Rachael Maskell MP: written questions 2024
289 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Winter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with elderly medical care specialists on the potential impact of stopping winter fuel payments on the health needs of the elderly.
Answer: This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement. Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the governme...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support people who cannot afford their energy bills in winter 2024-25.
Answer: The Government is continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides an annual £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. We are also extending the Household Support Fund to help struggling households with bills and essentia...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Children and Winter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of households that are impacted by the two child benefit cap and the ending of their Winter Fuel Allowance.
Answer: The two-child limit does not apply in Pension Credit No estimate has been made of the number of households that are impacted by the policy to support a maximum of two children and the ending of their Winter Fuel Payment. This government is committed to pe...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment on levels of equality.
Answer: This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement. Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the governme...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordClass SizesDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to increase class sizes to accommodate children moving from the independent sector to the state sector.
Answer: The number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of changes in the independent sector is expected to represent a very small proportion of overall pupil numbers in the state sector. Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) research has estimated that up t...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsTreasuryTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2374More
Question: To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure that pupils without an education, health and care who have experienced trauma are exempt from the introduction of VAT on private school fees.
Answer: The Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child has access to high-quality education, which is why we have made the tough decision to end tax breaks for private schools. This will raise revenue for essential publ...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren: Mental Health ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make provision available for the (a) emotional and (b) mental health needs of children transferring from the independent to the state school sector before they transfer.
Answer: This government’s goal is to achieve better outcomes for all children. Where parents decide to move their child to a new school, local authorities and schools already have processes in place to support new pupils. This government is committed to removing ...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the state school sector is able to accommodate children in the independent sector who will need to transfer due to the introduction of VAT on schools in (a) September 202
Answer: The government understands that moving school can be challenging for parents and pupils. However, the department expects very few pupils to need to move within the academic year. Local authorities and schools have processes in place to support pupils movi...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATTreasuryTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2371More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with private schools on the Government's proposed policy to implement VAT on private school fees.
Answer: As the Government announced on 29 July, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training supplied by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. A technical note setting out the details o...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 43 of her Majesty's Treasury's policy document entitled, Fixing the foundations public spending audit 2024-2025, published on 29 July 2024, what discussions she held with sta
Answer: This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement. The Department met with Age UK, the Local Government Association and Citizens Advice, prior t...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of pensioners don't receive Pension Credit; and if she will make an estimate of the number of those pensioners living in (i) relative and (ii) absolute poverty.
Answer: According to the latest data available, for the financial year 2022/23, 10.7 million pensioners in Great Britain live in a household which is not in receipt of Pension Credit. That is 91% of all pensioners. 1.6 million of these are in relative poverty, an...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 43 of her Majesty's Treasury's policy document entitled, Fixing the foundations public spending audit 2024-2025, published on 29 July 2024, what assessment she has made of th
Answer: Ministers took account of the equality impacts in reaching their decision to link Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit and other qualifying income-related benefits in England and Wales from winter 2024-25. Given the substantial pressures face...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 43 of Her Majesty's Treasury's policy document entitled, Fixing the foundations public spending audit 2024-2025, published on 29 July 2024, what assessment she has made of t
Answer: Ministers took account of the equality impacts in reaching their decision to link Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit and other qualifying income-related benefits in England and Wales from winter 2024-25. Given the substantial pressures face...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's oral statement on 29 July 2024, Official Report, column 1038 on Public spending: inheritance, what assessment his Department has made of the potentia
Answer: Ministers took account of the equality impacts in reaching their decision to link Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit and other qualifying income-related benefits in England and Wales from winter 2024-25. Given the substantial pressures face...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDiabetesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Answer: The Department is taking steps to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes by identifying people at risk of developing it, through programmes such as the NHS Health Check, and by referring people into the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) or Weight ...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a Major Conditions Strategy.
Answer: As of July 2024, work on the Major Conditions Strategy has been paused. As we develop our plans to rebuild the National Health Service, we will consider how we incorporate the findings from the Major Conditions Strategy into our plans.
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic DrinksDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will produce an alcohol strategy in this Parliament.
Answer: The Government has set out its ambition to create a National Health Service that is fit for the future, which includes prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Government will continue to cons...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: SalesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of banning the sale of alcohol before 11am on use by people who have an alcohol dependency.
Answer: Preventative public health measures are vital in supporting people to live longer, healthier lives. The Government will continue to consider the most effective interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms across society.
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Minimum Unit PricesHome OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of minimum pricing for alcohol.
Answer: Any new plans to reduce alcohol harm will be announced in Parliament in the normal way. There are no such plans at present.
Answered 2 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordDrugs: MisuseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of illicit drug deaths.
Answer: The Department is actively working to reduce the number of drug-related deaths, investing over £300 million into drug and alcohol treatment this year, which will help prevent drug-related harm and save lives. This includes funding over 50,000 additional t...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordFentanyl and Nitazenes: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to educate the drug using community on the risks of (a) nitazine and (b) fentanyl.
Answer: The Department is monitoring the threat that the synthetic opioids nitazenes and fentanyls pose, and is working with partners across Government to respond to this threat. Educating the drug using community of the risks these drugs pose is vital. In 2018, ...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordDrugs: MisuseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on a harm reduction approach to substance misuse.
Answer: No discussions have taken place between my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Home Office on a harm reduction approach to substance misuse. The Department recognises that harm reduction is a core component in address...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordNaloxoneDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will roll out training on the use of naloxone.
Answer: The Department is working to expand access to naloxone, to increase the availability of this life saving medicine. On 29 July 2024 we laid legislation which, subject to passage through Parliament, will enable more services and organisations to provide tak...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: FoodDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will support food growing schemes in schools.
Answer: It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating.Having a school garden or setting up a gardening club are some of the ways schools can achieve this approac...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordProcessed FoodDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will stake steps to work with food producers to reduce (a) fat, (b) sugar and (c) salt in processed foods.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling obesity and creating the healthiest generation of children in our history, as a core part of our Health Mission. This means taking action to ensure healthy choices are the easy choice, reducing the consumption of th...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament record
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