Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Hayes this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 181 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2024 to Question 2960 on Insulation: Housing, what steps she is taking to ensure homeowners who retrofit their homes with recommended measur
We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. Officials in the department have previously consulted UK Finance and the Building Societies Association, the trade bodies for lender...
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2024 to Question 2960 on Insulation: Housing, what discussions her Department has had with mortgage lenders on (a) the installation of spray
We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. Officials in the department have previously consulted UK Finance and the Building Societies Association, the trade bodies for lender...
Whether she has taken steps to establish an independent review of HMRC's implementation of the Loan Charge.
The Chancellor and I know the loan charge is a very important matter for many members and their constituents. We have been considering this matter since taking office and will provide an update in due course.
What recent estimate has she made of the number of social workers unable to practice whilst awaiting the conclusion of fitness to practice proceedings by Social Work England.
As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce pr...
What estimate has she made of the current (a) average time and (b) maximum times for Social Work England to conclude fitness to practice cases.
As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce pr...
What steps is she taking to reduce the average time for Social Work England to conclude fitness to practice cases.
As set out in Social Work England’s board report dated 19 July 2024, the current median time to conclude a fitness to practise case is 128 weeks and the maximum time is 319 weeks.The department and Social Work England have taken several steps to reduce pr...
When her Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Strengthening protections in unregistered alternative provision, which closed on 9 May 2024.
On 9 May, the department published the consultation ‘Strengthening Protections in Unregistered Alternative Provision (AP)’ which sought views on proposals intended to improve practice and raise standards in unregistered AP. The consultation closed on 5 Ju...
Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to prevent bidding wars in the private rented sector; and when she plans to bring forward the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Government is committed to bring forward a Renters’ Rights Bill as a priority. The Bill will decisively level the playing field between landlord and tenant by providing renters with greater security, rights and protections and we will crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against tenants.The Bill will introduce new laws that will prohibit the practice of rental bidding, which unfairly pit tenants against one another.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) ensure that the installation of spray foam insulation is regulated and (b) support homeowners unable to sell their homes due to the installation of that insulation.
We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. In response, the insulation, lending, and surveying communities published protocols in March 2023 to support surveyors to assess spray foam and provide reassurance to lenders. This can be found here: https://www.property-care.org/resources/spray-foam-insulation-inspections(opens in a new tab) and Guides & Documents - IMA (insulationmanufacturers.org.uk).Whilst the department cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending, and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of homeowners unable to sell their home due to the installation of spray foam insulation.
We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. In response, the insulation, lending, and surveying communities published protocols in March 2023 to support surveyors to assess spray foam and provide reassurance to lenders. This can be found here: https://www.property-care.org/resources/spray-foam-insulation-inspections(opens in a new tab) and Guides & Documents - IMA (insulationmanufacturers.org.uk).Whilst the department cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending, and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent private rented landlords from seeking rents above the advertised price.
The Government is committed to bring forward a Renters’ Rights Bill as a priority. The Bill will decisively level the playing field between landlord and tenant by providing renters with greater security, rights and protections and we will crack down on the minority of unscrupulous landlords who exploit, mistreat or discriminate against tenants.The Bill will introduce new laws that will prohibit the practice of rental bidding, which unfairly pit tenants against one another.
What information her Department holds on the average level of profit made by (a) private and (b) local authority-managed residential homes for looked-after children in the latest period for which data is available.
The department does not hold or collect data on the profit levels of children’s social care providers. However, the Competition and Markets Authority detailed in their 2022 report that the largest fifteen providers made, on average, 19.4% profit on fostering provision, 22.6% on children’s home provision, and 35.5% on supported accommodation provision. The full report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-social-care-market-study-final-report/final-report.
What steps she is taking to reduce excessive profits in the residential children’s social care sector.
Profiteering from vulnerable children in care is unacceptable. As part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, the department will strengthen the regulation of the sector to return children’s social care to delivering high quality outcomes for looked after children at a sustainable cost to the taxpayer.
Whether she is taking steps to increase the number of inspections of asylum accommodation.
This government is committed to improving service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC).The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and the standards expected. Details can be found at:AASC_-_Schedule_2_- _Statement_of_Requirements.pdf (parliament.uk)(opens in a new tab). Since 2020, the Home Office accommodation providers are required to visit each property at least monthly, and assurance that contractual requirements are met is tested by the Home Office Contract Assurance Team, which inspects properties and undertakes other assurance activities on an intelligence-led basis. Formal governance mechanisms are in place, to oversee performance and delivery against contractual requirements. The Home Office has published the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) regime covering the contractual obligations accommodation providers and others working in the asylum sector are required to deliver. This has been done since April 2020. The most recent data is available at:Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
With reference to exemptions under Section 21 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of police powers to investigate criminal abuse at Ofsted regulated residential schools.
Ensuring that all children are effectively safeguarded is a key priority for this Government including those who are looked after, and in whatever type of placement they may be.The Children’s Wellbeing Bill will put children and their wellbeing at the centre of the education and social care systems, and make changes so they are safe, healthy, happy and treated fairly.The police have a range of powers to investigate allegations of criminal offences. This includes the power to apply for search warrants to search and seize relevant evidence and to enter properties without a warrant to arrest suspects for indictable offences.
Whether she plans to (a) review and (b) update her Department's list of subcontractors working on behalf of (i) Serco, (ii) Mears and (iii) Clearsprings Ready Homes to provide asylum accommodation.
Yes, the Home Office plans to review the list of material sub-contractors.
Whether her Department plans to collect data on the performance of (a) Serco, (b) Mears, (c) Clearsprings Ready Homes and (d) other providers of asylum accommodation.
This government is committed to improving service delivery of the Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC).The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) Statement of Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all of the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and the standards expected. Details can be found at:AASC_-_Schedule_2_- _Statement_of_Requirements.pdf (parliament.uk)(opens in a new tab). Since 2020, the Home Office accommodation providers are required to visit each property at least monthly, and assurance that contractual requirements are met is tested by the Home Office Contract Assurance Team, which inspects properties and undertakes other assurance activities on an intelligence-led basis. Formal governance mechanisms are in place, to oversee performance and delivery against contractual requirements. The Home Office has published the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) regime covering the contractual obligations accommodation providers and others working in the asylum sector are required to deliver. This has been done since April 2020. The most recent data is available at:Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
What steps she is taking to ban ninja swords, zombie knives and machetes.
The Government has a manifesto commitment to ban ninja swords and other weapons and we will be taking this forward as soon as possible, ensuring that lethal blades which have been used to kill teenagers on our streets are no longer available to buy or sell.We will also be implementing the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes approved by Parliament in April.
What steps he plans to take to improve treatment for people with a glioblastoma brain tumour.
Like so many Hon. members across the House, I dearly miss the late Baroness McDonagh, who was sadly taken from us by glioblastoma. I’m determined to improve overall survival rates and treatment for rarer cancers like these and I met with officials and leading clinicians on glioblastomas this week to discuss what more we can do.
Whether she is taking steps to protect access to UK banking services for UK citizens living in European Union member States.
The Government recognises the importance of a bank account for day-to-day life and understands the frustration of UK citizens living in the EU who have had their accounts closed. The Government does not hold statistics on account closures for UK citizens living abroad. UK banks take these decisions on closures according to a variety of factors including the local law and regulation in individual countries, an assessment of profitability, or other commercial drivers. Some UK banks offer specific accounts aimed at citizens living abroad, which may provide an alternative option. People who have had their accounts closed may also wish to refer to MoneyHelper - which offers free, impartial guidance on financial decisions - for further advice on their options.