Written questions by Tidball.

What plans she has to roll out backdated payments for enhanced disability premium for claimants who transferred to Universal Credit before 14 February 2024; and whether these payments will be ongoing for claimants of Universal Credit who would have been previously eligible for enhanced disability premium beyond 14 February 2024.

We are providing transitional protection to some customers who moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances and not via the “managed migration” process.To end the losses new customers to Universal Credit were facing, new regulations came into force on 14th February 2024 that provide newly eligible customers, who move to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances, with additional Transitional Protections where they are entitled to a Transitional Severe Disability Premium Element.These regulations provide eligible people with an additional amount of transitional protection to reflect the loss of the Enhanced Disability Premium, the Disability Premium, and an amount for disabled children.We are fully committed to identifying and paying eligible customers who have already moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances. These payments commenced in January 2025. and we are committed to make payments to all eligible customers as soon as possible.

When he plans to publish a response to the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024.

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments, and it is important that we get this right. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.

What steps he is taking to ensure patients affected by Essure products receive financial compensation.

Manufacturers can generally be held liable for any harm caused by a defective product under Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, but claims must be brought within 10 years of the product being supplied.NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the NHS in England. NHS Resolution has confirmed that there is no specific NHS compensation scheme for such claims or any group action against the NHS relating to Essure.NHS Resolution’s website gives some general advice for claimants wishing to make a claim for clinical negligence.

Whether she plans to publish a response to her Department's report entitled, Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children, published in June 2020.

The Ministry of Justice has published a full implementation plan and various updates to the report entitled “Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases”, which is known as the Harm Panel report. The latest delivery update can be found at: Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases - Implementation Plan: delivery update.A core part of the response to the Harm Panel report is the Pathfinder pilot courts. The Pathfinder pilot aims to improve the court experience and outcomes for children and parents involved in private family law proceedings. We recently published a specific update on the Pathfinder model which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-law-pathfinder-delivery-update.The report recommended a review of the presumption of parental involvement. The Ministry of Justice has undertaken this review, focusing on the courts’ application of the statutory presumption and the exceptions to it, such as in cases where there is evidence that parental involvement will put the child at risk of harm. This review will be published shortly.

What steps he is taking to ensure patients affected by Essure sterilisation devices manufactured over 10 years ago can claim financial compensation.

Manufacturers can generally be held liable for any harm caused by a defective product under Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, but claims must be brought within 10 years of the product being supplied.NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the NHS in England. NHS Resolution has confirmed that there is no specific NHS compensation scheme for such claims or any group action against the NHS relating to Essure.NHS Resolution’s website gives some general advice for claimants wishing to make a claim for clinical negligence.

Whether he plans to establish a redress scheme for people harmed by sodium valproate.

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments, and it is important that we get this right. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.

What recent progress his Department has made on strengthening national resilience.

As my Rt. Hon friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out in his statement in the House last week, the Government continues to make improvements to strengthen our national resilience.In April the UK Resilience Academy will be launched and will train over 4000 people a year and later this year we will undertake a full national pandemic response exercise.The review of national resilience continues. Updates will be given in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to speed up diagnosis times for patients with topical steroid withdrawal.

General practitioners are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including of topical steroid withdrawal, remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients. All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Good Medical Practice.In 2012 the GMC introduced revalidation, which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice, gives patients confidence doctors are up to date with their practice, and promotes improved quality of care by driving improvements in clinical governance. The training curricula for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners and must meet the standards set by the GMC.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has reviewed topical steroid withdrawal reactions, and first communicated about these reactions in September 2021 in its Drug Safety Update. It produced a further review this year. The British Association of Dermatologists has formed a Topical Steroid Withdrawal Working Party Group, which aims to produce an expert consensus and guidance on supporting people with concerns about topical steroid withdrawal.

Whether he plans to take steps to help increase knowledge of topical steroid withdrawal for (a) GPs, (b) Dermatology departments and (c) medical schools.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reviewed topical steroid withdrawal reactions, and first communicated about these reactions in September 2021 via our Drug Safety Update, which is read by a wide range of health care professionals. This communication is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-corticosteroids-information-on-the-risk-of-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactionsThe MHRA has continued to monitor reports of topical steroid withdrawal, and in 2024 it undertook a further review, which is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-steroids-introduction-of-new-labelling-and-a-reminder-of-the-possibility-of-severe-side-effects-including-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions.During this review, further advice was sought from dermatologists, the National Eczema Society, and the Commission on Human Medicines. Consequently, the MHRA is taking forward a number of actions, including updated warnings in the product information, and the inclusion of information regarding the potency of topical steroids on the packaging. The MHRA is also engaging with the British Association of Dermatologist, who have released an updated statement, which is available at the following link:https://cdn.bad.org.uk/uploads/2024/02/22095550/Topical-Steroid-Withdrawal-Joint-Statement.pdfFollowing this engagement, the British Association of Dermatologists has formed a Topical Steroid Withdrawal Working Party Group (TSW WP), in collaboration with the National Eczema Society, Scratch That, the Primary Care Dermatology Society, and the British Dermatological Nursing Group. The aim of the TSW WPG is to produce an expert consensus and guidance on supporting people with concerns about topical steroid withdrawal, including a Patient Information Leaflet, and any revision to the joint statement, as appropriate. The joint statement is available at the following link:https://www.bad.org.uk/topical-steroid-withdrawal-joint-statement/

Whether he has plans to support scientific evidence gathering for topical steroid withdrawal including (a) patient involvement in research (b) research into mechanisms underlying the condition, (c) risk factors for developing the condition and (d) how common the condition is.

The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including topic steroid withdrawal. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.The NIHR expects patient and public involvement in the research it supports. Applicants for NIHR funding are required to set out plans for involving the patients and the public in funding applications, which are assessed by funding committees.

What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

Over the fourteen years the previous Government was in office thousands of vital bus services disappeared across the country, and local bus services were left in a shocking state.Improving local bus services is a key part of this government’s growth mission. We will introduce a transformative Buses Bill to put the power over bus services back in the hands of local leaders, and in the Budget confirmed over £1 billion to support and improve services across England.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour on high streets and in town centres.

Town centres and high streets are the heart of our communities but for far too long rampant antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and street crime has been corroding people’s sense of safety in their communities.That’s why this Government will put thousands of neighbourhood police and community support officers back on the beat in local communities so residents know who to turn to when things go wrong, and we will crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets with new Respect Orders so local people can take back their town centres from thugs and thieves.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress he has made on banning the payment of bonuses to the executives of water companies that are found to have polluted waterways.

The opposition had 14 years to legislate to ban the bonuses of water bosses – and they didn’t. This Labour Government has done it in less than 70 days. Through our Water (Special Measures) Bill, water companies will be put under tough special measures. This Bill will give Ofwat powers to ban the payment of performance-related pay including bonuses to chief executives and senior leadership of water companies, unless they meet high standards when it comes to protecting the environment, their consumers, financial resilience and criminal liability.