Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available to hearing parents of deaf children to learn British Sign Language.

Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government understands the great importance of British Sign Language (BSL) for bridging barriers to communication between hearing and deaf people and appreciates the vital need for families with deaf children to be able to access BSL courses, as early access to language is essential to help children learn and thrive.

Funding is available through DWP’s Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for qualifications in or focussing on BSL, up to and including level 2. The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. 68% of the ASF has been devolved to 13 Strategic Authorities, who determine which provision to fund for learners who live in their areas. The DWP provides the remaining funding for learners who live in non-devolved areas.

The DWP funded BSL qualifications include, for example, the Level 1 Award in BSL which allows learners to communicate in BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use, thereby giving them the basic skills and confidence in production and reception of BSL. It will depend on an individual’s circumstances as to whether they are entitled to free provision or expected to meet part of the cost through co-funding. Where tailored learning providers offer BSL courses, those providers are responsible for determining the course fees, including levels of fee remission. For qualifications at Level 3 and above Advanced Learner Loans are available for certain BSL qualifications.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of Irish motor insurance requirements for holders of UK driving licences with the principles of the common travel area.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer, and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing any policy to a given applicant. If an applicant wishes to drive a vehicle in the Republic of Ireland and possesses a UK driving licence, the insurer will decide on whether or not to offer a policy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the development of Bacteriophage Therapy, and when he expects such treatments to be available for use across the NHS.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government recognises the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an emerging treatment for certain bacterial infections, particularly where antimicrobial resistance limits available treatment options. However, while early research and clinical use in individual cases are promising, the current evidence base and overall development landscape remain insufficient to support routine use across the National Health Service.

Bacteriophage therapy is not currently licensed as a medicinal product in the United Kingdom. Where clinicians consider it to be in the best interests of an individual patient, access may be considered on an unlicensed basis through established NHS local governance arrangements, in line with relevant regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the development of Bacteriophage Therapy; and whether such treatments will be available for use in the NHS.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government recognises the potential of bacteriophage therapy as an emerging treatment for certain bacterial infections, particularly where antimicrobial resistance limits available treatment options. However, while early research and clinical use in individual cases are promising, the current evidence base and overall development landscape remain insufficient to support routine use across the National Health Service.

Bacteriophage therapy is not currently licensed as a medicinal product in the United Kingdom. Where clinicians consider it to be in the best interests of an individual patient, access may be considered on an unlicensed basis through established NHS local governance arrangements, in line with relevant regulatory requirements.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what consultation the Church Commissioners carried out with tenant farmers and local communities before deciding to market land east of York for sale.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The Church Commissioners’ property referred to in the question, from the Hon Member for York Outer, relates to the ongoing marketing for sale of approximately 1,600 acres of land at Scoreby, east of York. The Church Commissioners Property Team informed all affected farm tenants directly and in person. This followed a number of years of strategic discussions between the Commissioners' investment team, our tenants and our managing agents regarding the future of the estate and its long-term management.

The Church Commissioners have responded to all enquiries received in connection with the sale and continue to engage with farm tenants and their professional advisers regarding the progress of the marketing process and relevant estate management matters. The Commissioners also remain in contact with relevant industry bodies to maintain open lines of communication and as part of their ongoing stewardship responsibilities. The marketing process remains ongoing

It is not the Church Commissioners’ established practice to consult neighbouring landowners, community groups or other local stakeholders in advance of bringing property to the market. Decisions to sell property are taken in accordance with the Church Commissioners’ investment strategy and fiduciary responsibilities, which support the mission and ministry of the Church of England.