Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, of the (1) WhatsApp, and (2) text, messages that Lord Bethell (a) received, and (b) sent, in relation to Abingdon Health from any individual, from his private mobile telephone while a Minister, how many did officials from the Department of Health and Social Care (i) see, and (ii) record.
Answered by Lord Kamall
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, of the (1) WhatsApp, and (2) text, messages that Lord Bethell (a) received, and (b) sent, in relation to Abingdon Health from his private mobile telephone while a Minister, how many did officials from the Department of Health and Social Care (i) see, and (ii) record.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Department has conducted a search of communication records and found no record of WhatsApp or text messages between the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord Bethell) and any employee of Abingdon Health. Nor has the Department found any record of officials having sight of any such messages. The Department’s engagement with Abingdon Health was led by officials and these communications have been retained.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Health and Social Care maintains records of any Government business conducted from Ministers' personal phones; whether any such records were kept of communications between Lord Bethell and Abingdon Health during his term as a Government Minister; and what were the dates of any such messages registered.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Department has conducted a search of communication records and found no record of WhatsApp or text messages between the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord Bethell) and any employee of Abingdon Health. Nor has the Department found any record of officials having sight of any such messages. The Department’s engagement with Abingdon Health was led by officials and these communications have been retained.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the staffing implications for the NHS of the 104 per cent activity target over pre-pandemic levels for this coming year; and how any staffing shortfalls identified will be met and paid for.
Answered by Lord Kamall
No formal assessment has been made as an activity target for the National Health Service for the coming year has yet to be confirmed. NHS providers are responsible for ensuring that appropriate local workforce plans are in place for delivering services.
The Department has invested £2 billion in 2021/22 and is allocating a further £8 billion over the next three years to support the recovery of elective services. This will deliver approximately 30% more elective activity by March 2025, compared to pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and skills.