Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will have discussions with the Post Office on the fairness of its fee structure for services provided in (a) main and (b) local branches.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Although remuneration rates are an operational matter for Post Office, postmaster remuneration is something I regularly raise in my meetings with the CEO of Post Office Ltd.
Remuneration rates are designed to reflect the differing operating models, range of products and services and cost structures between main and local branches.
As I stressed at the National Federation of Sub Postmasters Conference on 13th May, we recognise how important postmaster pay issues are for postmasters and the future of the network and believe there are opportunities for Post Office that will make a difference to postmasters, particularly in the cash and banking space.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the State Pension age on women born in the 1950s in Morley and Outwood constituency.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We do not hold regional figures on the impact of changes to State Pension age.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman report into the changes to Women’s State Pension Age, published on 21 March 2024, if he will bring forward proposals for a compensation scheme by 23 July 2024.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
In laying the report before Parliament at the end of March, the Ombudsman has brought matters to the attention of this House. A further update to the House will be provided once the report's findings have been fully considered. This work is ongoing.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Uber on (a) passenger safety and (b) private hire and taxi laws.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department for Transport Ministers regularly meet with taxi and private hire vehicle stakeholders, including Uber, to discuss a range of issues. Information on ministerial meetings is published quarterly at www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings. I attended a Parliamentary reception hosted by Uber in December 2023.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to review the effectiveness of the Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener, in the context of the omission of (a) taxis and (b) private hire vehicles.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There is no omission - taxis and private hire vehicles are subject to the same end of sale dates as set by the Government for cars and vans. Plug-in grants will continue until at least financial year 2024/25 for taxis.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK Standard Essential Patents regulatory regime on the ability of SMEs to innovate on (a) artificial intelligence and (b) the Internet of Things.
Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the growing importance of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) to the UK economy. Following a Call for Views, an SME questionnaire, and additional evidence-gathering, the Government published its key objectives on SEPs in February 2024. Those objectives, which are cross-sectoral, and so encompass our approach to Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, include helping implementers, especially SMEs, to navigate and better understand the SEPs ecosystem. Delivering against those objectives, the Government is now focussed on the introduction of key non-regulatory interventions. These include the launch of a Resource Hub in May 2024, which would be a repository of tools, guidance and other material designed to help SMEs navigate the SEPs ecosystem.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether members of (a) the Climate Change Committee and (b) its Adaptation Subcommittee may (i) hold remunerated positions in businesses that are likely to benefit from energy transition and (ii) have other financial interests that benefit from energy transition.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The CCC’s conflict of interest policy and register of interests for its Committee Members and the Chief Executive are available on its website: https://www.theccc.org.uk/about/transparency.
All Committee Members and staff are required to recognise and disclose activities that might give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest. This includes both financial and non-financial personal and professional interests.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken for children to receive (a) SEN assessments and (b) mental health treatment in Morley and Outwood constituency.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department wants to ensure that Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments, where required, are conducted as quickly as possible, so that children and young people can access the support they need. In March 2023, the government set out its plans to reform and improve the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system through its SEND and alternative provision (AP) Improvement Plan. The plan commits to establishing a single national system that delivers for every child and young person with SEND, so that they enjoy their childhood, achieve good outcomes and are well prepared for adulthood and employment. Wakefield, Leeds, Calderdale and Bradford are in the SEND Change Programme, representing the Yorkshire and Humber region, to test these reforms. Specifically, these reforms focus on early intervention, improving the quality of EHC plans, streamlining the EHC plan process, reducing conflicts within the EHC plan system through better co-production and ultimately enhancing outcomes for children and young people.
The mental health of children is a national priority for this government and the department recognises that some children will need specialist support for their mental health issues. The department is supporting children and young people nationally, including those in the Morley and Outwood area, in the expansion and transformation of mental health services through an increase in spending through the NHS overall, as well as improved access to early mental health support.
To expand access to early mental health support, the department is continuing to roll out Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to schools and colleges. As of April 2024, MHSTs now covers 44% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England. The department is extending coverage of MHSTs to at least 50% of pupils and learners by the end of March 2025.
The department has also committed to offering all state schools and colleges a grant to train a senior mental health lead by 2025, enabling them to introduce effective whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. So far 16,700 settings have claimed a grant so far, including more than 8 in 10 state-funded secondary schools.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of illegal immigration on levels of violent crime.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
The Government does routinely publish details of the nationalities of those serving a prison sentence which can be found at Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). However, no assessment of the impact of illegal migration on violent crime has been carried out.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
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 implications for her policies of the long term prescribing of topical corticosteroids.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2021 the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency conducted a review and concluded that, when used appropriately, topical corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment, and they continue to monitor the safety of these products. No further assessment has been made.
When making prescribing decisions for their patients, clinicians are expected to take into account best prescribing practice, in this case on the use of topical corticosteroids, alongside local commissioning decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made a number of recommendations on the use of topical corticosteroids in guidelines, on topics such as atopic eczema in under 12-year-olds, and psoriasis.
It is for the general practitioner or other responsible clinician to work with their patient and decide on the best course of treatment, with the provision of the most clinically appropriate care for the individual always being the primary consideration.