Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament and established a high-level enabling framework for social security in Scotland. This followed the devolution of certain aspects of the social security to the Scottish Government under the Scotland Act 2016. Its provisions are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, and it is not for the UK Government to make an assessment of matters which are devolved.
However, the UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure a safe and secure transition to the new benefits being introduced, which will replace Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments. Severe Disablement Allowance will also become a matter for the Scottish Government. Sure Start maternity grants and funeral expense payments have already been replaced with Scottish provision. The Act also provides for completely new benefits with no equivalent in England and Wales. The Scottish benefits will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation of the special rules for terminal illness used in accessing disability benefits; whether those rules are appropriate for people with unpredictable terminal illnesses such as motor neurone disease; and what plans they have to review and amend those rules.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Department is taking forward as a priority its evaluation of how the benefits system supports people nearing the end of their life and those with severe conditions. We have made progress on all areas of this work and will be continuing to engage with clinicians and claimants, including those affected by motor neurone disease, to ensure their views are heard.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many improvement notices have been served by the Health and Safety Executive in relation to the failure of healthcare institutions and authorities to ensure that safer sharps are used so far as is reasonably practicable.
Answered by Baroness Altmann
There have been thirty-two improvement notices served ( up to December 2015) to healthcare institutions in England, Scotland and Wales since the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 came into effect in May 2013. Of these, twenty-six were specifically for the failure to use or provide safer medical sharps where reasonably practicable, three were for failure to provide appropriate training, two were for failure to take specific actions in the event of a sharps injury and one addressed all of these failings.
Before an improvement notice is served the inspector will discuss the breaches of law with the duty holder and explain why a notice is being served. The inspector will also ensure that the duty holder understands what they need to do to comply, and has the opportunity to explore alternative approaches. A timescale for compliance will also be agreed.
Asked by: Lord MacKenzie of Culkein (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which institutions and authorities have been served with improvement notices since the introduction of the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.
Answered by Baroness Altmann
Since the introduction of the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, twenty-six institutions across England, Scotland and Wales have received improvement notices up to December 2015. Before an improvement notice is served the inspector will discuss the breaches of law with the duty holder and explain why a notice is being served. The inspector will also ensure that the duty holder understands what they need to do to comply, and has the opportunity to explore alternatives. A timescale for compliance will also be agreed. The institutions are:
1 | Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board |
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2 | Akari Care Limited |
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3 | Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust |
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4 | BUPA Care Homes (CFG) PLC |
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5 | Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
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6 | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
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7 | Cwm Taf Health Board (2 notices served) |
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8 | HC-One Limited (2 notices served) |
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9 | Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust |
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10 | Luton & Dunstable University Hospital |
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11 | Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust |
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12 | Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
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13 | North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust |
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14 | North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust |
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15 | North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust |
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16 | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust |
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17 | Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
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18 | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust |
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19 | Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust |
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20 | South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust |
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21 | Tayside Health Board (3 notices served) |
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22 | The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust |
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23 | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
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24 | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust |
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25 | University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust ( 2 notices served) |
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26 | Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2 notices served) |
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