Written questions by Glindon.

If she will take steps to (a) advise claimants migrating to Universal Credit from legacy benefits to check whether their eligibility for NHS Help with Health Costs will change and (b) include this advice in migration letters.

Jobcentre staff recognise that not all customers are aware of other financial help they may be entitled to. In such cases staff will signpost customers to online financial support. We do not have plans to include this advice in migration letters. User research suggests that customers can feel overwhelmed with the volume of information in the migration notice, so we are careful about how much we include, focusing on the most relevant information and signpost people to services to support them with making their claim.

What estimate her Department has made of the average wait for a Personal Independence Payment review decision.

We make every effort to conduct award reviews as soon as possible. Most decisions are made without the need for an assessment by a Healthcare Professional. Where the claimant requests a review of their Personal Independence Payment award, the median wait is 69 working days as of September 2024. Where the review is initiated by the department, the median wait for a decision that is referred to an assessment provider is 290 working days as of September 2024, and 252 days where it is not referred to an assessment provider. Whilst reviews are outstanding, all payments to existing claimants continue. Should a review identify eligibility for an increased award, backdated payments will be made where appropriate to ensure claimants are not adversely impacted by delays.

If his Department will take steps to improve the communication of the real-time availability of ADHD medications in pharmacies to patients.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within individual pharmacies is not held centrally.To aid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) service providers, prescribers, and pharmacies, we have widely disseminated our communications and continually update a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website, helping ensure that those involved in the prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medications can make informed decisions with patients. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/prescribing-available-medicines-to-treat-adhd/The team also regularly engages with patient groups to provide information on supply issues pertinent to them and their patients, and supports them with any patient communications they may wish to develop.

If she will take steps to improve the capacity of local authorities to administer the Household Support Fund.

Since October 2021, over £2.9 billion has been allocated to Local Authorities (LAs) in England to support those most in need through the Household Support Fund (HSF). LAs have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of the guidance and grant determination that the Department for Work and Pensions have set out for the fund. This is because they have the ties and the knowledge to best determine how support should be provided in their local communities. We understand that improving how local government is funded is crucial to enabling councils to deliver support to their residents and ensuring we can deliver our missions. We will provide councils with more stability and certainty through multi-year funding settlements and by ending wasteful competitive bidding. This will ensure councils can plan their finances for the future properly, delivering better value for money for taxpayers.

Pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9455 on Air Pollution: Poverty, if he will take steps to reduce the number of schools in England that are in areas exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations.

The Government is determined to improve air quality and protect children from the harms of pollution, and is committed to meeting the legal targets for air quality, including the targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021. The Department of Health and Social Care is working across Government to achieve this, including with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on their Clean Air Strategy to reduce emissions and reduce harms associated with air pollution.Local air quality is the responsibility of local authorities, who should prepare air quality action plans to ensure the level of pollutants is reduced, if it is not compliant with relevant limits. Local authorities are responsible for monitoring air quality in their areas and will decide where to undertake their monitoring, which may be around schools. The Government will continue to work with local authorities to support their work on improving air quality. Active Travel England and the Department for Transport are working on guidance for local authorities to help them implement School Streets vehicle access restrictions effectively.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9455 on Air Pollution: Poverty, if he will take steps to help tackle the impact of air pollution on people with a low income.

The Chief Medical Officers Annual report on Air Pollution (2022) demonstrated the increased health risks associated with exposure to air pollution among those living in areas of higher socio-economic deprivation. The Government are committed to reducing health inequalities and DHSC are supporting Defra to deliver their comprehensive and ambitious Clean Air Strategy which will include a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

What estimate her Department has made of the number and proportion of households where income does not meet essential spending in Newcastle East and Wallsend constituency.

No such assessment has been made. Statistics on the number of people living in low income households in the UK at a regional level are published annually in the Households Below Average Income statistics publication, available here: Households below average income (HBAI) statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These are on a before and after housing costs basis and include measures of material deprivation. The numbers of children living in low income families before housing costs by constituency are published annually in the Children in Low Income Families Publication, available here: Childrenin low income families: local area statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty, but too many people are being denied the security and dignity that comes with being in good work. The Get Britain Working White Paper, to be set out in the Autumn, will develop measures to reduce inactivity and help people to find better paid and more secure jobs. For those most in need, an additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England until 31 March 2025, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on levels of food security in Syria.

Food, medical supplies and other humanitarian goods are not subject to UK sanctions. Culpability for the humanitarian situation in Syria lies with Bashar al-Assad and his backers, notably Russia. We have taken action to ensure that the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 include humanitarian provisions. In May 2024, the UK introduced a statutory instrument to further facilitate the provision of fuel to those delivering humanitarian assistance in Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on the Lebanese refugee population in Syria.

The UK is actively monitoring the displacement of refugees from Lebanon into Syria and continues to work closely with the UN and other partners to ensure that sanctions do not impact humanitarian operations. UK support includes Mobile Medical and Integrated Mobile Teams on the ground, which are offering critical services, such as healthcare, food and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as well as essential support for women and girls, child protection and GBV needs. This is being directed towards border crossings and near areas where returnees are based.

If she will take steps to introduce binding sectoral bargaining to the further education sector.

The government does not set or recommend pay in further education (FE) as this remains the responsibility of individual colleges who are free to implement pay arrangements in line with their local needs. There are no current plans to introduce binding sectoral bargaining in FE. The department is investing around £600 million across in FE in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. This includes extending retention payments of up to £6,000 after tax to eligible early career FE teachers in key subject areas, including in sixth form colleges. We also continue to support recruitment and retention with teacher training bursaries worth up to £30,000 tax-free in certain key subject areas, and with support for industry professionals to enter the teaching workforce through the Taking Teaching Further programme. The department will also work with the FE sector to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges to raise standards for children and young people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on human rights in Syria.

Sanctions are one of the levers used to hold the Assad regime to account for the atrocities committed in Syria and it is right the UK has a robust sanctions regime in place. They target individuals and entities where there is evidence of their involvement in repressing the Syrian civilian population or have provided support to or benefitted from the Assad regime. Sanctions have significantly weakened both the capability and legitimacy of the Assad regime. The FCDO remains closely engaged across Government, with non-governmental organisations, and Syrian civil society to monitor their impact on the Syrian population. In concert with these efforts, the UK actively uses its leadership in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and Human Rights Council to draw attention to human rights abuses and push for a political settlement as laid out in UNSC Resolution 2254.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 in encouraging the Syrian regime to (a) refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress the civilian population and (b) participate in negotiations in good faith to reach a negotiated political settlement to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria; and how frequently his Department reviews those regulations.

Sanctions are one of the levers used to hold the Assad regime to account for the atrocities committed in Syria and it is right the UK has a robust sanctions regime in place. They target individuals and entities where there is evidence of their involvement in repressing the Syrian civilian population or have provided support to or benefitted from the Assad regime. Sanctions have significantly weakened both the capability and legitimacy of the Assad regime. The FCDO remains closely engaged across Government, with non-governmental organisations, and Syrian civil society to monitor their impact on the Syrian population. In concert with these efforts, the UK actively uses its leadership in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and Human Rights Council to draw attention to human rights abuses and push for a political settlement as laid out in UNSC Resolution 2254.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of air pollution on neighbourhoods with high levels of poverty.

Although air pollution can be harmful to everyone, some people are more affected because they live in a polluted area, are exposed to higher levels of air pollution in their day-to-day lives, or are more susceptible to health problems caused by air pollution, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and a shortened life expectancy.There is clear evidence that people with a low income are affected by air pollution in a number of different ways. The disadvantages that come about as a result of poor income add up, with deprived populations who are more likely to be in poor health, and are at greater risk from air pollution and its adverse health impacts. These inequalities can affect people throughout their lives, from the prenatal stage through to old age, particularly as deprived communities often have limited opportunities to improve their environment. Further information on pollution is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124738/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-air-pollution-dec-2022.pdfA 2021 study by the UK Health Security Agency found that one-third of the schools in England were in areas exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. Schools with higher annual mean PM2.5 concentrations are more likely to have a high deprived pupil intake and be in neighbourhoods with high levels of child income deprivation compounding existing socioeconomic disadvantages.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6235 on Environment Protection: Industry, if he will take steps with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to support workers from high carbon sectors move into clean energy jobs as part of the transition to net zero.

Our ambitious Clean Energy Mission will be an incredible opportunity for jobs and investment all across the country, supporting the Growth Mission. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs will support workers from high carbon sectors to move to clean energy jobs by targeting skill interventions to reskill and upskill workers. We will continue to coordinate our approach to ensure a just transition across Government, including working closely with Skills England.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to encourage a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon Blue Line.

We were the first G7 country to call for the implementation of an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel, on 19 September. The Prime Minister has spoken with a number of international leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, His Majesty King Abdullah II, President Macron and Chancellor Scholz, to press the case for restraint. This builds on extensive discussions by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary at the UN with regional leaders. The Foreign Secretary spoke with counterparts in Egypt, Oman and Iraq about our ongoing efforts for de-escalation.