Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken by (a) his Department and (b) local education authorities to help ensure that (i) will be (A) sufficient, (B) affordable and (C) local full-time holiday childcare provision for people working in frontline and key services and (ii) working people on lower incomes are prioritised above those not working and able to provide childcare from home during the Easter 2021 and summer 2021 school holidays.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Ensuring working parents and carers have access to the childcare they need remains a priority for the government. That is why we ensured that all before and after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and other out-of-school settings were able to continue to stay open for children eligible to attend school on-site, for the duration of the national lockdown, i.e. for critical worker children, where the provision was reasonably necessary to support them to work, undertake education or access medical care, and for vulnerable children and young people. For this reason, we have also extended the eligibility for attendance as of 8 March, in line with the wider reopening of schools on 8 March, with all parents now able to access this provision for their children for certain essential purposes, including those outlined above, with vulnerable children and young people able to continue accessing provision under any circumstance.
As set out in the ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’ guidance, from 29 March, in line with the Easter school holidays, out-of-school settings and wraparound childcare providers will also be able to offer outdoor provision to all children, without any restrictions on the purposes for which they may attend. The guidance can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021. Indoor provision will also be available regardless of circumstance to vulnerable children and young people, as well as children eligible for free school meals, where they are attending as part of the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme. Other children will continue to be able to access indoor provision, where the provision is necessary for certain essential purposes, as already mentioned. We have updated our protective measures guidance for the sector, which outlines eligibility and aims to support providers to allow them to open for as many children as safely as possible. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.
In addition to this, we have also ensured that there are several other ways that parents and carers can continue to access the childcare they need. This includes:
We have also encouraged all local authorities to consider using local grants made available to them by government to help bolster this part of the childcare sector in their areas, to safeguard sufficient childcare provision. This includes the £594 million discretionary fund for councils and the devolved administrations to support local businesses that may not have been eligible for other support during the current national lockdown, as well as funding streams such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, aimed to support disadvantaged children. The expanded programme, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities, will be expanded to reach all local authority areas during the upcoming Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays this year.
However, where parents are still finding it difficult to access sufficient childcare, we recommend that they contact their local authority’s family information services. Local authorities are required by legislation to secure sufficient free early years provision and paid-for childcare places, so far as is reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0 to 14.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), whether the DVLA commissioned consultants to draft a report on covid-19 and workplace safety.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has thoroughly reviewed its processes and systems, with advice from a range of external experts, to understand further opportunities for working remotely. Consultants were commissioned but this review heavily focused on process automation for the longer term, and was not about Covid 19 and workplace safety at the DVLA.
The safety of staff is the top priority for the Department for Transport and the DVLA. Extensive safety measures have been put in place across the DVLA’s sites, in accordance with, and sometimes going beyond, all relevant Welsh government advice. These include enhanced cleaning, social distancing and leasing an additional building, which is now in use. The DVLA continues to work closely with the local environmental health team and Public Health Wales.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars of the introduction of E10 petrol at UK petrol stations in September 2021.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
On the 25th of February we published the Government response to the consultation paper “Introducing E10 petrol”. This paper both announces the introduction of E10 petrol in the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021 and reaffirms our commitment to ensure E5 remains available for owners of older vehicles that are not compatible with E10. To further mitigate concerns around vehicle compatibility, and to aid the public in adjusting to this change, we have also published guidance for motorists on E10 petrol and developed an online E10 vehicle compatibility tool.
Further to extensive consultation, E5 will remain available at the higher-octane super grade. The Department has taken the needs and concerns of classic car users into consideration in developing these policy proposals and understands that many owners of classic cars already use the higher-octane option. It would also remain open to fuel retailers to sell ethanol free super grade petrol; whether they choose to do so is a commercial decision. As such the introduction of E10 should not affect the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars, nor given the continued availability of E5 will this change impact the operation or safety of classic cars.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the (a) safety and (b) operation of classic cars of the introduction of E10 petrol at UK petrol stations in September 2021.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
On the 25th of February we published the Government response to the consultation paper “Introducing E10 petrol”. This paper both announces the introduction of E10 petrol in the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021 and reaffirms our commitment to ensure E5 remains available for owners of older vehicles that are not compatible with E10. To further mitigate concerns around vehicle compatibility, and to aid the public in adjusting to this change, we have also published guidance for motorists on E10 petrol and developed an online E10 vehicle compatibility tool.
Further to extensive consultation, E5 will remain available at the higher-octane super grade. The Department has taken the needs and concerns of classic car users into consideration in developing these policy proposals and understands that many owners of classic cars already use the higher-octane option. It would also remain open to fuel retailers to sell ethanol free super grade petrol; whether they choose to do so is a commercial decision. As such the introduction of E10 should not affect the economic viability of businesses that hire out classic cars, nor given the continued availability of E5 will this change impact the operation or safety of classic cars.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Belarussian Government on (a) the case of the arrest and detention of independent journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau and his wife Irini Zloblina and (b) freedom of the press and human rights in Belarus.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Government is deeply concerned by the continuing attacks on media freedom in Belarus. There have been more than 400 reported incidents of persecution of media figures in Belarus. The Government has repeatedly called on Belarus to release journalists who have been arbitrarily detained and hold to account those responsible for attacks on journalists, including the case of Mr Aliaksandrau. The Government has increased financial support to independent media organisations in Belarus and condemns the actions of the Belarusian authorities in international fora. I spoke out on Belarus at the UN Security Council (Arria Forum) on 11 January. As co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK was joined by 25 other nations in a statement, which condemns the authorities actions against journalists in Belarus and which highlights the plight of Mr Aliaksandrau.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support working parents and carers who require wraparound childcare provided by schools where that childcare is not available during the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Ensuring that working parents and carers have access to the childcare they need remains a priority for the government. That is why we have ensured that all before and after-school clubs, holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings have been able to continue to stay open for children eligible to attend school on-site (i.e. for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people), for the duration of the national lockdown, in line with the protective measures guidance for the sector which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.
We have also made clear that schools should be continuing to offer before and after-school provision for those pupils eligible to attend for on-site provision, where it is feasible for them to do so. We have provided guidance for schools to support them to resume this provision. A copy of the guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.
In addition to this, we have also ensured that there are several other ways that parents and carers can continue to access the childcare they need during the national restrictions. This includes:
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of changes to (a) pension contributions and (b) overall pay for nursing staff at the next pay settlement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The current member contribution structure in the NHS Pension Scheme has been in place since 1 April 2015. The NHS Pension Scheme is a mutual scheme for the benefit of the National Health Service workforce, and the contribution structure is designed to cover the average 9.8% employee contribution towards the cost of the generous benefits provided to members.
The NHS Pension Scheme Advisory Board, a statutory body made up of employer and staff representatives, has been asked to make recommendations on the future structure of employee contributions to be implemented from 1 April 2022. The Department expects to consult on proposals for changes to the employee contribution rate structure during 2021, following consideration of those recommendations.
To protect jobs, pay rises in the rest of the public sector will be paused next year, with the exception of those on lower incomes and NHS workers. The NHS Pay Review Body will report next year and the Government will take their recommendations into account in setting Agenda for Change pay, which includes nurses.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the viability of equine rescue organisations whose income has been affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The welfare of companion animals remains a priority for Defra throughout the coronavirus pandemic. My Department continues to work closely with the companion animal welfare sector to understand their concerns and address how organisations that work with horses and other companion animals are affected by Covid-19.
We provide and regularly update online Government guidance for people who are responsible for horses and other animals to reflect the changing position relating to Covid-19 and to help them understand how to provide for their equine welfare. This includes clarifying what activities may be undertaken in light of restrictions in place to tackle Covid-19, such as rescue and rehoming, and also advising what people should do if they show symptoms of Covid-19, or are self-isolating, or are unable themselves to care for their horses.
We continue to hold discussions with key equine welfare organisations and want the sector to be able to continue to carry out its good work. The Government has announced various measures to support charities, including VAT deferral, paying no business rates for their shops next year and furloughing staff where possible with the Government paying a significant contribution of their wages.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What steps HM Courts and Tribunals Service is taking to tackle the backlog of landlord and tenant cases.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
At the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Government took unprecedented action to protect tenants from eviction by ensuring no one could be evicted from their homes as a result of the pandemic.
The Master of the Rolls working party, of which HMCTS are members, has introduced robust measures to ensure that HMCTS can deal with the backlog of cases to provide access to justice for landlords while protecting the most vulnerable.
These arrangements include improvement in the signposting and guidance for landlords and tenants, the introduction of a review process to allow early engagement between parties and provisions for possession hearings to take place in a safe way.
Asked by: Huw Merriman (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to clauses 2.1 and 2.2 of the amendments to the Treasury Direction to the Jobs Retention Scheme, published on 25 June 2020, whether employers are prohibited from using grants from the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme for employees placed on redundancy notice periods; and whether those grants must be repaid by employers if used during this period.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The CJRS is designed to protect jobs and to keep people in employment. Where employers must make redundancies, they should do so in accordance with the normal rules and with contractual obligations. This includes giving a notice period and consulting staff before a final decision is reached.
Employers may continue to claim under the scheme for a furloughed employee who is serving a statutory notice period subject to eligibility based on contact of employment.