Tag: Hilary Benn

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities (a) to help the understand the threat from extremism and (b) relating to statutory powers available to them to challenge extremist speakers.

Karen Bradley

The Home Office provides ongoing support for local authority Prevent
coordinators funded by the Home Office in priority areas (currently thirty
local authorities, based on assessment of risk), to ensure that they understand
the threat of extremism and are equipped to deal with it effectively. This is
done through regular regional events, issuing briefings on specific issues, and
sharing best practice across different authorities. The police, including
police Prevent co-ordinators, also work closely with local authorities and
share appropriate information with them.

The Home Office issued advice in 2013 to help local authority Prevent
Coordinators manage the challenges posed by extremist speakers. This included
an overview of the duties placed upon public bodies under the Equalities Act
2010 and the regulations that events must comply with.

Additionally, the Department for Communities and Local Government gave
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Luton Borough Council funding to lead
a national Special Interest Group of local authorities across England affected
by the activities of the English Defence League and similar groups, which has
supported them in sharing knowledge about what works best in tackling extremist
groups.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) published since May 2010 on citizenship and public attitudes towards extremism.

Stephen Williams

My Department has not commissioned any such research since 2010.

We have not published any such work other than the legacy Citizenship Survey which was discontinued in 2011, as it represented poor value for money for its £4 million a year cost.

Instead, we have focused on front line support for integration projects. A summary of our integration work can be found online at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/communitiesuk/sets/72157644380501531/

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training (a) Atos staff and (b) staff of his Department are given in mental health for the purposes of assessing whether claimants are fit for work.

Mike Penning

All healthcare professionals receive training in mental health issues as part of their induction training, are required to engage in a programme of continuing medical education which includes modules on mental health issues, and have access to Mental Function Champions.

Atos training and guidance materials are regularly reviewed and external experts including the Royal College of Psychiatrists are involved in quality assurance.

All healthcare professionals are monitored to ensure that their work meets the required quality standards. If a problem is identified, the healthcare professional may be required to undertake tailored training, which may involve training in mental health issues if required.

DWP staff receive training in respect of decisions concerning medical or disability issues, including mental health. Specifically learning is provided on:

• understanding the WCA descriptors
• gathering evidence from the claimant and medical professionals
• using the evidence to apply the descriptors and determine capability for work.

Within the learning emphasis is placed on the on-going support available to Decision Makers from Atos Healthcare to interpret and understand medical information.

In the Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in December 2013, Doctor Litchfield made a number of recommendations related to training in mental health which have been accepted subject to further scoping work.