Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rachael Maskell this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 581–600 of 704 · this parliament
Whether she is taking steps to work with foodbanks to help ensure that healthy options are available for people from low income households.
We are committed to tackling poverty and ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. We are introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school to ensure children are fed a nutritious breakfast and are ready to learn and have created a new Ministerial Taskforce to drive cross-government action on child poverty.
If he will publish a Major Conditions Strategy.
As of July 2024, work on the Major Conditions Strategy has been paused. As we develop our plans to rebuild the National Health Service, we will consider how we incorporate the findings from the Major Conditions Strategy into our plans.
If he will stake steps to work with food producers to reduce (a) fat, (b) sugar and (c) salt in processed foods.
The Government is committed to tackling obesity and creating the healthiest generation of children in our history, as a core part of our Health Mission. This means taking action to ensure healthy choices are the easy choice, reducing the consumption of the least healthy foods, making everyday food healthier, and promoting healthier eating.As suppliers of what we eat and drink, the food industry has a key role to play in supporting the health of the nation. Some action has already been taken under the voluntary reduction and reformulation programme which requires businesses in all sectors, including retailers, manufacturers, and the eating out of home sector, to reduce the level of salt, sugar, and calories in the everyday foods we buy. The broad remit of the programme ensures that many of the processed foods we eat are in scope, including cakes, biscuits, confectionary, pizzas, crisps, sandwiches, and ready meals.Reports that demonstrate the progress made by businesses are published on GOV.UK website. These reports show that salt reductions of up to 20% have been made in some products, and that levels of sugar have gone down in all products included in the programme, with the largest reductions of approximately 15% and 13% seen in breakfast cereals, and yogurts and fromage frais, respectively. For calorie reduction, the first progress report showed generally little change in calorie levels across all sectors and categories. It is clear that more needs to be done, and further action to tackle childhood obesity under the Government’s Health Mission will be set out in due course.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of banning the sale of alcohol before 11am on use by people who have an alcohol dependency.
Preventative public health measures are vital in supporting people to live longer, healthier lives. The Government will continue to consider the most effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms across society.
If he will produce an alcohol strategy in this Parliament.
The Government has set out its ambition to create a National Health Service that is fit for the future, which includes prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Government will continue to consider how best to address and reduce alcohol-related harms
Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on a harm reduction approach to substance misuse.
No discussions have taken place between my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Home Office on a harm reduction approach to substance misuse. The Department recognises that harm reduction is a core component in addressing substance misuse, and is committed to working with the Home Office on this issue.
What steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
The Department is taking steps to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes by identifying people at risk of developing it, through programmes such as the NHS Health Check, and by referring people into the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) or Weight Management services. These services address the main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, namely overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity. The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is also available for people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and who are overweight or obese.
If he will roll out training on the use of naloxone.
The Department is working to expand access to naloxone, to increase the availability of this life saving medicine. On 29 July 2024 we laid legislation which, subject to passage through Parliament, will enable more services and organisations to provide take-home supplies of naloxone without a prescription.As part of these changes, we will ensure appropriate training requirements are in place, so that naloxone supply across all services and professions is safe. We will require that new services and professionals supplying naloxone, other than armed forces personnel, meet specific training requirements, including understanding appropriate practice around storing and supplying naloxone, and ensuring they can properly support an individual being supplied with naloxone, including how to administer the medicine.Training in responding to an opioid overdose, including the use of available naloxone, is already very well established in most parts of the country, alongside naloxone provision. Operational guidance for providing take-home naloxone, including safe use and supply, is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/implementing-the-recommendations-of-the-neonatal-critical-care-transformation-review/Information on the new training requirements will be updated after the legislation comes into force.
What steps he is taking to help improve access to healthy food for families on low household incomes.
Through our Health Mission, the Government has set a bold new ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children in our history. Tackling the childhood obesity crisis is central to that commitment, and the King’s Speech set out the immediate steps we will take in the first parliamentary session to ban the advertising of junk food to children. We are also considering ways in which the planning system can do more to support better access to healthy food for families, for instance through more consistent approaches to controlling hot food takeaways near schools.For families on low household incomes, Healthy Start, introduced in 2006, supports pregnant women and children up to four years old with the cost of healthy foods, as well as providing access to free Healthy Start vitamins. The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for promoting uptake of the scheme.In addition, the Government is committed to making quick progress to deliver on its commitment to offer breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and set-up to achieve, by providing a supportive start to the day.Approximately 2.1 million disadvantaged school-age pupils are eligible for, and claiming, a free school meal, on the basis of low income. This has increased by almost 1 million since 2015/16. Transitional protections are currently in place, ensuring pupils retain this entitlement even if their family’s household income increases. An additional 1.3 million infants enjoy a free lunchtime meal under universal infant provision, with approximately 87% taking this up. We encourage all schools to promote healthy eating and provide healthy, tasty, and nutritious food and drink. Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies, and free schools.
What steps he is taking to educate the drug using community on the risks of (a) nitazine and (b) fentanyl.
The Department is monitoring the threat that the synthetic opioids nitazenes and fentanyls pose, and is working with partners across Government to respond to this threat. Educating the drug using community of the risks these drugs pose is vital. In 2018, the Department issued Guidance for local areas on planning to deal with potent synthetic opioids, which was updated in 2023, and explains how local commissioners and service providers can prepare for and respond to incidents involving potent synthetic opioids, as well as how local areas can communicate this threat to drug users. The guidance includes specific messaging for people who use drugs, and was developed with people who use drugs. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fentanyl-preparing-for-a-future-threat/guidance-for-local-areas-on-planning-to-deal-with-fentanyl-or-another-potent-opioidThe Government has a drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce drug misuse and its harms by providing awareness to young people and to parents. Information on synthetic opioids and the danger of their misuse is available at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/synthetic-opioids
Whether she plans to introduce tax free shopping in tourist destinations.
Earlier this year, the Office for Budget Responsibility conducted a review of the previous government’s 2020 costing of removing tax-free shopping for tourists. The OBR’s updated estimate is that the withdrawal of the VAT Retail Export Scheme will lead to...
If she will support food growing schemes in schools.
It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating.Having a school garden or setting up a gardening club are some of the ways schools can achieve this approach. This is a decision for schools to make, dependent upon local circumstances. The department recognises a lot of schools find ways to collaborate between headteachers, school cooks, children, teachers, governors and parents to make this happen.All education settings are welcome to register as participants in the National Education Nature Park. This initiative inspires children and young people to learn about and connect with nature, spend time outdoors and develop valuable green skills.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional legal powers of local authorities to assess the suitability of applications by premises for the sale of alcohol.
The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol in licensed premises across England and Wales and devolves decision-making to local licensing authorities.The Act sets out four statutory licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.Licensing committees can utilise a number of discretionary powers set out in the Licensing Act should they decide it is appropriate to do so – for example by introducing a cumulative impact assessment. Responsible authorities as set out in the Act can submit representations to the licensing committee to help inform decision making and flag concerns. Local residents can submit representations on individual licensing applications.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of minimum pricing for alcohol.
Any new plans to reduce alcohol harm will be announced in Parliament in the normal way. There are no such plans at present.
What steps he is taking to help ensure that there is a comprehensive strategy for meeting the (a) clinical and (b) care needs of people with eating disorders.
The Department is committed to working closely with NHS England to ensure that people with an eating disorder get the care and treatment they need, when they need it. The Department will focus on improving the performance of the existing waiting time standards for Children and Young Peoples’ Eating Disorder services.This will be supported by recruiting 8,500 additional mental health staff, ensuring every young person has access to a specialist mental health professional at school, and setting up Young Futures hubs in every community, offering open access mental health services for young people.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the will National Food Strategy.
It’s time for a change. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers. The only way to do this effectively is to listen to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside and nature. We will consider relevant evidence and analysis, including that contained in Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy, as we develop our plans to support our farmers and food and drink businesses, boost food security, invest in rural communities, deliver growth, manage waste more effectively across the supply chain, improve resilience to climate change and tackle biodiversity loss.
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of beds for (a) adults and (b) children with (i) a dual diagnosis with autism and (ii) other complex mental health needs.
This specific assessment has not yet been made, as NHS England does not currently hold data of the necessary quality on the number of available beds in mental health inpatient settings prior to March 2024. NHS England has recently implemented version 6 of the Mental Health Service Dataset, which will include data from April 2024 onwards. The data within this new dataset is currently being checked for data quality.
What steps she is taking to reduce anti-social behaviour (a) on high streets and (b) in city centres.
Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets.We will put thousands of neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities.We will crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets and in city centres by introducing tougher powers via a Crime and Policing Bill, including a new Respect Order to tackle repeat offending.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to help reduce the meat intake in people's diets.
A balanced diet is rich in fruit and vegetables, beans, pulses and wholegrain starchy carbohydrates. It can also include dairy and alternatives and protein sources such as fish and meat which are valuable sources of many nutrients important for human health. Defra will work collaboratively across government to deliver a resilient food system that promotes health and food security, protects the environment and champions British farming.
What steps he plans to take to reduce staff sickness in (a) emergency departments, (b) the ambulance service and (c) the NHS generally.
Sickness absence is managed at organisational level across the National Health Service. NHS organisations have their own policies and procedures in place to manage and reduce sickness absence, including any reasonable adjustments to allow people to return to work and/or prevent future absence. Nationally, we recognise that staff across the NHS have been under considerable pressure. We are committed to tackling staff shortages and want to improve organisational culture and working conditions so that we can keep staff healthy, motivated and retain vital skills and experience in the NHS.