Every parliamentary written question tabled by Neil Duncan-Jordan this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,081–1,100 of 1,276 · this parliament
Whether he plans to replace the NHS pay review body process with collective bargaining.
There are no plans to replace the National Health Service’s Pay Review Body process with direct negotiation. We published written evidence to the Pay Review Bodies as per the usual process on 10 December 2024, and oral evidence sessions are due to take place in January and February 2025.
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of library provision in primary schools.
School libraries complement public libraries by giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. There are a number of strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment. For example, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34 point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” liked reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement, and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure to other positive effects, such as improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge and character development.It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26.Given this autonomy, the department does not collect information on the number of school libraries or school librarians. There are currently no plans to make it a statutory requirement for primary schools to have a library, although we will continue to keep this matter under review.The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.
What steps her Department is taking to encourage reading in schools.
High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits. There are a number of strong links with attainment. For example, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34 point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” liked reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement, and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure with other positive effects, such as expanding pupils’ knowledge about the world and about language, as well as their understanding of subject-specific academic and technical vocabulary.Further, pupils who read regularly report heightened levels of social and emotional wellbeing. For many, reading is a form of relaxation, a place to escape everyday challenges, or a source of entertainment. Reading allows readers to adopt new perspectives, develop empathy and become more socially conscious.In recognition of this, the department has implemented a range of measures to support reading for pleasure. The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure with a further £23 million committed for the 2024/25 academic year to support this work. Further, the government’s reading framework provides guidance on improving the teaching of reading, to ensure that every child is not only able to read proficiently, but also develops a genuine love of reading.The current national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, in line with the government’s ambition for a curriculum that delivers excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics.
Communities and Local Government, if she will take legislative steps to allow local authorities to reject planning applications for (a) new and (b) expanding factory farms.
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment. National planning policy in this area needs to be taken into account when determining applications relating to factory farms.The planning system is concerned with whether proposed development is an acceptable use of land, rather than the control of processes or emissions subject to separate pollution control regimes. The Environmental Permitting Regulations apply to the largest intensive pig (2000+ pigs) and poultry (40,000+ birds) farms and require such farms to hold an environmental permit to operate, and to adopt Best Available Techniques to reduce pollution to air, land and water. This is regulated by the Environment Agency.
If he will provide additional resources to healthcare trusts to enable them to bring outsourced services back in-house.
Responsibility for spending decisions rests with individual National Health Service trusts. As public bodies, NHS trusts should maintain the highest standards of rigour, value for money and propriety in the use of public funding. All spending must contribute to organisational objectives and support the delivery of high-quality patient care.Regardless of how staff are employed, the expectation from the Government is that their pay, terms and conditions remain attractive to support recruitment and retention.
Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will introduce a ban on the imports of dogs with cropped ears as soon as possible.
The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Winchester. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to the United Kingdom. We will use these powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs with non-exempted mutilations such as cropped ears. We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through both Houses as soon as parliamentary time allows.
What steps she is taking to monitor library provision in primary schools.
School libraries complement public libraries by giving pupils access to a range of books and other kinds of texts, both in and out of school. The national curriculum states that teachers are expected to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. There are a number of strong links between reading for pleasure and attainment. For example, the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study report found a 34 point difference in reading performance between pupils in England who “very much” liked reading and pupils who “do not” like reading. Additionally, the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment study found that enjoyment of reading links to pupils’ reading engagement, and that reading engagement was strongly positively correlated with reading performance. There is also a strong evidence base linking reading for pleasure to other positive effects, such as improved text comprehension and grammar, increased general knowledge and character development.It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian. Headteachers have autonomy to decide how best to spend the core schools funding that is allocated to them by the department. The Autumn Budget 2024 announced an additional £2.3 billion for schools for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to 2024/25, bringing the total core schools budget to almost £63.9 billion in 2025/26.Given this autonomy, the department does not collect information on the number of school libraries or school librarians. There are currently no plans to make it a statutory requirement for primary schools to have a library, although we will continue to keep this matter under review.The government’s reading framework offers non-statutory guidance for teachers and school leaders, including helpful guidance for schools on how to organise their school library, book corner or book stock to make reading accessible and attractive to readers.
What steps the Government is taking to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.
The Government offers several incentives to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. £120m of new funding was announced at the Autumn Budget to support the purchase of zero emission vans and wheelchair accessible vehicles through the Plug-in Vehicle Grants next financial year. Grants will also continue to incentivise the purchase of zero emission motorcycles, taxis, and trucks until at least the end of the 2024/25 financial year. There are also several tax measures designed to encourage the adoption of zero emission vehicles. They are exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) until April 2025, after which they will pay the lowest first year rates of VED at £10. Favourable Company Car Tax rates have also been set out to 2030 and will continue to strongly incentivise electric vehicle uptake.
Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that the use of AI does not lead to large scale job losses.
A technology as transformative as AI will inevitably have an impact on the UK labour market. The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out how we will address key labour market challenges and spread opportunity. A key element of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and our broader work on education, is focused on ensuring citizens have the right skills to adopt and take advantage of AI capabilities. We are working across government to understand and address the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to permit the controlled release of beavers into the countryside.
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. Further information on this will be published in due course.
What plans he has to meet with the leadership of the Lobular Moon Shot Project to discuss funding.
The Department invests £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24 reflecting its high priority.There are no current plans to meet with the leadership of the Lobular Moon Shot Project to discuss funding. Officials meet regularly with partners to discuss research investments and priorities. We are proud to have invested £29 million into the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NIHR Biological Research Centre in 2022, supporting their efforts to strengthen research into cancer, including lobular breast cancer. Wider investments into breast cancer research include a £1.3 million project to determine whether an abbreviated form of breast magnetic resonance imaging can detect breast cancers missed by screening through mammography, including lobular breast cancer. NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including into lobular breast cancer. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
With reference to page 24 of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s annual report for 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what steps her Department is taking to improve the ability of the inspection regime to detect animal welfare failings.
The Regulator’s annual report details the range of ways in which it detects non-compliance and seeks to drive greater compliance.Through a current regulatory reform programme, the Regulator is presently recruiting to have more Inspectors for compliance related activities and will be reviewing its compliance regime for continuous improvement.To provide assurance of compliance with the Regulations, the Regulator provides clear and accessible guidance and conducts regular on-site audits. The published framework for audit is based on clear benchmarks and assessing compliance through organisational governance to encourage greater commitment to compliance.
With reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit's Annual Report for 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) letters of reprimand and (b) other sanctions in response to (i) animals dying after being left without food or water and (ii) other animal welfare failings.
The Home Office takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously .The Regulator applies proportionate sanctions in cases of non-compliance in accordance with its published compliance policy, which aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.More rigorous sanctions are used in cases where animal welfare is impacted or there are significant systems failures.For cases of non-compliance where animals experienced adverse welfare outcomes there was a 48% reduction in 2023 compared to 2022.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 19860, Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the expected performance parameters of private sector providers have changed since these contracts were awarded.
The performance parameters of private sector providers are subject to ongoing contract management and are reviewed and, where appropriate, changed to align with the business requirements.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 19860 on Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance, if she will publish the 2023 assessment.
The assessment carried out in partnership with the Cabinet Office in 2023, was conducted in line with Cabinet Office guidance and was consistent with the options appraisal approach prescribed by HM Treasury. The information contained within the assessment is commercially sensitive and as such there is no intention to publish the assessment as this may prejudice future procurement exercises.
Whether her Department plans to redistribute sea worthy boats used in migrant crossings to youth groups such as Sea Scouts.
The material and equipment rescued by Border Force from small boat crossings is usually totally unsuitable for any use, and there are therefore no plans to redistribute it as suggested.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to reform the marine licensing process.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for the operation of the marine licensing system. With Defra, the MMO seeks continuous improvement to ensure the system is streamlined, cost effective and proportionate, and supports economic growth and the delivery of environmental benefits. Defra is considering options for future reform which would be subject to stakeholder consultation in due course.
Whether she plans the Young Future Hubs to be jointly run with third sector partners.
Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes, supporting crime prevention and enabling young people to thrive. The department will make use of existing structures and build upon the successes of existing provision, partnerships and support. By having a more cohesive and integrated approach, with strategic centre points coordinating activity, we will reach more young people.Officials from across a range of departments are working together, using evidence of what works, to start to shape how the Young Futures Hubs will work in practice. We will require input and expertise from across the sector to design these hubs and will be engaging with local communities, the police, charities and other key partners to seek views on the design of the programme and explore options for their delivery. This includes considerations of the most suitable locations as well as how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from their support.We will provide further detail on the future timelines for delivery as the work develops.
Whether Dorset will receive a Young Future Hub.
Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes, supporting crime prevention and enabling young people to thrive. The department will make use of existing structures and build upon the successes of existing provision, partnerships and support. By having a more cohesive and integrated approach, with strategic centre points coordinating activity, we will reach more young people.Officials from across a range of departments are working together, using evidence of what works, to start to shape how the Young Futures Hubs will work in practice. We will require input and expertise from across the sector to design these hubs and will be engaging with local communities, the police, charities and other key partners to seek views on the design of the programme and explore options for their delivery. This includes considerations of the most suitable locations as well as how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from their support.We will provide further detail on the future timelines for delivery as the work develops.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support active restoration of coastal ecosystems; and if he will take steps to amend the licensing framework for that restoration.
The Government recognises that protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing coastal and marine habitats – such as saltmarsh, seagrass and native oyster reefs – can provide biodiversity, climate adaptation and climate mitigation benefits. Defra has fund...