Written questions by Smart.

If he will encourage the adoption of the Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment toolkit across (a) Government Departments and (b) local authorities.

We would like the mental health impacts on adults, children, and young people to be considered in all policymaking across Government. We are considering how to support the relevant departments to do this.Mental health cannot just be the responsibility of the health system. As part of the 10 Year Plan shift to prevention, we will work across Whitehall, and the wider public and voluntary sector, to address the socioeconomic determinants of mental health.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 20062 on Bank Services: Direct Debits, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that organisations receiving payments via Direct Debit always (a) verify that Direct Debit instructions have been properly authorised by the payment account holder and (b) provide advance notice of the amount and collection date for each Direct Debit payment unless otherwise agreed.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 18 December 2024 to PQ UIN 20062.

Whether her Department plans to review the priority order of Universal Credit deductions; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that child maintenance payments have priority over council tax arrears.

The Government is committed to a sustainable long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes, and in support of this the Chancellor announced at the Autumn Budget, the Fair Repayment Rate (FRR), this measure is a permanent change and will reduce the Universal Credit (UC) overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s UC standard allowance from April 2025. This measure will help approximately 1.2 million UC households with deductions retain more of their UC award, on average £420 a year or £35 per month. In addition to the FRR measure a second measure was to move child maintenance deduction higher up the regulated priority order from April 2025.

Whether her Department plans to make Personal Independence Payment application forms more accessible for people with mental health issues; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) designing questions to account for (i) frequency, (ii) reliability, and (iii) safety in assessing abilities rather than on best-case scenarios and (b) providing additional funding for (A) Disability Stockport and Citizens Advice and (B) other organisations for the provision of support with completing forms and navigating the process.

It is a fundamental principle that the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment should not just consider whether an individual can complete an activity, but the way they can do it.  When formulating their advice to the decision maker, health professionals must confirm that they have considered whether an individual can complete each assessment activity “safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period”.DWP continually reviews the PIP claims process, including the content of forms, to ensure information and questions are clear and easy to understand. For example, the Award Review form (AR1) has recently been changed to modify the questions and make it clearer to customers what information is needed. Changes were made following extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders. This will benefit all customers, including those with mental health conditions.Over the longer term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising the entire PIP service to improve customer experience. The new service will deliver a simpler application process for customers with more information and support available to those who need it. Improved evidence gathering will also enable the department to better tailor the service to the customer’s circumstances.Within the current service there is no funding provided to external organisations to help customers completing PIP forms or navigating the claims process.There are a series of videos, accessible via a link on Gov.UK, aimed at supporting customers navigating the new claim and assessment process which many customers with mental health conditions may find helpful https://www.gov.uk/government/news/personal-independence-payment-customer-journey-films

Whether her Department plans to take steps to ensure individuals subject to a community order are able to complete their unpaid work in a neighbouring local authority area.

Community Payback allows offenders to pay recompense to the communities they have harmed by completing between 40 and 300 hours of unpaid work. The work primarily takes place in the local area to where the offender resides. This allows for reduced travel time to projects and for the offender to make reparation to their local community. There are certain circumstances when this arrangement deviates. Where are compelling reasons relating to local placement such as links to local gangs and employment considerations, steps can be taken to change the project to another local authority area.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on ensuring that tax guidance relating to the McCloud remedy is issued in a timely manner.

HM Treasury and responsible departments are supporting public service pension schemes to ensure they are able to provide a timely remedy to affected members. HMRC has issued a range of tax guidance to assist pension schemes in administering the McCloud remedy and will continue to keep this updated.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and (b) other pension providers have adequate (i) resources and (ii) support to complete the McCloud pension remedy process by 31 March 2025.

HM Treasury and responsible departments are supporting public service pension schemes to ensure they are able to provide a timely remedy to affected members. HMRC has issued a range of tax guidance to assist pension schemes in administering the McCloud remedy and will continue to keep this updated.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that Jobcentre Plus advisers provide (a) accurate and (b) comprehensive advice to claimants on (i) entitlement to transitional protection and (ii) other aspects of the transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.

All Jobcentre advisers are given key information about Move to UC. We have a network of Transformation Leads attached to each Area who represent our Jobcentre and Service Centre network within Move to UC to ensure that our colleagues are getting the upskilling they need and to ensure it is landing as intended. This is regularly updated through communications to advisers. Where customers have more complicated enquiries, advisers signpost customers to the helpline which can provide more comprehensive and specific advice on moving to UC. They also signpost to Help to Claim support externally if they identify a customer requires additional support.

Whether any redress mechanisms are available for claimants who were misadvised by Jobcentre Plus staff to claim Universal Credit before their official migration date and consequently lost entitlement to transitional protection.

Customers who are unhappy with the service provided by DWP can contact us by phone, in person or in writing. Universal Credit claimants can also use their journal. Complaints procedure - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending sections 1 to 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to extend dangerous driving offences to include incidents causing the (a) death and (b) serious injury of (i) dogs, (ii) other domestic pets and (iii) other animals.

The Government has no plans to consider amending the Road Traffic Act 1988 in the way suggested.

If she will undertake a review of sentencing guidelines for causing serious injury by careless driving.

The Sentencing Guideline for the offence of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving was published by the Sentencing Council in June 2022 and came into force in July 2023.The Council is independent of Parliament and Government. As an independent body, it decides on its own priorities and work plan for producing and reviewing guidelines. The Lord Chancellor or the Court of Appeal can ask the Council to consider guidelines in a particular area, but the Council is not required to agree to any such requests.The Council monitors and evaluates all definitive guidelines, as per its statutory duty to do so. The assessment covers the operation and effect of the guideline. A report on the evaluation findings is published online.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the impact of the administration of (a) SSB Law and (b) other firms on the finances of claimants whose legal cases were disrupted; and whether her Department is taking steps to provide (i) redress and (ii) other support for affected people.

The legal profession in England and Wales together with its regulators, operate independently of government. The responsibility for regulating the sector sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the Legal Services Board (LSB). Given the sector’s independence, the Ministry of Justice cannot intervene in individual cases or investigations.The Government understands the distress and financial uncertainty caused to both individuals and families by the collapse of SSB Law and similar firms. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), as the body responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors, as well as most law firms in England and Wales, has now completed its investigation into the collapse of SSB Law and has given disciplinary notices to several individuals. The SRA is also progressing its investigation into Pure Legal and the solicitors involved, and aims to make decisions before the summer regarding this disciplinary process. The SRA published an update on this issue on 25 February, which is available on their website: SRA | Cavity wall insulation claims handled by SSB Group (SSB) and Pure Legal Limited (Pure Legal) | Solicitors Regulation Authority.I recently met with the SRA to ensure that lessons are learned from the SSB Law firm collapse and urged regulators to respond more proactively to these issues. It is crucial that steps are taken to prevent this type of situation from happening again.As the oversight regulator, the LSB is also conducting an independent review into the SRA’s regulatory action in the lead-up to SSB Law’s collapse. It is right for the Department to wait until these ongoing investigations are complete and to review the findings, before considering any next steps in this area.The Department is aware that some individuals involved in these claims have received unexpected demands for legal costs. Former clients of SSB Law have options for redress available to them, and they may be able to seek redress through making a negligence claim on SSB’s insurance.The SRA has published a warning notice to law firms, especially those engaged in high volume claims work, about prohibited marketing practices, such as cold calling. Alongside the warning notice, the SRA also published a no win no fee guide to help inform consumer choices: SRA | No win, no fee agreements: A guide to navigating them | Solicitors Regulation Authority.While these no win no fee agreements play a vital role in access to justice, we recognise the concerns raised about their operation. The Ministry of Justice is working closely with regulators to assess the potential need for further consumer protections.

Whether her Department is taking steps to support people who have been left personally liable for legal costs following the collapse of no-win-no-fee law firms.

The legal profession in England and Wales together with its regulators, operate independently of government. The responsibility for regulating the sector sits with the approved regulators, overseen by the Legal Services Board (LSB). Given the sector’s independence, the Ministry of Justice cannot intervene in individual cases or investigations.The Government understands the distress and financial uncertainty caused to both individuals and families by the collapse of SSB Law and similar firms. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), as the body responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors, as well as most law firms in England and Wales, has now completed its investigation into the collapse of SSB Law and has given disciplinary notices to several individuals. The SRA is also progressing its investigation into Pure Legal and the solicitors involved, and aims to make decisions before the summer regarding this disciplinary process. The SRA published an update on this issue on 25 February, which is available on their website: SRA | Cavity wall insulation claims handled by SSB Group (SSB) and Pure Legal Limited (Pure Legal) | Solicitors Regulation Authority.I recently met with the SRA to ensure that lessons are learned from the SSB Law firm collapse and urged regulators to respond more proactively to these issues. It is crucial that steps are taken to prevent this type of situation from happening again.As the oversight regulator, the LSB is also conducting an independent review into the SRA’s regulatory action in the lead-up to SSB Law’s collapse. It is right for the Department to wait until these ongoing investigations are complete and to review the findings, before considering any next steps in this area.The Department is aware that some individuals involved in these claims have received unexpected demands for legal costs. Former clients of SSB Law have options for redress available to them, and they may be able to seek redress through making a negligence claim on SSB’s insurance.The SRA has published a warning notice to law firms, especially those engaged in high volume claims work, about prohibited marketing practices, such as cold calling. Alongside the warning notice, the SRA also published a no win no fee guide to help inform consumer choices: SRA | No win, no fee agreements: A guide to navigating them | Solicitors Regulation Authority.While these no win no fee agreements play a vital role in access to justice, we recognise the concerns raised about their operation. The Ministry of Justice is working closely with regulators to assess the potential need for further consumer protections.

If she will make it her policy to replace Business Rates with a Land Value Tax collected by local authorities to disincentivise land banking by developers.

We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. At the Autumn Budget, we published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform and invites stakeholders to have a conversation with government about transforming the business rates system.Fulfilling all our manifesto objectives on business rates is a multi-year process, and reforms will be designed in collaboration with stakeholders and phased over the course of the Parliament to minimise disruption for businesses.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure NHS hospital staff receive adequate (a) training and (b) support to manage dementia patients in general hospital wards.

Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver the appropriate treatment for patients. Individual trusts are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to carry out their role, and for investing in the future of their staff through providing continuing professional development funding.The required training needs are set out in the Dementia Training Standards Framework, commissioned and funded by the Department and developed in collaboration with the sector, which is available at the following link:https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/info-hub/dementia-2015-updated-2018/The framework sets out the essential knowledge, skills, and expected learning outcomes applicable across the health and care spectrum. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has also issued guidance on Assessment, Management and Support for People Living With Dementia, which covers staff training and education, and which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng97/chapter/Recommendations#staff-training-and-education

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support homeowners with the cost of removing closed-cell spray foam insulation in order to secure a mortgage.

We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. Officials in the department have previously consulted UK Finance and the Building Societies Association, the trade bodies for lenders about this matter, who advise that their members rely on the views of valuers and surveyors on this issue. Whilst the department cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending, and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey. That is why it is important that surveyors continue to follow published protocols published in March 2023 to support these assessments, which can be found here: https://www.property-care.org/resources/spray-foam-insulation-inspections(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab) and Guides & Documents - IMA (insulationmanufacturers.org.uk)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab). Building owners are responsible for costs of maintaining their buildings. The Government do not specify or recommend which types of insulation are appropriate for a particular property, and all measures installed under government schemes must be installed by TrustMark registered installers.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to review current guidance on closed-cell spray foam insulation and its impact on mortgage lending.

We are aware of the issues some homeowners are facing in obtaining finance where spray foam insulation has been installed. Officials in the department have previously consulted UK Finance and the Building Societies Association, the trade bodies for lenders about this matter, who advise that their members rely on the views of valuers and surveyors on this issue. Whilst the department cannot comment on the decisions made by individual lenders, the presence of spray foam should not automatically prevent lending, and decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis following a survey. That is why it is important that surveyors continue to follow published protocols published in March 2023 to support these assessments, which can be found here: https://www.property-care.org/resources/spray-foam-insulation-inspections(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab) and Guides & Documents - IMA (insulationmanufacturers.org.uk)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab). Building owners are responsible for costs of maintaining their buildings. The Government do not specify or recommend which types of insulation are appropriate for a particular property, and all measures installed under government schemes must be installed by TrustMark registered installers.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in transferring dementia patients from hospitals to social care settings.

Almost one million people in the United Kingdom are living with dementia, and that figure is expected to rise. Each of those people, alongside their friends, families and carers, have their own unique and important story of living with dementia, and this government wants a society where every person with dementia receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.We are working to reduce delayed discharges by improving local partnership working between the National Health Service and social care systems, ensuring that people are not stuck in hospital beds when they are well enough to go home.In December 2024, working with the Local Government Association and NHS England, we published a High Impact Change Model for improving the timely and effective discharge of people with dementia or delirium into the community. This resource offers practical guidance and a set of recommended actions that systems should consider for optimising the discharge process and deliver best practice for an individual’s journey to, during and following discharge. The model is available at the following link:https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/partners-care-and-health/better-care-fund-support-programme-2023-25/high-impact-change

Whether his Department has plans to issue updated guidance on the placement of dementia patients in hospital wards.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance on dementia states which aspects of care should be expected to ensure quality dementia care in hospital. This includes appropriate admission to hospital, comprehensive assessments, and personal history taking. Further information on the NICE’s dementia guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng97The NICE’s guidance on the transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care home settings for adults with social care needs covers the transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care homes for adults with social care needs. Further information on the NICE’s transition guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng27The NICE’s guidance will be reviewed if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations. The 10-Year Health Plan will address the challenges diagnosed by Lord Darzi and set the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of complex health and care needs. It will set out how we support and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide that joined-up care. The Government is launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.To improve care for patients with dementia, NHS England's RightCare team has refreshed the RightCare Dementia Scenario. The scenario works through the dementia well pathway journey, from diagnosing well through to dying well, detailing optimal and suboptimal approaches, with associated costings for each.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of issues with the reconciliation of pension contributions by Capita on GPs.

General practitioners (GPs) are required to submit either a type one or type two annual certificate each year to Primary Care Support England (PCSE). Each certificate received by PCSE is reconciled on an individual basis, and the GP’s record is updated accordingly. Where the information cannot be reconciled, or the information is incomplete, PCSE will return the certificate to the GP outlining what information is required.NHS England regularly monitors the number of outstanding certificates and missing data, working closely with PCSE to resolve issues. In addition, NHS England works closely with the British Medical Association and NHS Pensions to manage complaints and proactively resolve issues. NHS England also monitors PCSE’s performance on a monthly basis against contractual performance targets.Supporting GPs to accurately submit current and historic type one or type two annual certificates remains a priority for NHS England and PCSE. Since the PCSE Online solution for submitting type one and type two certificates electronically went live in 2021, PCSE has developed user guides and held webinars to educate GPs on how to complete forms accurately.