Deirdre Costigan MP: written questions
106 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Packaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of incentives under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to encourage the use of reusable packaging.
Answer: Re-use has a significant role to play in driving down unnecessary waste, and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging will encourage use of reusable and refillable packaging.
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPackaging: LitterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the proposed introduction of litter payments under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.
Answer: Defra is working with the Devolved Administrations on future amends to the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, including the management of binned waste and litter within this scheme.
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the proposed level of producer involvement in the (a) establishment and (b) administration of the Extended Producer Responsibility Sche
Answer: Yes. The Scheme Administrator is already guided by the Scheme Administrator Steering Group, whose membership includes representatives across the packaging and waste value chain including several producers and their trade associations. The Secretary of Sta...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLitter: Deposit Return SchemesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a deposit return scheme on levels of (a) litter and (b) public disamenity caused by litter; and if he will make an estimate of th
Answer: Across the UK, it is estimated that approximately 4 billion plastic and 2.5 billion metal drinks containers are not recycled every year – a significant amount being littered. Once the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers is introduced, the De...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRecreation Spaces: DisabilityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce design standards that ensure greater accessibility in (a) parks, (b) woodlands and (c) other outdoor spaces for disabled peo
Answer: The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public sector organisations to have due regard to the provision of walking and wheeling infrastructure for those who are disabled or have reduced mobility. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced the ...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that engagement in physical activity does not put disabled people at potential risk of losing their benefits.
Answer: Entitlement to disability benefits is based on a functional assessment of the person’s ability to perform a range of activities relevant to the specific benefit. Engaging in regular physical activity will not automatically result in reduction in benefit o...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to (a) clarify guidance and (b) introduce further safeguarding measures to ensure that disabled people who engage in regular physical activity do not risk a (a) review of and (b)
Answer: Entitlement to disability benefits is based on a functional assessment of the person’s ability to perform a range of activities relevant to the specific benefit. Engaging in regular physical activity will not automatically result in reduction in benefit o...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of measures to prevent parties from adjourning tribunal hearings without valid cause.
Answer: The management and listing of tribunal cases, and decisions on whether to reimburse the legal fees of a party in individual cases, are functions of the independent judiciary.Although orders for costs are not generally made in tribunal proceedings, tribun...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will review the effectiveness of the mechanisms in place to ensure parties in tribunal cases comply with information requests in a timely manner.
Answer: The management and listing of tribunal cases, and decisions on whether to reimburse the legal fees of a party in individual cases, are functions of the independent judiciary.Although orders for costs are not generally made in tribunal proceedings, tribun...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog of tribunal cases.
Answer: We are working to reduce the outstanding caseload in the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Reducing outstanding caseloads is the key measure to bringing down the waiting times for tribunal...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTribunals: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reimbursing the legal fees of claimants whose tribunal proceedings have been adjourned as a result of an unavailability of court resources.
Answer: The management and listing of tribunal cases, and decisions on whether to reimburse the legal fees of a party in individual cases, are functions of the independent judiciary.Although orders for costs are not generally made in tribunal proceedings, tribun...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Sleeping RoughDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve coordination between health services and homelessness support organisations to tackle the healthcare needs of rough sleepers with (a) substance misuse and (b) men
Answer: The Department is funding the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG) in 83 local authorities, of which Ealing is one. This programme funds targeted services to improve drug and alcohol treatment and support to people who sleep rough, or ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPodiatry: Sleeping RoughDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to podiatry services for rough sleepers that are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.
Answer: Integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population with the resources they are allocated, including in respect of podiatry services. This starts with general practice (GP) registr...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordOphthalmic Services: Sleeping RoughDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to optometry services for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.
Answer: Individuals can apply for help with the cost of sight tests and glasses through the NHS low-income scheme. This includes people seeking asylum, refused asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support and some refugees who will be eligible for cost exempt...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Sleeping RoughDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to dental care for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development and implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidan...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCarers: Government AssistanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that unpaid carers (a) are adequacy supported and (b) have access to (i) short breaks and (ii) legal advice.
Answer: Lord Darzi’s independent review of the NHS is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care and the NHS.We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-yea...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the training provided to adult social care workers that undertake tasks delegated to them by NHS staff.
Answer: Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment to patients, which includes the provision of appropriate training for adult social care workers undertaking...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPatients: SafetyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on patient safety of adult social care workers (a) administering vaccines and (b) undertaking other NHS delegated tasks.
Answer: Employers in the health and care system are responsible for ensuring that adult social care workers are competent to undertake the healthcare activity delegated to them, with sufficient training, development, and support to the required standard.The adult...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Labour TurnoverDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve adult social care workforce retention.
Answer: Skills for Care data shows improvement in workforce retention in adult social care, the staff turnover rate decreased from 29.1% in 2022/23 to 24.8% in 2023/24 in the independent and local authority sectors. This may be partly due to the increase in inter...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of people waiting for an adult social care assessment.
Answer: We recognise there are challenges in adult social care, with some people waiting too long for a care assessment. There are long-term reforms needed in social care and we will work with the sector to build consensus for the reforms needed to create a susta...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLearning DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate provision of early support for people with learning disabilities that live independently.
Answer: The Government is determined to stabilise the adult social care system and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide joined-up care for people with complex health and care needs, such as people with a physical or learning d...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate support for people with physical disabilities that live independently.
Answer: The Government is determined to stabilise the adult social care system and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide joined-up care for people with complex health and care needs, such as people with a physical or learning d...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate provision of early support for people with poor mental health that live independently.
Answer: We know prevention is better than a cure, and early intervention is vital. Part of successful early intervention is ensuring that people, including those that live independently, have access to the mental health support that they need. As part of our miss...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Greater LondonDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding to London boroughs to support the management of micromobility services.
Answer: Government remains committed to supporting London and the transport network on which it depends. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and TfL. We are working with the Mayor on funding for transport in the capital, and it is for the Mayor...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles and Electric Scooters: Greater LondonDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to grant London boroughs legal powers to regulate (a) the use, (b) parking and (c) fleet management of rental (i) e-bikes and (ii) e-scooters.
Answer: As you will appreciate, the new Government is still in its early stages, and I am carefully considering next steps for micromobility, including rental e-bikes and e-scooters. The Government remains committed to gathering further evidence to inform future ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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