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 661–680 of 704 · this parliament
If he will respond to the letter from the former Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee entitled Future Cancer: inquiry progress to his predecessor, published on 23 May 2024.
The Department has received the letter and is reviewing the recommendations made by the former Chair of the Committee. When the Health and Social Care Committee is reconstituted in the autumn, we will consider an appropriate response at that time.
If he will respond to the letter from the former Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee on the Men's health inquiry to his predecessor, published on 23 May 2024.
The Government will respond to the Health and Social Care Committee’s letter on the Men’s Health Inquiry. We will write to the new select committee, after considering the findings and recommendations outlined in the correspondence.
When he plans to respond to the Third Report of the Health and Social Care Committee of Session 2023-24 on Pharmacy, HC 140, published on 29 May 2024.
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is committed to responding to the report published by the Health and Social Care Committee ahead of his next appearance before the committee. Together we are considering the report’s recommendations, and the Department and NHS England are currently in consultation with Community Pharmacy England on many of the matters raised in the report.
With reference to her Oral Statement of 18 July 2024 on Prison Capacity, Official Report columns 175-177, if she will commission a review into the adequacy of (a) the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, (b) the Public Order Act 2023 and (c) sentencing guidelines for protesters arrested following climate protests.
The Government is currently preparing a report on the operation of a number of the public order measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act). This was a commitment made in parliament when the Act was passed. All other measures in the PCSC Act 2022 will be subject to the standard post-legislative scrutiny period, which will be carried out according to the standard timeframe of three to five years after Royal Assent.In addition, the previous Government committed to carrying out post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 two years after it received Royal Assent rather than the usual three to five years, in line with the recommendation made by the Home Affairs Select Committee. That work will begin in May 2025.Sentencing guidelines are developed by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales. The guidelines produced provide the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. The Council monitors and evaluates all definitive guidelines, as per its statutory duty to do so. The Sentencing Council is independent of parliament and Government, and therefore set its own workplan; an indicative business plan is published annually online.
Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to meet with representatives from BioYorkshire.
I welcome the representations from the University of York setting out the opportunities from BioYorkshire. Science and Technology is key for creating growth and prosperity across the UK. DSIT and UKRI continue to support BioYorkshire to explore opportunities for innovation-led growth in this cluster.
What steps his Department is taking to help prevent delayed discharges from hospital to (a) residential care and (b) homes with domiciliary care provision.
The Government is committed to ensuring that hospital departments are no longer blocked due to delayed discharges. By developing local partnership working between the National Health Service and social care, we will ensure that people are not stuck in hospital beds when they are well enough to go home.The Government’s commitment to supporting providers to deliver better pay, conditions and training will help fill vacancies, so care providers can better support hospitals to reduce delayed discharges.
Whether she is taking steps to (a) improve transparency of rail fares and (b) make rail travel more accessible through lower ticket cost options.
As Passenger-in-Chief, affordability is one of the Secretary of State’s key priorities for the rail network. As part of our plan for urgent action for the railways, we are committed to reviewing the overcomplicated fares system with a view to simplifying it and introducing digital innovations. We will explore the options for expanding ticketing innovations like digital pay as you go, and digital season tickets across the network.
Communities and Local Government, when she expects the consultation on the York Local Plan to be concluded.
The York Local Plan remains at examination, consultation on main modifications to a policy H5 (Gypsies and Travellers) will end on 30 August. The full timetable for the York Local Plan examination can be viewed publicly on the examination website.
(a) how and (b) when she intends to enact the public protection decisions provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.
The Government is carefully considering how and when to implement the public protection provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with water companies on the replacement of water pipes to households in which lead has been found in the household water supply in York constituency.
The Secretary of State has already met CEOs of all 16 water companies, including Yorkshire Water, setting out his expectations from the Government going forward. The Secretary of State and the Minister for Water and Flooding will have further conversations with water company chief executives in due course, including with Yorkshire Water, on a range of issues. On 11th July 2024, Ofwat published its Draft Determinations for 2025-2030 outlining that Yorkshire Water will spend just over £7 billion to deliver significant improvements in performance. This includes £77 million to be spent on improving water quality, which includes replacing lead pipes in the company's network.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of instructing water companies to test all households in receipt of water if it is determined that lead is present in their water source.
Water companies are responsible for drinking water quality to the boundary of a consumer’s property. The domestic plumbing system is the responsibility of the home/building owner and therefore there may be limitations, such as access constraints, which limit the ability to sample at every customer tap. Though, water companies are required to risk assess drinking water supplies from source to tap and will, where appropriate required, treat water. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has provided advice for consumers to better understand if they have lead pipe in their home and how to reduce the risk, for example by running water to remove standing water in the pipes before use (https://www.dwi.gov.uk/lead-in-drinking-water/). If consumers think there is a risk to their supply, they can request a lead test from their water company.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure water companies assess the levels of lead in domestic drinking water supplies.
Water companies are required to risk assess drinking water supplies from source to tap. Where there is a risk of lead in the water exceeding 10mg/l, water companies will treat the water with orthophosphate which reduces lead leaching significantly. In 2023, only 0.35% of these breached the standard for lead. In these instances, water companies will provide public health advice to consumers impacted and, where necessary, will look to replace the pipework owned by them. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has provided advice for consumers to better understand if they have lead pipe in their home and how to reduce the risk, for example by running water to remove standing water in the pipes before use (https://www.dwi.gov.uk/lead-in-drinking-water/). If consumers think there is a risk to their supply, they can request a lead test from their water company.
What steps he is taking to help ensure adequate funding for community pharmacy services.
Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies, and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. We are currently consulting with Community Pharmacy England on the national funding and contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25.
What steps he plans to take to (a) review take up levels of vaccinations and (b) raise awareness of the potential benefits of vaccinations (i) in childhood and (ii) for tackling (A) flu and (B) cov
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors and reviews vaccination coverage, including the assessment of barriers that reduce the uptake of vaccination, for all routine immunisation programmes in England.To raise awareness of vaccination benefits, the...
Whether she plans for the taskforce on child poverty to make an assessment of the potential impact of ending the (a) the two-child benefit limit and (b) under-occupancy charge on levels of child poverty.
The new Ministerial Taskforce will drive cross-government action on child poverty, starting with overseeing the development of our ambitious new strategy in line with the Opportunity Mission. After initial engagement, the formal work to develop the new child poverty strategy will begin and we will publish a Full Terms of Reference in the coming weeks. Recognising the wide-ranging causes of child poverty, we will explore how we can use all the available levers we have across government and wider society to drive forward the change our children need. Alongside this we will be reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.
If she will publish the (a) terms of reference for the taskforce on child poverty and (b) planned timescale for publishing the outcomes of that taskforce's work.
The new Ministerial Taskforce will drive cross-government action on child poverty, starting with overseeing the development of our ambitious new strategy in line with the Opportunity Mission. After initial engagement, the formal work to develop the new child poverty strategy will begin and we will publish a Full Terms of Reference in the coming weeks. Recognising the wide-ranging causes of child poverty, we will explore how we can use all the available levers we have across government and wider society to drive forward the change our children need. Alongside this we will be reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.
If he will make it his policy to place a moratorium on arms exports to Israel, in the context of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.
What steps his Department is taking to assess impact of international humanitarian law on arms exports.
The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.
If he will review the proposed closure of (a) Imphal Barracks in York and (b) other barracks.
There are no plans to review the closure of barracks identified as becoming surplus to military requirements under the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio, which are due to release enough land for over 32,000 new homes as well as supporting schools, offices, shops and parks. This includes Imphal Barracks which has been identified in the emerging City of York Local Plan to deliver over 750 new homes when it is due for disposal from 2030.
What steps her Department is taking to introduce breakfast clubs in every school; and what her planned timescale is for the introduction of breakfast clubs in every school.
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. The government has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with schools to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.