Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what skills gaps they have identified in the UK horticulture sector.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the horticulture sector’s skills gaps; enabling an innovative, productive and competitive food and farming industry which invests in its people and skills to drive growth is a key priority for the Government. Attracting bright new talent that is diverse and inclusive into agricultural and horticultural careers and having a skilled workforce in place is vital for the future of UK food and farming. By raising awareness of agriculture and horticulture as an exciting and attractive career path, people will understand the opportunities available to them in the farming and land management industry.
An Independent Review of Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain began in September. The review will focus on farming, processing, and food and drink manufacturing as sectors that are critical for food production and food security. Skills in the food supply chain is a critical area that will be covered in the final report. The final report will be published by summer 2023 and the Government response will follow thereafter.
The Government is contributing towards the establishment of a new professional body for the farming industry; The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). TIAH is aimed at removing the fragmentation that exists within current learning and skills landscape for farming businesses, enabling the industry to drive greater uptake of skills, creating clear career development pathways and promoting the sector as a progressive, professional and attractive career choice. TIAH has launched a pilot to help develop its services ahead of a general launch to wider membership.
The Government is also reforming post-16 technical education to provide clearer routes into skilled employment in agriculture and other sectors. A key part of this is the introduction of the new Technical Level programmes (T-levels) which include pathways in agriculture, environmental and animal health and care. Alongside apprenticeships this provides more opportunities and pathways for young people looking for careers in agriculture and horticulture.
Alongside training opportunities, TIAH will also provide information about apprenticeships. There are currently 40 high-quality apprenticeship standards available in the agriculture, environmental and animal care sector including Horticulture and landscaping technical manager.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the political and security situation in Sri Lanka.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We believe that a stable and inclusive political settlement is an essential foundation for the economic recovery and growth that Sri Lanka needs and we closely monitor political, economic and security developments in this regard.
The Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, and the British High Commissioner, have called for a peaceful, democratic and inclusive approach to resolving the current political and economic issues. They also emphasised that violence against peaceful protestors is unacceptable.
We call on the Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard citizens' rights and ensure security responses are proportionate and in line with international human rights standards.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to increase his Department’s (a) presence and (b) resources at the British Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has a strong bilateral partnership with Côte d'Ivoire and is committed to deepening cooperation across shared priorities including trade, development and security. In February 2023, the British Ambassador facilitated a UK trade mission to Abidjan. The previous ministers for Africa visited in 2021 and 2022 to progress mutual objectives on climate and inclusive economic growth and to promote the UK's presence. Resource allocation to the British Embassy in Abidjan is regularly reviewed as part of FCDO's business planning processes. In 2023, the Embassy will enhance its visibility and accessibility including through a new and improved office location.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on recruitment consultants in each of the last three years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The records available to the Department for Transport via the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), as declared by suppliers on their permanent recruitment frameworks, for each of the last three years are as follows:
2020/21 | £100,044.62 |
2021/22 | £45,532.00 |
2022/23 | £189,376.90 (to date) |
Note: Recruitment consultancies are used by the department to attract the talent and specialist skills required to deliver its strategic objectives and services. It is possible, but unlikely, that some spend has occurred that has not been declared by suppliers, although the Department’s internal finance system does not record data in such a way that allows this to be cross-checked. These totals are inclusive of recruitment to the Department for Transport and its Executive Agencies (DVSA, DVLA, MCA, VCA and ATE) and for both senior civil service (SCS) and delegated grade recruitment. The figure for 20/21 was higher than expected due to a higher volume of recruitment targeted at individuals with specialist/hard to recruit skills. The increase in 22/23 over the previous year results from a renewed focus on the department’s places for growth agenda and a growing focus on recruiting outside London.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department will take to align the UK to the principles of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK is committed to ensure trade supports long-term climate action, in line with the Coalition of Trade Ministers’ principles of leadership, transparency, inclusivity and cooperation.
The Secretary of State attended the launch of this at the World Economic Forum in Davos this January and we continue to advocate for collective action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other multilateral fora. For example, the UK has been a leading voice on the proposed G7-led ‘Climate Club’ – aiming to make it as inclusive as possible. Meanwhile, we are supporting the Net Zero transition through our Clean Growth export programme, foreign direct investment, UK Export Finance, and through overseas aid.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the provision of (1) health, and (2) education, services for children and young people with Tourette’s Syndrome.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is taking a number of steps at the national level to improve provision for children and young people with Tourette’s syndrome.
Health Education England has supported an 85% expansion in the clinical psychology training intake over the past three years. This expansion model is expected to achieve a growth of 2,520 additional psychologists in the National Health Service workforce by 2025. Clinical psychologists are well placed to develop new services and undertake further bespoke development to respond to the needs of patients with Tourette’s syndrome.
Furthermore, the Department for Education published the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision Green paper in March 2022, setting out proposals to improve the system of support for children with SEND or who benefit from alternative provision. These include new national standards and a more inclusive mainstream school system, with more targeted support and intervention for children when they are younger, which will raise standards nationwide for all pupils, including those with Tourette’s syndrome.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using silicone bands on general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Acknowledging previous PQs on the same theme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 February 2021, to Questions 145107 and 145108 and relating to Questions 133119,133120 and 133121, that articulated MODs historical and ongoing approach to and consideration of inclusive solutions for Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) respiratory protection, including communication of the fundamental complexities.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to active encouragement and growth of research, education, and advancements in the provision of inclusive counter-CBRN capabilities. The necessity for diversity and inclusion consideration is recognized globally and features within the key requirements of MODs counter-CBRN policy, strategies, research and international engagements.
In specific response to the recent questions, it is to be highlighted that, amongst other activities, the MOD ran a targeted “Respiratory Protection and Facial Hair Compatibility Workshop” in January 2022, supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). This workshop directly discussed “the potential merits of improving general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons” and “the potential merits of using silicone bands on general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons”.
The workshop included representation from the Diversity and Inclusion and Faith Networks and provided an opportunity to better inform the User community on the subject of respiratory protection and facial hair, focusing on the General Service Respirator (GSR).
Some of the recommendations from this workshop were incorporated into Defence Counter-CBRN policy and Defence continues to fund academic research and development programmes that explore alternative respiratory options appropriate for Service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of improving general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Acknowledging previous PQs on the same theme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 February 2021, to Questions 145107 and 145108 and relating to Questions 133119,133120 and 133121, that articulated MODs historical and ongoing approach to and consideration of inclusive solutions for Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) respiratory protection, including communication of the fundamental complexities.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to active encouragement and growth of research, education, and advancements in the provision of inclusive counter-CBRN capabilities. The necessity for diversity and inclusion consideration is recognized globally and features within the key requirements of MODs counter-CBRN policy, strategies, research and international engagements.
In specific response to the recent questions, it is to be highlighted that, amongst other activities, the MOD ran a targeted “Respiratory Protection and Facial Hair Compatibility Workshop” in January 2022, supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). This workshop directly discussed “the potential merits of improving general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons” and “the potential merits of using silicone bands on general service respirators for service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons”.
The workshop included representation from the Diversity and Inclusion and Faith Networks and provided an opportunity to better inform the User community on the subject of respiratory protection and facial hair, focusing on the General Service Respirator (GSR).
Some of the recommendations from this workshop were incorporated into Defence Counter-CBRN policy and Defence continues to fund academic research and development programmes that explore alternative respiratory options appropriate for Service personnel who have facial hair for religious reasons.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase the number of females working in the technology sector.
Answered by Paul Scully
We recognise that the Tech Sector can only reach its true potential if it is fully representative of society. This Government is committed to this mission, which is why we have supported the Tech Talent Charter (TCC) since 2016. The TTC gathers data and reports on diversity statistics from 700 organisations across all sectors. This approach fosters collaboration and innovation to create a more inclusive and diverse tech workforce. For example, the TTC’s annual diversity in tech report is a key resource that encourages businesses to hire diverse talent, as well as sharing the best diversity and inclusion practices across the sector.
We recognise that digital skills are fundamental to ensuring everyone can make the most of a digital future. As the department that leads on digital skills, we are focusing on broadening and deepening the pool of talent. The Digital Skills Council convenes stakeholders from across the sector to deliver industry led action on driving the growth of the digital workforce, including widening the skills pipelines, and ensuring Tech roles are accessible for all. One of the council’s objectives is to promote mechanisms to provide increasingly diverse access to digital roles and digitally enabled roles.
We are also funding a new generation of AI talent through scholarships, each worth £10,000, supporting underrepresented groups, including women, to undertake AI and Data Science Conversion Courses. The conversion courses provide a masters in AI and data science, and allow those from a non-STEM background to learn the skills needed to secure employment in the UK’s cutting-edge AI and Data Science sectors. Emerging findings show that the programme is driving increased diversity - 76% of the scholarships so far have been awarded to women, leading to a 32% increase of women on the courses against comparable benchmarks.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much gross domestic product per hour of work has changed since 2010; and if he will make a comparative estimate of the level of change in other G7 countries.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
UK output per hour worked has grown by 6.5% during the period 2010 to 2021 (inclusive) with an average annual growth rate of 0.5% according to the OECD. Among the G7 economies Italy has grown by 6.0% over the same period, while information about other G7 economies can be found at the following link: https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=PDB_LV. Estimates of hours worked in 2020 and 2021 were impacted by the pandemic and labour market support schemes, which varied by economies and may affect comparability of these figures.