Geraint Davies

The Office for Product Safety and Standards is a departmental office within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We do not publish minutes of internal policy development meetings.

The Government published its response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Twentieth Report of Session 2017–19 on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life (EAC) on 16 September 2019. It committed to reviewing the scope of the furniture and fire safety regs including baby and children’s products.

The Government consulted in 2014 and 2016 on amending the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. The Government published a response to the 2016 consultation on 18 July 2019.

There are no plans to publish a review of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. In its response to the 2016 consultation the Government announced that it will now develop a new approach to the regulations which is based on essential safety requirements to bring the regulations in line with modern product safety legislation.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is appointed by government as the UK’s National Standards Body. Standards are voluntary and BSI is independent from government. The BSI are responsible for ensuring their standards committees are balanced and broadly represent the views of all interested stakeholders. This is formally set out in the British Standard, “BS 0: A standard for standards: principles of standardization”. Section 7 of this standard makes it clear that “committee membership is at the discretion of BSI”.

The Government announced in July 2019 that it would developing a new approach to the Furniture and Fire Safety Regulations and it will seek appropriate expert advice to inform the policy development.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is appointed by government as the UK’s National Standards Body. Standards are voluntary and BSI is independent from government. The BSI are responsible for ensuring their standards committees are balanced and broadly represent the views of all interested stakeholders. This is formally set out in the British Standard, “BS 0: A standard for standards: principles of standardization”. Section 7 of this standard makes it clear that “committee membership is at the discretion of BSI”.

The Government announced in July 2019 that it would developing a new approach to the Furniture and Fire Safety Regulations and it will seek appropriate expert advice to inform the policy development.

The Government published its response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Twentieth Report of Session 2017–19 on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life (EAC) on the 16 September 2019. It committed to reviewing the scope of the furniture and fire safety regs including baby and children’s products. This remains the case.

We will consider all available evidence including that which was submitted to the EAC and we will source a wide range of expertise in consultation with Chief Scientific Advisor.

The Department’s contractor for provision of project management for the maintenance of Strategic Environmental Assessments, Hartley Anderson Ltd, commissioned the National Physical Laboratory for this project. Funding for financial year 2019-2020 totalled £221,000 (excl. VAT), which includes third party costs for munition manufacture and experimental site hire.

The funding allocated to this project to date in financial year 2020-2021 is £7,500 (excl. VAT).

The Government is investing a total of £2.5 billion to support consumers to make the transition to zero emission vehicles. We have no current plans to introduce a scrappage scheme.

As part of its ongoing work to support and promote the more widespread adoption of flexible working, Government has commissioned a programme of research. The results will be published in due course.

Since Covid-19 measures were introduced there have been high proportions of people working from home with many businesses rapidly adapting to remote working, using new technology and finding new ways of working. As we move beyond the current situation, and the economy begins to reopen, we are very keen to do more to promote flexible working in all its forms. In our manifesto we said that, subject to consultation, we would introduce measures to make flexible working the default.

As we recover from COVID-19, the Government intends to deliver a UK economy which is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient. This includes ensuring we improve air quality while cutting emissions, for example through more building UK supply chains in low carbon transport.

In 2020-21, we are allocating £7.2 billion in high needs funding across England for children with complex special educational needs and disabilities, which includes those with speech, language and communication needs.

Specifically, in response to COVID-19, we are introducing an additional catch-up premium worth a total of £650 million to support schools to rise to make up for lost teaching time. Our expectation is that this funding will be spent on the additional activities required to support children to catch up after a period of disruption to their education. Headteachers will decide how the universal catch up premium is spent to best meet the needs of their pupils. The Education Endowment Foundation has published guidance on effective interventions to support schools:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/.

We will set out how this funding will be distributed between individual schools shortly.

Local authorities’ core allocations to support children with high needs in 2021-22 will also be published shortly.

Supporting the most vulnerable children and young people, including those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), is a priority for us, especially at this time. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, educational settings have been asked to ensure that vulnerable children and young people can attend where appropriate.

Local authorities are responsible for their own strategic planning and have statutory requirements to offer SLCN provision where a child or young person requires it as part of their education, health and care (EHC) plan. Since May, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been necessary to modify the duty on local authorities and health commissioners so that they could use their ‘reasonable endeavours’ to secure or arrange the specified special educational and health care provision in EHC plans. However, we are committed to removing these flexibilities as soon as possible and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has confirmed that, unless the evidence changes, he will not be issuing further national notices to modify this duty.

We have also been working to support early language and communication development specifically. Since 2018, we have committed more than £60 million to programmes to improve early language and literacy. We will work with the sector to explore how best to continue to support children’s early development, including through the Early Years Foundation Stage reforms and the department’s Hungry Little Minds campaign, which we will continue to use to provide support for parents to develop their children’s early language and literacy.

More widely, we are ensuring that resources are available. We have announced a package worth £1 billion to ensure that schools across England have the resources they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time, with extra support for those who need it most. £650 million will be spent on ensuring all pupils have the chance to catch up and supporting schools to rise to the challenge. For pupils with complex needs, we strongly encourage schools to spend this funding on catch-up support to address their individual needs, which could include speech and language therapy where appropriate. We will set out how this funding will be distributed between individual schools shortly.

We will also roll out a National Tutoring Programme, worth up to £350 million, which will deliver one-to-one tuition to the most disadvantaged young people. More details are available here:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/.

We are providing the Oak National Academy with an additional £4.3 million to produce another 10,000 lessons over the course of the next academic year. This includes for the Oak National Academy's specialist curriculum, which includes speech and language therapy.

Local authorities are responsible for the mitigation of air pollution hot spots in areas where people may be exposed, including schools. They have discretionary powers to take action to improve local air quality. For example, they can issue fixed penalty notices to drivers leaving engines running unnecessarily after being asked to turn them off. In areas with poor air quality, local authorities have a statutory duty to publish air quality plans for reducing air pollution.

Local authorities also have a statutory duty to promote sustainable school travel. The department’s guidance sets out that this duty should have a broad impact, including improvements in air quality to which children are particularly vulnerable.

Government advice, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak, is to walk or cycle to school where possible. The Department for Transport’s cycling and walking investment strategy sets out the government’s ambition to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey. Details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy.

On 9 May the Department for Transport announced a £2 billion package to promote cycling and walking:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-cycling-and-walking.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free home to school transport for eligible children. A child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, attend their nearest suitable school and it is more than the statutory walking distance from their home. The statutory walking distance is 2 miles for children under the age of 8 and 3 miles for children aged 8 and over. A child is also eligible if they live within the statutory walking distance but could not reasonably be expected to walk to school because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problems, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so.

There are additional entitlements to free home to school transport for those children who are eligible for free school meals, or if a parent they live with receives the maximum amount of Working Tax Credit. These are known as extended rights and are intended to support low income families in exercising school choice.

It is for local authorities to decide how they will provide free transport for eligible children depending on local circumstances. They might, for example, provide a pass for free travel on a service bus, or they might provide a dedicated school bus or a taxi to transport children.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote sustainable school travel. The Department’s guidance sets out that this duty should have a broad impact, including providing health benefits for children, and their families, through active journeys, such as walking and cycling; as well as improvements in air quality to which children are particularly vulnerable.

Government advice, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak, is to walk or cycle to school where possible. This will not only help reduce the spread of infection and reduce demand on public transport, but also have enormous benefits for children’s health.

The Department for Transport’s cycling and walking investment strategy sets out the Government’s ambition to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey. Details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy.

On 9 May the Department for Transport announced a £2 billion package to create new era for cycling and walking: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-cycling-and-walking.

Outdoor air quality and road traffic restrictions are the responsibility of local authorities. Where there are concerns about air quality the local authority must prepare an air quality action plan.

We are not aware of any recommendations to the Department on the impact of the School Streets Initiative on healthier educational environments. The Department published guidance (Building Bulletin 101) on achieving good indoor air quality in new and refurbished schools in 2019.

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, made clear when he spoke at the daily press briefing on 19 June, the Department is working towards bringing all children and young people back to school in September. We have published further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. The guidance is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Outdoor air quality and road traffic restrictions are the responsibility of local authorities. Where there are concerns about air quality the local authority must prepare an air quality action plan.

We are not aware of any recommendations to the Department on the impact of the School Streets Initiative on healthier educational environments. The Department published guidance (Building Bulletin 101) on achieving good indoor air quality in new and refurbished schools in 2019.

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, made clear when he spoke at the daily press briefing on 19 June, the Department is working towards bringing all children and young people back to school in September. We have published further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. The guidance is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on this subject to date.

In January 2017, new legislation came into force with more stringent emission limits for major air pollutants from engines used in NRMM. It extends the scope of existing legislation to cover all sizes of petrol and diesel engines used in NRMM and it improves the legal framework. As of January 2019, new emission standards are mandatory for new engines being sold, for the first tranche of categories.

The Government also announced that it will remove the entitlement to use red diesel from April 2022 for many sectors, which will have benefits for air quality as red diesel is currently a cheaper fuel option for use in NRMM, whether for power lawnmowers, refrigerated lorries or excavators. This change will incentivise diesel fuel users to improve the energy efficiency of their machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives, or just use less fuel. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has also recently launched a Red Diesel Replacement competition, to support the development and production of innovative clean energy technologies that affected businesses can switch to.

In addition, following recent work to improve the evidence base about different NRMM and their emissions, which involved working with industry and sector experts, we are now considering next steps. As set out in the Clean Air Strategy, the Government is considering the options to reduce emissions from non-road mobile machinery, and this research will help ensure that we have a robust and accurate evidence base from which to consider policy options.

The UK Government's goal is to enhance protections to human health and the environment, while enabling economic growth through the safe management, production and disposal of chemicals.

The identification of intrinsic chemical hazards is already a principal requirement of the classification, labelling and packaging regulation (CLP). The hazard classes in CLP classify physical, health and environmental hazards. Endocrine disrupting properties are not captured by a specific CLP hazard class, however human health endocrine disrupting properties are closely linked to existing CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction) hazard classes.

Under Article 57 of REACH, endocrine disrupting properties can already be used to demonstrate that the substance is of 'equivalent level of concern' to be identified as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC). SVHC identification is the first step in making a substance subject to authorisation - controls that limit the use of the most hazardous substances.

The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. Legislation is in place to require that manufacturers only place safe products on the market and take action where they identify a safety issue with products already on the market.

Tailpipe emissions from vehicles which power transport refrigeration units are recorded as road traffic emissions in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. The data for road transport emission is published annually and has been reported since 1990 onwards. The Government has not historically estimated emissions from transport refrigeration unit auxiliary engines as the available data is limited.

Defra has recently completed a research project which involved working with industry and sector experts and aimed to improve the evidence base on emissions from non-road mobile machinery, including transport refrigeration units, and we are considering next steps. As set out in the Clean Air Strategy, the Government is considering the options to reduce emissions from non-road mobile machinery, and this research will help ensure that we have a robust and accurate evidence base to consider policy options from.

The Government considered this issue and took steps to ensure a sustainable event. We appointed engineering, design and consultancy firm Arup, to help the event achieve ISO 20121 sustainability certification and to deliver a carbon-neutral event by developing a Carbon Management Plan. This included offsetting for G7 and guest leader and staff travel.

The Government is committed to improving the environmental sustainability of its own estates and operations through the Greening Government Commitments (GGCs). As part of these, central Government departments are currently required to report on and reduce the number of domestic flights they take. The latest annual report showed the Government as a whole had reduced the number of domestic flights it took by 28% in 2018-19 compared with the 2009-10 baseline. The Government Fleet Commitment also commits central Government departments to have 25% of their fleet as ultra-low emissions vehicles by 2022 and 100% by 2030. Progress against the fleet commitment will be reported on for the first time in the forthcoming 2019-20 GGC annual report.

We recognise the importance of national leadership on the issue of indoor air quality, and we are working across Government with the Chief Medical Officer and the Government Chief Scientific Advisor to coordinate further action, as well as with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England who are taking the lead on this area.

Our Clean Air Strategy also includes measures to reduce emissions from key sources which contribute to indoor air pollution, including measures to reduce emissions of fine particulate matter from domestic solid fuel burning, which are in part delivered through the Environment Bill.

However, we consider that building our evidence base is a key first step to ensure that any future interventions are appropriately targeted and effective and that is what we are now focusing on. For example, our Air Quality Expert Group, with support from members of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, will be producing a report on indoor air quality, focusing on fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds as the air pollutants which are prevalent in indoor environments.

Our thoughts continue to be with Ella’s family and friends. We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Prevention of Future Deaths report and respond in due course.

We know that air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health, and although air pollution has reduced significantly over the last decade, there is more to do. This is why the Government is continuing to take urgent action to curb the impact air pollution has on communities across England through the world-leading Clean Air Strategy, the landmark Environment Bill, and the delivery of the £3.8 billion plan to clean up transport and tackle nitrogen dioxide pollution at the roadside.

We know there is a strong case for taking ambitious action on PM_2.5 as it is the pollutant that has the most significant impact on health. That is why we are introducing a duty to set a PM_2.5 target – alongside at least one additional long-term air quality target - in the Environment Bill. We have always been clear that we will consider the World Health Organization’s guidelines for PM_2.5 at part of this process.

Our thoughts continue to be with Ella’s family and friends. We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Prevention of Future Deaths report and respond in due course.

Local authorities have statutory duties to review and assess local air quality. Local authorities decide what local monitoring is undertaken in line with national and local priorities, funded by their grant in aid settlement. Over £1 million additional funds from Defra’s 2018/19 Air Quality Grant was awarded for local authorities to pilot and evaluate low cost sensors.

In addition, Defra’s national monitoring network is published on the UK Air Information Resource (UK AIR). This is updated in real time to provide a live representation of the national monitoring network.

We have invested over £2 million in the last two years into the research and development of emerging sensor and satellite technologies and practical, on the ground trials in order to bring forward new monitoring advancements.

Information on sites managed by local authorities and those that make up national networks managed by Defra can be found on UK AIR (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/find-sites and https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/interactive-map).

Our thoughts continue to be with Ella's family and friends. We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Prevention of Future Deaths report and respond in due course.

We know there is a strong case for taking ambitious action on PM_2.5 as it is the pollutant that has the most significant impact on health. That is why we are introducing a duty to set a PM_2.5 target - alongside at least one additional long-term air quality target - in the Environment Bill.

The costs, benefits and distributional impacts of any measures to meet air quality targets on businesses and wider society will be assessed as part of our development of targets under the Environment Bill Framework. They will be included in an Impact Assessment which will accompany a public consultation on environmental targets in early 2022. To inform this analysis, we have asked the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants for expert advice to ensure we are taking account of the latest health evidence. World Health Organization guidelines will also be considered to inform target development.

Our thoughts continue to be with Ella’s family and friends. We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Prevention of Future Deaths report and respond in due course.

We know that air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health, and although air pollution has reduced significantly over the last decade, there is more to do. The World Health Organization has praised our Clean Air Strategy as “an example for the rest of the world to follow”. We know there is a strong case for taking ambitious action on PM_2.5 as it is the pollutant that has the most significant impact on health. We have already taken action on a major source of PM_2.5 by legislating to phase out the sale of house coal, small volumes of wet wood and high sulphur manufactured solid fuels for domestic burning, but further action is needed. This is why we are introducing a duty to set a PM_2.5 target – alongside at least one additional long-term air quality target - in the Environment Bill. We have always been clear that we will consider the World Health Organization’s guidelines for PM_2.5 as part of this process.

At the end of the transition period, only those restrictions that are in force in EU REACH will be automatically carried over into UK REACH. The restriction proposals on C9-C14 PFCAs and on PFHxS are not yet agreed under EU REACH and are not likely to be in force at the end of the transition period, so will not be automatically carried over into UK law.

After the end of the transition period we will make independent decisions on future REACH restrictions, taking into account any analysis already carried out, including in the EU, consultations, and our own independent scientific advice.

Defra and the Environment Agency are working closely with other regulators to investigate sources, pathways and risks associated with PFAS chemicals in the environment in order to facilitate decisions on future risk management options.

At the end of the transition period, only those restrictions that are in force in EU REACH will be automatically carried over into UK REACH. The restriction proposals on C9-C14 PFCAs and on PFHxS are not yet agreed under EU REACH and are not likely to be in force at the end of the transition period, so will not be automatically carried over into UK law.

After the end of the transition period we will make independent decisions on future REACH restrictions, taking into account any analysis already carried out, including in the EU, consultations, and our own independent scientific advice.

Defra and the Environment Agency are working closely with other regulators to investigate sources, pathways and risks associated with PFAS chemicals in the environment in order to facilitate decisions on future risk management options.

The substance evaluation recently completed by KEMI, the Swedish Environment Agency, recommended further follow-up regulatory action at EU level, although the process required under EU REACH to identify the substance as a “substance of very high concern” (SVHC) has not yet started.

After the end of the transition period, the UK will establish its own independent chemicals regulatory framework for Great Britain, UK REACH. All substances on the EU REACH candidate list of SVHCs for authorisation at that point will be listed on the UK REACH candidate list. We will make independent decisions on future identification of substances as SVHC, taking into account existing evidence, and consultation.

Defra is supporting work on indoor air quality by gathering evidence needed to inform effective policies. Our Air Quality Expert Group, with input from members of the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, will be publishing a paper on indoor air quality in the new year. This will focus on fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds as the air pollutants which are prevalent in indoor environments. We have also engaged actively with the research community through the Clean Air Programme, which is part of UK Research and Innovation’s Strategic Priorities Fund. Wave 2 of this programme is focused on the indoor/outdoor air quality interface.

Earlier this year, Defra attended a cross-Government roundtable on indoor air quality hosted by the Chief Medical Officer and Government Chief Scientific Advisor. Given the health drivers for action, DHSC and Public Health England will be taking the lead on indoor air quality and Defra will continue to support them, alongside other Government departments.

The revised National Action Plan for the Sustainable use of Pesticides (NAP) will be published for public consultation later this year and is applicable to all pesticide users including local authorities. The consultation document recognises action being taken by some local authorities to encourage phase out of pesticide usage and commits to encouraging an approach where non-essential use of pesticides is avoided.

The NAP consultation puts Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at the heart of our approach to minimise the use of pesticides across all sectors and support the uptake of non-chemical alternatives. Steps are being taken to integrate support for IPM approaches within future agri-environment schemes, for example through Environmental Land Management.

Through the NAP, we aim to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively. We are improving UK indicators of pesticide usage and toxicity in order to track progress against this aim. This work includes the development of a pesticide load indicator, building on the Danish model and tailoring it our domestic circumstances. We have been assessing the role of targets to support the ambitions of the NAP. The first step is to establish a robust baseline through improved indicators to ensure that goals are meaningful and drive the greatest benefit. We are aware of the difficulties experienced by France in meeting reduction targets they have set. Despite an ambitious reduction target, their overall pesticide usage has actually increased. The revision of the NAP provides an opportunity to assess the experiences of the EU and other countries, and set our domestic ambitions for the sustainable use of pesticides.

The revised National Action Plan for the Sustainable use of Pesticides (NAP) will be published for public consultation later this year and is applicable to all pesticide users including local authorities. The consultation document recognises action being taken by some local authorities to encourage phase out of pesticide usage and commits to encouraging an approach where non-essential use of pesticides is avoided.

The NAP consultation puts Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at the heart of our approach to minimise the use of pesticides across all sectors and support the uptake of non-chemical alternatives. Steps are being taken to integrate support for IPM approaches within future agri-environment schemes, for example through Environmental Land Management.

Through the NAP, we aim to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively. We are improving UK indicators of pesticide usage and toxicity in order to track progress against this aim. This work includes the development of a pesticide load indicator, building on the Danish model and tailoring it our domestic circumstances. We have been assessing the role of targets to support the ambitions of the NAP. The first step is to establish a robust baseline through improved indicators to ensure that goals are meaningful and drive the greatest benefit. We are aware of the difficulties experienced by France in meeting reduction targets they have set. Despite an ambitious reduction target, their overall pesticide usage has actually increased. The revision of the NAP provides an opportunity to assess the experiences of the EU and other countries, and set our domestic ambitions for the sustainable use of pesticides.

The revised National Action Plan for the Sustainable use of Pesticides (NAP) will be published for public consultation later this year and is applicable to all pesticide users including local authorities. The consultation document recognises action being taken by some local authorities to encourage phase out of pesticide usage and commits to encouraging an approach where non-essential use of pesticides is avoided.

The NAP consultation puts Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at the heart of our approach to minimise the use of pesticides across all sectors and support the uptake of non-chemical alternatives. Steps are being taken to integrate support for IPM approaches within future agri-environment schemes, for example through Environmental Land Management.

Through the NAP, we aim to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively. We are improving UK indicators of pesticide usage and toxicity in order to track progress against this aim. This work includes the development of a pesticide load indicator, building on the Danish model and tailoring it our domestic circumstances. We have been assessing the role of targets to support the ambitions of the NAP. The first step is to establish a robust baseline through improved indicators to ensure that goals are meaningful and drive the greatest benefit. We are aware of the difficulties experienced by France in meeting reduction targets they have set. Despite an ambitious reduction target, their overall pesticide usage has actually increased. The revision of the NAP provides an opportunity to assess the experiences of the EU and other countries, and set our domestic ambitions for the sustainable use of pesticides.

I welcome the London School of Economics report. It is important that we are able to minimise friction in our supply chains.

We have been clear any future agreement will be made in respect of the decision-making autonomy of the European Union and with respect for British sovereignty.

The UK must retain the ability to set its own laws and regulations, and so in the ongoing negotiations with the EU, we will always look to agree the best deal for British producers and businesses.

From 1 January 2021 the UK will have the autonomy to introduce its own approach to goods imported to Great Britain from the EU. However, we recognise the impact Covid-19 has had on businesses and therefore we have taken the decision to introduce border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021. This flexible and pragmatic approach will give industry extra time to make necessary arrangements.

We remain committed to engaging closely with businesses to ensure that delivery of any new administrative requirements works for everyone. This included a warning already given to stakeholders that they need to prepare to trade on different terms once the UK has left the Single Market.

The Government has been clear that it seeks a free trade agreement with the EU, based on friendly cooperation and maintaining tariff and quota free access. The UK is a significant importer of food and other goods, and avoiding tariffs should be beneficial to both sides, given our shared commitment to high regulatory standards.

However, in the event that we have a trading relationship with the EU along the same lines as Australia, without a free trade agreement, and the UK Global Tariff applies, we have a highly resilient food supply chain. Consumers in the UK have access to a range of sources of food, including countless domestic food producers. This will continue to be the case after December 2020. As part of the UK Global Tariff, the Government has sought a balance between the interests of consumers and producers to benefit the UK economy as a whole.

There are many factors that impact the cost of food, including commodity prices, exchange rates and oil prices. This will not change at the end of the Transition Period. The UK Government does not directly control these factors but we work closely with industry to promote transparency for consumers and internationally to promote open global markets.

Moreover, the UK's new independent trade policy enables us to take control of more levers to facilitate competitive trade and to forge new trading relationships around the world in the interests of UK agri-food businesses and consumers.

We have not assessed the increased cost of health problems caused by air pollution as a proportion of GDP since the start of the covid-19 outbreak. However, in 2018 Public Health England reported that the cumulative costs to the health and social care service from air pollution will be £5.3 billion by 2035, and their evidence shows that a reduction of 1 µg/m ³ of PM _2.5 in England in a single year would prevent 9,000 cases of asthma, 50,000 cases of coronary heart disease, 4000 lung cancers and 15,000 strokes in the period until 2035.

We are committed to tackling air pollution in order to improve public health and the environment. This is stated in our Clean Air Strategy of 2019, which the World Health Organization lauded as world leading. Our landmark Environment Bill is currently going through Parliament, and in it we are committing to an ambitious new air quality target on PM _2.5, the pollutant of greatest harm to human health.

We have also put in place a £3.5 billion plan to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations.

The Secretary of State regularly meets with cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of issues, including air quality. Whilst there haven’t been specific discussions regarding the correlation between air quality indoors and outdoors in terms of public health, Defra is working with Public Health England and DHSC to develop a better understanding of this complex issue. For example, Defra's Air Quality Expert Group, with support from members of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, managed by PHE, will be producing a dedicated report on indoor air quality. This report will focus on fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds as the pollutants which are most prevalent in indoor environments. In addition, Defra participated in a roundtable organised by the Chief Medical Officer and Government Chief Scientific Advisor on the issue of indoor air quality earlier this year.

A number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are already banned or highly restricted. The UK is a Party to the Stockholm Convention, which has already agreed restrictions on the use of certain PFAS. There are also restrictions in place under the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations.

At the end of the Transition Period the UK will put in place its own domestic chemicals regulatory framework. Existing restrictions under REACH will be brought into UK law. Our commitments under the Stockholm Convention will continue to apply. Future UK decisions to control the environmental and human health impacts of substances will be taken under our independent regime and will be based on rigorous assessment of the scientific evidence, including looking at approaches taken by chemical regimes across the world.

We are working to improve our understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK, and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy. The Food Standards Agency also regularly reviews new information on PFAS and will be considering the upcoming review by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment of the European Food Safety Authority’s latest scientific opinion on PFAS in food.

A number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are already banned or highly restricted. The UK is a Party to the Stockholm Convention, which has already agreed restrictions on the use of certain PFAS. There are also restrictions in place under the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations.

At the end of the Transition Period the UK will put in place its own domestic chemicals regulatory framework. Existing restrictions under REACH will be brought into UK law. Our commitments under the Stockholm Convention will continue to apply. Future UK decisions to control the environmental and human health impacts of substances will be taken under our independent regime and will be based on rigorous assessment of the scientific evidence, including looking at approaches taken by chemical regimes across the world.

We are working to improve our understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK, and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy. The Food Standards Agency also regularly reviews new information on PFAS and will be considering the upcoming review by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment of the European Food Safety Authority’s latest scientific opinion on PFAS in food.

Air pollution poses the biggest environmental threat to public health and improving air quality remains a top priority for the government. In delivering against our stretching air quality commitments, we regularly hold discussions with Ministers and officials across Government departments, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and HMT.

Tailpipe emissions from vehicles which power transport refrigeration units are recorded as road traffic emissions in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. The data for road transport emissions is published annually and has been reported since 1990 onwards. The Government does not estimate emissions from transport refrigeration unit auxiliary engines as the available data are limited.

Defra has commissioned research and is working with industry and sector experts to improve the evidence base on emissions from non-road mobile machinery emissions, including transport refrigeration units. As set out in the Clean Air Strategy, the Government is considering the options to reduce emissions from non-road mobile machinery.

The 2019 Annual Report of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food will be published on 4 November 2020 on GOV.UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/expert-committee-on-pesticide-residues-in-food-prif-annual-report.

The latest figures show carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with imported goods fell by 1% between 2016 and 2017, and by 16% between 2007 (when they peaked) and 2017.

The latest figures published are at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint but they focus on greenhouse gas emissions rather than just CO₂ emissions. Consumption emissions are officially categorised as “experimental statistics” due to inherent uncertainties in the estimates produced. The UK’s GHG emissions statistics used for the purposes of measuring progress against the net zero target are calculated in line with the standard international accounting approach for measuring emissions as established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Government's Resources and Waste Strategy for England sets out its ambition to move from a make, take, use, throw linear economic model to a more circular economy which will reduce our carbon footprint from imported emissions through increasing repair, reuse, remanufacture and other waste prevention activities.

The Environment Bill includes measures that will help consumers to make purchasing decisions that support the market for more sustainable products. It contains powers to introduce clear product labelling, which will enable consumers to identify products that are more durable, reparable and recyclable and will inform them on how to dispose of used products.

As part of the UK Plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), the Government reviewed evidence investigating the inequalities in the distributional impact of poor air quality. The published technical report references research conducted by Fecht et al (2015) that demonstrates that higher concentrations of NO₂ and coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀) have been observed in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.

Additionally, in 2020 the Office for National Statistics published a report on Coronavirus mortality rates and air quality. Data analysis highlighted that ethnicity is strongly correlated with pollution exposure, with ethnic minorities more likely to live in polluted areas. To date, the Government has not investigated whether there are air pollution inequalities between women and men. Such analysis would be particularly challenging due to the fixed nature of the Government's air quality monitoring stations; the monitoring network limits our ability to make robust inferences about air pollution exposure at places of work, within households or at an individual level.

The Government is taking a proactive approach to tackling air pollution concentrations through the NO₂ plan and Clean Air Strategy, both of which will improve air quality across the UK. Furthermore, those actions that focus on reducing the highest concentrations of harmful pollutants will disproportionately benefit ethnically diverse communities that are located in areas of poor air quality.

The Stockholm Convention bans or restricts the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are toxic, persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in humans and animals, and have long-ranging properties. The Convention has banned some chemicals that have historically been used as flame retardants in sofas and mattresses and the UK supported this action. Those bans are in force in the UK.

To prevent POPs entering the environment, the waste industry has a legal requirement to destroy POPs where they are present in waste articles above a threshold limit. We have recently completed a study to better understand the use of two of the most commonly used flame retardants in soft furnishings before they were banned, decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). We will now use this information as a basis on which to work with the waste industry to review management of soft furnishings. This will ensure that articles most likely to contain POPs are destroyed at the end of their life, preventing pollution.

The Stockholm Convention bans or restricts the use of persistent organic pollutant chemicals (POPs) that are toxic, persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in humans and animals and have long-ranging properties. The Convention has banned some chemicals that have historically been used as flame retardants in soft furnishings and the UK has supported this action.

The waste industry has a legal requirement to destroy POPs that are in articles such as soft furnishings and this is achieved if they are incinerated at the correct temperature. We have recently completed a study to better understand the use of Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), which were the most commonly used flame retardants in soft furnishings before they were banned. We will now work with the waste industry to use this information to recognise where soft furnishings are likely to contain POPs, thereby ensuring disposal processes destroy the banned flame retardants.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has not undertaken a formal assessment of the evidence base for deflagration. The Marine Management Organisation sits on the steering group for a research project on deflagration commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Defra receives regular updates on progress.

A recent project report is available on the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment pages of the gov.uk website.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has not undertaken a formal assessment of the evidence base for deflagration. The Marine Management Organisation sits on the steering group for a research project on deflagration commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Defra receives regular updates on progress.

A recent project report is available on the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment pages of the gov.uk website.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Energy from waste plants are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) and must comply with the strict emission limits set down in legislation. Permit conditions are set based on a range and mix of waste arisings and plants are designed with abatement technologies that enable them to handle and treat a range of wastes. It is currently understood that no operators have reported issues with meeting emission limits due to any change in recyclable waste input during the Covid-19 lockdown.

With our Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG), we ran a rapid Call for Evidence to ensure we can more fully understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on air pollutant emissions, concentrations and human exposure. This report was published on 1 July. Improving air quality remains a top priority for the Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise public health impacts.

Defra has worked with local government, other Government departments and the waste industry to produce and publish guidance to help local authorities manage their waste collection services and household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) during the Covid-19 outbreak. The guidance on reopening HWRCs was developed in conjunction with Public Health England and the Home Office and sets out how to operate HWRCs in a way that protects human health while?maintaining safe systems of working. The HWRC guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/managing-household-waste-and-recycling-centres-hwrcs-in-england-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

Since publication of our guidance nearly all local authorities are now able to offer a HWRC service and local householders can make trips to these sites as needed.?Weekly surveys indicate that, due to the hard work of those in the sector, nearly all English authorities are operating household waste collections as normal, with only a small percentage reporting minor disruption.

Air pollution can affect economic output through several channels. These include:

• Affecting the size of the working population;
• Reducing the amount of hours worked per worker, if they are sick and cannot work (or have to attend for a sick relative);
• Reducing workers’ productivity when at work;
• Increasing cost for health care resources that could be used elsewhere; and
• Affecting the quality of natural capital, reducing yields in agriculture.

Public Health England found that costs to the NHS and social care in England due to diseases related to air pollution could amount to as much as £5.5 billion for the 2017-2025 period, unless action is taken.

An analysis commissioned by Defra estimates that particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone reduces GDP by 0.11% through labour productivity losses. It also shows that greater vulnerability of children to poor air quality also affects their productivity in the long term.

The OECD estimates that an increase in concentration of particulate matter by 1µg/m³ - equivalent to a 13% rise in the UK - would cause a 0.8% reduction in GDP on average in European countries.

Improving air quality remains a top priority for the government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise its impacts on both public health and the economy.

We estimate that actions set out in our Clean Air Strategy could cut the costs of air pollution to society by £1.7 billion every year from now, rising to £5.3bn from 2030. These estimates are based on Defra damage costs, which provide impact values for a range of outcomes beyond economic impacts, in particular public health and ecosystem impacts.

To support local authorities in their work to tackle air pollution hotspots, this Government has given a great deal of thought to the role that vegetation might play in improving air quality. The Air Quality Expert Group published a report named Impacts of Vegetation on Urban Air Pollution which is available to read here:

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/1807251306_180509_Effects_of_vegetation_on_urban_air_pollution_v12_final.pdf

The key conclusion is that while vegetation might bring some highly localised benefits to air quality, it will not be a solution at a city scale. In the context of a school perimeter, there is little evidence to support vegetation reducing nitrogen oxides from exhausts and while significant amounts of foliage might provide a localised barrier effect to reduce particulate levels from the roadside, the effectiveness of these measures is unclear.

This is why the emphasis of our Clean Air Strategy is to tackle the sources of pollution levels as the most effective way to improve air quality for all.

The Secretary of State welcomes the all-party group’s report and has noted its recommendations with interest. Improving air quality is a top priority for this Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise public health impacts.

Defra’s commitment and the need for cross-Whitehall work on this was recognised in the meeting between the hon Member and myself on 6 July. We recently published the findings from a rapid Call for Evidence to understand more fully the impact that coronavirus is having on changes in air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure and Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG).

We will maintain our high food and environmental standards when operating our own independent pesticides regulatory regime after the Transition Period. The statutory requirements of the EU regime on standards of protection will be carried across unchanged into domestic law. Food imports into the UK will need to continue to comply with the rules on the maximum residue levels of pesticides. Existing maximum residue levels will all remain in place at the end of the Transition Period.

The Government will stand firm in trade negotiations to ensure any future trade deals live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the UK. We will not lower our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk as we negotiate new trade deals.

We will maintain our high food and environmental standards when operating our own independent pesticides regulatory regime after the Transition Period. The statutory requirements of the EU regime on standards of protection will be carried across unchanged into domestic law. Food imports into the UK will need to continue to comply with the rules on the maximum residue levels of pesticides. Existing maximum residue levels will all remain in place at the end of the Transition Period.

The Government will stand firm in trade negotiations to ensure any future trade deals live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the UK. We will not lower our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk as we negotiate new trade deals.

The Government recognises the importance of a resilient, healthy, and genetically diverse treescape in the urban environment, which is ready for our future climate and relies on saplings grown in the UK.

Although allergen-free green spaces are not possible, a range of measures can be employed to reduce allergen risk through good design. We are working to ensure that trees for urban planting, such as in parks and streets, have a varying flowering and pollen regime to reduce the overall pollen burden to the urban landscape and lower allergenic threshold.

The Forestry Commission has also produced the Urban Tree Manual which provides advice on selecting and procuring the right tree for the right place in urban areas, including managing pollen.

The Secretary of State welcomes the all-party group’s report and has noted its recommendations with interest. Improving air quality is a top priority for the government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise public health impacts. We recently launched a rapid Call for Evidence to understand more fully the impact that coronavirus is having on changes in air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure and Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group is currently analysing the responses.

The Stockholm Convention lists persistent organic pollutant chemicals (POPs) that are toxic, persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in humans and animals and have long-ranging properties.

International awareness is growing of the adverse effects of PFAS as a group. The Stockholm Convention has banned some of the most harmful chemicals in the PFAS family and the UK has fully supported this action.

The Government is working with international counterparts on new PFAS assessments and lifecycle approaches and will continue work to develop these. Defra officials have been attending the POP review committee and inputting into the evidence base. The department is also financing PFAS evidence projects through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and remains an active member.

We will continue to develop our position on the rest of the PFAS group, based on evidence, and will engage with our international partners to support the ban on any PFAS substances that fulfil the POPs criteria.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a group of thousands of chemicals that are widely used in consumer and industrial products. There are existing restrictions on the use of certain PFAS under the Stockholm Convention, to which the UK is a signatory, and under the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals).

Defra is working with regulators to improve the understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK, and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy.

The Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG) is currently under review, ahead of a new 24 month term of appointment. My Department will make the dates and times of meetings, the agendas and a high-level summary of the discussion available following each meeting of the STAG.

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with other Cabinet colleagues on this matter.

The Secretary of State engages regularly with the US Trade Representative on World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform, amongst other trade interests.

The United Kingdom is committed to supporting the multilateral trading system. A two-stage, impartial, binding and compulsory dispute settlement system is crucial in ensuring that we can enforce the rules we have negotiated.

We have listened carefully to the concerns raised about the Appellate Body and stand ready to engage in further discussions on potential solutions, including reforms to the

system, with our US counterparts and other international partners.

The approach of HM Government to food standards in trade deals is clear. We remain firmly committed to upholding Britain’s high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards.

As we take back control of our laws from the EU, we will decide how we set and maintain our own laws, standards and regulations. When the Transition Period ends, we will be a global leader in environmental protection and animal welfare standards, maintaining the high-quality of our produce for consumers at home and overseas.

Our current high standards, including on import requirements, will continue to apply after the end of the Transition Period. The 2018 Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing food safety provisions, including existing import requirements, onto the United Kingdom’s statute book.

Our food standards, for both domestic production and imports, are overseen by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. These agencies provide independent advice to HM Government and the devolved administration in Scotland respectively. They will continue to do so, in order to make sure that all food imports – from any country – comply with the United Kingdom’s high standards.

The Government is committed to negotiating and securing an ambitious free trade deal with Australia as soon as is practical. During these unprecedented times we are working with our negotiation partners to consider options for conducting negotiations in a way that reflects the current situation and respects public health.

The Government is committed to negotiating and securing an ambitious free trade deal with Australia as soon as it is practical in a way which respects public health at this current time. We will jointly decide with Australia on how and when to proceed with the negotiations as the developing situation with COVID-19 becomes clearer.

The UK Government will publish its negotiating objectives for a UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, before negotiations start. This will be accompanied by a scoping assessment which will set out the potential economic impacts of any agreement.

The Government is committed to the international free trade agenda. During these unprecedented times we are looking at options to conduct negotiations in a way that reflects the current situation and respects public health. Negotiating objectives will be published before the launch of negotiations.

At the start of free trade agreement negotiations with Australia, the Government will publish its Outline Approach which will include our negotiating objectives. This will be accompanied by a scoping assessment which will set out the potential economic impacts of any agreement.

It is vital that we explore new trading opportunities, but that should not mean a dilution of the standards for which British food is world renowned. Without exception, imports into the UK will meet our stringent standards and any future deals must work for UK consumers, farmers and companies.

We continue to consider Australian regulations and engage with our Australian counterparts to build a shared understanding of our countries’ approaches and ambitions for our future bilateral trade relationship. In line with our international obligations, the Government will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment in new trade agreements. The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections and has made clear that we will not compromise on these.

This Government is keen to ensure that UK investors overseas benefit from strong protections against discriminatory or unfair treatment from a host state. The precise details of any future UK Free Trade Agreement with Australia are a matter for formal negotiations, and we would not seek to pre-empt these discussions.

The Government is clear that our future investment policy will continue to protect our right to regulate in the public interest, including to meet our climate change and environmental objectives. There is yet to be a successful investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claim against the UK, nor has the threat of potential disputes affected the government’s legislative programme.

The Government is aware of a number of pollution reduction initiatives for non-road mobile machinery currently underway in California, but the Department has not undertaken an assessment of the policy implications.

Tougher pollutant emission limits and more comprehensive requirements for non-road mobile machinery engines were introduced in January 2019, and new engines were required to be compliant with these provisions from January 2021 in the UK.

Department of Transport ministers and officials are in regular dialogue with bus operators to discuss various issues facing the sector.

On 4 February, the Prime Minister launched a consultation on bringing forward an end to the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible. This consultation ends on the 31 July. The Secretary of State and Minister Maclean have regular discussions with the Business Secretary to discuss the many ways in which the Government is working to achieve net zero by 2050.

In January the Government announced a doubling of the value of the On-street Residential Charing Scheme (ORCS) from £5 to £10 million, providing grant funding for as many as 3,600 chargepoints for motorists who do not have access to off-street parking. To ensure more Local Authorities and motorists can benefit from the scheme the Government again doubled the funding available for ORCS in May up to £20 million to assist with the cost of up to 7,200 more chargepoints. To date, the scheme has supported the installation of 555 chargepoints and provided funding for a further 1603 to be installed. Covid-19 has significantly slowed down installation rates and we would expect this number to increase as more Local Authorities are able to procure and install chargepoints as the Covid-19 Lockdown eases.

It is for local traffic authorities to decide what measures to install to enable social distancing and active travel, and the Department does not maintain a record of local authorities that have implemented such changes. There are measures available to local authorities that can be implemented to widen pavements and that do not require extra powers or approval from the Department. For example, some authorities have used cones or barriers to reallocate part of the road to pedestrians as a temporary measure.

Data on the number of individual petrol and diesel pumps in England is not available. The number of electric vehicle charging devices publicly available in England at 1 April 2020 was 14,979. The numbers for each local authority are provided in the attached document in an annex to this answer.

The £5 billion package for buses and cycling is more important than ever as we put a green recovery for transport at the heart of our decision-making. Full details of a zero-emission bus programme, including how the funding will be distributed, are being developed and will be announced in due course.

The Government is committed to making lasting changes to the way people, goods and services travel to help make our country greener and healthier, and to deliver clean economic growth. In line with our clean air and net zero carbon targets, our policies will ensure that emissions continue to fall over time right across the country through a green economic recovery from COVID-19 that has transport at its heart. This includes a £5 billion package of investment in zero emission buses, cycling and walking in line with the recent recommendations of the all-party group on air pollution.

The Government is committed to levelling up the country to provide equal opportunity for all and recognises the vital importance public transport plays in supporting the economy and bringing society together across rural and urban areas.

The Department currently publishes tables of estimated travel time to key services by different modes in Journey times to key services (JTS01) with different levels of rural/urban areas. This can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/journey-time-statistics-data-tables-jts#journey-times-to-key-services-jts01

In addition to this, the National Travel Survey (NTS) provides a range of measures which include a breakdown by Rural / Urban classification which can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts99-travel-by-region-and-area-type-of-residence

As the transport sector is restarted, DfT continues to work closely with Cabinet Office, BEIS, DHSC and others to develop contingency plans and to identify areas where there is increased risk of congestion or crowding.

The Department continues to recommend that the public avoids using public transport if possible and encouraging those travelling by public transport or in cars to avoid travelling in the peak to maximise capacity for key workers and the supply of goods.

The Department is also encouraging employers to continue home working and staggering start times so that demand can be reduced.

Departmental analysis to date shows that demand in the interpeak is currently higher than the traditional morning (and afternoon) peak.

The Department has regular discussions with local authorities at both Ministerial and official level on a range of transport related matters including cycling and walking. These discussions have informed the development of the Emergency Active Travel Fund, through which the Department is supporting local authorities with the introduction of measures of this sort, and the new network management duty guidance that the Department published on 9 May.

The National Travel Survey (NTS) recorded that public transport was the primary mode of transport used for 9.6% of trips per person, per year in England in 2018.

Around 15% and 5% of people in England reported using the bus and train at least three times a week respectively in 2018 according to the NTS, equating to 8.2m and 2.7m people.

Data is not held for other countries, including other countries in the UK.

On 23 May, the Transport Secretary announced a further £283 million to help increase bus and light rail services across England as quickly as possible to help ensure there is enough space for passengers to observe social distancing guidelines, as we begin to re-open our economy.

The Government has approved £2.9bn of additional expenditure during the 2020/21 financial year to ensure that vital rail services continue to operate. This expenditure covers all train operators with franchise agreements with the Department.

To support Transport for London services we have agreed a £1.6 billion funding and financing support package to enable them to continue operating essential services, transporting passengers safely and protecting staff during the pandemic and supporting the capital’s gradual recovery from COVID-19.

In the Clean Maritime Plan, published last year, the UK Government committed to identifying and supporting zero emission shipping clusters. It is Government’s ambition that clusters would combine innovation and infrastructure associated with zero emission propulsion technologies, including electrification, and that a number of clusters would be operational by 2035.

In line with this commitment, Government, in conjunction with a working group of the Clean Maritime Council, is undertaking a study on clusters. This study includes consideration of electric infrastructure for the maritime sector across the UK as a whole.

The results of this study will be fed into national strategic cross-Government work, including the Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

The Department is working closely with the wider transport sector, including operators and trade unions, on the implementation of the Safer Transport guidance that aims to help organisations, agencies and others (such as self-employed transport providers) understand how to provide safe workplaces and services (the guidance can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators).

The guidance sets out how employers can advise staff and passengers on maintaining good hand hygiene and on ways to keep their distance from other people as much as possible, including, for example, through using screens, staggering departures and arrival times, and reducing the use of face to face seating if possible.

It also outlines that staff should wear a face covering when they are unable to maintain social distancing in passenger facing roles, while recognising that there will be exceptional circumstances when a staff member cannot wear a face covering, or when their task makes it sensible (based on a risk assessment) for them not to wear a face covering.

The Secretary of State for Transport is committed to ensuring that every transport worker who requires testing has access. The Department is engaging closely with stakeholders and DHSC to ensure that a robust testing process is in place for transport workers, whilst recognising that priority needs to be given to patient care, front-line healthcare staff and social care workers. Everyone in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with COVID-19 symptoms can get tested. Antigen testing, or testing for current infection, is currently available through home delivery kits, regional test sites, satellite sites and mobile testing centres throughout the country.

The Government has supported the use of a range of low carbon bus technologies, including battery-electric technology, through funds including the Low Emission and Ultra Low Emission Bus Schemes. These have focussed not just on electric buses but also included funding for hydrogen buses and supporting infrastructure.

In February, the Government announced a £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling, which includes support for the purchase of at least 4,000 zero-emission buses. The details of these programmes, including technology options and how funding will be distributed, will be announced in due course.

Local Authorities had until 4 June to apply for a £50m package to deliver Britain’s first All-Electric Bus Town. The winner(s) will be announced shortly.

I also know that my Rt Hon Friend the Transport Secretary is exploring options for a hydrogen bus town and a hydrogen hub, looking into how this country can lead the world using green hydrogen as a power source for types of transport, including freight, ships, buses and trains.

The Department for Transport is making £225 million available to local authorities this financial year for urgent measures to make it easier for people to walk and cycle for all short journeys, including to school.

The Department has also provided significant amounts of funding to keep buses running to serve those who rely on them. On 3 April, the Government announced £397 million of support for bus services, and on 23 May the Secretary of State announced a further £254 million to help increase bus services?across England?as we begin to?re-open?our economy.

The Department for Education has produced guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings. This guidance sets out that schools should ‘ensure parents and young people are aware of recommendations on transport to and from education or childcare settings’ and encourage parents and children and young people ‘to walk or cycle to their education setting where possible’.

A few months ago we announced that Bikeability training for schoolchildren would be expanded to cover all children nationwide.

No such assessment has been made. While household income varies across the users of public and private transport, we are not aware of any reason why household income would be affected by people using public rather than private transport.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

The Department continues to engage with organisations such as Health Education England and the Royal Colleges to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped to provide information and advice to those vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution. The Chief Medical Officer has also discussed this matter with the Royal Colleges during a recent meeting. This will allow patients and their carers to take steps to reduce their exposure to air pollution and give them greater power to manage their condition.

The NHS Long Term Plan committed to improve outcomes asthma outcomes for children and young people. The Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme has asked local systems to prioritise local improvements in asthma care. This will include supporting clinicians to discuss the short and long-term adverse effects of air pollution in children with asthma and any mitigation strategies.

The total value of claimed Healthy Start vouchers in England for the most recent year for which data is available, 2019/20, was £44,838,141.

The NHS Business Services Authority is leading work to digitise the Healthy Start scheme, on behalf of the Department, to facilitate families to apply for, receive and use Healthy Start benefits. The NHS Business Services Authority has been engaging with retailers directly through regular showcase demonstrations and round table discussions hosted by the Food Foundation.

The Prime Minister recognises the importance of the start for life period being considered and advocated for at the heart of Government. Parents and carers need to know that someone is advocating on their behalf and who that person is.

The Prime Minister will nominate a Cabinet Minister who will ensure that ‘Start for Life’. A decision on who fulfils this role will be made in due course.

The recommendations in this paper build on close engagement with more than 100 stakeholders representing all parts of the health and care system. Officials have recently met with the National Children’s Bureau to discuss the paper’s proposals for integrating care and will continue to have discussions with a range of stakeholders representing children and young people, their families and carers and other patient groups.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 151588.

The seven consultations were open from 15 October to 10 December 2020. NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently analysing the responses.

The recommendations in this paper build on engagement with stakeholders representing different parts of the health and care system, with more than 100 organisations engaged on the White Paper’s themes to date. This includes engagement with the Social Partnership Forum, of which several members of the Allied Health Professions Federation are also members. Officials will continue to have discussions with stakeholders accordingly.

The Independent High Risk AGP Panel was set up to provide practical and scientific advice to the Chief Medical Officers for the four United Kingdom nations on specific high risk aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is outside the scope of the panel to make recommendations about personal protective equipment use in the context of AGPs. For this reason, the Health and Safety Executive’s 2008 report RR619 was not formally considered in producing the recommendations. These recommendations focussed on specific medical procedures of concern and took into account only peer reviewed publications, as detailed in the systematic review protocol.

It is not possible to state how many infections amongst staff have been contracted in the workplace and how many have been infected through contacts outside the National Health Service.

It is for individual hospital trusts to carry out continual risk assessments of their premises and to put appropriate measures in place such as distancing, sanitising measures and the use of personal protective equipment to help minimise the spread of COVID-19, in line with nationally published guidance.

The national specification for these services asks providers ensure patients have access to a multidisciplinary team of professionals to account for the multi-system nature of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Where speech and language therapy are required, patients should be able to get the treatment they need.

The Your COVID Recovery website has a section on the impact of COVID-19 on the voice and swallowing which is available at the following link:

https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/managing-the-effects/effects-on-your-body/voice-and-swallowing/

For longer term effects, ‘long’ COVID-19 is a relatively new illness and understanding of the condition and the best treatment is developing.

There are no current plans to allow speech and language therapists to train to be Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP). AMHPs are highly trained and experienced mental health professionals, who have responsibilities outlined within the Mental Health Act 1983. The Mental Health (Approved Mental Health Professionals) (Approval) (England) Regulations 2008 state that social workers, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists can train to be AMHPs and be authorised by their local authority.

No such assessment has been made.

We are working rapidly to provide all Members and external correspondants with accurate answers to their correspondence, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AGP Alliance’s letter will be answered as soon as possible.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) considered the paper, ‘Application of UV disinfection, visible light, local air filtration and fumigation technologies to microbial control’ at meeting 37 on 19 May. Among the key findings of that paper are that the use of local air cleaning devices, including filter devices and ultraviolet C devices are unlikely to have significant benefit unless the airflow rate through the device is sufficient. The paper is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-role-of-ventilation-in-controlling-sars-cov-2-transmission-30-september-2020

The Department of Health and Social Care regularly engages with other government departments, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on a range of topics related to chemicals and chemical policy and is aware of Denmark’s national ban preventing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being intentionally used in paper and board food-contact applications.

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the Department of Health and Social Care, the FSA, and other departments and agencies on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals, including PFAS. The FSA regularly reviews new information on this subject and will consider COT’s upcoming review of the European Food Safety Authority’s scientific opinion on PFAS in food packaging.

COVID-19 lockdown restrictions reduced exposure to some air pollutants in the short term for certain groups, however, long term exposure to air pollution levels can be harmful to everyone. Some people, including pregnant women, are more susceptible to health problems caused by air pollution. Public Health England (PHE) is not aware of any increase of congestion levels beyond those of pre-COVID-19 levels.

PHE continues to make the case for critical action to address air pollution so that people in England enjoy cleaner air and healthier lives, especially those who are most vulnerable such as pregnant women and children. Further information is available in the PHE Strategy 2020 to 2025, available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phe-strategy-2020-to-2025

Public Health England (PHE) continues to make the case for critical action to address air pollution so that people in England enjoy cleaner air and healthier lives, especially those who are most vulnerable such as pregnant women.

The Government’s Clean Air Strategy, aims to reduce exposure to polluted air and lower rates of ill health attributable to air pollution and to provide better health outcomes for vulnerable groups most affected by poor air quality, including pregnant women.

To assist with the Government’s Clean Air Strategy, the Department commissioned PHE to undertake a review of the evidence for effective and cost-effective air quality interventions and provide practical recommendations for actions to improve air quality that will significantly reduce harm from air pollution.

The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has established a subgroup to consider the evidence on the effects of maternal exposure to ambient air pollution on adverse birth outcomes.

Public Health England’s strategy for 2020-2025 highlights that poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health. The ambition is to make the case for critical action to address air pollution so that people in England enjoy cleaner air and healthier lives, especially those who are most vulnerable, such as pregnant women.

The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has established a subgroup to consider the evidence on the effects of maternal exposure to ambient air pollution on adverse birth outcomes. A report is currently being prepared and it will include consideration of relevant and recent studies, including the research conducted by Queen Mary University of London showing that inhaled pollution particles reach the placenta.

Our priority is to get pupils and students back to schools and colleges safely.

At each stage of our response to the pandemic, we have listened to and continue to be guided by the latest medical and scientific advice. Children in early years settings do not need to wear a face covering. However, if we think that the guidance should apply to staff and visitors in early years settings then we will not hesitate to act swiftly and decisively.

Nationwide, schools and further education settings will have the discretion to require staff, visitors and pupils to wear face coverings in indoor communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed, if they believe that it is right in their particular circumstances.

The Government takes the precautionary principle into account but recognises it must be flexible. In planning for a potential second wave and future pandemics, the Government is taking the principle into account, alongside the available evidence in order to balance the risks between taking action or taking none.

To prepare the National Health Service for winter, the Government is providing an additional £3 billion of funding. This includes funding to allow the NHS to maintain the Nightingale surge capacity and continue to use the extra hospital capacity available within the independent sector.

Effective local management of any outbreaks is the first line of protection against a second wave that might overwhelm the NHS. To support local authorities, we made £300 million available and they already have robust plans in place to respond to outbreaks.

NHS winter preparations include delivering a very significantly expanded seasonal flu vaccination programme for priority groups.

In line with the guidance in BS EN 16798-3: 2017 High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are specified as required by the design for the indoor environmental air quality.

Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 03-01: Specialised Ventilation for Healthcare Premises is currently being updated and is going through final draft review and approval processes as is normal for all technical guidance. The revision will take account as appropriate of the BS EN 16798-3: 2017 and Eurovent 4-23 (October 2018 guidelines).

In line with the guidance in BS EN 16798-3: 2017 High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are specified as required by the design for the indoor environmental air quality.

Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 03-01: Specialised Ventilation for Healthcare Premises is currently being updated and is going through final draft review and approval processes as is normal for all technical guidance. The revision will take account as appropriate of the BS EN 16798-3: 2017 and Eurovent 4-23 (October 2018 guidelines).

Public Health England has made no assessment of the effect of air pollution caused by fireworks and bonfires on the spread of COVID-19.

Older people, individuals with existing cardio-respiratory diseases and pregnant women who are most susceptible to air pollution are also at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. There is no clear evidence yet to suggest that air pollution has a direct link to the spread or severity of COVID-19. If individuals are directly affected by smoke, they should avoid the area. If there is visible smoke they are advised to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed.

Public Health England is not aware of any increase in exposure to PM2.5 fine particulate matter to members of the public and employees in offices and shops.

I replied to the letter from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists on 12 August.

The Government has published advice on the effect of wearing face masks related to the spread of COVID-19. The ‘SAGE 27 minutes: Coronavirus (COVID-19) response, 21 April 2020’ can be found online at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sage-minutes-coronavirus-covid-19-response-21-april-2020

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised that using cloth masks as a precautionary measure could be at least partially effective in enclosed spaces like public transport where social distancing is not possible consistently, creating a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet.

The Department has had no discussion with Public Health England (PHE) on the cost to social care due to air pollution during the COVID-19 outbreak.

PHE has previously considered the costs to the National Health Service and social care due to the health impacts of air pollution in their 2018 published report ‘Estimation of costs to the NHS and social care due to the health impacts of air pollution: summary report which is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/708855/Estimation_of_costs_to_the_NHS_and_social_care_due_to_the_health_impacts_of_air_pollution_-_summary_report.pdf

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the United Kingdom and there is emerging evidence suggesting an association between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality. However, many of the papers are, as yet, not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality.

In April, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group, with input from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, launched a call for evidence to help with assessing the impact of the pandemic and air quality. This work will be published in due course.

The Department continues to have extensive discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other departments on the relationship between health and air quality.

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the United Kingdom and there is emerging evidence suggesting an association between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality. However, many of the papers are, as yet, not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality.

In April, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group, with input from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, launched a call for evidence to help with assessing the impact of the pandemic and air quality. This work will be published in due course.

The Department continues to have extensive discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other departments on the relationship between health and air quality.

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the United Kingdom and there is emerging evidence suggesting an association between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality. However, many of the papers are, as yet, not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality.

In April, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group, with input from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, launched a call for evidence to help with assessing the impact of the pandemic and air quality. This work will be published in due course.

The Department continues to have extensive discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other departments on the relationship between health and air quality.

Long-term air pollution exposure is the leading environmental risk to human health. We are working with relevant experts to understand the relationship between air quality and increased risks from COVID-19 based on emerging science. This will be supported by the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation joint open call for projects on mitigating the health, social, economic, cultural and environmental impacts of COVID-19.

We note that there is emerging evidence suggesting an association between COVID-19 mortality and exposure to air pollution, but many of the emerging papers are, as yet, generally not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality. Currently, there is no clear evidence to suggest that air pollution has a direct link to the spread or severity of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.? In April, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs initiated work to conduct detailed statistical analysis of the United Kingdom data, delivered in collaboration with the Department for Health and Social Care, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics, and with input from the relevant Air Quality Expert Group and Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution experts. The work will be published in due course. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to have extensive discussions with the Department for Health and Social Care and other departments on the relationship between air quality and health.

The Government is extremely grateful to all student nurses who have supported the COVID-19 response, by opting into a paid placement for their time in practice at the frontline during the pandemic.

We have ensured that all students who do so are rewarded fairly for their hard work. NHS England has been funding the support to trusts where the contracts are held and Health Education England (HEE) has been brokering appropriate placements between the university and trust.

It was always made clear to these students that the arrangements would need to come to an end at an appropriate point and Health Education England, NHS England and NHS Improvement have agreed appropriate transition arrangements for all students in paid placements.

Any student in the last six months of their programme on a paid placement will be paid until the end of their contract, unless otherwise agreed. By the end of July most final year students can qualify as registered nurses and start full time work, increasing their pay.

For students in year two or the first part of their final year, employers and universities will work with them to aim to bring paid placements to a close no later than 31 August. This will be part of a voluntary learning agreement between student, placement provider and university.

The implementation of social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in short-term reductions in the measured concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM). When these measures are eased, PM and NO₂ levels are likely to return to pre- epidemic levels. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics are working together to assess whether there is evidence of an association between exposure to particulates and COVID-19 mortality in the United Kingdom. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group launched a call for evidence to help with assessing the impact of the pandemic, and a summary report will be produced.

The United Kingdom has been a signatory to the EU Joint Procurement Agreement since 2014. Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to take part in the first four European Joint Procurements in response to COVID-19, including the ventilators scheme. However, participating in those four initial joint procurement schemes would not have allowed us to do anything that we have not been able to do ourselves.

We currently have over 10,800 mechanical ventilators available to National Health Service patients, with thousands more ventilators on order from manufacturers in the UK and abroad. We are working around the clock to deliver a strategy that provides the best outcome for the whole UK.

The United Kingdom Government has published guidance on appropriate personal protective equipment for health and social care workers and provides a list of current procedures which are considered to be potentially infectious aerosol generating procedures for COVID-19. This guidance has been written and reviewed by all four UK public health bodies and informed by NHS infection prevention control experts. It is based on Health Protection Scotland evidence reviews and the evidence and reviews have been endorsed by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group. It is regularly reviewed and updated.

No assessment has been made of the level of absence among National Health Service workers who are self-isolated and have not been tested for COVID-19.

The evidence around aerosol generating procedures is being kept under review; the evidence review is led by Public Health Scotland.

This guidance has been written and reviewed by all four United Kingdom public health bodies and informed by National Health Service infection prevention control experts. It is based on Health Protection Scotland evidence reviews and the evidence and reviews have been endorsed by New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). A rapid evidence appraisal has been conducted by Health Protection Scotland to assess the risk of patient to healthcare worker infection transmission associated with a wide range of potentially aerosol generating medical procedures. An updated evidence review and the position on the presented evidence review from NERVTAG is awaited.

Testing is a vital part of the United Kingdom’s response to COVID-19, as set out in the Government’s recently published Testing Strategy. The Government is working with industry, academia, the National Health Service and many others, to dramatically increase the number of tests being carried out each day, including for critical key workers. The Government is organising a larger population study to determine what proportion of the UK have already contracted the virus, operated by Public Health England and the Wellcome Trust at Porton Down. These tests are important to strengthen our scientific understanding and inform us all on the best courses of action to address this crisis. Key workers and clinically high-priority cases will be prioritised for testing. Furthermore, a number of supporting documents for Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) have been developed to support excellent standards of IPC within trusts. All documents are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/secondary-care/infection-control/

The ventilator challenge work is being undertaken and managed by the Cabinet Office.

The Prime Minister’s call to manufacturers on 16 March had an overwhelming response, with over 5,000 United Kingdom and international businesses offering to help provide services, including designing and building new devices, manufacturing components or transporting them to National Health Service hospitals.

Following this, the Government has partnered a number of the UK’s leading technology and engineering firms with smaller manufacturers to rapidly build existing, modified or newly designed ventilators at speed, with seven priority projects underway.

Officials are currently working with expert clinicians and health regulators to test all new machine designs, as patient safety is of paramount importance. Any new orders are all dependent on machines passing regulatory tests, but the Government, manufacturers and regulators are working at pace to drive this work forward.

The Government is currently evaluating antibody tests at pace, through a special process at Oxford University, overseen by several of the leading scientists in the field. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has also published a ‘Target Product Profile’ for serology tests, outlining expected test performance.

The results from the first evaluation of antibody tests have shown that, of the tests the Government has looked at so far, none have proven accurate enough to be rolled out for clinical use. Further information on the methodology and results of the evaluation process has been published in a paper (which has been submitted to the Lancet for acceptance and review), which can be found at the following link:

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.15.20066407v1

As new tests become available, we will continue to review them through the process outlined above, at pace.

Medical students and student nurses will continue to be required to pay tuition fees for their final term. Given the extended length of medical degrees, which can be up to six years in length, Health Education England pay medical student tuition fees from year 5 of study.

As part of the Government’s COVID-19 response, current year 5 medical students are currently being graduated by their medical schools early to enable them to apply for Provisional Registration with the General Medical Council, and if they so choose to deploy in to Foundation Year 1 posts. Those that do so will be contracted from the date they start their employment and employed under the 2016 terms and conditions for doctors and dentists in training. They will also continue to get their National Health Service bursary and student maintenance loan.

Year 3 nursing students have been invited to opt in to paid placements in the NHS. All students who do opt in to support the COVID-19 response will be rewarded fairly for their hard work. Students will be getting a salary and automatic NHS pension entitlement at the appropriate band. They will also still receive their student maintenance loan and Learning Support Fund payments too.

Decisions about the NHS workforce in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including the funding that they provide for students, are a matter for the devolved administrations of those countries.

The National Health Service recruitment campaign ‘We are the NHS’, targets those allied health Professional roles in England, most in need based on the NHS Long Term Plan and interim NHS People Plan and those in hard to fill roles. It is for the devolved administrations in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to decide on their recruitment needs and how they go about securing their workforce

The NHS People Plan, due to be published by the NHS in 2020, will set out a clear framework for growing and sustaining a well-skilled workforce across the whole NHS in England. At November 2019 there were 6,284 full time equivalent speech and language therapists in England, this is a 5% increase since 2016.

In December 2019 the Government announced additional maintenance grant funding of at least £5,000 per academic year for students studying nursing, midwifery and most allied health professions, including speech and language therapy, which will be available from September 2020 for new and continuing students at English universities. In addition, students with child dependents will benefit from an extra £1,000.

There is currently no work ongoing to extend prescribing responsibilities in this area. Work to develop and consider any further detailed proposals would be taken forward in close co-operation with the full range of stakeholders, including the relevant regulatory and professional bodies.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill currently before Parliament will give the Government powers to extend prescribing responsibilities to new professional groups where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

No discussions have taken place between the Department and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists on amending the Mental Health Act 1983.

We plan to publish our White Paper in the next few months, which will set out the Government’s response to Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act. Following the White Paper, there will be an opportunity for interested parties to feed in their views on the proposals.

A Bill to amend the Act will be introduced in due course.

Whilst fluorinated compounds from food contact materials such as paper and board have not raised specific safety concerns to date, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly reviews new information on this subject. The European Food Safety Authority has just published its draft Opinion on the ‘Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food’ on Monday 24 February 2020 and it can be found at the following link:

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/public-consultation-draft-scientific-opinion-risks-human-health

The FSA will consider this new Opinion and whether any risk management action is required.

An initial desk-based assessment of existing data regarding air quality in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster has been conducted as part of the Restoration and Renewal Programme, and a further assessment will be conducted to provide more accurate and up to date data. These assessments will inform the development of the designs and business case for the restoration works.

The Sponsor Body has agreed a strategic objective to mitigate the environmental impact of the Programme during the construction phase and to minimise the impact in relation to the Palace's future operation, in line with its statutory obligations. This objective has been endorsed by the Commissions of both Houses and will be kept under review as the Programme progresses.

The Chancellor announced at Budget 2020 that the Government will remove the entitlement to use red diesel from April 2022, except in agriculture, fish farming, rail and for non-commercial heating (including domestic heating). This change will ensure that most businesses using diesel in the UK pay the standard fuel duty rate on diesel, which more fairly reflects the harmful impact of the emissions they produce.

These reforms are also designed to ensure that the tax system incentivises users of diesel to improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives or use less fuel. The Government has previously received feedback from developers of alternative fuels and technologies that they view the low cost of running a diesel engine with red diesel as a barrier to entry for greener alternatives.

To support the development of alternative energy sources that businesses can switch to, the Chancellor committed at Budget 2020 to at least doubling the size of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s £500 million Energy Innovation Programme.

Recognising that this will be a significant change for some businesses, the Chancellor set out at Budget that businesses will have until April 2022 to prepare before any changes take effect. The Government launched a consultation in July on these tax changes and this has now closed. The Government will announce next steps in due course.

The Chancellor announced at Budget 2020 that the Government will remove the entitlement to use red diesel from April 2022, except in agriculture, fish farming, rail and for non-commercial heating (including domestic heating). The Government recognises that this will be a significant change for some businesses and launched a consultation in July to make sure it has not overlooked any exceptional reasons why other sectors should be allowed to continue to use red diesel beyond April 2022.

To assess the effect of these reforms on the prices of goods and services that households and voluntary organisations use or pay for over the long-term, the Government will draw on a range of relevant evidence. This includes information received from stakeholders as part of the consultation on sectors and organisations' current red diesel consumption and costs, their capacity to shift to alternatives to red diesel, and their capacity to pass through costs down the supply chain or absorb these extra costs.

The Chancellor announced at Budget 2020 that the Government will remove the entitlement to use red diesel from April 2022, except in agriculture, fish farming, rail and for non-commercial heating (including domestic heating). This change will ensure that most businesses using diesel in the UK pay the standard fuel duty rate on diesel, which more fairly reflects the harmful impact of the emissions they produce.

These reforms are also designed to ensure that the tax system incentivises users of diesel to improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives or use less fuel. The Government has previously received feedback from developers of alternative fuels and technologies that they view the low cost of running a diesel engine with red diesel as a barrier to entry for greener alternatives.

To support the development of alternative energy sources that businesses can switch to, the Chancellor committed at Budget 2020 to at least doubling the size of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s £500 million Energy Innovation Programme.

Recognising that this will be a significant change for some businesses, the Chancellor set out at Budget that businesses will have until April 2022 to prepare before any changes take effect. The Government launched a consultation in July on these tax changes and this has now closed. The Government will announce next steps in due course.

As a global leader on decarbonisation, the UK recognises the importance of ensuring that policy interventions to cut domestic emissions do not lead to increased emissions elsewhere. A range of approaches could potentially help to address this, of which carbon border adjustments are one, and the Treasury continues to engage on the issue.

To support our high streets throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has provided over £10.5 billion from the Small Business Grant Fund. In addition, to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle, the government has announced a £2 billion package, which includes £225 million in emergency funding for local authorities to help them create pop up cycle lanes and re-allocate road space.

No such comparative assessment has been made at this time. The Government’s priority remains to prioritise clinical PPE to protect frontline staff and ensure they feel safe in their workplace.

The Government has committed to invest £2bn in cycling and walking in England over the course of this Parliament. This includes £225m to be spent this year on expanding cycling and walking infrastructure in local authorities across England to encourage people to cycle and walk to reduce demand for public transport while social distancing is in place.

For the purposes of Vehicle Excise Duty, Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEVs) are nil rated, both for first year registration and annual licences.

At Budget 2020, the Chancellor announced that ZEVs registered before 1^st April 2025 would also be exempt from the expensive car supplement.

No such comparative assessment has been made at this time.

Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on children and young people. Growing up in a household of fear and intimidation can impact their health, wellbeing and development, with lasting effects into adulthood.

The Home Office liaises regularly with the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Education on safeguarding issues and the provision of appropriate support services to victims of domestic abuse. It is recognised that early speech and language is an important protective factor for child health and development.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is responsible for assessing, monitoring and publishing information about the provision of services for victims and survivors. This will include speech, language and communication therapy, amongst other services.

Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on children and young people. Growing up in a household of fear and intimidation can impact their health, wellbeing and development, with lasting effects into adulthood.

The Home Office liaises regularly with the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Education on safeguarding issues and the provision of appropriate support services to victims of domestic abuse. It is recognised that early speech and language is an important protective factor for child health and development.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is responsible for assessing, monitoring and publishing information about the provision of services for victims and survivors. This will include speech, language and communication therapy, amongst other services.

The Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that all victims of domestic abuse are aware and able to access the support services they need. We have published specific advice on gov.uk to guide victims to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. This includes links to disability specialist services and charities offering resources in different languages.

This advice and guidance has been extensively promoted through the Home Secretary’s awareness raising campaign #YouAreNotAlone. In order to ensure that the campaign’s information is readily accessible, those materials have been translated into 15 priority languages.

The Home Secretary also announced £2 million funding to assist domestic abuse organisations by bolstering helplines and ensuring they could continue to run as normal during COVID-19. £1.2 million has thus far been allocated, including in support of charities such as Sign Health which provides domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language.

Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what the stresses.

The Government acknowledges that measures announced to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause additional anxiety for those who are at risk of domestic abuse. We are working closely with the sector and local safeguarding partners to understand how COVID-19 has impacted on their work to protect vulnerable children and adults. Safeguarding remains a priority during this extremely challenging period, and we continue to support local agencies to continue to work together and keep children safe.

Guidance on vulnerable children and young people has been updated and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.

The Government will make funding worth £1.6 million available immediately for the NSPCC to expand and promote its national helpline for adults. This will assist more adults to know how and where to raise concerns and seek advice or support about the safety and wellbeing of any children they are worried about.

Following increases in calls to domestic abuse helplines and online services, the Home Secretary announced an additional £2m to bolster organisations’ capacity on April 11. This is in addition to £28m of Government funding for domestic abuse charities to help survivors of domestic abuse and their children by providing more safe spaces, accommodation and access to support services during the coronavirus outbreak.

We have also launched a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and signpost victims to the support services available. The campaign, under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone, aims to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that support services remain available during this difficult time. Details of these services can be found at www.gov.uk/domestic-abuse

The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.

To facilitate the migration of skilled workers to support our NHS, we will create a fast-track NHS visa for certain medical professionals with NHS job offers reducing their visa fees and providing support to come to the UK with their families.

In delivering on its manifesto commitments for a new points-based system, the Government has considered relevant views, evidence, and analysis. We will also keep labour market data under careful scrutiny.

In the Government’s Clean Air Strategy 2019, we committed to consulting on changes to the ventilation standards (Part F) of the Building Regulations, which is an important component of managing indoor air quality.

We launched the Future Homes Standard Consultation in 2019, which contained the results of our review of the latest evidence on the indoor air quality parameters that underpin ventilation requirements in new homes. The consultation closed on 7 February 2020; we are carefully considering the responses received and a government response will be published in due course.

Within this consultation, we also committed to consult further on ventilation standards for new non-domestic buildings and for building work to existing buildings.

The Domestic Abuse Bill will introduce a statutory duty on local authorities to commission support in safe accommodation for all victims, including children, in line with a local needs assessment and strategies. This duty will be underpinned by robust statutory guidance, clearly setting out expectations on local authorities in meeting their duty which will come into force from April 2021.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government welcomes the all-party group’s report and has noted its recommendations with interest. Improving air quality is a top priority for the Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the United Kingdom and minimise public health effects. Defra recently launched a rapid Call for Evidence to understand more fully the effect that coronavirus is having on air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure, and Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) are currently analysing the responses.