7 Mar 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat the annual average integrated care board spend on memory assessment services has been for each year between 2014 and 2024.
ReplyIt is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to work with the third sector in their geographical area to offer services that meet the needs of their population. NHS England would expect ICBs to take account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines when commissioning services for their local population.
7 Mar 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat the average waiting time from referral to diagnosis has been for people being referred to memory assessment services in the last five years.
ReplyA timely diagnosis is vital to ensuring that a person with dementia can access the advice, information, care, and support that can help them to live well and remain independent for as long as possible.The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services, including the detection and diagnosis of dementia, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services. The Government and NHS England remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%.The Dementia Care Pathway: Full Implementation Guidance, commissioned by NHS England, outlines the dementia care pathway and associated benchmarks to support improvements in the delivery and quality of care and support, for people living with dementia and their families and carers. The guide showcases good-practice examples of services that have successfully reduced their waiting times. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/nccmh/dementia/nccmh-dementia-care-pathway-full-implementation-guidance.pdfTo support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, NHS England has developed a dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers of memory services with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.
6 Mar 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34447 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of operating the new helicopter service for (a) Ministers and (b) senior (i) officials and (ii) military personnel.
ReplyThe cost to the Ministry of Defence for use of the Cabinet Office provided helicopter transport service depends on the usage. Entitlelment to use rotary wing air transportation has been tightened significantly by the Defence Secretary to reduce usage.
6 Mar 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to his Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East of 6 March 2025, Official Report, if he will publish the letter.
ReplyYes, please find the letter attached.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether she has had recent discussions with (a) technology companies, (b) legal experts and (c) privacy advocates on the potential implications for her policies of requiring companies to create backdoors into encrypted systems.
ReplyHome Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, legal experts and privacy advocates, on a range of policies and issues.Details of Ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedHow many staff in her have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
ReplyCurrently 7 National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Networks are given pro rata time allocation annually to support respective network activity. Each Committee has 2 Co-Chairs and up to 10 Committee members.Two members of staff also have 5% pro-rata time allocation to lead a Civil Service staff Network.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to help ensure that backdoor access to encrypted data is not misused by unauthorised actors.
ReplyThe UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure that data is only obtained on an exceptional basis and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so. It is entirely possible to have robust cyber security measures that guard against access to data by malicious actors whilst also ensuring data can be disclosed in response to specific authorised requests. Home Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, on a range of policies and issues.Details of ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department is taking to protect people's (a) privacy and (b) security in the context of Government access to encrypted data.
ReplyThe UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure that data is only obtained on an exceptional basis and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so. It is entirely possible to have robust cyber security measures that guard against access to data by malicious actors whilst also ensuring data can be disclosed in response to specific authorised requests. Home Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, on a range of policies and issues.Details of ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps her Department plans to take to ensure that Government access to encrypted data is compliant with human rights standards.
ReplyThe UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure that data is only obtained on an exceptional basis and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so. It is entirely possible to have robust cyber security measures that guard against access to data by malicious actors whilst also ensuring data can be disclosed in response to specific authorised requests. Home Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, on a range of policies and issues.Details of ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Answer of 27 September 2024 to Question HL1116 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours since 1 January 2025.
ReplyThe majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid. All staff in the Department can take part in diversity-related network activities during core working hours with agreement from their line manager. There are currently 40 Chairs and Champions across 11 diversity networks. These staff are given a weekly pro-rata time allocation of 10% to support respective network activity. The Department values its diversity networks and is committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with them.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Answer of 30 September 2024 to HL1115 Home Office: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours since 1 January 2025.
ReplyThe requested data is not readily available and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
5 Mar 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhether he plans to establish a full investigation into exploitation within social care.
ReplyWe have seen unacceptable increases in unethical practices and exploitation in the adult social care sector. The Government is delivering legislation to improve employment rights, and the Fair Work Agency in the Employment Rights Bill will bring together existing state enforcement functions and, over time, take on enforcement of a wider range of employment rights.The Department also continues to work closely with regulators, local authorities, other departments, and enforcement bodies to share concerns and intelligence about illegal or unethical practices in adult social care. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority investigates reports of worker exploitation and illegal activity, such as human trafficking, modern slavery, forced labour, as well as offences under the National Minimum Wage Act, working with HM Revenue and Customs, and the Employment Agencies Acts, working with the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. The Home Office has also begun delivery of new measures, meaning that any business employing overseas workers found guilty of serious employment law breaches, such as failing to comply with National Minimum Wage, will have action taken against them, up to and including having their visa sponsorship licences refused or revoked.
5 Mar 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of requiring technology companies to build backdoors into encrypted systems on public (a) safety and (b) privacy.
ReplyThe UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.The suggestion that cybersecurity and access to data by law enforcement are at odds is false. The Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure that data is only obtained on an exceptional basis and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so. It is entirely possible to have robust cyber security measures that guard against access to data by malicious actors whilst also ensuring data can be disclosed in response to specific authorised requests. Home Office Ministers and senior officials regularly meet with key stakeholders, including technology companies, on a range of policies and issues.Details of ministerial meetings are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk.
5 Mar 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Answer of 27 September 2024 to Question HL1114 on Treasury: Equality, how many staff in her Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours since 1 January 2025; and what proportion of working time they are permitted to spend on that activity.
ReplyParticipation in staff networks is voluntary and carried out in addition to an employee’s job role.
5 Mar 2025·Department for Culture, Media and Sport·Answered
AskedMedia and Sport, how many staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
ReplyThe majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid. We have 11 staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours.
5 Mar 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 31697 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, if the Prime Minister will have discussions with the Minister for Social Security and Disability on his attendance at that event.
ReplyOur policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed. I refer the Hon Member to the answer of the Rt Hon Member for East Ham on 27 February 2025, Official Report, PQ 31697.
5 Mar 2025·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question HL1117 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours since 1 January 2025.
ReplyThe Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold the data requested. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
4 Mar 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhich Ministers have met with security staff workers and their representatives to discuss possible strikes.
ReplyThe Cabinet Office regularly discusses workforce matters with Civil Service trade unions. The Cabinet Office does not keep records of other departments’ ministers’ meetings.
4 Mar 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps he has taken to minimise disruption to government business during the security staff strike.
ReplyThe hard work of security guards and other staff keeps the government running. The Government Property Agency has been working to ensure impacted buildings continue to operate safely and securely during the industrial action.
26 Feb 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWhen she plans to answer Questions (a) 31696 and (b) Question 31697 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, tabled on 13 February 2025.
ReplyQuestions 31696 and 31697 were answered on 27 February.