Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will increase funding for Sure Start in the next Budget.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Local authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there are sufficient Sure Start children’s centres to meet the needs of local families. Funding for children’s services (including children’s centres) is made available through the local government finance settlement. In addition, other government funding, including that for public health, adult skills training and troubled families may also be used locally to support services delivered wholly, or in part, through children’s centres. Children’s services funding for 2020-21 and beyond will be determined in the Spending Review.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward plans to draft the parking code of practice.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The Government is committed to delivering the Code of Practice as soon as possible. We are currently considering the format for formal stakeholder engagement and will make an announcement in due course. We are also committed to carrying out a full public consultation on the draft Code of Practice, allowing all interested parties to directly respond to the proposals.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to designate areas in England and Wales for wild camping.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Access is a devolved matter and this answer relates only to England. Landowners may permit people to camp outside of designated campsites. There are no current plans for the Government to designate any areas for wild camping in England. Dartmoor National Park Authority has a map of wild camping areas.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Government will bring forward plans to reduce university tuition fees to £7,500.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The independent panel’s report to government forms an important step in the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding. The government will consider the panel’s recommendations carefully and will conclude the review at the Spending Review. The government has not yet taken decisions with regards to the recommendations put forward.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will add the six-week maternal postnatal check to the GP contract.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
An agreement on whether additional items will be included in the 2020/21 general practitioner (GP) contract – such as the inclusion of a specific universal maternal six-week postnatal check – will be made following negotiations between NHS England and the GP profession later this year. No decisions have been made on which issues are to be included in the negotiating remit.
Post-natal care can be delivered by a number of different providers, including midwives, health visitors and GPs. Currently, commissioners and providers should ensure that women are offered a review of their physical, emotional and social wellbeing by a healthcare professional at the end of the postnatal period (between 6-8 weeks). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on postnatal care stipulate that a documented, individualised postnatal care plan should be developed with the woman ideally in the antenatal period or as soon as possible after birth.
The NHS Long Term Plan highlights that we will continue to work with midwives, mothers and their families to implement continuity of carer so that, by March 2021, most women receive continuity of person caring for them during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the wearing of helmets compulsory for cyclists.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government’s 2018 cycling and walking safety review considered this matter carefully. The Government’s response to the safety review, published in November 2018, summarises the arguments for and against making helmets compulsory, and explains the Government’s position. In short, the Government will continue to encourage cyclists to wear helmets, but believes that this should remain a matter of individual choice. The Government has committed to undertake three actions over the next two years as part of its cycling and walking safety action plan. First, it will continue to promote and encourage cyclists to wear helmets, especially children. Secondly, the Government will provide strengthened advice on fitting of cycle helmets for children, as part of wider advice on use of safety equipment and attire when cycling. Thirdly, the Government will review evidence and international experience on mandatory helmets for children and provide clear guidance to help parents choose what is appropriate for their child.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will fund local authorities to provide free bus travel for people under the age of 25.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
Local authorities are currently empowered to offer local travel concessions under concessionary travel legislation. If they wish to do so, local authorities are able to offer discounted travel to young people. In addition, bus operators can offer discounted travel for young people - bus operators in 71 of the 89 TCA areas in England outside of London offered some form of discounted travel for young people in 2018/19. In addition, there is a statutory scheme for certain eligible children to receive free school transport.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will remove visa charges for indefinite leave to remain for commonwealth UK armed forces personnel and their families .
Answered by Caroline Nokes
All immigration and nationality fees are set within strict financial limits agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament, and are also aligned with clear principles that balance a number of complex factors, including the benefits likely to be accrued.
The Home Office is listening carefully to those with concerns about how foreign and Commonwealth members of HM Forces can have the support of their families whilst serving our country.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the public consultation on the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, published in February 2019.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The consultation on proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland closed on 13 May. Policy officials are currently analysing the responses, and the analysis of responses and the Government’s response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making yoga available as part of the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Department for Education recognises the benefits that activities such as yoga and meditation can have on promoting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and in helping the building of character. The department has no plans to review the national curriculum. It will remain up to schools to decide what specific activities to offer to their pupils.
Schools are free to organise and deliver a diverse and challenging curriculum that suits the needs of all of their pupils. Pupils can participate in yoga as part of the PE curriculum, which is designed to ensure that all pupils develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, are physically active for sustained periods of time and lead healthy and active lives.