Every parliamentary written question tabled by Martin Wrigley this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,621–1,640 of 1,718 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to incorporate (a) environmental and (b) animal welfare considerations for applications for factory farms.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 25146 on 29 January 2025.
What steps her Department is taking to support children's services in Devon.
The department has been working closely with Devon County Council since Ofsted’s inspection of children’s services in March 2020, in which services were found to be Inadequate overall and were placed in formal intervention under a Statutory Direction.As part of the department’s intervention, it has put in place robust support for the local authority and partner agencies involved in the delivery of children’s services. This includes the appointment of a Children’s Services Commissioner, in addition to the appointment of both Hertfordshire and Essex local authorities through our Sector Led Improvement Programme. The Sector Led Improvement Programme enables the delivery of peer-to-peer support from the strongest performing local authorities to local authorities like Devon, who are working to improve their services.The department also holds regular formal monitoring meetings with the local authority and partners as part of holding all parties to account for making the necessary improvements in services, and we will continue with our work with them and our support partners to ensure that all children and families receive the service they require and deserve.
Whether his Department is taking steps to support the manufacture of dental appliances in Devon.
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
Whether his Department is taking steps to support dental laboratories to achieve next day manufacture of dental appliances in Devon.
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
What steps his Department is taking to support NHS dental laboratories in Devon.
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
What steps his Department is taking to support dental laboratories affected by rising energy costs in Devon.
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
What plans he has to support dental laboratories; and whether he plans to use a review of NHS Dentistry contracts to protect them.
We recognise the importance of dental laboratories and the role they play in support of National Health Service dental services.The NHS contracts independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment. Providers are able to make choices about how they operate within the terms of the contract, including choice over the dental laboratory suppliers they use, providing they remain compliant with the appropriate regulations.The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that NHS primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift. The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible.
What steps his Department to tackle shortages of NHS dentists in Devon.
We are aware of the challenges people face in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.Integrated care boards have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing financial borrowing rules for local authorities for council house building.
Local authorities set their own capital strategies and are free to determine their own borrowing limits within the Prudential Framework.The government is helping local authorities borrow at a reduced cost from the Public Works Loan Board to support council housebuilding in the Housing Revenue Account. The preferential rate of gilts+0.4% rate will be in place to the end of 2025-26.We will bring forward details of future government investment in social and affordable housing at the multi-year Spending Review this year.
What steps his Department is taking to help support people with long covid in Devon.
NHS Devon continues to provide long COVID services for patients in Devon. The services are provided by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Livewell Southwest and Torbay, and the South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Electoral Commission entitled Report on the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election and the May 2024 elections, what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendations in that report on postal voting.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17831 on 12 December 2024.
What steps his Department is taking to help support people with ME in Devon.
Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), services that meet the needs of their population, including in Devon, subject to local prioritisation and funding.NHS England colleagues in the south west of England have engaged with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which is in the process of developing formal pathways for acute admission and emergency admission for patients with ME/CFS.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing a levy for the cost of disposing pesticide products.
The Government is not currently considering a levy for the safe and legal disposal of pesticide products. All pesticide users should follow good practice in the use, storage and disposal of pesticide products, and work to reduce the amount of waste they produce, as set out in the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing a levy on pesticides.
The Government is not currently considering a levy on pesticides products.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to deliver more affordable homes annually in rural areas.
The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a number of changes designed to support the delivery of social and affordable homes. These include new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%.Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies. However, the government have made clear that authorities should consider the particular needs of those who require Social Rent homes when undertaking needs assessments and setting policies on affordable housing requirements.The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making in 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to allow more empty premises to be used.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 6686 on 14 October 2024.
What steps he is taking to improve access to a legal prescription for pharmaceutical cannabis-based epilepsy treatments.
Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely available on the National Health Service. Epidyolex is used for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy, specifically Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines, to support routine prescribing and funding decision on the NHS.NHS England and The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have agreed funding for two trials relating to the use of cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of difficult-to-treat epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in informing future NHS funding decisions.Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of these products and for seeking regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so, and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the budget on dental laboratories; and if he will take steps to ensure that the dental contract reflects actual costs for dental laboratories.
The independent pay review body for doctors and dentists recommended a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25. The Government accepted the recommendation and has proposed that National Health Service primary care dentistry contract values be uplifted by 4.64%, net of pay and expenses elements. Laboratory costs are part of the expenses element of this uplift.The Government is acting to implement the overall uplift to contract values as soon as possible. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international counterparts to secure the permanence of the current temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
We welcome the agreement to end the fighting in Gaza. It is the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability, but we have always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. The UK will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US, and regional partners to build consensus for a post-conflict Gaza governance and security framework that supports conditions for a permanent and sustainable peace. Our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people - grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state.
Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the homelessness strategy.
Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.We expect to publish the strategy following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.