Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures her Department implemented in response to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham to ensure that statutory policy, guidance and legislation was being effectively delivered by (a) councils, (b) children's services, (c) police, (d) schools, (e) health bodies and (f) other agencies with a statutory responsibility to safeguard young people from child sexual exploitation.
Answered by Edward Timpson
It is hugely important that all cases where a child might be suffering and/or is at risk of harm are looked into, so that children get the help they need to prevent issues escalating. There is a very clear framework in place for all professionals who work with children to report concerns. The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) emphasises that safeguarding is the responsibility of all professionals who work with children.
The Department does receive correspondence and information from professionals and members of the public, alerting staff that they believe a child may be at risk of harm. Procedures are in place to ensure that in such circumstances if the Department’s staff and its Agencies, including the Education Funding Agency (EFA), believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, steps are taken to notify the Director of Children’s Services in the relevant local authority within 24 hours. Local Authorities have duties under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It is for the local authority to undertake any assessment and provide services to keep children safe.
In response to the failures we saw in Rotherham and elsewhere, the Government issued a revised version of the statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ in 2015, setting out an unambiguous statement of accountability about the overarching responsibilities of local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. It also made clear the vital role of other professionals including police, schools, social workers and health in keeping children safe. ‘Working Together’ provides a clear framework for monitoring the effectiveness of local services and how they work together in fulfilling their duties.
In discharging our role on safeguarding, the Department and EFA may also involve Ofsted. Where Ofsted considers a local authority to be failing in its responsibility to safeguard children then we will consider if we need to take decisive action and intervene directly to secure improvements.
The Secretary of State for Education issued a direction in October 2014 appointing a Children’s Social Care Commissioner in Rotherham, with the task of investigating and addressing the council’s failings and recommending immediate next steps. Joint Directions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were published in February 2015, enabling a team of Commissioners to exercise the functions of the council and oversee a programme of improvement.
In March 2015, a number of Secretaries of State wrote to all chief constables; leaders and lead members of councils; chief executives of local authorities; health system leaders; and directors of children’s services to reinforce the need for leaders to take responsibility for addressing the failures shown by the Jay report and other inspections in their area. To ensure effective delivery we have worked with Ofsted, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation and the Care Quality Commission to deliver a new system of joint targeted area inspections to better assess how local agencies are working in a co-ordinated manner to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse and neglect. The first round of inspections is underway with a specific focus on child sexual exploitation and a thematic report, setting out findings from the inspections and highlighting good practice, will be published in September.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to ensure that (a) her Department and (b) agencies and other bodies of her Department follow guidance and legislation relating to the safeguarding of young people from child sexual exploitation.
Answered by Edward Timpson
It is hugely important that all cases where a child might be suffering and/or is at risk of harm are looked into, so that children get the help they need to prevent issues escalating. There is a very clear framework in place for all professionals who work with children to report concerns. The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) emphasises that safeguarding is the responsibility of all professionals who work with children.
The Department does receive correspondence and information from professionals and members of the public, alerting staff that they believe a child may be at risk of harm. Procedures are in place to ensure that in such circumstances if the Department’s staff and its Agencies, including the Education Funding Agency (EFA), believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, steps are taken to notify the Director of Children’s Services in the relevant local authority within 24 hours. Local Authorities have duties under the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. It is for the local authority to undertake any assessment and provide services to keep children safe.
In response to the failures we saw in Rotherham and elsewhere, the Government issued a revised version of the statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ in 2015, setting out an unambiguous statement of accountability about the overarching responsibilities of local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in their area. It also made clear the vital role of other professionals including police, schools, social workers and health in keeping children safe. ‘Working Together’ provides a clear framework for monitoring the effectiveness of local services and how they work together in fulfilling their duties.
In discharging our role on safeguarding, the Department and EFA may also involve Ofsted. Where Ofsted considers a local authority to be failing in its responsibility to safeguard children then we will consider if we need to take decisive action and intervene directly to secure improvements.
The Secretary of State for Education issued a direction in October 2014 appointing a Children’s Social Care Commissioner in Rotherham, with the task of investigating and addressing the council’s failings and recommending immediate next steps. Joint Directions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were published in February 2015, enabling a team of Commissioners to exercise the functions of the council and oversee a programme of improvement.
In March 2015, a number of Secretaries of State wrote to all chief constables; leaders and lead members of councils; chief executives of local authorities; health system leaders; and directors of children’s services to reinforce the need for leaders to take responsibility for addressing the failures shown by the Jay report and other inspections in their area. To ensure effective delivery we have worked with Ofsted, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation and the Care Quality Commission to deliver a new system of joint targeted area inspections to better assess how local agencies are working in a co-ordinated manner to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse and neglect. The first round of inspections is underway with a specific focus on child sexual exploitation and a thematic report, setting out findings from the inspections and highlighting good practice, will be published in September.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to ensure that (a) her Department and (b) agencies and other bodies of her Department follow statutory policy, guidance and legislation relating to the safeguarding of young people from child sexual exploitation.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a horrendous crime and safeguarding young people from it must be a shared effort. The Home Office leads on the cross-Government response to this crime. This is a top priority for the Department.
The Home Secretary’s guidance to officials carrying out immigration, asylum and nationality functions is that they must always make a referral to a statutory agency responsible for child protection or child welfare such as the police, the Health Service, or the Children’s Department of a Local Authority, in circumstances that dictate such action is required, such as when there is a potential indicator of harm or when a child is a potential victim of trafficking.
Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 places a duty on UK Visas and Immigration and Border Force to take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in discharging its functions.
The Home Office expects all of its Arm’s Length Bodies and agencies to follow statutory, and non-statutory, requirements for safeguarding young people.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to respond to the Waterson Report on Secondary Ticketing, published on 22 May 2016.
Answered by Nick Boles
The Government will publish its response to Professor Waterson’s independent review in due course.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what consideration she has given to extending the support of biomass after 2027 to treat it equally with other low-carbon technologies.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We see the use of conversions of coal to biomass as a transitional technology. It has played a useful role in decarbonising the grid while other, lower carbon forms of energy generation, such as offshore wind continue to develop and lower their costs. Government support for biomass conversions are restricted to 2027 under the Renewables Obligation and Contract for Difference, however all other biomass technologies are eligible for the full 15 year life of the contract. We have no current plans to change those dates.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36652 on biofuel, whether her Department has undertaken to consider whether it is appropriate for biomass conversions to compete alongside offshore wind or the allocation pot for established technologies.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have not set out our plans in respect of biomass conversions. We will set out more details in relation to future Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation rounds in due course.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the US government on UK musicians wishing to obtain performance visas for that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
My Department is working closely with the FCO, BIS, the US Government, UKTI and the UK music industry to maximise opportunities for emerging and established musicians to perform to audiences in the United States and around the world. I recognise the US government's desire to strike the right balance between cultural exchange, creative exports and security. I hope together we can pursue practical improvements to the visa system which enable British talent to flourish in the US and around the world
Between 2012 and 2016, the Government invested £460 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. We introduced tax relief for orchestras and started a successful music export scheme which has helped many musicians to go abroad. Discussions are ongoing about a revamp of the Music Export Growth Scheme and we hope to make an announcement shortly.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the US embassy in London, (b) the US Consulate in Belfast and (c) local councils on allowing UK musicians attempting to obtain visas to the US to conduct visa interviews in their local areas.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
My Department is working closely with the FCO, BIS, the US Government, UKTI and the UK music industry to maximise opportunities for emerging and established musicians to perform to audiences in the United States and around the world. I recognise the US government's desire to strike the right balance between cultural exchange, creative exports and security. I hope together we can pursue practical improvements to the visa system which enable British talent to flourish in the US and around the world
Between 2012 and 2016, the Government invested £460 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. We introduced tax relief for orchestras and started a successful music export scheme which has helped many musicians to go abroad. Discussions are ongoing about a revamp of the Music Export Growth Scheme and we hope to make an announcement shortly.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on working together to support musicians in obtaining performance visas for the US.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
My Department is working closely with the FCO, BIS, the US Government, UKTI and the UK music industry to maximise opportunities for emerging and established musicians to perform to audiences in the United States and around the world. I recognise the US government's desire to strike the right balance between cultural exchange, creative exports and security. I hope together we can pursue practical improvements to the visa system which enable British talent to flourish in the US and around the world
Between 2012 and 2016, the Government invested £460 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. We introduced tax relief for orchestras and started a successful music export scheme which has helped many musicians to go abroad. Discussions are ongoing about a revamp of the Music Export Growth Scheme and we hope to make an announcement shortly.
Asked by: Nigel Adams (Conservative - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for (a) Culture, Media and Sport and (b) Business, Innovation and Skills on steps to support UK musicians in obtaining performance visas for the US; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
My Department is working closely with the FCO, BIS, the US Government, UKTI and the UK music industry to maximise opportunities for emerging and established musicians to perform to audiences in the United States and around the world. I recognise the US government's desire to strike the right balance between cultural exchange, creative exports and security. I hope together we can pursue practical improvements to the visa system which enable British talent to flourish in the US and around the world
Between 2012 and 2016, the Government invested £460 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. We introduced tax relief for orchestras and started a successful music export scheme which has helped many musicians to go abroad. Discussions are ongoing about a revamp of the Music Export Growth Scheme and we hope to make an announcement shortly.