7 Former APPG memberships
Autism, Dementia, Humanist, Life Sciences, Obesity, Personalised Medicine, Proportional RepresentationDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(15 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(7 debate interactions)
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
(6 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(54 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
(7 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(12,763 words contributed)
(3,861 words contributed)
(2,624 words contributed)
(2,321 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Warner, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
4 Bills introduced by Lord Warner
A bill to create a right to die at home.
Thursday 30th January 2020
First reading took place on 6 June. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.The 2016-2017 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to create a right to die at home.
Monday 6th June 2016
A bill to create a right to die at home.
Tuesday 9th June 2015
A Bill to create a right to die at home
Monday 28th July 2014
Lord Warner has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Warner,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many deaths were recorded in each calendar month of (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020, up to and including August (HL7905); and how many recorded deaths were caused by (1) COVID-19, and (2) any form of cancer, in each calendar month of (a) 2018, (b) 2019, and (c) 2020, up to and including August (HL7906).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics on deaths in England and Wales. The ONS’ mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. In England and Wales, deaths should ideally be registered within 5 days of the death occurring, but there are some situations that result in the registration of the death being delayed. The ONS has published a report on the impact of registration delays[1].
The ONS produces a monthly report[2] on provisional deaths in England and Wales. The most recent report goes up to July 2020 and provides breakdowns by all deaths combined and a breakdown for deaths due to COVID-19. The ONS also produces an annual report[3] which includes registered deaths by age, sex, selected underlying causes of death, and the leading causes of death.
National Records for Scotland[4] and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency[5] are responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Table 1 shows the number of deaths by all causes, that were registered by month, in 2018, 2019, and 2020, in England and Wales. All numbers for 2020 are provisional. The data for August will be published on 18 September 2020, which we will send to you.
Table 2 shows the number of deaths that were registered where cancer was the underlying cause of death by month, 2018 and 2019, in England and Wales. The corresponding numbers by month for 2020 are not yet available, as detailed data on deaths by underlying cause are not normally published until after the end of the registration year.
Table 3 shows the number of deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death, January to July 2020, in England and Wales. Provisional data on deaths involving COVID-19 is being published, exceptionally, on an ongoing basis throughout the year: numbers of deaths due to COVID-19 in August will be available on 18 September 2020, which we will also send to you.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[4]https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
Table 1: Number of deaths registered in 2018, 2019, 2020 by month, all causes, England and Wales[1][2][3][4]
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
January | 64154 | 53910 | 56,597 |
February | 49177 | 45795 | 43,555 |
March | 51229 | 43944 | 49,641 |
April | 46469 | 44121 | 88,049 |
May | 42784 | 44389 | 52,315 |
June | 39767 | 38603 | 42,577 |
July | 40723 | 42308 | 40,731 |
August | 40192 | 38843 | |
September | 37137 | 40011 | |
October | 44440 | 46238 | |
November | 43978 | 45219 | |
December | 41539 | 47460 |
[1]Figures include deaths of non-residents.
[2]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
[3]2020 figures are provisional.
[4]2020 figures are as published, the back series has not been revised.
Source: ONS
Table 2: Number of deaths registered where the underlying cause of death was cancer, 2018 and 2019, by month, England and Wales[1][2][3][4]
| 2018 | 2019 |
January | 14422 | 13859 |
February | 11602 | 11667 |
March | 11945 | 11659 |
April | 11899 | 12261 |
May | 12372 | 12425 |
June | 11771 | 11284 |
July | 12120 | 12838 |
August | 12297 | 11959 |
September | 11115 | 12107 |
October | 13008 | 12977 |
November | 12394 | 12197 |
December | 11412 | 12186 |
[1]Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10): Malignant neoplasms (C00-C97).
[2]Figures for Cancer include deaths of non-residents.
[3]2020 figures are provisional
[4]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
Source: ONS
Table 3: Number of deaths registered where the underlying cause of death was COVID-19, 2020, by month, England and Wales[1][2][3][4][5]
| 2020 |
January | 0 |
February | 0 |
March | 1631 |
April | 29381 |
May | 12005 |
June | 3634 |
July | 1023 |
August | |
September | |
October | |
November | |
December |
[1]Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10): coronavirus (COVID-19) (U07.1 and U07.2).
[2]Figures for COVID-19 exclude the deaths of non-residents.
[3]2020 figures are provisional
[41]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
[5]2020 figures are as published, the back series has not been revised
Source: ONS
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Warner,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many deaths were recorded in each calendar month of (1) 2018, (2) 2019, and (3) 2020, up to and including August (HL7905); and how many recorded deaths were caused by (1) COVID-19, and (2) any form of cancer, in each calendar month of (a) 2018, (b) 2019, and (c) 2020, up to and including August (HL7906).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics on deaths in England and Wales. The ONS’ mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration. In England and Wales, deaths should ideally be registered within 5 days of the death occurring, but there are some situations that result in the registration of the death being delayed. The ONS has published a report on the impact of registration delays[1].
The ONS produces a monthly report[2] on provisional deaths in England and Wales. The most recent report goes up to July 2020 and provides breakdowns by all deaths combined and a breakdown for deaths due to COVID-19. The ONS also produces an annual report[3] which includes registered deaths by age, sex, selected underlying causes of death, and the leading causes of death.
National Records for Scotland[4] and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency[5] are responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Table 1 shows the number of deaths by all causes, that were registered by month, in 2018, 2019, and 2020, in England and Wales. All numbers for 2020 are provisional. The data for August will be published on 18 September 2020, which we will send to you.
Table 2 shows the number of deaths that were registered where cancer was the underlying cause of death by month, 2018 and 2019, in England and Wales. The corresponding numbers by month for 2020 are not yet available, as detailed data on deaths by underlying cause are not normally published until after the end of the registration year.
Table 3 shows the number of deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death, January to July 2020, in England and Wales. Provisional data on deaths involving COVID-19 is being published, exceptionally, on an ongoing basis throughout the year: numbers of deaths due to COVID-19 in August will be available on 18 September 2020, which we will also send to you.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[4]https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
Table 1: Number of deaths registered in 2018, 2019, 2020 by month, all causes, England and Wales[1][2][3][4]
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
January | 64154 | 53910 | 56,597 |
February | 49177 | 45795 | 43,555 |
March | 51229 | 43944 | 49,641 |
April | 46469 | 44121 | 88,049 |
May | 42784 | 44389 | 52,315 |
June | 39767 | 38603 | 42,577 |
July | 40723 | 42308 | 40,731 |
August | 40192 | 38843 | |
September | 37137 | 40011 | |
October | 44440 | 46238 | |
November | 43978 | 45219 | |
December | 41539 | 47460 |
[1]Figures include deaths of non-residents.
[2]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
[3]2020 figures are provisional.
[4]2020 figures are as published, the back series has not been revised.
Source: ONS
Table 2: Number of deaths registered where the underlying cause of death was cancer, 2018 and 2019, by month, England and Wales[1][2][3][4]
| 2018 | 2019 |
January | 14422 | 13859 |
February | 11602 | 11667 |
March | 11945 | 11659 |
April | 11899 | 12261 |
May | 12372 | 12425 |
June | 11771 | 11284 |
July | 12120 | 12838 |
August | 12297 | 11959 |
September | 11115 | 12107 |
October | 13008 | 12977 |
November | 12394 | 12197 |
December | 11412 | 12186 |
[1]Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10): Malignant neoplasms (C00-C97).
[2]Figures for Cancer include deaths of non-residents.
[3]2020 figures are provisional
[4]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
Source: ONS
Table 3: Number of deaths registered where the underlying cause of death was COVID-19, 2020, by month, England and Wales[1][2][3][4][5]
| 2020 |
January | 0 |
February | 0 |
March | 1631 |
April | 29381 |
May | 12005 |
June | 3634 |
July | 1023 |
August | |
September | |
October | |
November | |
December |
[1]Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10): coronavirus (COVID-19) (U07.1 and U07.2).
[2]Figures for COVID-19 exclude the deaths of non-residents.
[3]2020 figures are provisional
[41]Figures are for the date a death was registered rather than occurred.
[5]2020 figures are as published, the back series has not been revised
Source: ONS
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Warner,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many recorded deaths were (i) residents of adult care homes, and (ii) patients in NHS England hospitals, in each calendar month of 2020, up to and including August (HL7908).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. The most recent annual figures published are for deaths registered in 2019[1]. However, we do publish provisional weekly deaths registrations which are currently published for deaths registered up to 28 August 2020[2]. As part of this report, data is published by place of occurrence, which includes hospitals and places outside of hospitals, such as care homes.
Table 1 below provides the provisional number of deaths registered in care homes and hospitals by each calendar month of 2020, registered up to 28 August 2020, in England. The ‘Hospitals (acute or community, not psychiatric)’ figure includes deaths in NHS hospitals and private hospitals in England. Currently, the ONS does not publish age breakdowns of deaths registered in care homes. The figure includes children and adults, as some care homes may cater for adults as well as children. More detailed analysis on deaths, registered by place of occurrence, is available in our weekly report.
Table 1: Provisional number of deaths registered by place of occurrence, England, deaths registered between 1 January 2020 and 28 August 2020[3][4][5][6][7]
Month | Place of occurrence | |
Care home | Hospital (acute or community, not psychiatric) | |
January | 12,046 | 24,615 |
February | 9,231 | 18,229 |
March | 10,563 | 20,902 |
April | 26,835 | 34,520 |
May | 14,870 | 18,126 |
June | 8,579 | 15,191 |
July | 7,684 | 14,528 |
August | 7,151 | 13,362 |
Source: ONS
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[3]Based on date a death was registered rather than occurred.
[4]All figures for 2020 are provisional.
[5]Non-residents are excluded in the England totals.
[7]Care homes includes homes for the chronic sick; nursing homes; homes for people with mental health problems and non-NHS multi function sites.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) within the Cabinet Office is responsible for maintaining the National Risk Register, working closely with Government departments.
Government departments are responsible for identifying and assessing risks. Each department is also responsible for overseeing levels of preparedness within their sectors, ensuring they have up-to-date plans to mitigate and respond to risks contained in the National Risk Register.
The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of ministers and how they discharge their duties.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister and Cabinet have been regularly briefed on COVID-19 since the outbreak of the virus. These issues have also regularly been discussed at meetings of the COBR Committee. Additionally, since 16 March, a series of Cabinet Committees have convened to support the Government’s efforts. Specific information on the frequency and content of Cabinet Committees and other Ministerial meetings is not routinely disclosed.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’.
Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’.
Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families.
Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf.
Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people.
Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.
It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals.
The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’.
Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’.
Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families.
Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf.
Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people.
Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.
It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals.
The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’.
Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’.
Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families.
Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf.
Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people.
Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.
It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals.
The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’.
Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’.
Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families.
Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf.
Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people.
Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.
It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals.
The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’.
Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only.
Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’.
Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families.
Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf.
Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people.
Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.
In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.
It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals.
The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.
The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.
The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.
The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.
The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.
The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.
The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.
The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.
Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.
The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
According to the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database, in 2021 there were 238 open residential special schools. In 2022 there were 175 and in 2023 there were 159. This is a reduction in special schools offering residential provision, the number of special schools grew from 1,689 in 2021 to 1,822 in 2023.
This includes local authority maintained special schools, special academies, non-maintained special schools, independent special schools and specialist post-16 institutions. It covers both those registered as boarding schools, subject to the national minimum standards for residential special schools, and those which offer provision for more than 38 weeks per year and are dual registered as children’s homes.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the noble Lord and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.
The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.
The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.
The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
School attendance has improved since 2010, but COVID-19 and its aftermath significantly damaged attendance levels. COVID-19 caused higher levels of sickness absence, and exacerbated existing problems with persistent absence, with vulnerable children particularly affected. Attendance is now improving, and the government is committed to returning to pre-pandemic levels and better.
In autumn/spring 2018/19 overall attendance was 96.7%. The current academic year to date attendance is 4.3 percentage points lower at 92.4%.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to make arrangements that enable them to establish, the identities of children in their area who are not receiving a suitable education. To assist with fulfilling this duty, the department expects all local authorities in England to maintain some form of register to help identify these children, in line with our guidance to local authorities on elective home education. This function is funded through existing budgets and resources.
When the suitable legislative opportunity arises to take forward the Children Not in School measures, the department will review and undertake a further new burdens assessment to assess the level of funding required to support implementation of the registers, as well as for the proposed local authority duty to support home educating families.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is a criminal offence under Section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 to conduct an independent school which is not registered with the Department. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools (HMCI) may, under Section 97 of that Act, inspect without notice any setting which they have 'reasonable cause to believe' is the site of an unregistered independent school. Settings that have previously been inspected under Section 97 and where the proprietor has been issued with a warning notice are likely to be inspected again under Section 97 to check compliance. This includes settings where the second inspection confirms closure or a change to compliant operation. A setting may not be inspected again under Section 97 where HMCI no longer has reasonable cause to believe that an unregistered school is being conducted. This may occur, for example, if the setting has registered as a school and is then subject to inspection as such. Ofsted considers all intelligence it receives about unregistered independent schools and will undertake a Section 97 inspection where it has reasonable cause to believe that an unregistered independent school is operating. This includes where new intelligence is received about previously closed sites or where proprietors that have received warning notices may be operating on alternative sites.
The department has consulted on expanding the categories of full-time institutions that will be regulated in the same way as independent schools, as well as defining what is ’full-time’ for these purposes. Following this consultation, the government intends to legislate in this area at the next available opportunity.
Local authorities have overarching responsibility for safeguarding children and young people in their area, whether these children attend a school (either registered or unregistered), or an out-of-school setting (a setting not offering full-time education). They have a range of legal powers already in place to support them in this responsibility. The department will continue to work with authorities to ensure they are utilising the existing legal powers available to them. The department will also be reviewing and strengthening our existing guidance for local authorities on unregistered schools and out-of-school settings to support them to do this.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department remains committed to introducing statutory local authority registers for children not in school, as well as a duty for local authorities to provide support to home-educating families. The department will legislate for these at the next suitable opportunity, to help local authorities undertake their existing duties to ensure all children receive a suitable education and are safe, regardless of where they are educated. However, local authorities’ existing powers and duties, if used in the way set out in our guidance, are enough for a local authority to determine whether provision is suitable.
Elective home education needs to be suitable, although there is no requirement to follow the national curriculum, nor are parents required to enter children for public examinations. However, if the home education does consist of one or more of these, that would constitute strong evidence that education was ‘suitable’ in terms of section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Out-of-school settings, such as supplementary religious schools, are not regulated under education or childcare law and are therefore not required to register with the department or Ofsted. However, the department remains committed to ensuring that children are safeguarded across all education settings and are working closely with key safeguarding partners, sector representatives, and parent groups to develop proposals for how we might further enhance safeguarding in this sector. The department will look to consult on such proposals later this year. We will be publishing updated safeguarding guidance for providers and parents, as well as a new e-learning package aimed at strengthening providers’ understanding of the arrangements they should have in place to keep children safe.
Any education setting which makes full-time provision to five or more pupils of compulsory school age (or one or more such pupils who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan), is not maintained by a local authority and is not a non-maintained special school is required to register with the department as an independent school. It is a criminal offence to conduct an educational setting which meets the definition of an independent school if this is not registered with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education.
The government has been working proactively since 2016 to identify, investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute those operating unregistered independent schools. Between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2022, Ofsted issued warning notices to 132 settings that may be operating as unregistered schools (this includes all settings including those with a secular or faith ethos). Of those settings, 81 changed their operation to comply with legislation, 21 closed and 16 registered. There have been six successful prosecutions against those operating unregistered schools and there are several ongoing investigations.
If safeguarding concerns are raised about a specific setting, we expect local authorities to intervene, as they are legally responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their areas, regardless of the educational setting they attend.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
All independent fostering agencies (IFAs) are registered with Ofsted under the Care Standards Act 2000 and must meet the legal requirements set out in the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011. IFAs are inspected by Ofsted under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF) on a three-year inspection cycle.
Under the National Minimum Standards IFAs have a duty to ensure the welfare of the children in care and a duty to work effectively in partnership with other agencies concerned with child protection, such as the responsible authority, schools, hospitals and general practitioners.
Serious incidents must be reported by IFAs to Ofsted, including any serious complaints about an approved foster parent. Local authorities must notify the Child Safeguarding Practice Review panel, and by extension the department and Ofsted, within five working days of becoming aware of a serious incident. These incidents are where abuse or neglect is known or suspected.
If a foster carer’s approval to foster is terminated, a copy of the notice must be sent to the responsible authority for any child placed by another local authority, and to the relevant local authority if the foster carer lives outside the area of the fostering service.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department intends to reopen the consultation on 'Regulating independent educational institutions' when stakeholders ability to respond is less likely to be significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Responses received to date will be combined with responses received after the consultation reopens and fully reviewed after the consultation finally closes.
It is not yet appropriate to set a date for reopening the consultation as the situation in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak continues to change.
Ofsted continues to investigate potential illegal schools including consideration of new intelligence. Where appropriate, Ofsted have liaised with local authorities and other statutory bodies to consider whether there is appropriate action that should be taken, for example, to close settings where people are gathering illegally during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The department intends to reopen the consultation on 'Regulating independent educational institutions' when stakeholders ability to respond is less likely to be significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Responses received to date will be combined with responses received after the consultation reopens and fully reviewed after the consultation finally closes.
It is not yet appropriate to set a date for reopening the consultation as the situation in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak continues to change.
Ofsted continues to investigate potential illegal schools including consideration of new intelligence. Where appropriate, Ofsted have liaised with local authorities and other statutory bodies to consider whether there is appropriate action that should be taken, for example, to close settings where people are gathering illegally during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The accident and emergency target and 62-day cancer treatment targets were last met at a national level in 2015. The average waiting time for elective surgery is currently under six months.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18 out of the 135, or 13.3%, of National Health Service trusts in England currently have an average waiting time for elective surgery of over six months. This has been defined as those NHS trusts with a median wait time for patients with a decision to admit that is over 26 weeks. Due to the size of the data, a spreadsheet is attached which includes a table listing the average waiting time for NHS trusts in England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information is not available in the format requested, as the National Health Service does not routinely report the proportion of providers meeting accident and emergency and cancer performance standards.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is shown in the attached table. This is existing Hospital Episode Statistics data that is already published by NHS England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The approach to assessing the potential impacts on investment within the statutory scheme’s impact assessment followed well-established precedent and is in line with the Green Book paragraphs 6.5 and 6.6. As such, the impact assessment considers spillover benefits of investment, with a literature review suggesting an estimated mean benefit of 34% of the overall investment, but does not account for these within the net present value calculation due to investment being one of several possible company responses to change in profitability.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The statutory scheme consultation sets out the options under consideration. We are in the process of analysing the responses provided, including consideration of any alternative options proposed, and will update on our preferred policy approach later this year. A copy of the impact assessment is attached.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No end of scheme reconciliation exercise was proposed in the recent consultation on updating the statutory scheme. We are in the process of considering consultation responses.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
2% allowed growth per annum represents an 80% rise in allowed growth compared to the 1.1% per annum which applied in the statutory scheme from 2019 to 2023. The proposal is consistent with the approach that underpinned the current statutory scheme’s 1.1% allowed growth, i.e., it equals the average allowed growth of the preceding voluntary scheme.
The proposed allowed growth rate considered multiple factors including the overall fiscal path. Furthermore, consideration of the pipeline of upcoming new treatments featured within our forecast growth in spend on new treatments and, ultimately, continued growth forecast in medicine sales.
Controlling growth at this level is considered to allow for a viable overall envelope for the statutory scheme more favourable for industry compared to the existing statutory scheme arrangements, whilst continuing to ensure that spend on branded medicines is affordable to the National Health Service.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
2% allowed growth per annum represents an 80% rise in allowed growth compared to the 1.1% per annum which applied in the statutory scheme from 2019 to 2023. The proposal is consistent with the approach that underpinned the current statutory scheme’s 1.1% allowed growth, i.e., it equals the average allowed growth of the preceding voluntary scheme.
The proposed allowed growth rate considered multiple factors including the overall fiscal path. Furthermore, consideration of the pipeline of upcoming new treatments featured within our forecast growth in spend on new treatments and, ultimately, continued growth forecast in medicine sales.
Controlling growth at this level is considered to allow for a viable overall envelope for the statutory scheme more favourable for industry compared to the existing statutory scheme arrangements, whilst continuing to ensure that spend on branded medicines is affordable to the National Health Service.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are consulting on proposals to update the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing, which is broadly commercially equivalent to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access. The consultation includes a proposal for a “lifecycle adjustment” mechanism that would provide a flat, lower payment for older products in more competitive markets. This proposal is intended to be pro-competition as older products with little to no competition in the market currently could access this lower payment if competition develops.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) payment percentages have been at or below those projected when the scheme was agreed. Recent increases to payment percentages reflect the scheme working as intended to adjust for increased sales of branded medicines to the National Health Service, which is the result of the positive access and uptake environment within the NHS.
The VPAS agreement was described as a “pro-innovation deal” by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry who negotiated and signed the deal on behalf of the whole pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom.
There are several factors which influence company investment decisions in any country or region. Available evidence suggests that supply side factors, such as availability of expert scientific labour and favourable tax conditions, are of greatest significance in the decision on future investment. However, we understand that price regulation schemes such as VPAS may be a consideration in the decision to locate some investments, which is why we are committed to agreeing a successor voluntary scheme to VPAS that supports a strong UK life sciences sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The estimated value of foreign direct investment in the UK life sciences sector can be found in the ‘Life sciences competitiveness indicators’ publication, which is available on GOV.UK in an online-only format. The estimated value of foreign direct investment in 2022 was just over £1 billion, nearly £1.9 billion in 2021 and £927 million in 2020.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows the number of presentations between 2019 and 2023 to date where members of the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access had applied for a price increase. In addition, for 2023, price increase applications have been received for a further five presentations that are currently undergoing assessment by the Department.
Year | Number of Presentations |
2019 | 34 |
2020 | 21 |
2021 | 10 |
2022 | 107 |
2023 | 32 |
We are unable to provide the information requested on the proportion of successful applications, as such information is commercially sensitive.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
All healthcare providers carrying out regulated activity should follow clinical best practice and must be registered with their professional body and any other regulators, as appropriate, for that service. If a private organisation fails to meet the standards expected of it, then regulators including the Care Quality Commission have powers to inspect these services to determine whether patient safety is at risk or if best practice is not being followed.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
All healthcare providers, whether they are providing an NHS funded or privately funded service, should follow clinical best practice and be registered with their professional body and any other regulators, as appropriate for that service. The Department will work with relevant regulatory bodies to ensure that any organisation and people prescribing puberty blockers are doing so in line with the regulatory framework and appropriate professional standards which any health care provider must legally meet.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the important role that biosimilars and generics play in ensuring affordability, patient access, and supply resilience. We have not seen convincing evidence that the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access has had an impact on medicines supply including biosimilars, given available mitigations such as provisions in the scheme for companies to apply for price increases should supply of products be otherwise uneconomical.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally. It would not be appropriate for us to comment on a representation of the off-patent sector as this is closely connected with an ongoing legal case.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
An assessment on interoperability has been made across several areas through the Digital Maturity Assessment, providing greater understanding of individual organisational-level capability and enabling focus on national efforts to support levelling up those organisations at a lower level of maturity.
Every child born in England is issued a National Health Service number at birth which stays with them throughout their life. The NHS number acts as a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made. Every child is assigned a National Health Service number at birth or the first time they have contact with NHS services. The NHS number acts as a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made. Every child is assigned an National Health Service number at birth or the first time they have contact with NHS services. The NHS number acts as is a unique patient identifier and is used to share information within electronic healthcare records. This contributes to improved health outcomes for children, including looked after children and those with complex needs, disabilities and long-term conditions, by ensuring that health professionals identify patients correctly and have access to information to inform the delivery of appropriate care.
Through the Health and Care Act 2022, the Government has committed to report on Government’s policy on information sharing in relation to the safeguarding of children, including looked after children and those at risk, by summer 2023. The report will include an explanation of whether it is the Government’s policy that a consistent child identifier should be used across agencies.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are running a national recruitment campaign until 31 March 2023 to encourage more people to consider a rewarding role in care. In February 2022, we made care workers eligible for the Health and Care Visa and added them to the Shortage Occupation list.
We are making available £15 million in 2023/24 to help local areas establish support arrangements for international recruitment and improve workforce capacity in adult social care. In addition, the £500 million adult social care discharge fund announced last September can be used by local authorities for the recruitment and retention of the social care workforce.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)