Category: Speeches

Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in assessing the wellbeing of children and young people when they enter the care system.

Edward Timpson

This Government is committed to supporting children in care and the unique challenges that they often face. That is why we’ve put in place a comprehensive package of support, including the introduction of the Pupil Premium Plus and compulsory Virtual School Heads to champion the attainment of children in care. We’ve also changed the rules so foster children can remain at home until 21 and have recognised long-term fostering as a placement in its own right, providing young people with greater stability as they prepare for independence and adult life.

The Department collects Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores for children looked-after for at least 12 months. The data returned by local authorities are based on questionnaires completed by the child’s main carer. SDQs should inform a looked-after child’s annual health assessment.

In England, 72% of 5-16 year olds, looked after for at least 12 months, have had an SDQ score submitted. In Birmingham, 85% of these children have had an SDQ score submitted. These figures are correct as of 31 March 2015. More information can be found in the Department’s Statistical First Release Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England at 31 March 2015[1].

The SDQ is an internationally validated screening tool that provides information about the behavioural and emotional health of children. It has been part of the Department’s statistical collection for looked-after children since 2008. Where the SDQ score from the main carer suggests there may be a problem, the statutory guidance Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children[2], which is issued jointly by the Department for Education and Department for Health, makes clear that consideration should be given to further assessment.

The Department recently supported the research undertaken by the Rees Centre at the University of Oxford on The Educational Progress of Looked-After Children in England: Linking Care and Education Data[3]. This research demonstrates that having a high SDQ score was strongly predictive of poor GCSE outcomes. We are discussing the implications of this research with local authority Virtual School Heads.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2014-to-2015

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-health-and-wellbeing-of-looked-after-children–2

[3] http://reescentre.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/EducationalProgressLookedAfterChildrenOverviewReport_Nov2015.pdf

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January 1, 2023
Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to update existing sex and relationships education guidance.

Edward Timpson

This Government wants to provide all young people with a curriculum for life, which prepares them to succeed in modern Britain. High quality teaching of PSHE is central to this.

The Secretary of State wrote to the ESC in February 2016 stating that the Department will continue to keep the status of PSHE in the curriculum under review.

We have asked leading head teachers and practitioners to produce an action plan for improving PSHE. We will work with these experts to identify further action we can take to ensure that all pupils receive high quality, age appropriate PSHE and SRE.

We welcome the supplementary advice for schools, ‘Sex and relationships education (SRE) for the 21st century’, published by the PSHE Association, the Sex Education Forum, and Brook. This addresses changes in technology and legislation since 2000, in particular equipping teachers to help protect children and young people from inappropriate online content, and from online bullying, harassment and exploitation.

January 1, 2023
David Warburton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Warburton on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department’s policy is on ensuring that Afghan interpreters who have assisted British troops are able to claim asylum in the UK; and whether her Department plans to review that policy.

James Brokenshire

The Government accepts that we have a responsibility to those who have worked for the British forces in conflict zones. Many have served with distinction and at great personal risk. Separate schemes have existed since 2013 to assist interpreters previously employed by our forces in Afghanistan. These apply only to those who have remained in Afghanistan and, in recognition of their unique and exceptional service or the danger interpreters may face because of their work, can lead to relocation to the UK if certain criteria are met.

There is no change to the way in which asylum claims by former interpreters with British forces in Afghanistan are considered. All claims made in the UK are individually considered on their merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention. Those who we accept have a well-founded fear of persecution are normally granted asylum. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection have a right of appeal to the independent courts. If all appeal rights are exhausted, they are then required to leave the UK.

Government policy is however very clear that we only consider asylum claims lodged in the UK. We have no obligation to extend the asylum process to those outside the UK and cannot undertake to consider claims by individuals or groups in other countries or facilitate their journey to the UK. People who need international protection should seek protection in the first available safe country – that is the fastest route to safety.

January 1, 2023
Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-05-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has for the future level of funding for researching the causes of and treatments for endometriosis.

George Freeman

The usual practice of the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available.

The Department’s NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including endometriosis. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The NIHR has funded a number of studies relevant to the condition.

January 1, 2023
Ian Lavery – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2016-07-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the prison establishments that currently run drug treatment programmes for inmates with addictions; and what estimate he has made of the annual cost of running such programmes.

Ben Gummer

All prisons in England are required to have drug treatment programmes for inmates with addictions.

NHS England has allocated approximately £405 million for health expenditure in the adult prison estate in 2016/17, with spending on substance misuse services expected to amount to approximately 20% of this.

January 1, 2023
James Cartlidge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Cartlidge on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total value was of all reclaimed equity loans in UK residential property where the holder was a government department in each of the last five years.

Gavin Barwell

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) operates and administers a number of current and past equity loan and equity share schemes for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The HCA has received the following funds in redemption of equity loans in each of the last five years:

2011-12 £4.020 million

2012-13 £12.141 million

2013-14 £34.731 million

2014-15 £70.952 million

2015-16 £182.916 million

They include loans from several schemes: Help to Buy: Equity Loan, FirstBuy, HomeBuy Direct and First-Time Buyers’ Initiative.

The Ministry of Defence operated a scheme: Affordable Homes Ownership scheme (AFHOS) until March 2014. AFHOS receipts to date are:

Receipts during period 2011-15: £1.457 million

Receipts during financial year 2015-16: £1.896 million

The Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive also operate equity loan and equity share schemes for home ownership, on which they can provide information.

January 1, 2023
Lord Wills – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wills on 2015-11-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to continue the operation of the Care Leaver Strategy, and what plans they have to ensure that cross-departmental work to support care leavers is maintained.

Lord Nash

In 2013, the government published the Care Leaver Strategy. That document set out plans to improve support for care leavers, including in housing, health, employment and education. In 2014, the Department for Education reported that the commitments contained in the Care Leaver Strategy had been implemented or were in the process of being so.

We recognise, however, that many young people leaving care still face significant challenges. That is why my colleague, the Minister for Children and Families, recently announced that he has asked officials within the department to lead the development of a refreshed strategy, to be published next year. That work will include a consideration of how government departments and agencies can best work together, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that care leavers are offered the support they need in order to manage the transition to independent living successfully.

January 1, 2023
Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to assess the condition and future requirements for maintenance of the local roads network.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport regularly publishes Official Statistics on the proportion of roads where maintenance should be considered by region in England. The latest available published data are for the financial year 2013/14.

Road maintenance is a matter for individual local highway authorities, and it is for them to prioritise work according to local need. However, we are providing local highway authorities with record funding of £6 billion for local highways maintenance plus a £250 million pothole action fund as recently announced by the Chancellor on top of this.

January 1, 2023

Glyn Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Glyn Davies on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed with urinary incontinence in each clinical commissioning group area in each of the last five years; and what the cost was of treating that condition in each such area in each such year.

Jane Ellison

The Department does not hold information on the number of people admitted to hospital for urinary incontinence.

A count of finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of urinary incontinence, by clinical commissioning group of residence, 2010-11 to 2014-15 is provided in the attached table.

The costs to the National Health Service of treating people with urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence is not available centrally.

Such information as is available is from reference costs, which are the average unit costs of providing defined services to patients. Reference costs for acute care are published by Healthcare Resource Group (HRG), which are standard groupings of similar treatments that use similar resources. For example, costs relating to kidney or urinary tract interventions are assigned to the same HRGs.

Table: Estimated total costs of kidney or urinary tract interventions and urinary incontinence or other urinary problems reported by NHS trusts and foundation trusts, 2010-11 to 2014-15 (£ millions)

	Kidney or urinary tract interventions	Urinary incontinence or other urinary problems
2010-11	370.5	28.2
2011-12	398.9	28.1
2012-13	432.4	27.8
2013-14	464.8	28.3
2014-15	506.5	27.6

Source: Reference costs, Department of Health

January 1, 2023

Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies on the design of new schools of the study entitled, The impact of classroom design on pupils’ learning, by Professor Barrett of Salford University, published in July 2015.

Nick Gibb

The Department continuously monitors literature published on the built environment as it relates to schools. Where relevant, the findings from this literature inform the development of the Department’s guidance on design and maintenance[1]. The Department uses this guidance to communicate with contractors, designers, schools and sixth form colleges about the standards in class room design.

Professor Barrett has met with officials from the department to discuss the findings of his research. Professor Barrett’s recommendations regarding daylight, temperature and air-quality in schools reinforce those already made in the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) Building Bulletins and the requirements in EFA’s Facilities Output Specification, used in procuring many new school buildings.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/school-building-design-and-maintenance

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January 1, 2023