Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kim Johnson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 341–360 of 414 · this parliament
If she will bring forward legislation to allow the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region to appoint a public sector operator to run Merseyrail services.
The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region already has the power to appoint a public sector operator to run Merseyrail services. There are no plans to change this.
Whether the needs of the palliative and end of life care sector will be represented in the upcoming NHS workforce plan.
The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan will deliver the transformed health service that we will build over the next decade and will ensure that patients get the treatment they need, when and where they need it, including those at the end of their lives. In the development of the plan, we will engage with a range of stakeholders to ensure their needs are considered.
Whether palliative and end of life care will prioritised in the new NHS 10-year plan.
We have committed to developing a 10-year plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders, including those in the hospice sector, as we develop the plan.The engagement process has been launched, and I would encourage the palliative and end of life care sector, including hospice providers, service users, and their families, to engage with that process to allow us to fully understand what is not working as well as it should, and what the potential solutions are. Further information is available at the following link:https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/On 19 December the government announced the biggest investment in a generation for hospices to help ensure that hospices can continue to deliver the highest quality end of life care possible for their patients, families, and loved ones. We are supporting the hospice sector with £100 million funding for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. Children and young people’s hospices will also receive a further £26 million revenue funding for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant. We will set out the details of the funding allocation and dissemination in the new year.
With reference to the report entitled Dying in Poverty, published by Marie Curie in November 2024, what steps she is taking to tackle the levels of people dying in poverty in Liverpool.
The Department has noted the recommendations made in the report, and values Marie Curie as a key stakeholder which engages with us constructively in this area. The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. For many years, the Special Rules applied to people who have 6 months or less to live, they have now been changed so they apply to people who have 12 months or less to live. Changes to the Special Rules mean that thousands of people nearing the end of life are now able to claim fast-tracked financial support from the benefits system six months earlier than they were able to previously.
With reference to the Marie Curie report Dying in Poverty, published on 12 November 2024, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) tackle fuel poverty and (b) reduce the number of people who die in fuel poverty in Liverpool each year.
The Government is committed to a preventative approach to public health. Keeping people warm and well at home and improving the quality of new and existing homes will play an essential part in enabling people to live longer, healthier lives, reducing pressures on the NHS. There are multiple targeted schemes delivering energy efficiency measures to low-income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount schemes provide a £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain. The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years.
Communities and Local Government, what support her Department provides to (a) voter groups and (b) civil society organisations on changes to voter eligibility requirements under the Elections Act 2022.
The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance and support for candidates, agents and local authorities on electoral registration and voting.This can be found at: Our guidance | Electoral Commission.The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.
Communities and Local Government, what (a) guidance and (b) support her Department provides to local (i) councillors and (ii) authorities on voter eligibility requirements.
The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance and support for candidates, agents and local authorities on electoral registration and voting.This can be found at: Our guidance | Electoral Commission.The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to communicate to eligible (i) EU, (ii) migrant and (iii) other voters the provisions of the Elections Act 2022.
The Electoral Commission has a statutory duty to raise public awareness of all elements of the democratic process, including changes made to it, to ensure voters can participate. The Government will continue to support the Commission in communicating the provisions of the Elections Act 2022 to eligible voters, including eligible EU and migrant voters.
How many staff in her Department are required to pay the NHS Health Surcharge.
The Department does not hold the data requested.
In which of her Department's offices there are staff employed on sponsored visas who will not meet the salary threshold at the end of the current visa term.
DWP currently sponsors 169 employees. The number of DWP staff that are currently sponsored by the department who will not meet the salary threshold at the end of their current visa is unknown. Each case will depend on the individuals’ specific circumstances, and the Home Office legislation at the time their current visa expires.
How many staff in her Department are on sponsored visas; and how many will not meet the skilled worker visa salary threshold at the end of their visa term.
DWP currently sponsors 169 employees. The number of DWP staff that are currently sponsored by the department who will not meet the salary threshold at the end of their current visa is unknown. Each case will depend on the individuals’ specific circumstances, and the Home Office legislation at the time their current visa expires.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) exemptions for and (b) flexibility in (i) sponsored visa and (ii) skilled workers visa guidance staff in her Department.
The Secretary of State, and ministers, regularly meet with Cabinet and ministerial colleagues, regarding a range of matters. DWP takes the welfare of its staff very seriously and continues to provide a range of support to colleagues employed on time limited visas who are impacted by the uplift to Skilled Worker salary thresholds for sponsorship introduced in April 2024.
If she will publish (a) staff turnover, (b) the number of new recruits and (c) the number of vacancies in her Department in each of the last three months.
a) The annual turnover rate for DWP ending in the last three months is 7.0% in September, 6.8% in October and 6.6% in November. Annual end of year turnover rates are published in the DWP Annual Report and Accounts.b) DWP has had 2,063 new recruits between 2 September 2024 and 30 November 2024. c) DWP has advertised 170 recruitment campaigns for up to 2147 roles.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15952, on Prisoners, how many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations on releasing (a) prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence and (b) other prisoners were rejected by the Government in each of the last 12 months.
In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole Board release decision.In making a decision concerning the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions, the Secretary of State will take account of any recommendation made by the Parole Board. However, the Secretary of State may either reject or accept that recommendation. In the table below, the breakdown of data requested is provided.MonthSentence TypeAcceptedNot AcceptedTotal% Not AcceptedJanuaryNot IPP*88 IPP*1111 FebruaryNot IPP3192286% IPP*1010 MarchNot IPP5152075% IPP*1212 AprilNot IPP*77 IPP*99 MayNot IPP*1717 IPP8142264%JuneNot IPP12172959% IPP7182572%JulyNot IPP2182928% IPP7121963%AugustNot IPP32174935% IPP10192966%SeptemberNot IPP2653116% IPP1431718%OctoberNot IPP3053514% IPP1351828%NovemberNot IPP25103529% IPP1292143%DecemberNot IPP1631916% IPP861443%Note: The period used in this table is consistent with the period used in the answer provided to PQ 15952.
How many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations on moving (a) prisoners serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence and (b) other prisoners to open conditions were rejected by the Government in each of the last 12 months.
In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole Board release decision.In making a decision concerning the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions, the Secretary of State will take account of any recommendation made by the Parole Board. However, the Secretary of State may either reject or accept that recommendation. In the table below, the breakdown of data requested is provided.MonthSentence TypeAcceptedNot AcceptedTotal% Not AcceptedJanuaryNot IPP*88 IPP*1111 FebruaryNot IPP3192286% IPP*1010 MarchNot IPP5152075% IPP*1212 AprilNot IPP*77 IPP*99 MayNot IPP*1717 IPP8142264%JuneNot IPP12172959% IPP7182572%JulyNot IPP2182928% IPP7121963%AugustNot IPP32174935% IPP10192966%SeptemberNot IPP2653116% IPP1431718%OctoberNot IPP3053514% IPP1351828%NovemberNot IPP25103529% IPP1292143%DecemberNot IPP1631916% IPP861443%Note: The period used in this table is consistent with the period used in the answer provided to PQ 15952.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15952 on Prisoners, how many and what proportion of Parole Board recommendations were rejected by the Government in each of the last 12 months.
In the response to PQ 15952, it was explained that the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a decision for the Secretary of State. It was also explained that there is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole Board release decision.In making a decision concerning the transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions, the Secretary of State will take account of any recommendation made by the Parole Board. However, the Secretary of State may either reject or accept that recommendation. In the table below, the breakdown of data requested is provided.MonthSentence TypeAcceptedNot AcceptedTotal% Not AcceptedJanuaryNot IPP*88 IPP*1111 FebruaryNot IPP3192286% IPP*1010 MarchNot IPP5152075% IPP*1212 AprilNot IPP*77 IPP*99 MayNot IPP*1717 IPP8142264%JuneNot IPP12172959% IPP7182572%JulyNot IPP2182928% IPP7121963%AugustNot IPP32174935% IPP10192966%SeptemberNot IPP2653116% IPP1431718%OctoberNot IPP3053514% IPP1351828%NovemberNot IPP25103529% IPP1292143%DecemberNot IPP1631916% IPP861443%Note: The period used in this table is consistent with the period used in the answer provided to PQ 15952.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support the British Embassy in Colombia is offering to young protestors who remain incarcerated after protests in 2021.
The UK supports the right of Colombians to protest peacefully. We have raised concerns with the Colombian authorities since the start of the 2021 protests, urging them to investigate any excessive use of force and for those responsible to be held to account. Colombia is a UK 'Human Rights Priority Country,' and we will continue to work with the Colombian Government and UN agencies to reduce tensions and promote human rights.
With reference to the findings of the Association of Colleges' report entitled The educational provision for 14 to 16-year-olds in further education colleges in England, published in November 2024, whether she plans to increase funding of college places for 14 to 16 year olds.
The department has noted with interest the Association of Colleges report about educational provision for 14 to 16-year-olds in further education (FE) colleges in England. Funding for 14 to 16-year-olds in FE colleges is based on the same approach as for 16 to 19-year olds. In 2024/25 there will be a significant increase of £750 per full time 14 to 16-year-old student that has not yet achieved GCSE English and mathematics. This is as a result of extending to programmes at all levels the English and mathematics funding only previously available for those on Level 3 programmes without grade 4 in the subjects. 14 to 16-year-olds in colleges will also benefit from the £300 million funding boost for FE in 2025/26 that my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at budget to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed and a further £300 million to support colleges to maintain, improve and ensure suitability of their estate.The department will work through priorities for future investment as part of the next spending review.
How many potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel he has assessed since 8 October 2023.
The MOD works closely with the FCDO, who continue to assess Israel’s commitment and capability to comply with International Humanitarian Law.
How many and what proportion of Parole Board decisions on (a) moving prisoners to open conditions, and (b) releasing prisoners were overruled by the Government in each of the last (i) 12 months, and (ii) 5 years.
The transfer of an indeterminate sentence prisoner to open conditions is a categorisation decision for the Secretary of State. However, historically, before approving transfer the Secretary of State has sought the advice of the Parole Board. Even where the Parole Board recommends that a prisoner is suitable for open conditions, the Secretary of State has a discretion as to whether to accept the recommendation. Pursuant to the practice of seeking the Parole Board’s advice, the Secretary of State has published a policy to indicate where s/he will be likely to accept the Board’s recommendation.Up until June 2022, the HM Prison & Probation Service Policy Framework stipulated that the Secretary of State (or an official with delegated responsibility) would accept a recommendation from the Parole Board except where:the panel’s recommendation goes against the clear recommendation of report writers without providing a sufficient explanation as to why; orthe panel’s recommendation is based on inaccurate information.The Policy Framework stated that the Secretary of State might also reject a Parole Board recommendation if it is considered that there is not a wholly persuasive case for transferring the prisoner to open conditions at this time.For the period June 2022 to July 2023, the Policy Framework stipulated that the Secretary of State (or an official with delegated responsibility) would accept a recommendation from the Parole Board only where:the prisoner is assessed as low risk of abscond; anda period in open conditions is considered essential to inform future decisions about release and to prepare for possible release on licence into the community; anda transfer to open conditions would not undermine public confidence in the Criminal Justice System.The Policy Framework and associated guidance were updated on 17 July and has been applied to all outstanding Parole Board recommendations at that date and all recommendations received after that date. Under the terms of the Policy, the Secretary of State (or an official with delegated responsibility) will accept a recommendation from the Parole Board (to approve an ISP for open conditions) only where:the prisoner has made sufficient progress during the sentence in addressing and reducing risk to a level consistent with protecting the public from harm (in circumstances where the prisoner in open conditions may be in the community, unsupervised under licensed temporary release); andthe prisoner is assessed as low risk of abscond; andthere is a wholly persuasive case for transferring the ISP to open conditions.Below is a breakdown of how many times the Secretary of State for Justice has accepted and not accepted the Parole Board’s recommendation to move prisoners to open conditions in the last five calendar years YearAcceptedNot AcceptedTotal% of recommendations rejected2019596166123%2020617276444%2021534365706%20229915625561%202326025951950%There is no current power for the Government to overrule a Parole Board release decision. The Lord Chancellor has decided to proceed with implementation of the referral power in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which will give the Secretary of State the ability to directly refer certain Parole Board decisions in ‘top tier’ cases to the High Court for a second look. ‘Top tier’ cases include certain offenders convicted of murder, rape, terrorism, or terrorism connected offences, or causing or allowing the death of a child. This power will create a new role for the High Court to conduct risk assessments and hearings along similar lines to the Parole Board, to decide whether the statutory test for release has been met in the cases referred to it.