Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the progress made by NHS trusts in moving health care assistants from band two to band three for the pay bands that were introduced in July 2021.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No new pay bands were introduced in July 2021. The NHS Staff Council, which has representatives from both employers and trade unions, agreed minor wording amendments to the profiles for band 2 and band 3 Healthcare Support Worker roles in August 2021. The profile levels and scores were not changed.

However, the clarifying amendments to the profiles led to some rebanding requests. This is a local matter and it is the responsibility of every employing organisation to ensure their staff are correctly evaluated and paid in accordance. For that reason, no assessment has been or will be made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to NHS trusts to meet the increased pay costs for health care assistants arising from the introduction of higher pay bands in July 2021.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No new pay bands were introduced in July 2021. The NHS Staff Council, which has representatives from both employers and trade unions, agreed minor wording amendments to the profiles for band 2 and band 3 Healthcare Support Worker roles in August 2021. The profile levels and scores were not changed.

However, the clarifying amendments to the profiles led to some rebanding requests. This is a local matter and it is the responsibility of every employing organisation to ensure their staff are correctly evaluated and paid in accordance. For that reason, no assessment has been or will be made.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the financial impact of the higher pay bands for health care assistants introduced in July 2021 on NHS trusts.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No new pay bands were introduced in July 2021. The NHS Staff Council, which has representatives from both employers and trade unions, agreed minor wording amendments to the profiles for band 2 and band 3 Healthcare Support Worker roles in August 2021. The profile levels and scores were not changed.

However, the clarifying amendments to the profiles led to some rebanding requests. This is a local matter and it is the responsibility of every employing organisation to ensure their staff are correctly evaluated and paid in accordance. For that reason, no assessment has been or will be made.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much was paid to the non-executive directors of her Department between 7 February 2023 and 7 February 2024.

Answered by Graham Stuart

Payments to Non-Executive Directors will be disclosed as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Annual Report and Accounts.

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 through the planning system to help increase the number of changing places toilets.

Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

Changing Places toilets were created to meet the needs of disabled children and adults with complex care needs who need carer support, appropriate equipment, and more space. A standard Changing Places toilet is at least 12m² and provides specialist equipment including a height adjustable adult sized changing bench, ceiling hoist and peninsular toilet.

In 2020 the Government changed the building regulation to ensure that all new builds with a larger capacity were required to install a Changing Places Toilets. All those buildings that fall outside of paragraph 5.7e of the Approved Document M, Volume 2 of the building rules are within scope for the funding delivered by DLUHC.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that school work experience placements are accessible to students living with disabilities.

Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Work experience is an important aspect of the support pupils receive to follow rewarding learning and training pathways which lead to fulfilling careers.

The department works with The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) to support secondary schools in providing pupils with multiple interactions with employers from year 7 to year 13 in line with Gatsby Benchmark 6 - Experiences of the Workplace. This 2023/24 financial year, the department has asked CEC to drive this agenda forward at pace to increase workplace opportunities, targeting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is in response to evidence that these pupils are less likely to access work experience opportunities than their peers.

The CEC Careers Hub network has been asked to use a proportion of their Hub Delivery Fund to stimulate meaningful employer-led activities to increase the quantity and quality of opportunities for young people to engage in encounters of the workplace. Within the fund, there is a focus on alternative provision, SEND and Pupil Referral Units across all year groups. One funded activity, ‘Let’s Explore VR’ delivered fully immersive experiences to SEND pupils across the Liverpool City Region, who faced social barriers to accessing and engaging with workplace careers insights and traditional work experience. The activity provided unique and engaging insights into a variety of workplaces, careers and sectors using virtual reality to transport the students into the world of work.

The CEC’s training is designed to promote SEND inclusion. The CEC have developed SEND awareness training for their Enterprise Coordinators and Enterprise Advisers and provide SEND Careers training to Careers Leaders and special educational needs co-ordinators in schools, to support the development of careers plans and employer experiences appropriate to the needs of students with SEND. There are now 38 named SEND specific Enterprise Coordinators in place across 31 Careers Hubs. Enterprise Coordinators are trained professionals who work with a cluster of 20 schools and colleges to build careers plans and make connections to local and national employers. In addition, 300 Enterprise Coordinators have undertaken masterclass training to gain an understanding of how to support schools, colleges and special schools with young people with SEND.

Supported internships are a study programme for young people aged 16 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and want to move into employment. They equip young people with the skills they need to secure and sustain employment through learning in the workplace.

The department is investing approximately £18 million until 2025 to build capacity in the supported internships programme and support more young people with EHC plans into employment.

In the 2023 Spring Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced up to £3 million to pilot extending supported internships to young people with learning difficulties and disabilities without an EHC plan by March 2025. The pilot is being rolled out in 12 local authorities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's news story of 11 March 2024 entitled Government commits more funding to protect UK Muslims, what the eligibility criteria for applications for that funding will be; how bids for funding will be (a) assessed and (b) decided upon; and which Government department will be responsible for providing that funding.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

In light of increased reports of anti-Muslim hatred following the start of the Israel/Hamas conflict, an additional £4.9 million was made available in October for protective security at mosques and Muslim faith schools, bringing total funding available for 2023/24 to £29.4 million. The Government has confirmed that this level of funding will now be maintained annually through to 2027/28.

Mosques and Muslim faith community centres can register for protective security measures through the Home Office’s Protective Security for Mosques Scheme on GOV.UK. The scheme provides physical protective security measures, such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing. Due diligence checks are carried out by the Home Office; for example, to confirm that applicants are eligible registered charities. Following approval, applicants receive a site survey to assess the most suitable security measures for their site, which are funded by the Home Office and installed by the Department’s delivery partner. Security officer services will also become available through the scheme later this year.

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah

Found: Q42 Sarah Owen: Thank you.

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah

Found: Sarah Owen: I haven’t finished. Simon Madden: I am sorry. Q55 Sarah Owen: That’s okay.

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah

Found: Q10 Sarah Owen: Hello to all our witnesses.

Found: Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot ) Sarah Olney MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park ) Sarah