Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department’s policies on UK -India trade discussions of the continued detention of British national Jagtar Singh Johal.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
We continue to press for progress and for a swift resolution on Mr Johal's case, as discussed by the Foreign Secretary with her Indian counterpart on 4 June. These and other consular matters are raised on an ongoing basis, with no reference to discussions on trade, which are also primarily a matter for the Department for Business and Trade.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made in considering options for redress for patients affected by valproate and pelvic mesh, and when he expects to set out next steps in response to the Hughes Report.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt.
The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.
As you may be aware, the Department has been in contact with the PSC with regard to the ongoing health initiatives regarding sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Details of the Government’s work to date are set out in recent letters to Professor Hughes, which are published on the PSC website, at the following link:
www.patientsafetycommissioner.org.uk
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of phlebotomy workforce shortages on access to urgent Full Blood Count testing.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made.
We expect all National Health Services, and those contracted to carry out NHS services, to ensure they have sufficient workforce, including the required skill mix, to provide those services.
The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether adventure golf venues and golf driving ranges offering family or children's tickets will be eligible for the temporary reduced rate of VAT under the Great British Summer Savings scheme; and whether she plans to issue guidance to distinguish between golf activities that qualify as sporting participation and those that may qualify as family attractions under that scheme.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and eligible family attractions.
The reduced rate applies to the supply of children’s meals from a children’s menu as part of catering services by a restaurant, café or similar establishment for consumption on the premises. This can include restaurants or cafés located within sports facilities such as golf clubs where the conditions are met. Individual businesses should consult HMRC guidance to determine how the rules apply in their circumstances.
The decision was taken to focus the VAT relief on activities especially aimed at children and families, keeping the package targeted and affordable. Sporting activities, including golf and adventure golf, do not fall within scope of the reduced rate. However, some supplies made by sports providers may already benefit from existing VAT reliefs or exemptions.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether children's meals served on the premises of golf clubs and golf ranges from a dedicated children's menu will qualify for the temporary reduced rate of VAT under the Great British Summer Savings scheme.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and eligible family attractions.
The reduced rate applies to the supply of children’s meals from a children’s menu as part of catering services by a restaurant, café or similar establishment for consumption on the premises. This can include restaurants or cafés located within sports facilities such as golf clubs where the conditions are met. Individual businesses should consult HMRC guidance to determine how the rules apply in their circumstances.
The decision was taken to focus the VAT relief on activities especially aimed at children and families, keeping the package targeted and affordable. Sporting activities, including golf and adventure golf, do not fall within scope of the reduced rate. However, some supplies made by sports providers may already benefit from existing VAT reliefs or exemptions.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve skills in the defence workforce.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Alongside the Defence Industrial Strategy, we announced a £182 million skills package, encompassing a range of initiatives to increase skills across the UK.
This includes launching five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges across England and our intention to do so in Wales and Scotland; providing more funding to universities and colleges to increase capacity on defence-focused Higher Education courses; and supporting mid-career professionals upskill to work in the UK’s leading defence sector.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations with her Indian counterpart on reports of extrajudicial killings of Sikhs and human‑rights violations in Punjab, including allegations of enforced disappearances and the intimidation of Sikh families.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question 117992.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications of the proposed UN cybercrime treaty for (a) the UK’s child‑protection framework and (b) the implementation of legislation preventing registered sex offenders from changing identity without detection.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
Nothing is more important than keeping children safe - inside and outside the home, and online.
The government is firmly committed to tackling all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse and wider reforms to the child protection system to ensure children are safeguarded effectively from wider harms. The UN Cybercrime Convention references the global imperative for action on these crucial issues.
With respect to the UK’s child protection framework, our national Families First Partnership programme is rolling out reforms to Family Help, multi-agency child protection and family group decision making that will make a real difference to children and families. Government has confirmed £2.4 billion funding for the programme over the next three years.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act marks the biggest overhaul of children’s social care in a generation. It includes a duty on safeguarding partners to establish new multi-agency child protection teams in every local authority area in England. Multi-agency child protection teams will bring a clear, sharp focus to child protection concerns, identify and respond to all types of significant harm - including online - and advise and guide their local Family Help systems.
Regarding registered sex offenders, the system for managing sex offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Registered sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change, which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. The measures will also require all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.
These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of DBS and PVG systems in identifying registered sex offenders who have changed their name; and what plans she has to introduce further measures to prevent offenders from obtaining a clean record under a new identity.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
The system for managing sex offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Registered sex offenders (RSOs) are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change, which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. The measures will also require all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.
These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes and operate alongside existing safeguards within the criminal record disclosure regime.
Where somebody applies for a criminal record certificate issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), they are required to state any names they have previously been known by on the application form and to sign a legal declaration that they have not knowingly provided false information. Failure to disclose previous names, and deliberately avoid detection of previous convictions, would lead an individual to be liable for prosecution.
The DBS mitigates the risks posed by offenders not accurately declaring a complete name history on DBS applications through a combination of algorithms and manual checking of data within DBS, local police forces and other government agencies.
Arrangements for disclosure and barring in Scotland are devolved, with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme falling under the responsibility of the Scottish Government.
Asked by: Douglas McAllister (Labour - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of legislation preventing registered sex offenders from changing identity without detection; and whether she is considering additional safeguards to improve monitoring and compliance.
Answered by Natalie Fleet
The system for managing sex offenders and those who pose a risk of sexual harm is a crucial part of preventing sexual violence and delivering our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Registered sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change of name. Failure to comply with this is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.Through the Crime and Policing Act we are strengthening the approach by introducing measures which will enable the police to serve a notice on offenders who pose a risk in relation to name change which requires them to seek authorisation before applying to change their name on identity documents. We are also introducing a new requirement for all RSOs to notify the police of an intended change of name in advance of using it.
These measures will be reinforced by operational safeguards to detect unauthorised name changes.