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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme on access to sport for young people.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme on access to sport for young people.
The Government’s clear ambition is for all children and young people to have the opportunity to get active in a way that suits them.
Between 2021 and 2025, the Government has committed over £325 million to multi-sport grassroots sites across the whole of the UK.
So far, almost 2,400 sites have been supported, with thousands more young people across the entire country now able to get active and gain from all the mental and physical benefits that brings.
Cotgrave football club does a fantastic job of providing access to football for the local community, but it is limited by its current facilities and needs funding from Sport England for a 4G all-weather pitch. To secure that funding, it must qualify as a level 3 club, with facilities for disabled football and a plan to grow women’s football. It would love to do that, but it cannot do it without a 4G pitch. Can the Secretary of State help us to resolve this chicken- and-egg situation, so that Cotgrave football club can secure the funding that it needs and provide access to football for even more people?
Cotgrave football club does a fantastic job of providing access to football for the local community, but it is limited by its current facilities and needs funding from Sport England for a 4G all-weather pitch. To secure that funding, it must qualify as a level 3 club, with facilities for disabled football and a plan to grow women’s football. It would love to do that, but it cannot do it without a 4G pitch. Can the Secretary of State help us to resolve this chicken- and-egg situation, so that Cotgrave football club can secure the funding that it needs and provide access to football for even more people?
My hon. Friend has raised that with me in the past, and I have spoken to my officials. I encourage her to continue to liaise with the Football Foundation to understand what might be possible, so I suggest she passes that on. She is a really successful and staunch campaigner for her local area. I have worked with her on a number of campaigns, and I have every faith in her success in this particular campaign.
Nottingham City Council is expecting to fall short of its housing target by 6,000 new homes. Last time this happened, Rushcliffe, as a neighbouring authority, was forced to take thousands of homes on top of its own housing target, which led to huge pressures on our green spaces and public services. Can my right hon. Friend reassure me and my constituents that the changes we have made to the planning system will mean that this time we will be protected from Labour’s failure in Nottingham?
Nottingham City Council is expecting to fall short of its housing target by 6,000 new homes. Last time this happened, Rushcliffe, as a neighbouring authority, was forced to take thousands of homes on top of its own housing target, which led to huge pressures on our green spaces and public services. Can my right hon. Friend reassure me and my constituents that the changes we have made to the planning system will mean that this time we will be protected from Labour’s failure in Nottingham?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. While on this side of the House the Conservatives believe in building the right homes in the right places with local people having a say, all that Labour would do is impose top-down housing targets on areas, decimating our precious countryside. In Nottinghamshire, as she says, we can see the difference between the well-run Conservative county council and the bankrupt Nottingham Council, which has left residents to pick up the bill for its profligacy.
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support small businesses.
What fiscal steps his Department is taking to support small businesses.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre.
The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall is a state of the art facility that rehabilitates our most seriously injured and I had the opportunity to speak to staff and patients when I visited last week .
The Government has committed funding to an NHS-led National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) with plans for the facility to be operational by Autumn 2024. The NRC will be located in the Stanford Hall estate enabling the sharing of expertise and the potential use of specialist facilities available at the DMRC.
I am sure that the Minister will join me in thanking the wonderful team at the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre, based
in Rushcliffe, for their amazing work treating injured members of our armed forces. What assessment has he made of how the expertise and cutting-edge technology at the centre could be shared with our Ukrainian allies to help to rehabilitate Ukrainian heroes who have been injured on the frontline?
I am sure that the Minister will join me in thanking the wonderful team at the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre, based
in Rushcliffe, for their amazing work treating injured members of our armed forces. What assessment has he made of how the expertise and cutting-edge technology at the centre could be shared with our Ukrainian allies to help to rehabilitate Ukrainian heroes who have been injured on the frontline?
As it happens, last Monday I visited the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. I also heard about the NHS-led National Rehabilitation Centre, which will hopefully be stood up by the end of next year: together, they will be able to provide a truly trailblazing international centre for rehabilitation and research. Obviously, this country stands by to help Ukraine in its fight against Putin in any way possible, including in the rehabilitation of its brave men who have given so much not only in defence of Ukraine, but in defence of the rest of us.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including dentists and dental nurses on the shortage occupations list.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including dentists and dental nurses on the shortage occupations list.
Dentists and dental nurses are eligible occupations under the Health & Care visa route and their salary requirements are set according to national pay scales, which means they already receive comparable benefits to being on the Shortage Occupation List.
The Government launched the Health & Care visa in August 2020 making it easier, cheaper, and quicker for health workers to come to the UK to work compared to other immigration routes. Visa applicants pay a lower fee, they are subject to quicker processing time and also have a dedicated UKVI team that assists them with the application process. In addition, visa holders are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with her EU counterparts on the potential impact of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on peace and security in Europe.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with her EU counterparts on the potential impact of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on peace and security in Europe.
The Iranian regime, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), poses a persistent threat to the peace and security of Europe. Since January 2022, there have been at least 10 threats by Iran to kidnap or kill British or UK-based individuals. The recent transfers of UAVs to Russia for use in Ukraine is yet another facet of this threat. HMG works closely with European partners to counter and deter malign Iranian activity in the UK and overseas. We have sanctions designations on over 300 Iranian individuals and entities including the IRGC in its entirety.
Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of fire cover in Nottinghamshire.
Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of fire cover in Nottinghamshire.
The level of fire cover in Nottinghamshire is a matter for the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority, but I would observe that in Nottinghamshire the Labour-controlled fire and rescue service has cut firefighter numbers by 11% since 2016, despite its funding settlement having been about the same as other fire and rescue services, which, nationally have seen only a 1.6% reduction.
The Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority is proposing to cut the night shift at West Bridgford fire station despite the fact that it will save no money, the station has higher night-time call-out rates than other stations in the county, and it will leave Rushcliffe as the only borough in Nottinghamshire without full-time fire cover at night. Can the Minister advise me on the options Members of Parliament have to challenge the decision-making of local fire authorities when it is clear that they are letting down our constituents and the brave firefighters who serve them?
The Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority is proposing to cut the night shift at West Bridgford fire station despite the fact that it will save no money, the station has higher night-time call-out rates than other stations in the county, and it will leave Rushcliffe as the only borough in Nottinghamshire without full-time fire cover at night. Can the Minister advise me on the options Members of Parliament have to challenge the decision-making of local fire authorities when it is clear that they are letting down our constituents and the brave firefighters who serve them?
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and for her campaigning on the issue of Nottinghamshire fire services, which she has raised with me a number of times. There is certainly no financial excuse for what the fire and rescue authority is doing. This year, it received
a 5.2% funding increase and, thanks to my hon. Friend’s campaigning, when the figures are published tomorrow, there will be further good financial news for the Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Fire Authority. On how the fire authority’s decisions might be queried, any concerns she has can be raised with the inspectorate and taken into account when the fire service is next inspected. Otherwise, the fire and rescue authority is made up of local authority representatives, who are accountable, periodically, via the ballot box.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential threat the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps poses to (a) the UK and (b) its overseas interests.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential threat the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps poses to (a) the UK and (b) its overseas interests.
We do not routinely comment on operational or intelligence matters, however the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign nations. As we set out in the Integrated Review in 2021, we are committed to addressing growing threats from Iran, as well as other states.
The UK Government has long been clear about its concerns over the continued destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the UK and overseas. This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups in the region, including Hizballah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. We also support the enforcement of UN prohibitions on the proliferation of weapons to such non-state actors, namely Lebanese Hizballah (UNSCR 1701) and the Houthis (UNSCR 2216).
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
We do not routinely comment on operational or intelligence matters, however the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign nations. As we set out in the Integrated Review in 2021, we are committed to addressing growing threats from Iran, as well as other states.
The UK Government has long been clear about its concerns over the continued destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the UK and overseas. This includes IRGC political, financial and military support to a number of militant and proscribed groups in the region, including Hizballah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. We also support the enforcement of UN prohibitions on the proliferation of weapons to such non-state actors, namely Lebanese Hizballah (UNSCR 1701) and the Houthis (UNSCR 2216).
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the trends in the level of the risk of persecution of the Baha'i people in Iran by authorities in that country.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the trends in the level of the risk of persecution of the Baha'i people in Iran by authorities in that country.
The Baha'i community in Iran is systematically persecuted by the Iranian regime. Reports indicate that the regime has redoubled its repression over the last year with increasing expropriation of land, destruction of homes and detention of Baha'is.
The persecution of religious minorities in Iran cannot be tolerated. The Minister for the Middle East and Human Rights, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, made this clear in his statement of 5 August. The former Minister for Africa reiterated our commitment to holding Iran to account for its treatment of the Baha'i at the Westminster Hall debate of 11 October. The UK raised the Baha'i at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee on 26 October and pressed for the inclusion of the Baha'i in the UNGA Resolution which passed on 16 November.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of covid-19 treatments for immunosuppressed people.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of covid-19 treatments for immunosuppressed people.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 23 November.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 23 November.
Q3
.
Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con):
As we debate how to best help our constituents with their energy costs, 10 million people in Ukraine are without power due to Russia’s barbaric strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure. Will my right hon. Friend set out what support we will provide to our Ukrainian allies to help them to repair the damage and keep their citizens warm this winter?
Q3
.
Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con):
As we debate how to best help our constituents with their energy costs, 10 million people in Ukraine are without power due to Russia’s barbaric strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure. Will my right hon. Friend set out what support we will provide to our Ukrainian allies to help them to repair the damage and keep their citizens warm this winter?
I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that I spent time discussing that with President Zelensky at the weekend and talking to Ukrainian families about the impact that these awful strikes are having on them. I know that the whole House will be proud to know that we are providing millions of pounds of immediate support, with generators, shelter and water repairs, on top of the 570 mobile power generators that we are donating to power facilities across Ukraine. We are also working with the Government to repair critical infrastructure, with eight projects identified by UK Export Finance to be delivered in the near future.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to adopt a national hedgerow planting and restoration target equivalent to that of the national tree planting target.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to adopt a national hedgerow planting and restoration target equivalent to that of the national tree planting target.
HM Government does not currently have plans to adopt a national hedgerow planting and restoration target equivalent to that of the national tree planting target.
We are required by the Environment Act 2021 to set at least one long-term biodiversity target, in addition to our target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. This target, and others set under the Act, will help target the causes of decline and drive actions to deliver nature recovery.
We will also be setting out our pathways to meet these targets in the Environmental Improvement Plan due in 2023. To meet our species abundance target we will need to create more, better joined up habitats, which will include hedgerows.
I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
For strong, sustained growth it is vital that we protect, enhance and invest in our natural capital. Can the Minister give me an absolute promise that none of the proposed reforms to the planning system, including in the investment zones, will row back on the Government’s 10% biodiversity net gain requirement, as enshrined in our landmark Environment Act 2021?
I draw the attention of the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
For strong, sustained growth it is vital that we protect, enhance and invest in our natural capital. Can the Minister give me an absolute promise that none of the proposed reforms to the planning system, including in the investment zones, will row back on the Government’s 10% biodiversity net gain requirement, as enshrined in our landmark Environment Act 2021?
As my hon. Friend knows, that biodiversity net gain does not come in for some time yet. It could be that, depending on the applications received for investment zones, the planning permissions will have gone through, or be in the process of going through, under the existing planning process. However, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have repeated at the Dispatch Box, and as is clear within the expression of interest guidance on investment zones, we are committed to strong environmental outcomes in those areas and across the planning system.
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of Investment Zones on the environment.
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of Investment Zones on the environment.
Investment zones seek to empower communities to deliver planning and outcomes that are right for the local area, while maintaining strong environmental outcomes and keeping national green belt policies in place. They are about working with local areas, and we look forward to receiving applications from Wales in due course.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help protect consumers from online scams.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help protect consumers from online scams.