Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has in place to support the entertainment industry in a (a) national emergency and (b) pandemic.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Responses to national emergencies and pandemics are led by the Cabinet Office, and the UK has well-developed contingency plans to respond to a wide range of scenarios.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) co-ordinated unprecedented levels of support for the cultural and creative sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme, the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, and the Culture Recovery Fund. Evaluations and lessons learned from these schemes will allow the UK to respond effectively to any future scenario where similar initiatives may be required.
Following our experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCMS has established a small, permanent incident response team which will coordinate across the Department and with the central response team in the event of a national emergency.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the use of artificial intelligence on future levels of employment in the civil service.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), in the Cabinet Office, is working with departments to understand the full potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and service optimisation.
In June 2022 as part of the Government Roadmap for Digital and Data, the government published our commitment to “systematically identify and capture opportunities arising from emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum computing”. CDDO has convened external experts and digital leaders across government to rapidly respond to developments in this area.
CDDO is working with departments to establish the frameworks and policies to guide the responsible adoption of new technologies, including AI, and is already working with departments to realise opportunities in service delivery and optimisation. We are working to build a greater understanding of the potential impact of AI on Government work and efficiency which will further enhance our ability to plan future levels of employment in the civil service. Individual departments, within their own delegated authority, will be the ultimate decision maker as to the impact AI (or any other technology) has on their own levels of employment.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions have taken place for the possession of cannabis excluding those with intent to distribute since 1 January 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of prosecutions for possession of cannabis offences, in England and Wales, in the Outcomes by Offence tool, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1158218/outcomes-by-offence-2022.xlsx.
Using the HO offence code filter, select the following offences:
‘09261 - Having possession of a controlled drug - class B (cannabis, including cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives)’
‘09266 - Having possession of a controlled drug - class C (cannabis, including cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives) - historic’
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of charging tax on (a) scooters and (b) other smaller petrol motor vehicles.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is a tax on mechanically propelled vehicles kept or used on public roads. This includes petrol cars and motorcycles.
Rates for cars can vary based on date of first registration, engine size and emissions. Rates for motorcycles can vary based on engine size. For the purposes of VED, a motorcycle is defined as a motorbicycle or motortricycle that does not exceed 450kg unladen and therefore includes some vehicles that are commonly referred to as ‘scooters’.
Currently petrol cars, first registered between March 2001 and March 2017 and with emissions of less than 100g/km CO2 as well as all electrically propelled vehicles are exempt from VED.
At Autumn Statement 2022 the Chancellor announced that from 1 April 2025 all electric cars, vans and motorcycles would pay VED in the same way as petrol and diesel equivalents. This will mean that all cars, vans and motorcycles will pay VED unless otherwise exempt.
As with all taxes, VED is kept under review and any changes are considered and announced by the Chancellor.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) increasing devolution in England and (b) giving Metro Mayors local tax raising powers.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
We are already extending devolution across England.
Through the announcement of six new devolution deals last year and most recently ground-breaking trailblazer devolution deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities, as well as the publication of the English Devolution Accountability Framework, the Government is empowering local leaders by ensuring they have more control and influence over the decisions that affect their communities. We will continue to work with local government in England to establish and grow new mayoral combined authorities, combined county authorities, and county deals. Our existing mayors are already playing a powerful role in driving economic growth, improving public services and giving local areas a voice on the national stage. The Government recognises the importance of fiscal devolution in England.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to repeal sections (a) 58 and (b) 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government maintains a neutral stance in terms of changing the criminal law relating to abortion in England and Wales.
Any change to the law in this area would be a matter of conscience for individual Parliamentarians rather than for the Government.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing funding for people to access treatment abroad that is not available on the NHS.
Answered by Will Quince
We have no current plans to make an assessment. However, commissioners may choose to do this for individuals in exceptional circumstances. The reciprocal healthcare agreements that the United Kingdom has with the EU and Switzerland supports planned treatment abroad, when it would normally be available on the NHS, through the “S2 scheme”. Individuals must meet certain other eligibility criteria, such as experiencing undue delay when waiting for treatment.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will have discussions with Midland Expressway Ltd on seeking a review of its policy of charging recipients of higher rate Attendance Allowance for use of the M6 toll.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Transport has no contractual rights to intervene with Midland Expressway Ltd regarding toll rates under the terms of the concession agreement entered into between DfT and MEL dated 28th February 1992. Midland Expressway Ltd is a private entity; it would be inappropriate for the Secretary of State for Transport to seek to intervene on any aspect of tolling policy.
The Department would be pleased to offer a meeting to discuss this further.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he held discussions with Midland Expressway Ltd on removing the higher rate Attendance Allowance from the list of benefits eligible for a disability exemption pass for the M6 Toll road, before that allowance was removed.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
M6 Toll is a privately-owned asset. Any changes to toll exemptions are a commercial decision for the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Limited (MEL).
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to consult representatives of (a) patient organisations and (b) the pharmaceutical industry on its plans for new regulatory recognition routes for medicines under the international recognition framework, starting on 1 January 2024.
Answered by Will Quince
Regarding the first part of the question on consultation with patient organisations, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) held a workshop on 3 November 2022 to obtain patient views on the MHRA’s proposals for a new International Recognition Framework. The MHRA intends to hold another patient workshop this Summer to discuss its proposals in further detail.
Regarding consultation with members of the pharmaceutical industry, the MHRA has held a number of workshops and focus groups with Trade Associations and their members to generate insight from industry subject matter experts. This has included a workshop on the MHRA’s early-stage prototype for the recognition framework to obtain feedback on practical implications. The MHRA will continue to closely engage with key stakeholder groups in the development of its International Recognition Framework.