Every parliamentary written question tabled by John Hayes this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,041–2,060 of 2,110 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to include long-term funding for internal drainage boards as part of the local government finance settlement for the 2025-2026 financial year.
Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement. The department will work with local government leaders to ensure they are better able to fulfil their statutory duties.
Which external stakeholders she met with ahead of revoking the second commencement regulations made under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
The department engages with a wide range of stakeholders on policy decisions, and the views of external stakeholders from across the higher education (HE) sector continue to inform decision making on the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. As set out in the Secretary of State’s letter to colleagues and peers, the decision to pause implementation of the Act took account of the views of bodies representing university students and staff and also of Jewish groups, who feel that the Act is disproportionate, burdensome and damaging to the welfare of students and that it would expose HE providers to costly legal action, and that fear of sanction could push providers to overlook the safety and wellbeing of minority groups. Ministers and officials in the department continue to meet with a full range of stakeholders representing not only HE providers, but also with academics with concerns about constraints on free speech. This engagement will feed into decision making on the future of the Act and the government’s longer-term policy on free speech in the HE sector.
To which outdoor areas he plans to extend restrictions on smoking.
The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom.The Government supports measures that will create a smoke-free environment, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer. More details will be set out shortly.
Whether he has had recent discussion with NHS England about improving early detection of Ductal Carcinoma in situ in women.
Improving early diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer, is a priority for NHS England. NHS England has an ambition to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028, which will help tens of thousands of people live longer. The National Health Service in England carries out approximately 2.1 million breast cancer screens each year in hospitals and mobile screening vans, usually in convenient community locations.Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is usually detected on a mammogram through the breast screening programme. In the United Kingdom, one in five breast cancers found by screening are non-invasive breast cancer, including DCIS. The Department and NHS England have regular ongoing meetings in regard to the breast screening programme and breast cancer awareness.The Department is committed to improving waiting times for cancer patients across England by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of locating large solar farms on agricultural land.
I regularly engage with my Ministerial colleagues in Defra and other Government departments about land use change.The Government are committed to maintaining the existing strong protections that apply to agricultural land to ensure that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 does not put current levels of food production at risk.Our plans to boost solar deployment do not endanger the UK’s food security. The total area of agricultural land used for solar is very small, and even in the most ambitious scenarios would still occupy less than 1% of the UK’s agricultural land.Each development proposal will continue to be subject to thorough scrutiny, including consideration of land quality and food production.
Whether she has met Ministers in the Welsh Government to discuss the impact of 20mph zones in Wales.
The Secretary of State has not met Ministers in the Welsh Government to discuss the impact of 20mph zones in Wales.
Whether she plans to take steps to amend the statutory guidance entitled Non-crime hate incidents: code of practice, published on 3 June 2023, on only recording personal data relating to non-crime hate incidents if it is deemed proportionate and necessary to do so in order to mitigate a real risk of harm.
It is vital that the police can capture data relating to non-crime hate incidents when it is proportionate and necessary to help prevent serious crimes which may later occur.We are carefully considering how best to protect individuals and communities from hate whilst balancing the need to protect the fundamental right to free speech, and ensuring the police can spend their time dealing with issues that matter most to communities.We will set out next steps in due course.
What her planned timetable is for publishing details of the locations of youth hubs.
The Government is committed to rolling out a network of Young Futures Hubs which will bring together local services to improve the delivery of support for young people at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges.We will require input and expertise from across the sector to design these hubs and will be engaging with local communities, the police, charities and other key partners over the coming weeks to seek views on the design of the programme and explore options for their delivery. This will include considerations around their location and how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from the support.
What steps he is taking to ensure that women in need of urgent gynaecologist appointments can be seen in person.
This Government is committed to putting patients first, especially where their health is deteriorating as they wait too long for the care they need. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and prioritised according to need to ensure the best possible care. Providers are responsible for delivering appointments in the most appropriate way for patients. Most hospital attendances happen in person, with only 14.7% of outpatient attendances in 2022/23 delivered remotely in gynaecology.
Whether he plans to maintain free prescriptions for pensioners not in receipt of (a) pension credit and (b) other benefits.
In England, people aged 60 years old and over are entitled to free prescriptions. There are currently no plans to change the upper age exemption or criteria for free prescriptions due to pension credit and other qualifying benefits.Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England. For pensioners aged under 60 who are not eligible for exemption from prescription charges help with their health costs may be available through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her policy to change the automatic release point to 40% for certain standard determinate sentences on reoffending rates.
Prisoners released on SDS40 will be subject to licence and liable to recall to prison if they do not comply or are judged a risk to public safety. Reoffending rates are published regularly on an annual and quarterly basis. The most recent rates are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/proven-reoffending-statistics.A critical element of reducing reoffending is ensuring offenders leaving prison can access the support they need to resettle effectively into the community. There are clear processes in place to ensure all releases are carefully managed by Prison and Probation staff. An offender’s resettlement needs are assessed on their arrival into the prison estate, with appropriate provision arranged in advance of release. When the release date is changed, as is the case with SDS40, this provision is realigned to that new release date.As with any offender being released, where victims are receiving the services of the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) or the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS), they will be informed about the release of an offender.
What steps she is taking to ensure that people are able to access cashpoints in rural areas.
The Government is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses across the UK, including in rural areas. The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator responsible for access to cash further to the Financial Services and Markets ...
Media and Sport, what her Department's policy is on ministerial clearance of contracts relating to external equality, diversity and inclusion providers.
Ministerial approval is currently sought for all contracts relating to external EDI providers within scope of the EDI Expenditure Guidance published on 14th May. The guidance allows for Ministers to delegate this responsibility to the Permanent Secretary, which DCMS Ministers may choose to do in the future.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the updated UK Food Security Report.
Defra will publish the next UK Food Security Report later this year as required, and in accordance with, the Agriculture Act 2020. The Report will examine past, current, and predicted trends to present the best available understanding of UK food security.
What the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in her Department in each of the last five years.
Total annual costs for EDI activities1 April 2023 - 31 29 February 20242022/ 2023 1 April 2021 - 31 March 20221 April 2020 - 31 March 20211 April 2019 – March 2020Departmental staff networks0£2675000 Cross-departmental staff networks0£29,605£23,658£23,6580 From August 2019, 7 National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Networks are given pro rata time allocation to support respective network activity. There was no official time allocation given to support Network activity prior to this, tasks were undertaken on a voluntary basis. Time allocationThe National EDI Network Co-Chairs have a 25%-weekly time allocation and the Strand Lead/Board Member/Committee roles have a weekly 10%-time allocation. Each Network can recruit up to 10 Committee members (please note that not all Networks have up to 10 Committee members). 7 National EDI Networks with allocated time equates to: 1 x 25 % time allocation 37- hour week contract equates to 9.25 hours for each co-chair or 18.5 hours for both per week for each of them (pro rata)1x10% time allocation 37 – hour week contract equates to 3.7 per committee member, or for each committee member 10 x 10 % equates to 37 hours a week (pro rata) Across all 7 Networks:70* people support network activity at 10% with 90% of their time focused on their contracted job role.14 people spend 25% of their time on network activity, with 75% of their time focused on their contracted job role. The cost of staff information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
How many prisoners were released and recalled to HMP Peterborough (a) once and (b) multiple times in the last 12 months.
The table below shows the number of prisoners released from, and recalled to, HMP Lincoln and HMP Peterborough between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, and the number of those who were subsequently recalled, either once or more than once, during that period.Prison released fromNumber of releasesNumber of offenders recalled once2Number of offenders recalled more than once2Lincoln8787215Peterborough1 1,43713941Notes:Includes prisoners at both male and female establishments at HMP Peterborough.Number of individual sentences. It is possible that a very small number of offenders may have been released for the first time on different sentences during the period. The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.Source: Prison NOMIS and Public Protection Database
How many prisoners were released and recalled to HMP Lincoln (a) once and (b) multiple times in the last 12 months.
The table below shows the number of prisoners released from, and recalled to, HMP Lincoln and HMP Peterborough between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, and the number of those who were subsequently recalled, either once or more than once, during that period.Prison released fromNumber of releasesNumber of offenders recalled once2Number of offenders recalled more than once2Lincoln8787215Peterborough1 1,43713941Notes:Includes prisoners at both male and female establishments at HMP Peterborough.Number of individual sentences. It is possible that a very small number of offenders may have been released for the first time on different sentences during the period. The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.Source: Prison NOMIS and Public Protection Database
What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of setting up GB Energy.
The cost to the taxpayer of Great British Energy set-up and investments will be carefully managed and monitored through parliament. As set out by Cabinet Office guidance on setting up new public bodies, a full business case will be developed for GBE, which will be published on Gov.uk in due course. Great British Energy investments will be subject to safeguards and risk assessments similar to established public finance institutions.
How many people will no longer be able to access winter fuel payments.
This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement. Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. For England and Wales, the changes in eligibility requirements are expected to decrease the number of people who get the Winter Fuel Payment from 10.8m to 1.5m. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need. There are other pensioners who are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments (as they claim other means tested benefits).
What is the projected cost to the public purse of setting up the Office for Value for Money.
The Office for Value for Money is a part of HM Treasury. Existing departmental resources will be reprioritised to fulfil the needs of the office where possible.