Baroness Massey of Darwen

Public safety and protecting the most vulnerable people in society from coronavirus is this government’s top priority. The Government has prepared ‘how to help safely’ guidance on Gov.uk to advise individuals and charities how they can help those isolating - including friends, family members and neighbours. This guidance is also accessible for the new Covid Mutual Aid groups that have been set up in response to the crisis. These pages have been accessed over 174,000 times since publication.

Genuine volunteers have been instructed not to enter people’s homes, unless deemed essential. We advise that vulnerable people take general precautions such as asking for ID, not sharing financial details and, if in doubt, do not engage and report serious suspicious behaviour to the police.

Since Friday 20 March, schools have been closed except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children. Attending school can be a protective factor, which is why vulnerable children are eligible for continued provision.

We recognise that many schools have already shared resources for children who are at home, and are grateful for this.

We are working with the BBC and other partners to provide access and support directly to parents, including online resources they can access for their children at home, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has announced a package of high-quality resources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-support-for-schools-and-parents-to-help-cope-with-coronavirus.

We will consider accessibility throughout the development of any advice, and ask that schools do the same.

The Government agrees that the first few years of a child’s life are fundamentally important. Evidence tells us that they shape children’s future development and influence how well children do at school. They also affect their on-going health and wellbeing and their achievements later in life.

In 2013 we introduced the early years initial teacher training programme which leads to the award of Early Years Teacher Status. We have made a significant investment in this programme, funding is available for training course fees, with additional funding for nursery employers to help them support graduates in their setting to become early years teachers. To encourage the best graduates into the early years workforce we provide bursaries to eligible trainees.

On 3 March the Department for Education published an early years workforce strategy which seeks to remove the barriers to attracting, retaining and developing staff. For graduates we have begun the process to amend regulations so that early years teachers can lead teaching in nursery and reception classes in maintained schools. Over the longer term, we are going to consider how plans to strengthen QTS could offer positive opportunities for early years teachers. We also want to make sure that all settings serving disadvantaged children can access specialist graduates, so we are commissioning a feasibility study to explore how best to achieve this.

A copy of the early years workforce strategy is attached.

We want all schools to provide young people with a broad and balanced curriculum that equips them for success in modern Britain. High quality personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education has an important role to play in this by helping young people understand the world around them, building resilience and helping them to make positive choices and stay safe.

Sex education is compulsory in secondary maintained schools. The Government is clear that all schools should make provision for high quality, age-appropriate sex and relationship education (SRE) which is a vital part of preparing young people for life.

The Government’s current approach is for schools to develop their own local PSHE programme to reflect the needs of their pupils. For some schools, their PSHE programme may include elements of SRE.

The Secretary of State agrees that we need to look again at the case for further action on PSHE and SRE provision, as a matter of priority with particular consideration to improving quality and accessibility. We are actively considering all our options and will give a view soon.

The School Admissions Code exists to ensure that places in all state funded schools are allocated in a fair and transparent manner. The Department for Education will shortly be consulting on a package of changes to the Code, which will include measures to assist parents and promote fairness and transparency. The proposed changes in relation to objections are designed to ensure that the Schools Adjudicator is able to focus on the concerns parents may have about the fairness of the admission arrangements of their local school and is not held up by the need to also consider large numbers of objections referred by interest groups from outside the area. Local authorities will continue to have the right to object so that they are able to act on behalf of the local community.

Our proposed changes are intended to ensure that the Adjudicator is able to focus on the concerns parents may have about the fairness of the admission arrangements of their local school. We do not want parents’ objections to be held up by the need to also consider objections referred by interest groups from outside the area.

It will remain open for local authorities to object to the Adjudicator about schools’ admission arrangements as the champion of local parents. Preventing interest groups from submitting objections will not have a detrimental impact on lower income families.

We will conduct a full public consultation in due course and will give careful consideration to all the views expressed in that consultation.

In response to the refugee crisis in Greece, the UK has provided 500,000 relief items such as tents, blankets and clothes, delivered more than 1.4 million meals to vulnerable migrants and refugees and supported safe accommodation spaces for children (totalling £39 million). At the height of the crisis the UK was one of the first donors to make substantial funding available.

Whilst UK funding has ended, along with support to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UK continues to support Greece under the EU-Turkey Deal. Since 2016 we have delivered two packages of support – including a combined total of up to 115 expert staff – to ease overcrowding on the islands and accelerate the asylum and returns processes.

A number of representations have been made by Members of Parliament since May 2010 concerning rail improvements in the North-West. In addition there has been one Adjournment Debate on improving rail services between Clitheroe, Blackburn and Manchester, one letter regarding improvements to Clitheroe, twelve Parliamentary Questions and six letters concerning the Todmorden curve or services to Burnley, and two Parliamentary Questions concerning the Rawtenstall rail extension project.

Plans to improve rail links between East Lancashire and Manchester including the scheme to install a two-mile loop between Darwen and Sough tunnel (near Entwistle) to facilitate additional services between Blackburn and Manchester and the introduction of improved Burnley – Manchester services using the recently-constructed curve at Todmorden are being promoted by the relevant local authorities. The judgement of which projects to support is a matter for the promoters.

Her Majesty’s Government has recently concluded a consultation on the future of the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises. We are currently analysing the responses and considering options for the specifications for these franchises, including those between Manchester and Clitheroe and Manchester and Burnley, which we expect to publish in the Invitations to Tender for both franchises in December this year.

The case for restoring the rail link from Bury to Rawtenstall (part of the East Lancashire heritage railway) is being considered as part of the A56/M66 Haslingden/Rawtenstall to Manchester gateway study to be carried out by Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The case for improving inter-regional rail links in the North West of England has been assessed in a number of studies including the Northern Hub and Network Rail’s Lancashire and Cumbria and North-West Route Utilisation strategies. The case will be further addressed in respect of Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (2019-2024) and beyond through the Northern Route Study as part of Network Rail’s Long Term Planning Process to inform decisions on the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for Control Period 6.

Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) is not limited by the setting in which the package of support can be offered or by the type of service delivery.

When making decisions about eligibility for NHS CHC there is no distinction drawn between individuals residing in hospices and those in nursing homes.

The Government has transferred more than 900 unaccompanied children to the UK this year under both the family reunification provisions of the Dublin Regulation and the terms of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. This includes more than 750 children from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance almost half of the unaccompanied children who were in the camp at the time of the clearance.

We have consulted local authorities on their capacity to care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and will publish the total number of children to be transferred under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in due course.

In July, the Home Office increased the funding provided to local authorities by up to 33 percent for the care and support of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. The recent operation to transfer children from Calais involved over 300 officials at home and abroad and the Government continues to work closely with partners across Europe to ensure the timely and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation. We have seconded experts to France and Greece, and we have a long standing secondee in Italy to support the work on unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Europe, including the Dublin Regulation.

The Government has transferred more than 900 unaccompanied children to the UK this year under both the family reunification provisions of the Dublin Regulation and the terms of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. This includes more than 750 children from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance almost half of the unaccompanied children who were in the camp at the time of the clearance.

We have consulted local authorities on their capacity to care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and will publish the total number of children to be transferred under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in due course.

In July, the Home Office increased the funding provided to local authorities by up to 33 percent for the care and support of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. The recent operation to transfer children from Calais involved over 300 officials at home and abroad and the Government continues to work closely with partners across Europe to ensure the timely and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation. We have seconded experts to France and Greece, and we have a long standing secondee in Italy to support the work on unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Europe, including the Dublin Regulation.

The Government has transferred more than 900 unaccompanied children to the UK this year under both the family reunification provisions of the Dublin Regulation and the terms of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. This includes more than 750 children from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance almost half of the unaccompanied children who were in the camp at the time of the clearance.

We have consulted local authorities on their capacity to care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and will publish the total number of children to be transferred under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in due course.

In July, the Home Office increased the funding provided to local authorities by up to 33 percent for the care and support of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. The recent operation to transfer children from Calais involved over 300 officials at home and abroad and the Government continues to work closely with partners across Europe to ensure the timely and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation. We have seconded experts to France and Greece, and we have a long standing secondee in Italy to support the work on unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Europe, including the Dublin Regulation.

The Government has transferred more than 900 unaccompanied children to the UK this year under both the family reunification provisions of the Dublin Regulation and the terms of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. This includes more than 750 children from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance almost half of the unaccompanied children who were in the camp at the time of the clearance.

We have consulted local authorities on their capacity to care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and will publish the total number of children to be transferred under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in due course.

In July, the Home Office increased the funding provided to local authorities by up to 33 percent for the care and support of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. The recent operation to transfer children from Calais involved over 300 officials at home and abroad and the Government continues to work closely with partners across Europe to ensure the timely and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation. We have seconded experts to France and Greece, and we have a long standing secondee in Italy to support the work on unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Europe, including the Dublin Regulation.

The Government has transferred more than 900 unaccompanied children to the UK this year under both the family reunification provisions of the Dublin Regulation and the terms of section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016. This includes more than 750 children from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance almost half of the unaccompanied children who were in the camp at the time of the clearance.

We have consulted local authorities on their capacity to care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and will publish the total number of children to be transferred under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in due course.

In July, the Home Office increased the funding provided to local authorities by up to 33 percent for the care and support of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. The recent operation to transfer children from Calais involved over 300 officials at home and abroad and the Government continues to work closely with partners across Europe to ensure the timely and effective operation of the Dublin Regulation. We have seconded experts to France and Greece, and we have a long standing secondee in Italy to support the work on unaccompanied asylum seeking children in Europe, including the Dublin Regulation.

Information regarding how many users of the chaplaincy identified as non-religious is not held. Data regarding any protected characteristics of individuals seeking confidential pastoral support is not normally recorded, nor will they necessarily even arise or be disclosed unless they have a direct bearing upon the issues at hand.

Where dissatisfaction or a neutral stance is expressed in the Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey (AFCAS), the specific reasoning behind each survey response is not recorded. AFCAS does not go into that level of detail, however, local evaluations in-Unit routinely show high levels of satisfaction with the teaching and pastoral care that chaplaincy provides.

Neutral responses with the AFCAS survey are often in effect a “not applicable (N/A)” response. In this case the respondents are not likely to have sought direct support from the chaplaincy in the time frame of the AFCAS survey. As they are unlikely to have accessed or used the service provided, there are no specific measures targeting improvement for this cohort of respondents.

Information regarding a breakdown of resources comparing the chaplaincy to the various staff networks that provide support to Service personnel is not held in the format requested.

The question of the religion, belief, or any other protected characteristics of an individual in contact with chaplaincy has absolutely no bearing on priority of access for pastoral support. Pastoral support is delivered according to need and open to all.

Information regarding how many users of the chaplaincy identified as non-religious is not held. Data regarding any protected characteristics of individuals seeking confidential pastoral support is not normally recorded, nor will they necessarily even arise or be disclosed unless they have a direct bearing upon the issues at hand.

Where dissatisfaction or a neutral stance is expressed in the Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey (AFCAS), the specific reasoning behind each survey response is not recorded. AFCAS does not go into that level of detail, however, local evaluations in-Unit routinely show high levels of satisfaction with the teaching and pastoral care that chaplaincy provides.

Neutral responses with the AFCAS survey are often in effect a “not applicable (N/A)” response. In this case the respondents are not likely to have sought direct support from the chaplaincy in the time frame of the AFCAS survey. As they are unlikely to have accessed or used the service provided, there are no specific measures targeting improvement for this cohort of respondents.

Information regarding a breakdown of resources comparing the chaplaincy to the various staff networks that provide support to Service personnel is not held in the format requested.

The question of the religion, belief, or any other protected characteristics of an individual in contact with chaplaincy has absolutely no bearing on priority of access for pastoral support. Pastoral support is delivered according to need and open to all.

All military Chaplains are accredited by Defence-endorsed sending churches or faith authorities which have committed their Chaplains to appreciate and understand the world views of all personnel irrespective of faith background. The vast majority of Chaplains are, additionally, university graduates whose professional studies will have included study of world views from a variety of spectrums, including humanism. Exact content will vary by institution, and is accredited by the relevant university, or institution.

Military Chaplains are professionally qualified to provide pastoral care to everyone, regardless of philosophy or faith background. Service personnel who do not wish to talk to a Chaplain are encouraged to seek support from a variety of alternative sources, which can be facilitated by the Chaplain. This includes their Chain of Command, through the Services' professional social workers, medical staff and welfare staff. Mutual support is also available via the various staff networks, including the Humanist and Non Religious in Defence (HAND) Network.

The publicly available annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey shows that, of those who have used chaplaincy support provided by their Service, satisfaction with the service has ranged between 61% and 65%. Dissatisfaction levels have been consistently low, recorded at either 4% or 5%, with the remaining 30% to 35% of respondents having a neutral stance on the service.