Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will consider widening the eligibility criteria for the Motability mileage allowance extension.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.
Motability also understand that living in rural areas often means having to travel further to access everyday services. To support this an additional 3,000 miles per year will be provided on leases for certain customers. Motability Operations’ Rural and Islands Isolation Framework uses national Governments' data on rural isolation to determine eligible postcodes. Motability Operations, which operates the Motability Scheme, is writing directly to customers in eligible postcodes.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the postcodes eligible for the Motability mileage allowance extension for rural areas.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Whilst the Department works closely with Motability and is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations.
Motability also understand that living in rural areas often means having to travel further to access everyday services. To support this an additional 3,000 miles per year will be provided on leases for certain customers. Motability Operations’ Rural and Islands Isolation Framework uses national Governments' data on rural isolation to determine eligible postcodes. Motability Operations, which operates the Motability Scheme, is writing directly to customers in eligible postcodes.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the EQ-5D-5L quality of life value set will be adopted in NICE technology appraisals.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is planning to adopt the EQ-5D-5L value set and has recently consulted on proposed changes to its guidance development manuals. NICE is now considering the responses to the consultation and expects to implement changes to its methods in the coming months.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Matthew Patrick
I speak regularly to colleagues across this House, across Government and across the Northern Ireland Executive, raising the issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
Making progress on this matters enormously to me and to Government. People are rightly passionate about rising to this challenge.
I am proud of the steps we have taken but know that there is far more to do. Just this week, I attended the Violence Against Women and Girls Working Ministerial Group to ensure we can make further progress in Northern Ireland and right across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of parental leave entitlements, particularly in cases where one parent receives extended employer-supported paternity leave while the other parent is (a) ineligible for statutory maternity leave and (b) self-employed.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.
The Review will conclude in early 2027, at which point the Government will set out its findings and next steps for any potential reforms.
Some employers choose to offer more than the statutory minimum pay, sometimes referred to as ‘occupational’ or ‘contractual’ parental pay. This is a matter between employers and employees.