Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps to ensure that EWS1 certificates are only issued by qualified (a) chartered or (b) incorporated engineers.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The External Wall System Review form (EWS1) is not a statutory requirement or Government process and we have agreed with the industry that this should be minimised.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have issued guidance on its use and application, including on the relevant expertise and qualification of the signatories of EWS1 forms. RICS are clear that anyone instructing an EWS1 must be satisfied that the signatory meets the requirements in their guidance.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead of 20 July 2023, followed up on 2 August, 25 September, 20 October, 2 November 2023, and 11 January 2024, reference MP79291.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Department apologies for the severe delay the Member has experienced in this case. Timely responses to Member’s correspondence is a priority for the department, with resources being aligned to ensure the department achieves this in all cases. A full response will be issued to the Member as a matter of urgency.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC); and whether there is a timeframe for information relating to SUDC to be included on the NHS website.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Rt hon. Member for Spelthorne to the answer I gave the Rt hon. Member on 19 February 2024, to Question 11788.
To further raise awareness of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), NHS England intends to update the When a Child Dies leaflet in collaboration with affected families, parents, and carers, as well as National Child Mortality Database colleagues and SUDC charities, including SUDC UK and relevant professional groups. The Department and NHS England also held a roundtable in July 2023, which brought together expert organisations to discuss possible ways to improve SUDC training and awareness, both collectively and within organisations.