Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of speed limits on smart motorways.
Answered by Katherine Fletcher
Rules 124-125 of The Highway Code set out the speed limits applicable on motorways (including smart motorways), in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Smart motorways have variable mandatory speed limits to smooth traffic flow, and reduce congestion, and have electronic signs to warn drivers of incidents ahead. This enables less speeding, tailgating and fewer rapid changes of speed.
Enforcement by the Police is one of a number of measures which are used to encourage compliance with variable speed limits and ensure that schemes are working as intended.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of arrangements with the Netherlands for sharing foreign HGV registration details.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Netherlands, like other EU Member States, can request HGV registration details under Mutual Legal Assistance provisions. However, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement suspends timescales for responding to Mutual Legal Assistance requests for vehicle registration data in respect of the enforcement of minor traffic offences until 1 January 2024. Requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
We are reviewing our approach to the provision of data once timescales apply.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support available for people saving to buy a house; and if he will reconsider the limits placed on help to buy ISAs.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Help to Buy: ISA scheme aims to help those who are struggling to save enough to get onto the housing ladder. As first-time buyers tend to buy smaller (and therefore cheaper) first properties, the scheme’s property price cap of £250,000 for properties outside London (£450,000 within London) allows the Government to target support more precisely at the people the scheme is intended to help. Since its launch in 2015, the scheme has supported 497,940 property completions across the UK, with a mean property value of £176,125 compared with an average first-time buyer house price of £231,704.
While the Government keeps all aspects of savings policy under review, Help to Buy: ISA account holders can transfer their funds to a Lifetime ISA without incurring any penalties. The Lifetime ISA allows first-time buyers to benefit from the Government bonus when purchasing properties up to £450,000 anywhere in the UK.
Further information on the Lifetime ISA together with a comprehensive list other forms of home purchase support schemes can be found on the Government’s website below:
https://www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of diagnostic hubs in diagnosing dementia in North Staffordshire.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In August 2022, dementia diagnosis rate in North Staffordshire was 69.4%, which exceeds the mental health constitutional target of 66.7% and the national diagnostic rate. This is monitored through the monthly assurance cycle, in partnership between Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board and NHS England. The North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust reports that 100% of its staff felt the hub model increased their knowledge and skills. Allowing trained senior nursing staff to deliver diagnoses has also improved continuity of care.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement made on 5 September 2022, what progress the Government has made on the commitment that interim payments be made to those infected and affected by contaminated blood by the end of October 2022.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
I can confirm infected individuals and bereaved partners who are registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes will receive interim compensation payments of £100,000 by the end of October. The administrators of the four schemes are writing to beneficiaries this week confirming the £100,000 alongside details of how the money will be paid.
This meets a key government commitment to meet, in full, the recommendations set out by Infected Blood Inquiry Chair Sir Brian Langstaff in his interim report.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle littering in (a) city centres, (b) town centres, (c) the UK and (d) the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Litter policy is a devolved matter. Defra is the lead department for litter policy in England.
In 2017 Defra published the Litter Strategy for England which sets out our aim to deliver a substantial reduction in litter and littering within a generation. Since publishing the Litter Strategy, we have bolstered councils' enforcement powers, such as by almost doubling the maximum fixed penalty for littering, published guidance on the provision of litter bins and provided nearly £1 million across 44 councils to help councils purchase new bins.
We have also brought together chewing gum producers as part of a voluntary producer responsibility scheme that has recently announced funding of £1.25 million to help more than 40 councils across the United Kingdom clean gum off pavements. It is the first project of the five-year programme through which gum producers will invest up to £10 million to help tackle chewing gum littering.
We are also actively exploring options for tackling cigarette butt littering. Our current proposals for extended producer responsibility for packaging will place the financial costs of managing street bin litter on producers and we have consulted on introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers which we estimate can reduce drinks containers being littered by 85%. Further details for when a deposit return scheme will be introduced will be set out in HM Government response to last year's consultation. We are working towards publication in late 2022.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent healthy dogs from being euthanised in the UK.
Answered by Scott Mann - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We committed in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare to seek greater assurance that alternatives to euthanasia are explored before a healthy dog is put down.
In 2021, we worked closely with the veterinary profession to develop an approach that works for all parties. Following these discussions, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RVCS) agreed to incorporate the principle of microchip scanning before euthanasia into the guidance that underpins their Code of Professional Conduct. This applies to all veterinary surgeons practising in the United Kingdom.
The Code requires veterinary surgeons to scan for a microchip in dogs prior to euthanasia where, in their professional judgement, it is not necessary to put the dog down on animal health or welfare grounds. Checking the details on the relevant microchip database reveals who the animal's registered keepers are and can also alert the veterinary surgeon to anyone else who may have an interest in the animal. This may include rescue centres which have entered support back-up information on the microchip record. This information can help inform consideration about alternatives to euthanasia. We continue to engage with the RCVS about how these changes are working in practice.
In addition, we recently held a consultation to seek views on changes to current microchipping legislation which, if adopted, may make it easier and simpler for veterinary surgeons when they apply this RCVS guidance.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to support research and development in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Conor Burns
This Government is committed to turbocharging innovation in Northern Ireland.
We are increasing investment in R&D outside the South East by at least 40% by 2030; we’re investing £617m in digital and innovation through NI City Deals; and there is more to come through the £400m New Deal for Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which specialist surgical mesh removal centres are (a) offering rectopexy mesh removal and (b) expected to be offering rectopexy mesh removal within the next 12 months.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The specialist mesh services in operation do not currently offer rectopexy mesh removal. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working to commission rectopexy services within the specialist mesh centres, to treat those who have been adversely affected by rectopexy mesh. The information requested on the specialist mesh services offering rectopexy mesh removal within the next 12 months is not yet available.
Asked by: Aaron Bell (Conservative - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the local community of the odorous emissions from the site operation of Walley's Quarry in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I commend the hon. Member's tireless commitment to his constituents on this issue. I have seen for myself the issues at Walleys Quarry, and I share his concerns.
We are taking action through emissions monitoring and sharing our data with the UK Health Security Agency, which is providing expert public health advice. We are firmly holding the operator to account in delivering continuous improvements for the local community.