Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the potential economic value of carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) sector could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK in 2030, and there could be a potential £4-5bn in Gross Value Added from UK CCUS exports by 2050.
The UK has 78 gigatonnes of theoretical potential storage capacity, with potential value being generated by storing other countries' CO2. An Emissions Trading Scheme price of £60/tonne, utilising the full potential storage capacity, could result in avoided emissions of around £5trillion. The size of the opportunity will depend on factors such as costs of capturing, transporting and storing CO2, the prevailing carbon price and volume of CO2 being stored.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Government plans to take steps to support semiconductor manufacturers in the West Midlands in the context of the ongoing global semiconductor shortage; and what steps it is taking to encourage investment and innovation in the semiconductor industry in that region.
Answered by Paul Scully
On behalf of HM Government, DSIT has been reviewing the UK semiconductor sector, and intends to set out more detail in the forthcoming UK Semiconductor Strategy.
The government is exploring how we can further support the UK semiconductor industry, protecting and growing existing UK capabilities - including in areas of existing strength such as semiconductor design, compound chips, and academic research in related fields. As part of this we are looking at how interventions through the semiconductor strategy can support the sector and encourage investment across the whole of the UK, including in the West Midlands.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that children and young people with dyspraxia have access to (a) occupational therapy, (b) physiotherapy and (c) speech and language therapy services.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision Green Paper set out our proposal to commission analysis to ensure that the health needs of children and young people with SEND, including those with dyspraxia, are supported through effective workforce planning. We propose to work with Health Education England, NHS England and the Department for Education to build on existing evidence and assess demand for support for children and young people with SEND from the therapy and diagnostic workforce.
The number of therapists working in the National Health Service in England has increased in recent years, but we recognise the need to improve access to therapies. It is the responsibility of individual employers, including schools and hospitals, to plan their staffing levels in line with their local service priorities. To support the supply of more speech and language therapists to the NHS, since September 2020 all eligible students have been able to apply for a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year, with further financial support available for childcare, accommodation and travel costs.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help young people with special educational needs and disabilities to enter the workplace; and what steps the Government is taking to help ensure those young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential in the workforce.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department is working across government to ensure that all young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have access to a world-class education, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes.
With the right preparation and support, the majority of young people with SEND are capable of sustained, paid employment. All professionals working with them should share that presumption. They should provide the career advice and support that helps young people to develop the skills and experience, and achieve the qualifications, that they need to succeed in their careers.
The government is committed to supporting pathways to employment for disabled young people, including, for example, through strengthening the Supported Internship programme. The department is investing approximately £18 million until 2025 to build capacity in the Supported Internships Programme and support more young people with Education Health and Care plans into employment.
The department is supporting the Department for Work and Pensions to pilot an Adjustments Passport that will help to smooth the transition into employment and support people changing jobs, including people with SEND. The Adjustments Passport will capture the in-work support needs of the individual and empower them to have confident discussions about adjustments with employers.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to help ensure that all teachers receive training to support students with dyspraxia in the classroom; and what steps she is taking to monitor the effectiveness of that training.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Teachers’ Standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). All trainees who achieve Qualified Teacher Status must demonstrate that they can adapt teaching to respond to the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.
To support all teachers in meeting these standards, the department is implementing high-quality teacher training reforms which begin with initial teacher training and continue throughout career progression. These reforms are designed to ensure teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed, including those with SEND.
The Universal Services Programme, which began in May 2022, aims to reach 70% of schools and colleges and will help the school and further education workforce to identify and meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, earlier and more effectively. It will also help them to successfully prepare children and young people for adulthood, including employment.
The department is committed to gathering evidence about the implementation and impact of the reforms, to ensure that it provides the best support for new teachers entering the profession. To support this, we are working with the Education Endowment Foundation to ensure a comprehensive package of evaluation activity.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to develop the digital skills of older people, particularly those who may be at risk of digital exclusion.
Answered by Paul Scully
To improve access to digital skills, the government has introduced a digital entitlement for adults with no or low digital skills. This allows older people wishing to acquire essential digital skills to gain specified digital qualifications, up to level 1, free of charge. Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (EDSQs), introduced alongside the digital entitlement, are based on new national standards which set out the digital skills people need to get on in life and work. We also support the provision of essential digital skills training in community settings through the Adult Education Budget.
Assisted digital support is available to help older people access online services. Around 2900 public libraries in England provide a trusted network of accessible locations with staff, volunteers, free DCMS-funded wifi, Public PCs, and assisted digital access to a wide range of digital services. The Government is working closely with the third sector to support older people getting online. Charities such as AgeUK and AbilityNet play an important role in providing help with technology and the internet.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support small businesses in trading overseas and overcoming barriers to competing in international markets.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As part of its Export Strategy, the UK Government has published a 12-point plan to help businesses at every stage of exporting. The plan addresses the barriers UK companies face when exporting.
The Export Strategy supports companies through its network of domestic and overseas advisers; the Export Support Service; and the Export Academy. These services are designed to provide businesses with knowledge to thrive in international markets.
Last year we overcame 192 barriers restricting trade in over 79 countries; 45 of these are estimated to be worth around £5 billion to businesses across the UK over the next five years.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to help ensure that teachers are trained to deliver water safety education in the classroom.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Swimming and water safety is a compulsory part of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2. There are no specific statutory requirements for secondary schools to provide swimming and water safety lessons. Compulsory health education requires that schools teach a sound understanding of risk and provide pupils with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions on their wellbeing and health.
The Department is working in partnership with members of the National Water Safety Forum, in particular Royal Life Saving Society UK and Swim England to support schools to teach primary and secondary pupils important aspects of water safety.
This support includes online lessons on Oak National Academy and resources for pupils in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, launched by the National Water Safety Forum, as part of the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week in July 2022.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure that water safety education is included in the national curriculum for primary and secondary schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Swimming and water safety is a compulsory part of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2. There are no specific statutory requirements for secondary schools to provide swimming and water safety lessons. Compulsory health education requires that schools teach a sound understanding of risk and provide pupils with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions on their wellbeing and health.
The Department is working in partnership with members of the National Water Safety Forum, in particular Royal Life Saving Society UK and Swim England to support schools to teach primary and secondary pupils important aspects of water safety.
This support includes online lessons on Oak National Academy and resources for pupils in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, launched by the National Water Safety Forum, as part of the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week in July 2022.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) the voices of neurodiverse individuals are heard and (b) their needs and perspectives are taken into account, in policy formation and decision making processes.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department ensures that the voices of neurodiverse individuals are included in the formation of policy and decision-making processes by including Experts by Experience in our governance and delivery arrangements. This includes our Autism Strategy Implementation Group, the Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews Oversight Panel, the Building the Right Support Advisory Group and Delivery Board and the work on Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training.
NHS England’s national autism and learning disability programme employs people with lived experience as well as working in partnership with people, families and carers to co-produce and co-design policy and guidance for national implementation.