Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of serving Metropolitan Police Service officers have served for more than five years, and what assessment they have made of the strength of institutional memory within the Metropolitan Police Service.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the length of service of police officers employed within the police service in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.
Information on the length of service of police officers employed in each of the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales can be found in Table JL5 in the data tables accompanying each publication.
As at 31 March 2023, 67% of police officers employed within the Metropolitan Police Service had 5 years or more service.
The retention of experienced police officers is a priority for the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). Voluntary resignation rates, at around 3%, are low compared to other sectors.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by The Earl of Minto on 7 December 2023 (HL Deb col 1570), what plans they have to regularise the process of cost forecasting among the three armed services.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department's current operating model, where responsibility for managing the equipment plan is delegated to Top Level Budget Holders, acknowledges that they have different financial positions and carry a balance between capability and financial risk.
I remain committed to reviewing the format of future equipment plan reports to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of decisions relating to benefits overpayments or benefit recovery made by the Department of Work and Pensions are the result of algorithmic decision-making or another automated process.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As set out in the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 for the year ended 31 March 2023 (publishing.service.gov.uk) (P103), DWP does not use automation to replace human judgement when investigating fraud and error to either determine or deny a payment to a claimant. A final decision in these circumstances always involves a human agent.
The Department uses algorithms and automated decision making in some services and processes, which allow us to improve accuracy, speed up delivery and free up colleagues’ time so they can support the people who need it most.
DWP’s Personal Information Charter explains how and why we use personal information and citizen’s rights and responsibilities
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the British Embassy in Bogotá intends to conduct an official visit to the offices of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective following reports of attacks, threats and defamation of its members.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 28 November 2023, officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London met representatives of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective to discuss their security situation. Officials at our Embassy in Bogotá will schedule a further meeting in Colombia at the next available opportunity.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Colombia about reports of (1) attacks against, and (2) surveillance of, members of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights issues, as well as specific cases of concern, with the Colombian Government. Officials from the British Embassy in Bogotá will schedule a meeting with the National Protection Unit (UNP) to discuss attacks against, and surveillance of, members of the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective at the next available opportunity. We look to the Colombian authorities to investigate fully and to take appropriate action against those responsible.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the 75 local authorities eligible for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme received part of the £100 million for parent-infant relationships and perinatal mental health support, and how this funding was broken down across those family hubs.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Of the £100 million, £92.8 million is being distributed to the 75 local authorities participating in the programme from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Local authorities determine the specific interventions they spend their funding allocation on, in line with the programme guide and local area need. Local authorities are responsible for allocating funding to their family hubs. The remaining funding has been held centrally to deliver a series of national initiatives which will support local delivery.
A copy of the published funding methodology for the programme is attached; this sets out how each local authority received their funding allocation.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many local authorities were allocated funding to establish parent and carer panels as part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and how much funding was allocated to each local authority.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
£10 million is being distributed to 75 local authorities in England participating in the Programme to set up Parent Carer Panels and publish a Start for Life offer from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Local authorities determine the specific interventions they spend their funding allocation on, in line with the programme guide and local area need. A core minimum expectation of the programme is for local authorities to establish a Parent Carer Panel.
A copy of the published funding methodology for the programme is attached; this sets out how each local authority received their funding allocation.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which local authorities were allocated funding for Start for Life workforce models, and how much funding was allocated to each local authority.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme, up to £9.88 million was allocated to enable a small number of areas to pilot innovative start for life workforce models. Five local authority areas were successful in their applications to become a pilot site. These areas were Barnsley, Islington, Leicester, Norfolk, and Tower Hamlets.
The funding allocations for each area, this financial year, are due to be published shortly. The allocations for next financial year will be published once finalised.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the 75 local authorities eligible for the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme received part of the £50 million allocated for establishing infant feeding support services, and how this funding was broken down across those family hubs.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Of the £50 million, £47.2 million is being distributed to all 75 local authorities participating in the programme from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Local authorities determine the specific interventions they spend their funding allocation on, in line with the programme guide and local area need. Local authorities are responsible for allocating funding to their family hubs. The remaining funding has been held centrally to deliver a series of national initiatives which will support local delivery.
A copy of the published funding methodology for the programme is attached; this sets out how each local authority received their funding allocation.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many local authorities were allocated funding to publish a Start for Life offer as part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and how much funding was allocated to each local authority.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
£10 million is being distributed to all 75 local authorities participating in the programme to set up Parent Carer Panels and publish a Start for Life offer between 2022/23 and 2024/25. Local authorities determine the specific interventions they spend their funding allocation on, in line with the programme guide and local area need. A core minimum expectation of the programme is for local authorities to publish a digital and physical Start for Life offer.
A copy of the published funding methodology for the programme is attached; this sets out how each local authority received their funding allocation.