) has today made the following statement:
Local Government Best Value
All Honourable Members will recognise the importance of having well-functioning local councils which provide essential statutory services local residents rely upon. Government will continue to...
I am today announcing that a UK-wide Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March 2025. I am pleased that one of the key recommendations of the independent UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, chaired by Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes, will be honoured next year, as it...
I am today announcing that a UK-wide Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March 2025. I am pleased that one of the key recommendations of the independent UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, chaired by Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes, will be honoured next year, as it...
I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP
I am today announcing that a UK-wide Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March 2025. I am...
I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP
I am today announcing that a UK-wide Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March 2025. I am...
My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP) has today made the following statement:
"This Government inherited a justice system in crisis with huge delays to hearings and victims left in limbo waiting to see justice done. We are committed to...
My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP) has today made the following statement:
"This Government inherited a justice system in crisis with huge delays to hearings and victims left in limbo waiting to see justice done. We are committed to...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Q44 of the oral evidence given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the Transport Select Committee on 4 December 2024, HC 437, what the average waiting time for driving tests is in Birmingham Northfield constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Q44 of the oral evidence given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the Transport Select Committee on 4 December 2024, HC 437, what the average waiting time for driving tests is in Birmingham Northfield constituency.
The average car practical test waiting time for Driving Test Centres that serve the Birmingham Northfield constituency can be found in the table below:
Driving test centre | Average car practical driving test waiting time (Nov 2024) |
Kingsheath | 24 weeks |
Shirley | 22.8 weeks |
The average waiting time for Vocational tests 3a and 3b, for Garretts Green test centre which serves the Birmingham Northfield constituency, can be found in the table below:
Type of Vocational test | Average test waiting time (Nov 2024) |
Vocational 3a | 6.5 |
Vocational 3b | 2.8 |
With regards to part 2 and 3 approved driving instructor tests, these types of tests are not booked the same way as other types of tests, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is not able to record how long waiting times are at any given test centre.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients requiring radiotherapy start their treatment with 31 days of a doctor deciding on their treatment plan.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients requiring radiotherapy start their treatment with 31 days of a doctor deciding on their treatment plan.
We understand that cancer patients are waiting longer than they should for the care they need, and we are taking action to address this. The Government is committed to improving cancer care and reducing waiting times for treatment, including for radiotherapy. We will also be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure that the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to drivers involved in accidents with untraceable drivers (a) in cases where the innocent driver cannot afford to wait the time it takes for the Motor Insurance Bureau to process a claim and (b) generally; and if she...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to drivers involved in accidents with untraceable drivers (a) in cases where the innocent driver cannot afford to wait the time it takes for the Motor Insurance Bureau to process a claim and (b) generally; and if she...
The Department for Transport is a party to the Uninsured and Untraced Drivers’ Agreements with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). However, the MIB is an independent organisation within the motor insurance industry and is separate from Government.
The MIB is responsible for decisions dealing with the investigation and payment of claims and there is no final appeal to the Secretary of State for Transport. This means that the Secretary of State has no role in the supervision of individual cases, which is the role of the MIB. Disputes that arise under the agreements are settled by way of arbitration. If a claimant is dissatisfied with the way that their claim is handled the MIB has its own formal complaints procedure.
My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
Today, the Government has confirmed ex-gratia payments made under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will be exempt from income tax. The scheme is designed to offer financial recognition to those who served under,...
My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
Today, the Government has confirmed ex-gratia payments made under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will be exempt from income tax. The scheme is designed to offer financial recognition to those who served under,...
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Al Carns) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
This Government acknowledges the historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the Armed Forces was regrettable, wrong and completely unacceptable. Following the publication of Lord Etherton’s Review into the experience of LGBT veterans between 1967-2000,...
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Al Carns) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
This Government acknowledges the historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the Armed Forces was regrettable, wrong and completely unacceptable. Following the publication of Lord Etherton’s Review into the experience of LGBT veterans between 1967-2000,...
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Luke Pollard) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
Operation STIFFTAIL, the UK’s deployment of the Sky Sabre Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability in Rzeszow, south-east Poland, has now concluded. Originally deployed in April 2022 and extended on four occasions at the...
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Luke Pollard) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
Operation STIFFTAIL, the UK’s deployment of the Sky Sabre Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability in Rzeszow, south-east Poland, has now concluded. Originally deployed in April 2022 and extended on four occasions at the...
Today, the Government has confirmed ex-gratia payments made under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will be exempt from income tax. The scheme is designed to offer financial recognition to those who served under, and suffered from, the ban on LGBT personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967-2000.
This decision to...
Today, the Government has confirmed ex-gratia payments made under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will be exempt from income tax. The scheme is designed to offer financial recognition to those who served under, and suffered from, the ban on LGBT personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967-2000.
This decision to...
The smooth functioning of the United Kingdom’s internal market is vitally important to achieving economic growth. People and businesses depend on being able to buy and sell goods, provide services, and work across the four nations of the United Kingdom (UK).
The Government is committed to working closely with the Devolved...
The smooth functioning of the United Kingdom’s internal market is vitally important to achieving economic growth. People and businesses depend on being able to buy and sell goods, provide services, and work across the four nations of the United Kingdom (UK).
The Government is committed to working closely with the Devolved...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £2.9 billion of additional total funding announced in Autumn Budget 2024 will be allocated towards covering (a) the recent 6 per cent pay rise for armed forces personnel and (b) proposed increases in employers National...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £2.9 billion of additional total funding announced in Autumn Budget 2024 will be allocated towards covering (a) the recent 6 per cent pay rise for armed forces personnel and (b) proposed increases in employers National...
The £2.9 billion increase in funding for the Ministry of Defence for financial year 2025-26 has not yet been allocated to any specific programmes or activities. His Majesty's Treasury has confirmed they will provide funding for the increased cost of National Insurance contributions for the Department.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients living with rare inherited retinal diseases receive (a) timely and (b) equitable access to new treatments.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients living with rare inherited retinal diseases receive (a) timely and (b) equitable access to new treatments.
The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as rare inherited retinal diseases. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, including improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework, and will publish an England action plan in 2025.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether all licensed new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits, and NHS England ensures that funding is available for any licensed new medicines recommended by the NICE. The NICE aims to issue guidance on new medicines, including for rare diseases, as close to the time of licensing as possible. The NICE operates a separate Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) programme for very rare diseases, with significantly higher cost-effectiveness thresholds than those evaluated under the NICE’s standard technology appraisal processes. Decisions on whether new medicines should be evaluated through the HST programme are taken by the NICE against published routing criteria.
The NICE is currently appraising one treatment for treating visual impairment caused by a rare inherited retinal disease, and final guidance is expected to be published in April 2025.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has organised away days for Senior Civil Service officials since the dissolution of Parliament.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has organised away days for Senior Civil Service officials since the dissolution of Parliament.
From the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024 until the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024, the Cabinet Office has not organised any away days for Senior Civil Servants (SCS). There have been two SCS Leadership Conferences since then, one on 23 July 2024 and another on 10 October 2024.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service Jobs advertisement reference 378636, why four positions are being recruited; whether they are new positions; and whether the former incumbents left since 4 July 2024.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Civil Service Jobs advertisement reference 378636, why four positions are being recruited; whether they are new positions; and whether the former incumbents left since 4 July 2024.
The roles advertised are to support No10 buildings facilities team. They are replacement roles due to vacancies and upcoming retirement, which existed under the previous government – not new roles.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy that health visitors should make routine visits to families with babies that are living in temporary accommodation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy that health visitors should make routine visits to families with babies that are living in temporary accommodation.
The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children. The child health workforce, which includes health visiting teams, is central to how we support all families to give their child the best start in life.
Health visiting teams provide vital advice and support for all eligible parents, carers, and children, through five mandated health and development reviews, up to the age of two to two and a half years old, and additional support for those who need it. Health visiting is a universal service offered to all families, regardless of their type of accommodation.
We will refresh the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan next summer to ensure that the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills, to deliver the care that babies, and their carers and families need, when they need it.
Health visitors are specialist community public health nurses. Health visitors carry out the Government’s mandated five health and development reviews through the healthy child programme, specifically: during pregnancy; when the baby is 10 to 14 days old; at six to eight weeks old; at one years old; and between two to two and a half years old. These are carried out by health visiting teams. Health visitors can support parents to develop confidence and self-efficacy in understanding and accessing health and care information, advice, and services.
Health visitors support families on various issues including breast feeding, infant feeding, nutrition, and healthy eating. Health visitors have a crucial role in sign posting to additional support and advice, including the Healthy Start scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his long-term strategy is to help tackle (a) recruitment and (b) retention challenges within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, in the context of the ongoing pay dispute.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his long-term strategy is to help tackle (a) recruitment and (b) retention challenges within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, in the context of the ongoing pay dispute.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) are highly valued, specialist personnel. We are committed to listening to their concerns and maintaining a continued dialogue to address issues they have raised during the ongoing pay dispute.
As well as working to resolve the current pay dispute, recruitment and retention of staff over the long-term remains a priority. There are a number of initiatives in support of this which include updating working practices - such as part-time, flexible, and family-friendly arrangements - shortening recruitment timescales and modernising pay and allowances. This work forms part of the Defence-wide initiative driven at Ministerial level through the recently established Recruitment and Retention Board.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) he and (b) the Paymaster General has met the Ulster Farmers Union since the general election.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) he and (b) the Paymaster General has met the Ulster Farmers Union since the general election.
Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are published quarterly on GOV.UK
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle shortages of ADHD medication in the North East.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle shortages of ADHD medication in the North East.
The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information is not collected on a local level. The Department has been working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. As a result of intensive work, some issues have been resolved, and all strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.
We are continuing to work to resolve supply issues where they remain, for methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets. We are engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to further build capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. We expect supply to improve in the UK throughout December 2024 and January 2025. However, we anticipate supply to be limited for some strengths, and we continue to work with all suppliers to ensure that the remaining issues are resolved as soon as possible. To improve supply chain resiliency, we are also working with prospective new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to expand the UK supplier base.
We are supporting an ADHD taskforce that NHS England is establishing to examine ADHD service provision. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education, and justice, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we plan to combine modelling for future growth forecasts, which will be shared with industry to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.
To minimise the impact of the shortages on patients, the Department has worked with specialist clinicians, including those within the NHS, to develop management advice for NHS clinicians to consider prescribing available alternative brands of methylphenidate prolonged release tablets generically, or available alternative ADHD medicines. To support ADHD patients throughout the NHS, we would expect all ADHD service providers and specialists to follow our guidance, which includes offering rapid response to primary care teams seeking urgent advice or opinions for the management of patients, including those known to be at a higher risk of adverse impact because of these shortages.
To aid ADHD service providers and prescribers further we have widely disseminated our communications and continually update a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) website, helping ensure that those involved in the prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medications can make informed decisions with patients. The SPS website also offers additional guidance from NHS England specialists to help systems and healthcare professionals manage ADHD supply disruptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question Question 8906 on cancer and with reference to the Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, CP 1210, published on 5 December 2024, whether it remains his policy to...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question Question 8906 on cancer and with reference to the Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, CP 1210, published on 5 December 2024, whether it remains his policy to...
The Government recognises the importance of, and remains committed to meeting, all three National Health Service cancer waiting time standards across England. These are the 28-day faster diagnosis standard, the 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard, and the 62-day referral to treatment standard.
Lord Darzi’s report has laid bare the true extent of the challenges facing our health service, which is why we have launched our 10 Year Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.
Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish the new national cancer plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including improving performance against the cancer waiting time standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 13928 on Cancer: Health Services and with reference to the Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, CP 1210, published on 5 December 2024, whether it remains his policy...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 13928 on Cancer: Health Services and with reference to the Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, CP 1210, published on 5 December 2024, whether it remains his policy...
The Government recognises the importance of, and remains committed to meeting, all three National Health Service cancer waiting time standards across England. These are the 28-day faster diagnosis standard, the 31-day decision to treat to treatment standard, and the 62-day referral to treatment standard.
Lord Darzi’s report has laid bare the true extent of the challenges facing our health service, which is why we have launched our 10 Year Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.
Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish the new national cancer plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including improving performance against the cancer waiting time standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a redress scheme for victims of the Sodium Valproate scandal in line with recommendations in the Hughes Report.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a redress scheme for victims of the Sodium Valproate scandal in line with recommendations in the Hughes Report.
The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) quantity of medical research in the NHS.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) quantity of medical research in the NHS.
The Department is improving the quality and quantity of clinical research in the National Health Service, and health and care research more widely, through investing in the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The recent Budget provides record levels of Government research and development investment, with funding for research through the Department increasing to over £2 billion in 2025/26.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to deepen their engagement with Taiwan, including through seeking full partner status at the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, and whether they intend to support Taiwan’s participation in future sessions of the AI Safety Summit.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to deepen their engagement with Taiwan, including through seeking full partner status at the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, and whether they intend to support Taiwan’s participation in future sessions of the AI Safety Summit.
The UK believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern. We have been proud to support UK expert participation at GCTF events around the world, and we have no plans to step back from our engagement with the platform. The UK supports Taiwan's meaningful participation at international fora as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite or as an observer or guest where it is. Attendance at future AI Safety Summits is a matter for each event's host country.
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China regarding the police raid of a worship meeting by 300 members of the Grace Light Church in Hunan Province on 3 November.
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China regarding the police raid of a worship meeting by 300 members of the Grace Light Church in Hunan Province on 3 November.
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both raised human rights recently with their counterparts President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang respectively. More broadly, this Government will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We will work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had between Ministers and officials, and Chagossian groups and representatives, between 5 July and 3 October; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had between Ministers and officials, and Chagossian groups and representatives, between 5 July and 3 October; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.
The Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories met with members of the Chagossian community twice between 5 July and 3 October 2024. Officials also routinely speak to Chagossians. Discussions covered a range of issues. There are a large number of Chagossian groups with a wide spectrums of views in the UK and internationally. We will continue efforts to engage all groups or representatives with an interest.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 18 December.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to amend the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to amend the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (MoPSA) includes provision for severance payments to ministers and certain office-holders.
The Chancellor announced in July that ahead of the Spending Review she would review eligibility for ministerial severance payments based on time in office, as set out in MoPSA. This review is ongoing.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on reforming the welfare system for people with mental ill-health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on reforming the welfare system for people with mental ill-health.
The Government believes there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, and to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today.
We will be working to develop proposals for reform in the months ahead and will set them out for consultation and engagement in a Green Paper in spring 2025.
This Government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of universal credit payment levels in the context of (a) food costs, (b) bills and (c) other essential costs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of universal credit payment levels in the context of (a) food costs, (b) bills and (c) other essential costs.
No assessment has been made. Benefits increased by 6.7% in April 2024, in line with inflation. The Basic and New State Pensions were also uprated by 8.5% in line with earnings, as part of the ‘triple lock.’ We have recently announced a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions will be introduced from April 2025, helping approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year. Much more needs to be done, but this is the first step towards delivering on the manifesto commitment to review Universal Credit. Further details about the review will be set out in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to tackle people fraudulently claiming Personal Independence Payments.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to tackle people fraudulently claiming Personal Independence Payments.
DWP is committed to tackling fraud and error in the benefits system and to the recovery of debts, including those generated by Personal Independent Payments.
Working closely with counter fraud experts, the DWP has introduced measures to prevent fraud entering the system based on the types of cases and trends we have seen, for example:
- Strengthening the Identity and Verification Process to prevent fraudulent cases entering the system
- Introducing more rigorous checks for customers changing personal details, including bank accounts
- Delivering awareness sessions for Case Managers and Healthcare Professionals, reinforcing action to take when suspicious cases are identified, eg fake documents
DWP is delivering against key counter fraud activity, including investing in counter fraud professionals and building data analytical capabilities. The new Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will bring forward new measures to tackle fraud in the system. Details on the measures Government will be legislating will be presented to Parliament in due course.
More information on how the department tackles fraud and error across all benefit streams can be found here: DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 (HTML) - GOV.UK
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to review (a) service quality, (b) ticket pricing, (c) the business model and (d) timetables before the Greater Anglia rail franchise is transferred...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to review (a) service quality, (b) ticket pricing, (c) the business model and (d) timetables before the Greater Anglia rail franchise is transferred...
Greater Anglia will be brought into public ownership, with its date for transfer scheduled for Autumn 2025. The business planning round for 2025/26 is currently underway and plans regarding service quality, ticket pricing, business model and timetables will be agreed in due course. The Department will continue to hold operators to account for their performance and ensure the best outcomes for passengers.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed reforms to agricultural property relief on farmers whose (a) spouse and (b) civil partner has died.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed reforms to agricultural property relief on farmers whose (a) spouse and (b) civil partner has died.
The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.
It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.
In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government what factors informed the decision to limit treatment eligibility to 300 people in its licensed indication, or 500 people across all indications, in England under the second routing criterion of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Highly Specialised Technologies programme, and what scope...
To ask His Majesty's Government what factors informed the decision to limit treatment eligibility to 300 people in its licensed indication, or 500 people across all indications, in England under the second routing criterion of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Highly Specialised Technologies programme, and what scope...
The criteria for routing topics to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) programme for evaluation were developed through stakeholder and public consultation. The HST programme aims to strike a balance between the desirability of supporting access to treatments for ultra rare diseases, and the associated reduction in overall health gain across the National Health Service.
The eligible population number was based on an analysis undertaken of previous, current, and potential future HST topics, along with referencing to NHS England and NHS Improvement’s criteria for defining populations eligible for highly specialised services.
The NICE is currently reviewing the criteria and is presenting its proposal to its board on 11 December 2024 and, if the board approves, will proceed with a public consultation from 19 December 2024. The proposed revisions aim to enhance the predictability and transparency of the application of the HST routing criteria, while maintaining the intent of the HST vision.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the resources available to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to reduce the time it takes for new drugs to enter the market.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the resources available to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to reduce the time it takes for new drugs to enter the market.
The Government is committed to providing the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the resources it needs. It is funded predominately by charging fees to industry for the services it delivers, with additional funding being provided by the Department.
Departmental funding to MHRA is set in advance through collaborative spending review processes which consider the agency’s needs in detail. The Agency also regularly consults on its fees to ensure all costs involved in delivery are recovered.
The Agency is taking significant steps to assess licensing applications within the shortest time possible. It is working to reduce timelines by bringing in additional resources and developing processes that will result in significantly improved response times, while protecting patient safety.
As an effective regulator, it is committed to the highest of standards of performance and delivering the right outcomes for patients and public health. These changes are already resulting in improvements.
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