Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of driving instructor tests in Plymouth.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency operates a 12-week booking window for approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 [driving ability] tests, and part 3 [instructional ability] tests. A ‘book to hold’ system is in place for people booking a test outside of that window. The book to hold list is assessed daily to monitor demand.
In Plymouth, as of 15 March 2023:
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department issues on the liability of holiday lets that are not habitable for permanent occupation to a higher rate of council tax as second homes.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Where a property is available for short-term lets for 140 days or more in a year, it will be assessed for business rates, rather than council tax, and would not be liable for a council tax premium.
From April 2023, short term lets will need to be able to demonstrate 70 days of actual short-term letting activity, that they were available for 140 days in the previous year, and will be available for 140 days in the forthcoming year, in order to be liable for business rates.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on the full resumption of Royal Mail's international delivery service.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I have not had any discussions with Ofcom on the resumption of Royal Mail’s international delivery services, however the Government welcomes Royal Mail’s recent announcement that it has resumed international export services to all destinations.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to increase the flat rate of child maintenance payments in light of the recent increases in the cost of living.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are no current plans to increase the flat rate of child maintenance payments. The child maintenance calculation was designed to be fair for the paying parent, while ensuring they contribute a significant proportion of their income to support their children.
A banding system ensures that the very lowest earners pay a flat rate of £7 per week, and those with no income pay nothing. Those that can afford to make a bigger contribution do so at a rate that reflects what they earn.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what safeguarding guidance the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service follows when it assists victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Cafcass’ domestic abuse practice guidance consists of a practice pathway and a guidance document that provides social work practitioners with a structured approach to risk assessment of domestic abuse in the family court. This was updated in May 2021 alongside a programme of training in its use for all practice staff. The materials can be accessed here: Resources for assessing domestic abuse - Cafcass - Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
The practice pathway guidance provides practitioners with a range of assessment tools to use when domestic abuse is part of a family’s circumstances. The aim of this guidance is to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the child at the centre of proceedings; to promote the best interests of the child and offer a safe recommendation to the court; to work in a trauma focused, respectful and responsive manner; to assess the impact on the child of their lived experience of domestic abuse and to look for strengths in the family and community to promote safety.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Section 102 of the Environment Act 2021 has applied to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1 January 2023; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Section 102 of the Environment Act 2021, the general duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity, came into force on 1st January 2023 and applies to National Park Authorities and to Local Authorities which host Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnerships.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of when the Government will make an interim payment to victims and families of victims who received infected blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December where I announced that the moral case for compensation was formally accepted. I also set out the work being carried out across government in consideration of the compensation framework study - which included specific reference to those groups who were not able to claim interim compensation.
This work is intended to ensure that the Government is prepared to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to expand the green hydrogen sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Electrolytic (‘green’) hydrogen is essential to meeting the UK's net zero target. Government analysis suggests that by 2030 the sector could support over 12,000 jobs and unlock over £9 billion in private investment. The UK is aiming to develop up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen generation by 2030, with at least half from electrolytic hydrogen, subject to affordability and value for money.
The Government has set out a comprehensive package of support, combining upfront capital funding with a long-term business model, to instigate electrolytic hydrogen projects. The Government aims to run yearly electrolytic allocation rounds for the Hydrogen Business Model.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure cohesion in policy making between Integrated Care Boards, including on access to (a) drugs and (b) treatment.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England determines overall policy and strategy for integrated care boards (ICBs), including access to medication and treatments. ICBs are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities are met. Providers are required to ensure statutory responsibilities are met for the delivery of safe, effective, efficient, high quality services.
Asked by: Gary Streeter (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the treatment of diabetes in children, published in March 2022, whether his Department has taken recent steps to ensure that all type 1 diabetic children have access to (a) rtCGM and (b) isCGM; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Local integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) recommendations. ICBs develop commissioning policies for clinicians to determine eligibility and clinicians must have regard to NICE’s guidance.