Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of childcare for children with special educational needs in each constituency.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that local authorities provide sufficient childcare services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The department continues to work closely with local authorities to monitor sufficiency of places for children in early years, including for those children with SEND.
The local authority statutory guidance on early education and childcare sets out a clear requirement that local authorities must report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare and make this report available and accessible to parents. The statutory guidance is clear that the report should include a specific reference to how they are ensuring sufficient childcare is available to children with SEND.
The department is introducing Local Area Inclusion Plans (LAIPs) which are 3 year plans that explain how the needs of children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25 in an area will be met. LAIPs will be monitored and reviewed by the department and be underpinned by strengthened accountabilities and improved use of data for all those responsible for local delivery of places.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the press notice by her predecessor Department entitled BEIS in the Autumn Statement, published on 18 December 2022, what her planned timetable is for assessing the potential merits of (a) introducing social tariffs and (b) wider retail market reforms in the energy sector.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
A social tariff is fundamentally about supporting the most vulnerable with the cost of energy and this is what we have delivered. Between 2022-25 we are delivering a package of support worth £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average, across 2022-25.
In 2023-24 we have supported millions of vulnerable households with up to £900 in further cost-of-living payments. Despite the Quarter 2 2024 Ofgem price cap falling nearly 60% since its 2023 peak, we have committed to supporting households past April, by cutting National Insurance, and increasing benefits and the National Living Wage.
We have also been working with Ofgem on their new involuntary prepayment meter rules and a long-term solution to end the prepayment meter premium. I met with suppliers at the end of last year to outline my expectation that they support vulnerable customers and improve their customer service.
The Government published a vision for a reformed retail energy market in July 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-a-better-energy-retail-market/delivering-a-better-energy-retail-market-a-vision-for-the-future-and-package-of-targeted-reforms-html) and set out further reform measures in a package of publications on 23 February 2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-package-of-measures-to-help-families-save-even-more-on-bills).
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether it is the Department's policy to pay (a) legal costs and (b) damages in relation to allegedly defamatory comments made by Ministers.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 March 2024, Official Report, PQ 17407.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her letter of 23 October 2023 to UK Research and Innovation on that organisation's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion board, whether her Department has paid a sum to Professor Kate Sang in relation to that letter.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the hon. Member to the opening statement by the Secretary of State at the Lords Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee on 12 March 2024.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her planned timetable is for implementing the policies set out in the paper entitled Inclusive Britain: Government response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, published on 17 March 2022, CP 625.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Inclusive Britain sets out a ground-breaking action plan to tackle entrenched ethnic disparities, promote unity and build a fairer Britain for all.
In April 2023, we published a report to Parliament on the substantial progress we have made in delivering the plan.
We will publish a further update to Parliament in due course, including how many actions have been completed and a timeframe for delivering the remaining actions.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 59 of the Third Report of Session 2022–23 of the Women and Equalities Committee, HC 94, published on 18 April 2023, how many and what proportion of members of the Maternity Disparities Taskforce are from organisations that are run by and for Black women.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Maternity Disparities Taskforce brings together experts to explore and consider evidence-based interventions, in order to tackle disparities in maternity outcomes and experience. These experts include representatives from across the health system, the Government, and the voluntary sector.
Membership includes the Health and Wellbeing Alliance, including the Maternity Consortium, which ensures representation from organisations run by and for women from ethnic minority groups. A full list of its members is available at the following link:
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is the Government's policy to pay (a) legal costs and (b) damages in relation to allegedly defamatory comments made by Ministers.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.
Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.
As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.
This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.
It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).
More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with early years providers on (a) additional charges for (i) meals and (ii) other consumables and (b) taking steps to assess the impact of those charges on parents.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department’s statutory guidance is clear that all eligible parents should have access to a free of charge place at an early years provider. The full guidance is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/658309fd23b70a000d234d34/Early_education_and_childcare_statutory_guidance_-_April_2023.pdf. This means that a provider cannot charge parents “top-up” fees, which includes any fees covering the difference between a provider’s normal charge to parents and the funding they receive from the local authority to deliver free places. Providers must not require parents to pay a registration fee as a condition of taking up their child’s free place.
Regarding charges for consumables, government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high-quality, flexible childcare for eligible 2 to 4 year olds. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services, and providers are able to charge parents for these. However, such charges should not be made a condition of accessing a free place.
Providers should also ensure that they have a policy in place to consider the impact of charges on disadvantaged parents and those who are unable to pay additional charges.
As set out in the department’s guidance, to ensure that parents can make informed decisions on their choice of childcare, providers should publish a statement of how they deliver the free entitlements and any additional charges for optional activities outside of the entitlements. This should set out clearly the charges for meals, optional activities or additional hours.
There have been no recent discussions regarding this subject between the department and early years providers, beyond the reiteration of the guidance to local authorities who manage local relationships with providers.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timescale is for the completion of the transfer of service records from 1 January 1963 from his Department's contracted storage site to the National Archives.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The current Service Records transfer project from the Ministry of Defence Main archive in Swadlincote, Derbyshire to The National Archives is due to be completed by the end of the 2026-27 financial year.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned timescale is for (a) completing and (b) assessing the projects undertaken under the Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The AI in Health and Care Award was created to help accelerate the testing of artificial intelligence technologies most likely to meet the aims set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, and to develop an evidence base to support the commissioning of technologies that are clinically and cost effective. A total of £123 million has been allocated to 86 artificial intelligence technologies and of these, 48 awards have been completed, 13 are scheduled to conclude by March 2024, 17 by March 2025, five by March 2026, and three by September 2026.
All awarded technologies, aside from phase one and phase two projects, are expected to submit an evaluation one month after their completion. Evaluations are not publicly released, but will inform policy and commissioning decisions. Further information is available at the following link: