Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, based on the read codes in the Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool’s SystmOne, how many young people currently in young offender institutions have (a) evidence of lack of understanding, (b) difficulty understanding verbal language, or (c) difficulty with speech.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The information requested is not collected centrally.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Education Endowment Foundation on ensuring that funding for improving outcomes for pupils with SEND has a focus on children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
I met with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) on the 13 August 2018 to explore whether they could focus on more interventions that improve outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The EEF provided an overview of their plans for a new EEF funding round to improve outcomes for pupils with SEND. They have since announced new funding to test different approaches to improve attainment and other outcomes for children with SEND. The published guidance makes it clear that the EEF are interested in exploring targeted interventions for pupils with particular needs.
The funding round is open from 17 October until 14 January 2019. For information, visit the EEF website: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects-and-evaluation/how-to-apply/#closeSignup.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England has plans to support NHS providers to collect data on the quality and the outcomes of interventions for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs by (a) recommending the inclusion of outcome measures in the community services dataset and (b) expanding the model hospital dashboard to include quality metrics.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Community Services Data Set is developing in phases. At present it has the capacity to record coded assessments, and this facility is mainly used for the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, which assesses the development performance of children in a variety of areas, including communication. NHS Digital publishes data relating the Ages and Stages Questionnaire scores at 24, 27 and 30 months, including the children’s scores in the communication domain. NHS Digital continues to work with stakeholders from NHS England, Public Health England and elsewhere to understand further requirements around the Community Services Data Set, including in relation to outcomes.
When outcomes measures are included in the Community Services Data Set, these will be reflected in the Model Community Health Services site, which will be a resource providing metrics on services delivered in the community.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on developing a new self-evaluation tool for commissioners of services for children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We have not had any recent discussions with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about specific plans to develop a self-evaluation tool for commissioners of services for children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs. However, officials are in regular contact and we continue to work together to improve outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. In our joint response to the ‘Bercow: Ten Years On’ report we outlined a number of commitments to ensure that these children and young people receive the support they need.
We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to establish a System Leadership Board for special educational needs and disabilities, which will focus on improving joint commissioning and working between education, health and social care partners at a local level. We will ensure that the board listens to the views of those with expertise in speech, language and communication.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that children who are (a) excluded from school and (b) at risk of being excluded from school are assessed by a speech and language therapist to determine if they have a speech, language and communication need.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government recognises the importance of early assessment and identification of pupil needs. The 2015 special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice sets out high expectations of schools and colleges about how they identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEND, including those with speech, language and communication needs. Schools should work closely with their local authority, and other providers, to commission specialist services directly, such as speech and language therapists.
The Department’s statutory guidance on exclusions is clear that schools should take appropriate steps to address the underlying causes of poor behaviour, which could include pupils’ SEND. This should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEND that a pupil may have to avoid exclusion, and that schools should consider the use of a multi-agency assessment. The full guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion.
For children who have been permanently excluded, the Department’s statutory guidance on alternative provision (AP) sets out that commissioners of AP should recognise any issues or barriers experienced by these pupils and carry out a thorough assessment of their needs. The full guidance can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 165670 on Speech and Language Disorders: Children, what steps Public Health England plans to take to draw on expertise from a speech, language and communications expert to inform its work on mental ill health prevention.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
Public Health England (PHE) is working in partnership with the Department for Education as part of the Social Mobility Action Plan for Education, to improve early language acquisition and reduce the ‘word gap’.
To support this work an Expert Advisory Group has been established. This group helps to shape and develop the work, providing insights and advice on latest research, policy imperatives and priority issues. This group comprises experts from a range of disciplines with expertise in speech and language. These experts can also inform the work on mental health prevention.
PHE has established a Special Interest Group which aims to deliver the best applied evidence to public mental health improvement and reduction of inequalities in children and young people in England.
The group has representation from research and academia, Government Departments, arm’s length bodies, local commissioners, public health professionals and young people.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with (a) the UK Hydrographic Office, (b) the Heart of South West LEP and (c) other partners on establishing a world-leading marine geospatial innovation centre in Taunton, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Department has had no specific discussions about the establishment of a Marine Geospatial Innovation Centre but I am aware of discussions happening locally, building on a regional initiative to establish a Digital Innovation Centre in Taunton. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been working with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Taunton Deane Borough and Somerset County Councils, and local academia to scope the feasibility of developing a Marine Geospatial Innovation Centre. The Department is engaged in discussions led by the Defence Growth Partnership to better coordinate and enhance local and regional expertise. Both the UKHO and the Heart of the South West LEP have been engaged in these discussions.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had and with whom on superfast broadband in the South West region, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
Throughout the year officials from DCMS have engaged with counterparts from local projects in the South West region over a variety of issues, including roll-out of superfast broadband, and will continue to do so.
Last week, both the Secretary of State and the Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries wrote to MPs concerning superfast broadband, and BDUK director Raj Kalia wrote to local bodies as well.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to protect heritage buildings.
Answered by Michael Ellis
We are responsible for ensuring that England’s historic environment is properly protected, promoted and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations. The principle way in which Government protects buildings of special architectural or historic interest is through the listing system.
In addition, our arm’s length bodies provide valuable support to those looking after heritage and we continue to work closely with them to protect buildings all over the country.
Asked by: Rebecca Pow (Conservative - Taunton Deane)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What his policy is on global ocean conservation.
Answered by Alan Duncan
A new International Ocean Strategy was announced in June this year. When published it will underpin the UK’s leading role on marine protection. It will also provide this Government with a blueprint for international action that will support the long-term prosperity of the UK and our long-term commitment to protect the health of the marine environment.