Speeches by Beales.

“I thank the Minister for announcing a bold, radical and ambitious plan—much needed after the appalling record of the last 14 years—to end homelessness. I draw her attention to the target for eliminating the use of B&Bs for families. Having grown up in temporary accommodation and spent time in bed and breakfasts, I …”

“Would you recommend the national roll-out of a proactive programme?”

“Lastly, because time is pressing and other colleagues need to ask questions, we have heard about the limitations of social prescribing in care home settings, and that many residents—often the most vulnerable and the most frail—are not getting social prescribing offers or opportunities. Do you agree with that assessment…”

“On the design of leisure facilities, and gyms specifically, I recently visited a PureGym opening in my constituency. They talked about some lessons they had learned—I understand that they are now the biggest gym chain in the country—about designing spaces to make them accessible for women and older people in particular…”

“Do you think that this best practice is widely known and used in the sector?”

“Social prescribing, specifically.”

“Very true. Charlotte, what would a social prescription for physical activity look like in practice? As you say, there are many activities available. Is it about making people aware of them? Is it accompanying them to one of those activities? Is it dealing with the barriers and, as you say, the cost of a gym membership?”

“We heard from Sir Muir Gray in our earlier evidence about the increasing drugs budget and that many people on drugs and pharmaceuticals should be getting other forms of support. We also heard that we should be shifting the money we spend on lifestyle-related drugs to deal with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other…”

“That is interesting. Your perspective is that there are enough physical activity opportunities in local areas to refer to, but it is the other barriers and other forms of support that people need where the challenges arise?”

“Through stop smoking services, you would be formally prescribed fake cigarettes, patches or other interventions, but you are not formally prescribed physical activity.”

“We will come on to the number of link workers, and my colleague will ask about staffing specifics in the workforce. I do not want to step on his toes. To clarify what you said, the lack of provision you have seen is not about physical activity but about other forms of support, finance, debt, mental health and housing?”

“Charlotte, on the changes to the GP contract in 2022-23, have you noticed any impact from the shift to a more proactive social prescribing approach? Has that fed through the system?”

“Did that work in practice?”

“Charlotte, I have a couple of questions for you about social prescribing, building on a point that Andrew touched on. Evidence that the Committee has received suggests that your survey work indicates that close to half of link workers suggested that the biggest barrier to social prescribing was a lack of provision of s…”

“What support would have been needed nationally?”

“T10. Around 700 young people in Uxbridge and South Ruislip are not currently in employment, and that needs to change. I have met the local college, the jobcentre and employers in Uxbridge, and they are keen, eager and willing to support the establishment of a youth jobs hub in the constituency. Will the Secretary of St…”

“There has been a significant increase in unmanaged houses in multiple occupation in Hillingdon. Despite calls for proper licensing, the Conservative council has taken 15 months just to bring forward a simple consultation. During that time, there has been additional antisocial behaviour, crime and significant community …”

“Would that be more than it costs to put calories on menus?”

“Would it be a few millions or billions, generally?”

“Do you know how much money your businesses spend on advertising a year as a sector?”