Every parliamentary written question tabled by Melanie Ward this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 65 · this parliament
When her planned timetable is for allocating the next round of Access for All funding.
Improving the accessibility is an important element of our plan to fix Britain’s broken rail system. The Department is carefully considering the best approach to station accessibility and recognises the huge social and economic benefits it brings to communities. MPs and stakeholders will be updated in due course.
How many incidents of self-harm using (a) paracetamol, (b) ibuprofen and (c) aspirin by 16 and 17-year-olds were recorded in each of the last five years.
The information requested is not held centrally.
What the average processing time was for a (a) Skilled Worker and (b) Skilled Worker Dependent Visa in each of the last five years.
The Home Office does not publish the requested data.But, the latest Transparency Data, which does provide data on applications for various routes processed within service standards, can be found at: Visas, status and immigration data: Q3 2024 - GOV.UK
When Ministers next plan to meet trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
How many incidents of self-harm using (a) paracetamol, (b) aspirin and (c) ibuprofen were recorded amongst (i) 16 and (ii) 17 year olds in each of the last five years.
The information requested is not held centrally.
What steps she is taking to ensure staff receive training on the Scottish benefits system.
DWP learning reflects the services provided by Social Security Scotland with references and signposting to operational instructions.
What steps she is taking to (a) review and (b) consult on the rate of statutory sick pay in the Spring 2025 Spending Review.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid entirely by employers and so the rate is not subject to departmental spending decisions that will be made at the Spring 2025 Spending Review. The rate of SSP is reviewed as part of the annual uprating process. Subject to Parliamentary approval the rate of SSP will increase in line with the September 2024 CPI rate of 1.7% to £118.75 per week from April 2025. Through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced on 10th October 2024, the Government has removed the SSP waiting period and extended eligibility to those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit. The changes introduced within the Bill will mean that for some lower earners, including those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit, their rate of SSP will be calculated as a percentage of their earnings instead of the flat weekly rate. The Government is currently consulting on what this percentage should be, so that it provides a fair earnings replacement when these employees need to take time off work. This consultation will close on 4th December 2024.
What the average processing time for the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme was in each of the last five years.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is responsible for implementing the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. CICA recognises that timely compensation can help victims in their recovery both practically and emotionally and is committed to deciding 40% of new applications within 6 months of receiving the application, and 70% within 12 months. CICA performance information is available in the CICA Annual Report and Accounts; the latest version can be found at CICA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24.The following table shows the average number of days from an application being received until a decision is made. This information is taken from the latest period for which data is available which can be found here: Statistics at CICA - Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Financial YearAverage days to decision 2023-243612022-233912021-223862020-213372019-20363
Whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on research into lobular breast cancer.
Cancer research is a critical priority for the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, and their operational delivery partners, like the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Department of Health and Social Care and Department of Science, Innovation and Technology officials meet regularly to discuss a range of research investments, including lobular and other breast cancers, to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives.The Department invests £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the NIHR. The NIHR spends more on cancer than any other disease group, at over £121.8 million in 2022/23, reflecting its high priority. The NIHR awarded funding to 53 new research projects on breast cancer in the period 2018/19 to 2022/23, to a total value of £31 million.Cancer is also one of the largest areas of investment for the MRC with an annual spend of approximately £125 million, including investment in the Francis Crick Institute. In addition, other parts of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) spend approximately £75 million annually. Over five years, between 2018 and 2022, the average funding awarded by UKRI, including the MRC, to breast cancer research was approximately £10 million per year.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of utilising (a) High Commissions and (b) Consulates to facilitate British Overseas Voters ability to vote.
No such assessment has been made at this time. We are focused at present on delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen our democracy and encourage participation – including by giving 16- and 17- year olds the right to vote in all elections.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support a cessation of military action in the north of Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary spoke to his Israeli counterpart most recently on 27 October, and reiterated that Israel must do much more to bring about an end to hostilities and get aid into Gaza. A political resolution has been a priority of this Government since day one. We have continued to use all diplomatic avenues to push for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international humanitarian law, protection of civilians including a rapid increase of aid into Gaza, respect for the UN mandate in Gaza, greater stability across the West Bank and a pathway to a two-state solution. We welcome news of the resumption of hostage talks in Doha, and we support the efforts of the US, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Israeli legislation in relation to UNRWA on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) the provision of UK aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have expressed serious concern at the UNRWA bills that Israel's Knesset has now passed. This legislation risks making UNRWA's essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank. The UK and six allies issued a joint statement on 27 October expressing our grave concern and urging Israel to ensure UNRWA can continue its lifesaving work. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this to Israel's Foreign Minister Katz on 27 October. We will continue working with our international partners and through the UN to press Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations.
What the average decision-making time for an Adult Dependent Relative visa application was in each of the last five years.
Current processing times for Adult Dependent Relative applications applying for entry clearance to the UK are 12 weeks. Processing times for Adult Dependent Relative applications applying from within the UK are 8 weeks.Further information on family visa processing times for applications made outside of the UK can be found here: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).Information on family visa processing times for applications made from within the UK can be found here: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).NB: these links list Adult Dependant Relative applications as ‘Adult coming to be cared for by relative’.
What proportion of F-35 components produced by UK companies are wear-sensitive parts.
The F-35 inventory is owned by the US Department of Defence and is managed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt and Whitney. The details on the proportion of F35 components produced by UK companies are not known.The F35 Programme does not classify components as wear-sensitive. Components are either "repairable" or "consumable".
What the acceptance rate for Adult Dependent Relative visa applications was in each of the last five years.
The Home Office publishes data on Family visas in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D01’ whilst data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Further information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates up to the end of June 2024.NotesAdult dependant relative visas are a subset of the ‘Family: Other (for immediate settlement)’ visa type subgroup.An application submitted may receive an outcome in a different quarter.To calculate the grant rate, we recommend taking the number of grants and divide by the total outcomes (grants, refusals, withdrawals, and lapsed) in a specified period. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
How many applications for an Adult Dependent Relative visa there were in each of the last five years.
The Home Office publishes data on Family visas in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D01’ whilst data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Further information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates up to the end of June 2024.NotesAdult dependant relative visas are a subset of the ‘Family: Other (for immediate settlement)’ visa type subgroup.An application submitted may receive an outcome in a different quarter.To calculate the grant rate, we recommend taking the number of grants and divide by the total outcomes (grants, refusals, withdrawals, and lapsed) in a specified period. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
Whether UK components supplied to the F-35 programme are coded using the NATO codification system.
F-35 Components are owned by the US Department of Defence and managed in a Global Spares Pool. The F-35 components within the Global Spares Pool are not subject to NATO Codification.
What the average processing time is for a Skilled Worker visa.
Data on performance against service standards is published through migration transparency data and can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).The Home Office also publishes information on visa processing times for applications inside and outside the UK at: Visa processing times - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).The Home Office makes every attempt to meet the service level agreement standard, but in certain cases additional checks are required which can mean visa requests take longer to process.
How many women claimed statutory (a) maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Statutory Maternity Pay is delivered through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Figures provided by HMRC on the number of new claims for Statutory Maternity Pay in Scotland in each financial year from 2019/20 to 2023/24 are shown in Table 1. Table 1. The number of Statutory Maternity Pay spells starting in Scotland in financial year YearNumber of Statutory Maternity Pay spells in Scotland starting in each financial yearApril 2019 - March 202027,600April 2020 - March 202125,700April 2021 - March 202227,500April 2022 - March 202324,900April 2023 - March 202424,900 Statistics on the number of Maternity Allowance spells starting in each quarter in Scotland from February 2010 to November 2023 are published and can be found at Maternity Allowance: quarterly statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The latest release covers September – November 2023 and data from March 2019 – November 2023 are shown in Table 2. These figures are based on a 5% sample of Maternity Allowance Claims and should be treated with caution. This is because a recent review determined that the available sample used to estimate the Maternity Allowance statistics at a regional level was too small to provide a sufficient level of confidence. Table 2. The number of Maternity Allowance spells starting in Scotland in each quarter QuarterNumber of Maternity Allowance spells in Scotland starting in each quarterSeptember - November 2023840June - August 2023880March - May 2023920December 2022- February 20231,020September - November 2022880June - August 2022740March - May 2022NADecember 2021- February 2022700September - November 20211,000June - August 2021600March - May 2021760December 2020- February 2021780September - November 2020660June - August 2020840March - May 20201,000December 2019- February 20201,140September - November 2019920June - August 2019880March - May 2019900NotesFigures for Statutory Maternity Pay are rounded to the nearest hundred and figures for Maternity Allowance are rounded to the nearest ten.Figures for Statutory Maternity Allowance were collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and were extracted in August 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates. The location of the claim is based on the taxpayers’ residential address as recorded on RTI.It is not possible to identify when an employee has started a second claim for Statutory Maternity pay within twelve months from the data so these figures may exclude a small number of claims where someone has given birth twice within a twelve month period.Figures for Maternity Allowance should be treated with caution because they are based on a sample of Maternity Allowance claims that has since been found to be too small to provide a sufficient level of confidence. They also exclude a small proportion of clerical cases.Maternity Allowance statistics for March - May 2022 were not published as planned due to a data production error so no figures are provided for this time period.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1887 on Tax Avoidance, when she plans to provide an update on her policy on the loan charge.
I know that the loan charge is an extremely important issue for many members and their constituents. I have met with campaigners to discuss the loan charge, and the Chancellor and I are considering this matter further. We will provide an update in due course.