Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the inclusion of effluents and carcinogens in public health checks after large-scale fires.
Answered by Nick Hurd
It is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers, to ensure that health screening and blood tests, suitable for the risks faced, are available to their firefighters.
There have been no discussions between the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the inclusion of effluents and carcinogens in public health checks after large-scale fires.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to introduce blood tests for effluents in public health checks after large-scale fires.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Public Health England has no plans to introduce blood tests for effluents in public health checks after large-scale fires.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on awarding the Long Service and Good Conduct medal to firefighters working for the Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Operational firefighters working for the Ministry of Defence are eligible for the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct medal unless they have been awarded an Imperial Service medal, Civil Defence Long Service medal or Women’s Voluntary Service medal or clasp for any of the same qualifying period.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on their legal obligation to assess and quantify contaminated land within their local authority area.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government has published contaminated land statutory guidance which explains how local authorities should implement the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to introduce mandatory five yearly electrical checks in the private rented sector.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We are working to bring into force regulations on mandatory electrical safety checks in the private rented sector as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary approval and timetable. As outlined in the Government response to the consultation on Electrical Safety in the Private Rented Sector, published on 29 January 2019, we are working with industry to produce guidance for landlords setting out the skills and qualifications relevant to determining competence of those carrying out electrical inspections. We have also been working with local authorities in England to develop the range of sanctions for non-compliance with the upcoming regulations.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Courts and Justice plans to respond to the letter of 14 March 2019 from the hon. Member for Lincoln on economic domestic abuse.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I apologise to the honourable Member for Lincoln for the delay in responding to her letter dated 14 March. I understand that a response was sent to her office by my predeccesor, Minister Frazer, on 8 May.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for International Development:
What recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We continually monitor the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and in particular the major pressure on Gaza’s health sector. Last month DFID announced a new aid package of £2 million to the International Committee for the Red Cross to support delivery of vital medicines, equipment and rehabilitation services.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment to enable all claimants living through terminal illness to receive automatically the enhanced rate of the daily living element of that benefit.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to supporting the needs of terminally ill claimants and ensuring that benefit rules are applied sensitively.
The special rules applying to people who are terminally ill, including the reasonable expectation of death within 6-month rule, were first introduced in 1990 for Attendance Allowance following a recommendation from the Social Security Advisory Committee. The rules have been carried forward into a number of benefits and now apply across Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit. The rules are also used elsewhere, for example the Early Access to Financial Assistance Scheme, administered by the Pension Protection Fund.
The Department has recently met with a range of stakeholders, including leading clinicians and charities, to discuss the current wording used in the benefit system around terminal illness and will soon be providing clinicians with updated guidance with the aim of improving their understanding of the special rules. This is part of our continuous improvement work to improve people’s experience of claiming benefits and to ensure the benefits are working effectively and meeting the needs of claimants both now and in the future.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of the hon. Member for Lincoln of 23 January 2019 on the Health Surgery in Bracebridge Heath reference KL6342.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 1 April 2019.
Asked by: Karen Lee (Labour - Lincoln)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, from what date pensioners will no longer have to undertake regular personal independence payment reassessments.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As announced, all Personal Independence Payment claimants of State Pension age and above will be placed on an ongoing award with a light touch review at 10 years, unless notified of a change of circumstance. We are working to implement this change as soon as possible and expect this to occur by late spring 2019.