Every parliamentary written question tabled by Edward Morello this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,101–1,120 of 1,677 · this parliament
Whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the availability of fall-prevention equipment across police forces.
The Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
Whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national (a) specification or (b) reserve for inflatable crash mats for the emergency services.
The Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of short-term models to ensure dental access in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas with no current NHS dental practices.
We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.The additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments will be available across the country, with specific expectations for each region. These targets are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most.ICBs have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
Whether crash mats are included in national resilience equipment standards.
The Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 of April 2025 to Question 46588 on Abiraterone, what discussions she has had with NICE on its engagement with health authorities on the (a) appraisal and (b) use of abiraterone acetate for high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer.
The Department has had no such discussions. Abiraterone does not have a marketing authorisation for use in the treatment of high-risk, non-metastatic prostate cancer and has not been evaluated for that indication by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The NICE makes recommendations for the National Health Service in England on the vast majority of new and significant licence indications, but does not evaluate medicines that are used outside their marketing authorisations or “off-label”.NHS England considered abiraterone as an off-label treatment for the treatment of hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer through its clinical policy development process in 2024/25. Through this process NHS England confirmed that there was sufficient supporting evidence to support the routine commissioning of abiraterone in this indication, but it has not been possible to identify the necessary recurrent funding to support the commissioning of abiraterone for this purpose, or any other treatments within the prioritisation round. Should the funding position change and a further prioritisation round take place, abiraterone for the treatment of hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer will be reconsidered.
Whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) the allocation of resident funds and (b) other aspects of the regulatory framework governing financial accountability in retirement homes.
The Care Quality Commission has regulatory powers to compel providers to be financially viable when delivering regulated activities and to protect service users from financial misappropriation.In addition, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the independent complaints lead for adult social care and investigates complaints from those receiving social care, including on financial issues.Whilst there are no immediate plans to make an assessment of resident funds, the independent commission chaired by Baroness Louise Casey will have the scope to consider all aspects of adult social care, including financial matters, and will make recommendations on impactful reform as part of the first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.
What steps the NHS is taking to help improve the (a) early detection and (b) treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a clinical priority, and the National Health Service is investing in the provision of more and better rehabilitation services for respiratory patients. This has the objective of improving outcomes for people with COPD through early diagnosis, including via spirometry tests, and through increased access to treatments.The NHS RightCare COPD pathway has been rolled out nationally and defines the optimal service for people with COPD. Furthermore, the National Respiratory Audit Programme aims to improve quality of care, services, and clinical outcomes for patients with asthma and COPD, by collecting and providing data on a range of indicators and pulmonary rehabilitation activity.A national programme of work is underway to support systems with improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation for the eligible population, increase the capacity of provision to reduce waiting lists, and improve the quality and consistency of rehabilitation programmes through accreditation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective for people with COPD, improving exercise capacity or increasing the quality of life in 90% of the patients who complete a programme.
What steps his Department is taking to support retirement homes in maintaining continuity of care during staffing changes.
Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 states that providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), including residential care homes, must deploy “sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to enable them to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times”. The CQC can take regulatory action if providers registered with them are in breach of any parts of this regulation, including if providers have an insufficient number of suitably qualified, skilled, and experienced persons deployed.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing mandatory reporting requirements for retirement homes on staff departures and replacements.
The Department does not currently mandate reporting requirements for retirement homes on staff departures and replacements.The Care Act 2014 sets out local authorities’ legal duties when assessing people’s care and support needs. For workforce capacity, there is a duty to ensure that sufficient services are available for meeting the care and support needs of adults and their carers in the area.Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 states that providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) must deploy “sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to enable them to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times”. The CQC can take regulatory action if providers registered with them are in breach of any parts of this regulation, including if providers have an insufficient number of suitably qualified, skilled, and experienced persons deployed.The Department continues to monitor adult social care workforce capacity, bringing together national data sets from Skills for Care’s monthly tracking data, the Capacity Tracker tool, and intelligence from key sector partners.
Whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on funding for fire and rescue services assisting ambulance services with emergency entry to properties.
There have been no recent discussions about such funding.
How much funding his Department has provided for research on the long-term effects of covid-19 on lung health.
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation, remain committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment for the long-term effects of COVID-19. The NIHR committed £15.06 million to the following three research projects related to the long-term effects of COVID-19 on lung health, between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25:Characterisation, determinants, mechanisms and consequences of the long-term effects of COVID-19: providing the evidence base for health care services;HypErpolarised Xenon Magnetic Resonance PuLmonary Imaging in PAtIeNts with Long-COVID (EXPLAIN); andHElping Alleviate the Longer-term consequences of COVID-19 (HEAL-COVID): A national platform trial.Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, Government research funders invested several hundred million pounds to understand SARS-COV-2 and the COVID-19 illness. As COVID-19 is a predominantly respiratory condition, much of this research is relevant to understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 on lung health. On long COVID specifically, through the NIHR and the MRC, we have invested over £57 million on research studies. The funded projects aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical care.Funding is available and we welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including on long COVID and lung health. 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.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of regulation to help tackle third-party resellers charging inflated prices for driving test appointments.
To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system. On the 18 December 2024, DVSA launched a call for evidence, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, including any potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State announced that this consultation has been fast-tracked to May 2025.
Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the consultation on access reform; and whether it will include provisions for enhancing public rights of way.
The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing and is committed to ensuring it is safe, inclusive, and appropriate. We’re delivering on our ambitious manifesto commitment to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England.Further details on the next steps will be provided later this year, following the outcome of the Spending Review and the publication of the revised Environmental Improvement Plan.
Whether her Department has considered establishing a dedicated National Crime Agency unit to investigate institutional failings in cases of group-based child sexual exploitation.
The Government continues to focus on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation.The National Crime Agency (NCA) and police forces can investigative any criminal activity, including offences that have occurred in relation to institutional failings in cases of group-based child sexual exploitation. We have significantly strengthened the National Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce to support police investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation across the country, and we have asked all 43 police forces in England and Wales to work with the Taskforce to review historic cases where 'No Further Action' was taken and to pursue new lines of inquiry, where appropriate, to get justice for more victims and to get more perpetrators behind bars.We are awaiting Baroness Casey's national audit into group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and will set out any further work in due course.
What information his Department holds on the average cost of connecting to the electricity grid in (a) rural and (b) urban areas; and whether he plans to take steps to help reduce differences in the average cost.
The Department does not hold data on average connection costs for rural and urban areas. Under Ofgem’s regulation through network price controls, network companies are investing to provide new electricity network capacity ahead of need. This should reduce connection costs and timelines in both rural and urban areas.
What support her Department has provided to rural police forces for the procurement of emergency equipment.
The Home Office does not hold the requested information.Decisions around procuring this type of equipment is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners or their Mayoral equivalents, to be taken in line with the needs of their local force.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support rural Dorset Council in managing rising fly tipping incidents.
This Government understands the difficulty that fly-tipping poses to all landowners. We have committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created and will provide further details on this in due course. We encourage and support councils to make good use of their enforcement powers, and we are currently seeking powers to provide statutory guidance on fly-tipping enforcement. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool. We continue to work with stakeholders, such as the National Farmers Union and local authorities, through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to share good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. Various practical tools, including case studies and ‘how to’ guides on key issues such as setting up effective local partnerships, are available from their webpage at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group.
Whether his Department provides funding to rural communities for the cost of connecting to the electricity mains.
The Department does not provide funding for connection costs specific to rural areas. Under Ofgem’s price control framework, network companies are investing in new electricity network capacity ahead of need. This should reduce both connection costs and timelines, including in rural areas.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of research on the long-term effects of covid-19 on his Department's public health strategies.
In October 2024, the Department hosted a roundtable on long COVID research with the Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Lucy Chappell, discussing the relevance of the research to other post-viral syndromes and strategies to stimulate further research in the scientific community.The Department regularly reviews evidence on the health and economic impact of diseases and conditions. Where appropriate, this evidence is used to produce impact assessments which inform the development of new policies to address the needs of the population.The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation, remain committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment for long COVID.Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, through the NIHR and the MRC, we have invested over £57 million on research into long COVID, with almost £40 million of this through two specific research calls on long COVID. The funded projects aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of the disease and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical care.
Whether his Department plans to extend the Community Energy Fund to support additional eligible projects.
In 2025/26 Community Energy Groups will be able to access a share of £5 million in grant funding through the Great British Energy Community Fund. This extension of the Community Energy Fund will enable both rural and urban communities across England to continue accessing funding to develop local clean energy projects for investment. Once Great British Energy is fully operational it will develop its longer-term support offer for Community Energy Groups as well as for Local and Mayoral Strategic Authorities.