{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=3&parliament=4&state=debated","first":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?parliament=4&state=debated","last":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=9&parliament=4&state=debated","next":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=4&parliament=4&state=debated","prev":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions.json?page=2&parliament=4&state=debated"},"data":[{"type":"archived-petition","id":593296,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/593296.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"End reviews of PIP and ESA awards for people with lifelong illnesses","background":"People with a lifelong illness should not be subject to regular reviews for eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). People suffering lifelong conditions should not have to prove they are still ill every couple of years.","additional_details":"I and others like myself have been awarded PIP and ESA for lifelong illnesses yet have to be subjected to reviews for both benefits even though these conditions are for life!\r\n \r\nThese reviews mean that people like myself are subject to repeated interviews with people who often have no idea about the conditions we suffer from, and in many case the stress of these reviews causes a flare up and worsens the condition.\r\n \r\nThese reviews are unnecessary and need to stop!","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":29373,"created_at":"2021-07-24T15:47:35.030Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T09:17:38.932Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-07-28T16:08:04.955Z","closed_at":"2022-01-28T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-07-24T16:03:25.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2021-08-20T19:47:15.000Z","government_response_at":"2021-09-10T12:24:34.285Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-07-06","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-09-04","debate_outcome_at":"2023-09-06T10:53:12.322Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2021-09-10","summary":"We understand there are people with severe and lifelong health conditions which will not improve and want to test a simplified process which doesn’t require them to undertake a health assessment.","details":"The Department for Work and Pensions uses functional assessments to help determine entitlement for a number of benefits, including Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and, for those claiming because they have a disability or health condition that impacts on their capability for work, Universal Credit (UC). \n\nThere is strong evidence that work is good for physical and mental well-being and that being out of work can contribute to poorer health. We want to ensure people who can work are supported to do so. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was designed to ensure that people receive appropriate financial support and appropriate work-related support. Reassessments are important to take into account changes in how someone’s health condition or disability affects their capability for work over time.\n\nWe use a separate assessment to determine entitlement for PIP. Unlike in UC and ESA, PIP aims to help people with the extra costs of a disability or long-term health condition. PIP is paid regardless of income or savings. Once someone has been awarded PIP, which can be paid at one of eight rates, that award will be reviewed. Reviews of PIP are a key part of the benefit to ensure that awards remain correct where needs may change (including where needs increase and the award may need to increase) and that we maintain contact with the individual, both features that were missing from PIP’s predecessor Disability Living Allowance. The length of an award is based on an individual’s circumstances and can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review after 10 years.\n\nOver recent years, we introduced a range of improvements to avoid unnecessary reassessments. In WCA, for example, we have worked with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to develop a set of criteria to waive the need to re-assess people with the most severe health conditions or disabilities (unless a change of circumstances is reported).\n\nThose placed in the ESA Support Group or found to have Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) in UC, who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function would always mean that they would have LCWRA, and be unlikely ever to be able to move into work, are not routinely reassessed.\n\nRather than being defined through a list of specific health conditions, the severe conditions criteria are considered as part of the WCA. This gives the individual the best opportunity to share with us the most up to date information about the functional impacts of their condition.\n\nWe have also made changes to help reduce the frequency of repeat assessments some people need to go through on PIP. We have ensured that people who receive the highest level of support whose needs will not improve and most people over State Pension Age, receive an ongoing award of PIP with a ‘light touch’ review at the 10-year point. Ongoing awards can be applied to any level or combination of award outcome so long as the person’s needs are unlikely to change. A review can take place sooner if a person’s needs change.\n\nFurthermore, the Shaping future support: the health and disability green paper published on 20th July 2021 recognises that people who do not come within the special rules for terminal illness may still have severe and lifelong conditions that will not improve. These people are unlikely ever to work again and will always need extra financial support to live independently. We want to test a new Severe Disability Group (SDG) so that these people can benefit from a simplified process without ever needing to complete a detailed application form or go through an assessment. This will build on existing successful measures such as the Severe Conditions Criteria. The SDG could apply to people on PIP, ESA and UC.\n\nWe expect that the decision to place someone in the SDG will be based on information from medical professionals so we are working with a group of health and social care professionals to help us develop the criteria for the SDG and identify the evidence that would be required to meet them. We will also consult with charities and disabled people’s organisations on the criteria. Additionally, we will work directly with disabled people and people with health conditions to develop the service, and test the approach to make sure it delivers the improvements we are seeking. This test will look at whether the SDG achieves its goals while ensuring people receive the right level of benefit. We will consider the test results alongside the responses to the Green Paper when determining whether the policy should be rolled out further.\n\nThe consultation is an important step towards making changes that will improve our services, improve employment outcomes and enable people to live independent lives. Our approach must be informed by different views and opinions, particularly those of disabled people and people with health conditions.  \n\nDepartment for Work and Pensions","created_at":"2021-09-10T12:24:34.281Z","updated_at":"2021-09-10T12:24:34.281Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-09-04","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-09-04/debates/E7E6E6E9-3167-4E47-9CE4-362EBF85C373/DisabilityBenefitsAssessments","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGycLpYT5DU","debate_pack_url":"https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2023-0170/CDP-2023-0170.pdf","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"DWP","name":"Department for Work and Pensions","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":619481,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/619481.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"End assessments and consider disability benefit claims on medical advice alone","background":"The Government should remove the requirement for people claiming disability benefits, such as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), to have to go through an assessment process. Claims should be based solely on evidence from medical professionals, such as a letter from a GP or consultant.","additional_details":"We are concerned about how the disabled, with conditions such as inflammatory Arthritis. Heart disease, lung disease, respiratory diseases, poor mental health etc, are treated by the benefits system. Claimants with medical evidence of their condition should not to be subject to degrading assessments.\r\n\r\nThese delays in assessing claims risk deterring genuine claims. It has to stop.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":29048,"created_at":"2022-07-02T11:41:19.852Z","updated_at":"2024-04-10T09:18:38.752Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-07-07T16:45:59.703Z","closed_at":"2023-01-21T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-02T14:34:19.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-12-09T17:46:10.000Z","government_response_at":"2023-01-03T16:43:44.707Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-07-06","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-09-04","debate_outcome_at":"2023-09-06T09:59:49.604Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-12-21","summary":"Benefit assessments ensure people get the support they are entitled to. Evidence from claimants’ medical professionals alone is usually insufficient to ensure that claimants get the right support.","details":"The Government has no plans to assess eligibility for all disability benefit applications based on medical evidence alone. DWP uses assessments to help determine entitlement for a number of benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP); Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB); Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); and, for those claiming due to a disability or health condition that affects their capability for work, Universal Credit (UC). These benefits were designed for specific purposes, be that support with additional costs associated with long-term ill-health or disability; compensation following a work-related accident or illness; or income replacement. Each benefit has its own assessment criteria, to ensure that those who meet the entitlement conditions get the support they are entitled to.\n\nThe Work Capability Assessment, which assesses entitlement to ESA and the additional health-related amount of UC, ensures that people receive appropriate financial and tailored work-related support. This supports those who can work to do so. It assesses people’s functional ability over a range of physical and mental/cognitive criteria, as well as several non-functional criteria covering circumstances such as cancer treatment and kidney dialysis.\n\nPIP contributes to the extra costs of disability or long-term ill health regardless of whether someone is in work. The PIP assessment looks at the impact of a disability or health condition on someone’s ability to do a range of day-to-day activities, e.g., washing; using the toilet; communicating; and mobility needs. \n\nIIDB provides non-contributory benefit for people who become disabled because of an accident at work or due to certain prescribed diseases caused by their job. The aim of the IIDB assessment is to establish the causation of the illness or disease and a percentage disablement.\nFor all benefits, we encourage people to provide any relevant evidence at the outset of their claim. This includes letters from their outpatient clinic or specialist; or information from other professionals involved in their care, e.g., support workers or carers. Healthcare professionals who carry out the assessment are expected to seek further evidence if it may help them to provide advice without requiring the claimant to attend a face-to-face, telephone, or video assessment. Whenever it is possible to assess a claimant on the basis of paper evidence alone, we will do so. Increased use of paper assessments is also helping to reduce waiting times. \n\nThe assessor’s role is to evaluate the effects of a claimant’s health condition or disability on their ability to perform everyday activities, and/or to advise DWP whether the evidence, including that provided by a doctor, supports the legislative intent of the benefit in question. Factual information from a clinician about an individual’s diagnosis or treatment can be helpful, but is often not sufficient to determine entitlement to benefit. We do not expect clinicians to have an expert knowledge of the benefit system; their role is to diagnose and treat a person’s illness. \n\nDWP provides fast-track access to certain benefits for people nearing the end of their lives through special benefit rules (or “the Special Rules”). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits without needing to attend an assessment; serve waiting periods; and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. The Special Rules are now being changed to apply to people who have 12 months or less to live, instead of 6 months or less. These changes are well underway. From 4 April 2022, the Government changed eligibility for Special Rules access in UC and ESA. The Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Act 2022 enables similar changes for PIP, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.\n\nWe continue to review our benefit processes and procedures, for example, in 2021 we published Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper. This explored how the benefits system can better meet the needs of disabled people and those with health conditions. It also considered how to build a system that enables people to live independently and move into work where possible.\n\nLooking ahead, we want to test a new Severe Disability Group so that some people can benefit from a simplified process without needing to complete a detailed application form or go through an assessment. We will work directly with disabled people and people with health conditions to develop and test the approach. This will ensure that it delivers the desired improvements. We will consider the test results alongside the responses to the Green Paper when determining whether the policy should be rolled out further.\n\nWe received over 4,500 responses to the public consultation, and we are grateful to the individuals and organisations who contributed. We will respond with a White Paper in the coming months.\n\nDepartment for Work and Pensions","created_at":"2023-01-03T16:43:44.705Z","updated_at":"2023-01-03T16:43:44.705Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-09-04","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-09-04/debates/E7E6E6E9-3167-4E47-9CE4-362EBF85C373/DisabilityBenefitsAssessments","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGycLpYT5DU","debate_pack_url":"https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2023-0170/CDP-2023-0170.pdf","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"DWP","name":"Department for Work and Pensions","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":620264,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/620264.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Recognise Teaching Assistants as an important asset to schools by raising wage.","background":"Teaching Assistants are an extremely important part of the running of schools in England, but are not currently recognised as this by our government when reflecting on the wage.","additional_details":"Without Teaching Assistants, schools wouldn't be able to cater to the high number of SEN students. They work hard and are discriminately underpaid for the work they do. A Teaching Assistant's role is demanding, and the workload they face in current times is massive. Duties include, but are not limited to: supporting SEN students (often on a one to one basis), teaching groups of children and sometimes even a whole class to cover teachers, lesson planning, organising extra curricular activities, making sure that every child reaches their full potential. Sadly, as the wage is so low, this is not a job many TA's can afford to keep, and a huge number of highly skilled TA's are being forced to find other jobs. This needs to change.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":88410,"created_at":"2022-07-13T18:57:56.447Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:18:03.507Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-07-19T08:10:18.279Z","closed_at":"2023-02-02T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-14T15:08:49.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-24T16:11:49.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-08-15T08:08:41.014Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-07-17","debate_outcome_at":"2023-07-18T10:19:36.619Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-08-12","summary":"Government recognises the importance of teaching assistants. Schools are free to set their pay and most mirror local government pay scales. These are in negotiation due to report in September.","details":"The government knows the valuable contribution teaching assistants can make to pupils’ education, helping to raise attainment and reduce teachers’ workload. Alongside excellent teachers, they help pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to fulfil their potential in mainstream and specialist schools. \n\nIn March, the department published the SEND review green paper that recognised their role and committed to set out how schools can use and train teaching assistants to best advantage in new national standards.\n\n* SEND and AP green paper: responding to the consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-and-ap-green-paper-responding-to-the-consultation\n\nThe workforce has increased steadily over the last decade. Last year there were 275,812 (full-time equivalent) teaching assistants in English schools, which represents a 4,400 increase from 2020. This is on top of a 6,000 increase the previous year. \n\nThe government’s education reforms gave schools freedom to make their own decisions about budgets. For most staff, including teaching assistants, schools have the freedom to recruit according to their own circumstances and set pay and conditions. All schools have different characteristics and should have the freedom to make decisions.\n\nTeaching assistant pay has increased year-on-year since 2017. Last year’s pay rose by between 1.75 and 2.75 per cent for teaching assistants, which was backdated to April 2021.\n\nThe government does not have a role in setting local government pay and there is no national pay body. Instead, most councils take part in collective negotiations. The Local Government Association (LGA) represents the employer, negotiating with the National Joint Council (UNISON, Unite and the GMB) which represent the employee. On 25 July the National Employers offered an increase of £1,925 on all National Joint Council pay points one and above effective from 1 April 2022, which will include most teaching assistants.  The unions are currently considering this offer and are expected to consult their members during August and September. \n\nMost follow these pay scales, and some pay more when they can afford to do so. \n\nThe government recognises that many people need additional help with rising living costs. Nationally, the government has helped millions of households by raising the threshold at which employees pay National Insurance and introducing a series of measures to help with household bills. More information about the support available can be found via the link: \n\n* Cost of Living Payment: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment\n\nIn addition, the department has committed to help schools recruit, train and use their teaching assistants in an update to school resource management guidance. We will work in collaboration with schools and all interested parties to consider how the government can help schools, teachers and teaching assistants. The guidance can be found via the link: \n\n* School resource management: building a stronger system: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-excellent-school-resource-management\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2022-08-15T08:08:41.011Z","updated_at":"2022-08-15T15:48:50.068Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-07-17","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-07-17/debates/00104CAB-7B8B-4CBB-AA47-67A200EBCE04/TeachingAssistantPay","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxWSvQrVBGY","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0155/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/pet-TA-survey/index.html","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/pet-teaching-assistants/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":626737,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/626737.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Make swift bricks compulsory in new housing to help red-listed birds ","background":"Swifts have declined by over 50% in the UK. Adult swifts, known for site-fidelity, return to the same nests. We want swift bricks to be required in all new housing, to provide homes for these birds. Surveys show these are used by red-listed swifts, house martins, starlings and house sparrows. ","additional_details":"Swifts spend more time airborne than any other bird, sometimes only landing when returning to their nests in our walls, from Africa. They're tidy and quiet neighbours but modern building methods block swifts out.\r\n\r\nThe metric for calculating biodiversity net gain doesn't include existing nest sites in buildings, or swift bricks, but these bricks can be designed into buildings without conflicting with insulation, and should be made a requirement for new housing.\r\n\r\nIconic and irreplaceable, swifts define our summers. Please help them. The RSPB supports this petition.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":109896,"created_at":"2022-10-25T11:02:23.608Z","updated_at":"2024-05-20T14:50:58.021Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-10-31T10:58:17.096Z","closed_at":"2023-04-30T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-10-25T12:49:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-11-10T19:02:10.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-12-01T17:09:33.857Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2023-04-08T15:03:10.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-07-10","debate_outcome_at":"2023-07-11T09:24:29.236Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-12-01","summary":"We welcome actions by developers to provide “swift bricks”, however Government considers this a matter for local authorities depending upon the specific circumstances of each site.","details":"The Government welcomes any action by individual developers who wish to provide “swift bricks”, and the benefits are set out in our Planning Practice Guidance on the Natural Environment: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment\n\nWe will not be legislating, however, to compel local authorities or developers to include particular forms of green infrastructure in every development. In some high density schemes the provision of “swift bricks”, for instance, might be inappropriate; in other places it could not achieve the desired connectivity for wildlife. For the natural environment to thrive we need both local authorities and developers to understand the natural characteristics of each site, and to take proportionate and reasonable action relevant to that location. \n\nPlanning conditions or obligations can, in appropriate circumstances, be used to require that a planning permission provides for works that will measurably increase biodiversity. Local authorities can prioritise specific species such as swifts, and we have seen these in Brighton and Hove Council. We are also introducing new Local Nature Recovery Strategies which are tools designed to help local authorities plan proactively for nature, to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help nature, including priority species. \n\nAs with all our policies, this area continues to evolve and develop, balancing the very laudable different priorities of supporting people into home ownership with protecting and enhancing our natural environment – both of which we want to achieve. The Government will continue to review and bring forward proposals in this policy area and there will be opportunities in future for residents to contribute through consultation.\n\nDepartment for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities","created_at":"2022-12-01T17:09:33.855Z","updated_at":"2022-12-01T17:09:33.855Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-07-10","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-07-10/debates/203F1289-9D61-415A-9429-984EFBF599F5/NewHousingSwiftBricks","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBC6vjIFcag","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0126/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":600966,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/600966.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Increase the HMRC Mileage Rate from 45p/mile to 60p/mile","background":"The HMRC mileage rate for reimbursing the use of private cars (e.g. for employees but also volunteers) has been fixed at 45p/mile (up to 10,000 miles) since 2011. The lack of any increase since then is a serious disincentive to volunteer drivers particularly as fuel has gone up again recently.","additional_details":"Since 2011, inflation has gone up by over 25%; fuel has increased by over 20% over the last 5 years. Volunteer car drivers who did so much during Covid, and still do, to get people to healthcare settings, e.g. hospitals, vaccination centres, and to deliver shopping and prescriptions, are not being compensated fairly for the use of their cars. Consequently charities are struggling to recruit new volunteer drivers. These drivers help free up hospital beds and keep people independent and in their own homes.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":41589,"created_at":"2021-11-10T14:58:38.102Z","updated_at":"2023-07-04T09:22:29.206Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-02-18T16:19:16.617Z","closed_at":"2022-08-18T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-02-15T10:07:48.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-06-14T18:17:49.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-07-20T10:40:09.122Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-07-03","debate_outcome_at":"2023-07-04T09:22:29.206Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-10-11","summary":"The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate is advisory and is 45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter. As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keep the AMAP rate under review.","details":"The Government sets the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates to minimise administrative burdens.\n\nThe current AMAP rates allow employees to claim up to 45 pence per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25 pence for each subsequent mile, tax free, if they use their private car or van for business purposes. An additional 5 pence per mile may also be claimed for every passenger transported.\n \nThe AMAP rate is intended to create administrative simplicity by using an average, which reflects vehicle running costs including fuel, depreciation, servicing, insurance, and Vehicle Excise Duty. As it is an average, the rate is necessarily more appropriate for some drivers than others.\n\nEmployers are not required to use the AMAP rates. Instead, they can agree to reimburse a different amount that better reflects their employees’ circumstances. If an employee is paid less than the AMAP rate, they can claim Mileage Allowance Relief (MAR) on the shortfall. However, where payments exceed the relevant AMAP rate, there will be an Income Tax and National Insurance charge on the difference.\n\nAt Spring Statement 2022 in response to fuel prices reaching record levels, the government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre. This cut represents savings for households and businesses worth around £2.4 billion in 2022-23.\n\nAs with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review.\n\nHM Treasury\n\nThis is a corrected response. The Government requested to update the response to rectify inaccuracies in the original response, to which the Petitions Committee agreed.\n\nYou can find the original response, with details of the inaccuracies in it, towards the bottom of the petition page.","created_at":"2022-07-20T10:40:09.119Z","updated_at":"2022-10-13T14:11:47.909Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-07-03","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-07-03/debates/F1D1D6A6-08FF-4ABC-876C-DFDE4A6C4653/ApprovedMileageAllowancePaymentRate","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Gu9X7Wt-g","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9742/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"HMT","name":"HM Treasury","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":599985,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/599985.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Revoke local government powers to charge CAZ, LEZ, and ULEZ.","background":"Revoke local government powers to charge CAZ, LEZ, and ULEZ.","additional_details":"Local government should not have the power to introduce charges tied to public road usage and create charges for vehicle use that have a Certificate of Conformity, meaning that they comply with strict legislation regarding safety, emissions, etc. at the time of production. The buyer should have the right to use his vehicle on public roads without paying fees to various councils until it is no longer roadworthy or the UK government deems it otherwise.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":55520,"created_at":"2021-10-27T21:42:17.977Z","updated_at":"2023-06-27T09:43:46.212Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-11-15T16:01:07.713Z","closed_at":"2022-05-15T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-10-29T18:23:28.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-01-06T10:15:58.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-01-24T11:49:44.790Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-26","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-27T09:43:46.212Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-01-24","summary":"Powers enabling local authorities to introduce road user charging schemes are long-standing and remain an appropriate tool to deliver local transport objectives including air quality improvements. ","details":"There are no plans to revoke the long-standing powers, set out in Part III of the Transport Act 2000, on local road user charging. These powers provide an important tool for local authorities (LAs) to support the delivery of local transport objectives. The legislation sets out the basic elements that must be included in order to establish a charging scheme, it states that any net proceeds resulting from the scheme once operational costs are covered should support the delivery of local transport plans. The legislation also requires that LAs consult on charging schemes.  The powers can be used to enable LAs to tackle congestion and pollution as part of a local transport plan and deliver local transport priorities, which include, but are not limited to, delivering air quality outcomes.\n\nThese powers have been used by some LAs to implement Clean Air Zones (CAZs) , to reduce NO2 levels to within legal limits in the shortest time possible. Poor air quality is a major environmental risk to human health. There is evidence of a link between exposure to air pollution and mortality and morbidity. It is a particular threat to vulnerable groups (the elderly, young children, those with chronic respiratory diseases and heart disease).  Those living in city centres, and near busy roads, often on the lowest incomes, are most exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. \n\nAir pollution has reduced significantly since 2010 – emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 32% and are at their lowest level since records began. But there is more to do. The only statutory air quality limit the UK is currently failing to meet is nitrogen dioxide concentrations around roads. Transport creates around 70% of roadside nitrogen oxides and makes a significant contribution to particulate matter. Around 72% of road transport emissions of nitrogen oxides come from diesel cars and vans, with older vehicles contributing disproportionately more.\n\nThe July 2017 UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations (The Plan) outlines how councils with NO2 levels exceeding legal limits must develop and implement local plans to deliver legal levels of NO2 in the shortest time possible. This could be achieved through various interventions depending on local circumstances. \n\nThe Plan identified CAZs are an effective means of delivering compliant levels of NO2 in the shortest time possible based on a national level assessment, and as such LAs need to consider CAZs when developing local plans to understand their effectiveness and impacts locally. However, the Plan also recognises that given the impact of CAZs on individuals and businesses, when considering between equally effective alternatives that measures other than CAZs should be preferred.  The government assesses all local plans to ensure they are effective, fair, good value and will deliver the air quality improvements in the shortest time possible. \n\nIn some instances, evidence produced by LAs has indicated that CAZs are required in order to achieve compliance. Legislation requires any local authority proposing to implement a CAZ to carry out a consultation. The CAZ Framework defines principles LAs should follow when setting up CAZs, it is designed to provide a consistent approach. The Framework sets out the different classes of CAZ and the types of vehicle subject to a charge within each. Where a LAs plan identifies a CAZ is needed, they should implement the minimum class of CAZ that will achieve legal NO2 limits in the shortest time possible to minimise the impact of the zone on businesses and individuals.  \n\nThe work to deliver legal levels of NO2 is  supported by £880m  of funding to help develop and implement local air quality plans and reduce impacts.   LAs implementing air quality measures as part of a local plan can bid for Clean Air Fund (CAF) funding to support those impacted. The CAF supports a range of measures  - vehicle upgrade and retrofit schemes, improvements to bus fleets, installation of electric chargepoints, provision of park and ride services, concessionary travel schemes and freight consolidation centres.  LAs themselves establish and deliver schemes under the CAF and set the eligibility criteria focussing on those most affected by measures.. To date, the Government has awarded over £311 million of support from the CAF. \n\nTransport in London is devolved and the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London is a road user charging scheme made under section 295 and Schedule 23 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, as amended. The ULEZ was introduced in London in April 2019 and expanded in October 2021. According to TfL, it has contributed to a 44% reduction in roadside NO2 within its boundaries and will help deliver wider benefits for the capital, including preventing more than one million air pollution related hospital admissions over the next 30 years, saving the NHS around £5bn.\n\nDepartment for Transport","created_at":"2022-01-24T11:49:44.788Z","updated_at":"2022-01-26T10:07:02.531Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-26","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-26/debates/077638E8-599B-45E5-BB61-7BBDF9DA6073/RoadUserChargingSchemes","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6pJpP25r_c","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9816/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfT","name":"Department for Transport","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":633550,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/633550.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Amend the 1999 GLA Act to remove the Mayor's power to impose road use charges","background":"The Mayor's proposed extension of ULEZ over a short timeframe could negatively impact millions of people and businesses across SE England.","additional_details":"We believe the powers granted under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 are far too great for a Mayor to wield.\r\n\r\nThe ULEZ expansion could cause harm to millions of people’s lives, work and businesses.\r\n\r\nWe believe that:\r\n\r\n- the short timeframe for expanding the ULEZ has not allowed enough time for people to avoid this charge.\r\n\r\n- there is no adequate democratic accountability as the measure affects millions who have no vote in London Mayoral Elections\r\n\r\n- turnout at local elections is too low to provide democratic accountability.\r\n\r\nThe country's roads should be available without favour to all users of lawfully licensed vehicles.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":27340,"created_at":"2023-02-20T12:22:32.121Z","updated_at":"2023-08-23T23:29:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2023-02-23T14:28:20.562Z","closed_at":"2023-08-23T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2023-02-20T17:17:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2023-03-08T10:38:20.000Z","government_response_at":"2023-04-03T15:16:44.858Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-26","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-27T09:43:43.618Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2023-03-22","summary":"Government has no plans to amend the GLA Act. While DfT is aware of concerns about schemes which charge road users in the capital, transport in London is devolved and decisions lie with the Mayor.","details":"Effective devolution requires local leaders and institutions that are transparent and accountable. We believe that high-profile, directly elected leaders, such as the Mayor of London, provide the strongest form of local democratic accountability for decisions they take.\n\nTransport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and it is the Mayor’s responsibility to manage and oversee the transport network. This includes the power to create, or vary, road schemes which charge users so long as doing so will directly or indirectly facilitate the achievement of the policies and proposals in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.\n\nWe understand substantial concerns that the proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) may have on people’s lives, work, and businesses. Under the GLA Act, it is for the Mayor to assess the overall impact of this including on businesses in London and the South East. In May 2022, TfL produced the London-wide ULEZ Integrated Impact Assessment (ULEZ Scheme IIA) report on the impacts of his proposed ULEZ expansion.\n\nWe appreciate that there is a short timeframe before the expansion of the ULEZ in August 2023. The Mayor has made available a limited scrappage scheme for some London residents, if they are in receipt of certain benefits or credits, e.g., Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Tax Credit.\n\nLimited grace periods for certain vehicle classes have applied London-wide to ‘disabled’ and ‘disabled passenger’ vehicles (exempted until Oct 2027), wheelchair accessible PHVs and TfL licenced PHVs (exempted until Oct 2027), and minibuses used for community transport (exempted until Oct 2025). Full details of these offers are available here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-support-offers. \n\nDepartment for Transport","created_at":"2023-04-03T15:16:44.849Z","updated_at":"2023-04-03T15:17:48.768Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-26","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-26/debates/077638E8-599B-45E5-BB61-7BBDF9DA6073/RoadUserChargingSchemes","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6pJpP25r_c","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9816/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfT","name":"Department for Transport","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":617155,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/617155.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Increase statutory maternity pay in line with cost of living crisis","background":"Review statutory maternity pay in line with inflation and cost of living\r\n\r\nStatutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is currently:\r\n90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks\r\n£156.66 or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for next 33 weeks. This averages £7.5k p/a","additional_details":"The cost of living has been increasing across the UK since early 2021 and in April 2022, inflation reached its highest recorded level, and the ONS estimates that it is now higher than at any time since around 1982, affecting the affordability of goods and services for households.\r\n\r\nConsumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), were 9.0% higher in April 2022 than a year before","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":38606,"created_at":"2022-05-23T20:47:15.349Z","updated_at":"2023-11-09T16:24:13.223Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-05-27T08:56:09.041Z","closed_at":"2022-12-11T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-23T20:57:49.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-28T08:50:49.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-06-15T08:21:11.164Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-05-18","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-19","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-20T05:21:57.137Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-06-13","summary":"The Government has no plans to increase Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). The standard rate of SMP is reviewed annually and is generally increased in line with CPI.","details":"Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to a maximum of 39 weeks. The first six weeks are paid at a weekly rate equal to 90% of the woman's average weekly earnings, with no upper limit. This is followed by up to 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate or 90% of the woman's average weekly earnings.\n\nThe standard rate of SMP is considerably higher than the level of other out of work benefits and reflects the special position of pregnant working women and new mothers.\n\nThe standard rate of SMP is reviewed annually, alongside state benefits, and is generally increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). From April 2022 the standard rate of SMP increased to £156.66, in line with the September 2021 CPI rate of 3.1%.\n\nWhen considering calls to increase the level of SMP, this must be balanced against limited resources as well as being mindful of the burden on employers, who (with the exception of small employers i.e. those with gross National Insurance liability of £45,000 or less in a tax year) are required to cover 8% of the SMP costs. If changes to the rate of SMP outside of the annual review of uprating were to be made, payroll providers and employers would need sufficient time to amend, test and distribute any system changes needed to reflect the new rate.\n\nGovernment already spends approximately £3 billion a year on maternity payments. Any changes to the rate of SMP would have to take account of economic circumstances and affordability for taxpayers and could not be made without consultation with businesses and other stakeholders. \n\nThe Government has no plans to increase the rate of SMP outside of the annual review of uprating.\n\nMore broadly, the Government recognises millions of households across the UK are struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living. That is why we recently announced more than £15 billion in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. This package is in addition to the over £22 billion announced previously, meaning support for the cost of living now totalling over £37 billion this year. Almost all of the eight million lowest-income households will get at least £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400.   On top of the various cost of living payments, the Household Support Fund has been extended through next winter and offers £1.5 billion to the households most in need.\n\nDepartment for Work and Pensions","created_at":"2022-06-15T08:21:11.161Z","updated_at":"2022-06-15T08:21:11.161Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-19","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-19/debates/23061915000001/CostOfLivingParentalLeaveAndPay","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6vBa7aaKo8","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0131/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"HMT","name":"HM Treasury","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":627984,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/627984.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Commit to not amending the Equality Act's definition of sex","background":"It has been reported that the Government may amend the Equality Act to \"make it clear that sex means biological sex rather than gender.\" The Government has previously committed to not remove legal protections for trans people, an already marginalised group, but this change would do so.","additional_details":"Currently, the Act protects trans people from discrimination on the basis of both sex and “gender reassignment”, regardless of whether they have undergone medical transition or hold a Gender Recognition Certificate. It can allow trans people to access single-sex spaces such as DV shelters, bathrooms and hospital wards.\r\n\r\nThe proposed change would remove a legal protection for trans people and encourage discrimination. We ask the Government to refuse this change to the Equality Act 2010.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":138886,"created_at":"2022-11-10T13:40:08.927Z","updated_at":"2023-06-13T06:27:55.069Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-11-15T16:00:00.972Z","closed_at":"2023-05-15T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-11-10T13:56:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-12-12T16:41:10.000Z","government_response_at":"2023-01-25T13:24:05.943Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2023-04-07T11:53:20.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-04-27","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-12","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-13T06:27:55.069Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2023-01-25","summary":"This Government believes in individual liberty. There are processes with appropriate checks to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender. Changes to the Equality Act are not necessary.","details":"The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.\n\nThe Government is also committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex services. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained, in line with the Equality Act. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.\n\nThe Act makes it clear that providers have the right to restrict use of spaces on the basis of sex and gender reassignment where this is justified.\nThe Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces.\n\nFinally, this Government believes in the principle of individual liberty and in the humanity and dignity of every person. There are processes in place, with the right checks and balances, to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender to do so. We have listened to the responses in the Gender Recognition Act consultation and have taken steps to modernise the way that individuals can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate as a result, reducing the cost and moving the process online. Everyone that decides to transition, deserves our respect, support and compassion.\n\nCabinet Office","created_at":"2023-01-25T13:24:05.940Z","updated_at":"2023-01-25T13:24:05.940Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-12","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-12/debates/F74BD8CC-4807-46F4-AA51-5402B7CFE8F9/LegislativeDefinitionOfSex","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-9MsJo6-Uo","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0120/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"CO","name":"Cabinet Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":623243,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/623243.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex","background":"The Government must exercise its power under s.23 of the Gender Recognition Act to modify the operation of the Equality Act 2010 by specifying the terms sex, male, female, man & woman, in the operation of that law, mean biological sex and not  \"sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate\"","additional_details":"The Equality Act 2010 covers nine separate protected characteristics, including “Sex” & “Gender Reassignment”. This protects people against sex discrimination and discrimination because a person is transgender. \r\n\r\nThere has been much confusion about how the Equality Act and GRA interact. This has caused uncertainty and conflict for women, transgender people, and service providers. The GRA includes a provision to amend other laws to make it clear whether a GRC changes the definition of sex for that law.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":109461,"created_at":"2022-09-05T12:21:53.717Z","updated_at":"2024-07-12T12:05:28.688Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-10-20T08:50:04.708Z","closed_at":"2023-04-20T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-09-05T12:43:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-11-02T20:16:40.000Z","government_response_at":"2023-01-26T14:05:11.153Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2023-03-09T13:16:20.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-04-27","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-12","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-13T06:27:51.634Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2023-01-26","summary":"Under the Equality Act 2010, providers are already able to restrict the use of spaces/services on the basis of sex and/or gender reassignment where justified. Further clarification is not necessary.","details":"The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.\n\nThe Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces. It does not change the legal position or the law.\n\nAs the guidance makes clear, it is entirely acceptable for providers of single-sex services to take account of the biological sex of their service users. Where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the Equality Act 2010 is clear that service providers can exclude, modify or limit access for transgender people, even where they have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). This includes where a service provider has concerns that the presence of individuals who are biologically male could prevent them from meeting their aims, such as in the example below, included in the guidance:\n\n“A group counselling session is provided for female victims of sexual assault. The organisers do not allow trans women to attend as they judge that the clients who attend the group session are likely to be traumatised by the presence of a person who is biologically male.”\n\nIt is important that providers of single-sex services are clear that biological sex can be taken into consideration when providing services.\n\nThe Government is committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex spaces. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.\n\nCabinet Office","created_at":"2023-01-26T14:05:11.150Z","updated_at":"2023-01-26T17:07:45.701Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-12","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-12/debates/F74BD8CC-4807-46F4-AA51-5402B7CFE8F9/LegislativeDefinitionOfSex","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-9MsJo6-Uo","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0120/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"CO","name":"Cabinet Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":622847,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/622847.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Create statutory legal duty of care for students in Higher Education","background":"No general statutory duty of care exists in HE. Yet, a duty of care is owed to students, and the Government should legislate for this. HE providers should know what their duty is. Students must know what they can expect. Parents expect their children to be safe at university.","additional_details":"The mental health, safety and well-being of HE students should be a Government priority. Student engagement, retention and success should be another. Both are indisputably linked to the duty of care students receive.\r\n\r\nA duty of care already exists for staff, and for students under the age of 18 in HE. There should be parity in duty of care for all members of the HE community.\r\n\r\nThis is not a petition for ‘in loco parentis’ or for duplication of the NHS. We only seek parity and legislative clarity on duty of care for all students.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":128292,"created_at":"2022-08-30T07:49:22.210Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:25:21.656Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-09-05T14:24:10.329Z","closed_at":"2023-03-19T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-08-30T08:29:59.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-12-30T18:39:30.000Z","government_response_at":"2023-01-20T13:16:15.033Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2023-03-15T15:15:20.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":"2023-06-05","debate_outcome_at":"2023-06-06T06:11:34.595Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2023-01-20","summary":"Higher Education providers already have a general duty of care not to cause harm to their students through their own actions.","details":"Higher Education providers do have a general duty of care to deliver educational and pastoral services to the standard of an ordinarily competent institution and, in carrying out these services, they are expected to act reasonably to protect the health, safety and welfare of their students. This can be summed up as providers owing a duty of care to not cause harm to their students through the university’s own actions.\n\nOver the last decade, higher education providers have devoted considerable resources to their student support services, and a good deal of support is now widely provided to students who struggle with their mental health. However, tragically suicides do still occur in higher education, and investigations into the circumstances of such deaths have sometimes shown the support offered by the university was not all it might have been. We have encouraged universities to learn from such cases and redouble their prevention efforts. Former Higher Education Minister Donelan wrote to vice chancellors specifically on this subject in both July 2021 and December 2021.\n\nWe acknowledge the profound and lasting impact a young person’s suicide has upon their family and friends, and know among the petitioners there are those who have personal experience of these devastating, tragic events. While press narratives often suggest students are an at-risk population, ONS data May 2022 (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/estimatingsuicideamonghighereducationstudentsenglandandwalesexperimentalstatistics/2017to2020) shows a significantly lower suicide rate in HE students compared with the wider population (including students) of similar age. This is supported by Figure 6 from the linked ONS publication, and the third bullet point at the top of the page. We, therefore, feel further legislation to create a statutory duty of care, where such a duty already exists, would be a disproportionate response.\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2023-01-20T13:16:15.030Z","updated_at":"2023-01-20T13:16:15.030Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-06-05","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-06-05/debates/9BA59E93-4342-4AD6-BA94-379DCA6A24E0/HigherEducationStudentsStatutoryDutyOfCare","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHwbEG7Oi-E","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8593/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/121595/pdf/","debate_summary_url":""},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":617425,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/617425.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment.","background":"Disabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive.","additional_details":"Without including disabled people for the full £650 entitlement, many more disabled people could die. We might have to switch off or use our equipment less which is vital for our survival. We could be unable to purchase specific food for our dietary requirements. We might be unable to be warm. This could lead to more hospitalisations and death. Most Disabled people already suffer from mental health problems and this will only increase. This could lead to more suicides and death.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":24649,"created_at":"2022-05-27T09:52:12.112Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:16:16.565Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-06-06T14:50:43.430Z","closed_at":"2022-12-20T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-27T10:35:19.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-06-18T20:19:09.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-07-01T15:05:29.834Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":"2023-05-22","debate_outcome_at":"2023-05-23T06:06:58.074Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-10-11","summary":"6 million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.","details":"Our help for households with the cost of living helps all households but has prioritised those on low incomes, those with disability and pensioners.\n\nMany disabled people will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment and the £650 Cost of Living Payment. However, the £650 payment is only for those people in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit. The Government is not changing these qualifying criteria.\n\nThe £650 cost of living payment (split into 2 instalments of £326 and £324) is available to those on benefits such as Universal Credit or income-related ESA. This will support millions of low-income households.\n\nThe Government recognises that disabled people face particular cost of living pressures. That is why, in addition, up to 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a disability benefit (including non means-tested benefits like PIP) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment worth £150.\n\nThe Disability Cost of Living Payment is just one element of the help for households. Disabled pensioners will also benefit from the £300 increase in Winter Fuel Payments.\n\nNearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Element claim either an income-related benefit through which they could be entitled to the £326 and £324 Cost of Living Payment or a qualifying disability payment meaning they are entitled to the £150 disability one off payment.\n\nIn addition to the £15 billion targeted Cost-of-Living Support, millions of families will benefit from\n\n• a £400 energy rebate, for all domestic energy customers to support with electricity bills under the Energy Bills Support Scheme and\n\n• a £150 Council Tax rebate in England for those in bands A-D\n\n• From 1st October, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will mean a typical UK household will now pay up to an average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years. This will save the average household at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October.\n\nThe Government is also providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing the total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England, £421m will be used to further extend the Household Support Fund from October 2022 to March 2023. Guidance and individual local authority indicative allocations for this further extension to the Household Support Fund will be announced in due course. Authorities should particularly consider how they can support low-income households that cannot increase their income through work, including people with disabilities and unpaid carers. The Household Support Fund is principally intended to be used to support households with energy, food and water costs, although support with wider essentials can also be considered under the scope of the scheme. We know energy bills may be of particular concern to low-income households and so Local Authorities are being encouraged to focus on supporting households with the cost of energy.\n\nThis package of support is in addition to the £1.3 billion investment announced in 2021 to help those with disabilities get into and stay in work and ongoing work on reform through the Health and Disability White Paper due to be published later this year.\n\nDWP has comprehensive guidance for colleagues on how to support customers who are having thoughts of suicide and self-harm. If a concern is identified, staff follow a six-point plan that helps them take the right action to get the customer the support they need. The Department also has a detailed mental health training package which includes modules on supporting customers at risk of suicide or self-harm.\n\nDepartment for Work and Pensions\n\nThis is a corrected response. The Government requested to update the response to rectify inaccuracies in the original response, to which the Petitions Committee agreed.\n\nYou can find the original response, with details of the inaccuracies in it, towards the bottom of the petition page.","created_at":"2022-07-01T15:05:29.831Z","updated_at":"2022-10-13T14:34:59.566Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-05-22","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-05-22/debates/D9A4E40A-4E17-4DBA-9C99-06887CF2B0EF/CostOfLivingFinancialSupportForDisabledPeople","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dyz88zG5ZE","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0110/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/pet-financial-support-disabled-people/index.html","debate_summary_url":""},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":610300,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/610300.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition","background":"Millions of UK citizens have a disability or serious medical condition that means they use more energy. Many people need to use a ventilator 24/7. People use electric pumps to feed through a tubes. People need to charge their mobility equipment, such as electric wheelchairs, stair lifts, bath seats.","additional_details":"The Government needs to provide a grant, so that people with a disability or serious medical condition can afford to run the equipment, or heating, they need to stay alive. It is not right that people living with conditions that require energy, should be punished for it, and sometimes face unmanageable debts with energy companies. What a horrendous situation to face. If some people don't run their ventilator, CPAP machine or feeding pump they will die. Our Government must help people afford to stay alive.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":16303,"created_at":"2022-03-01T15:34:24.421Z","updated_at":"2024-05-03T15:57:27.732Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-03-07T17:38:19.689Z","closed_at":"2022-09-07T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-03-01T15:53:58.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-04-18T18:32:29.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-05-09T12:48:35.692Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":"2023-05-22","debate_outcome_at":"2023-05-23T06:06:55.910Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-06-14","summary":"The Government will provide approximately six million people across the UK, who receive certain disability benefits, with a one-off payment of £150 in September 2022.","details":"The Government is aware of the impact that high global wholesale energy prices are having on all consumers.  Although Government does not determine the price of gas or electricity, these are set by global market conditions, the price cap ensures that the price of tariffs is fair and that customers do not experience a loyalty penalty.\n\nThe Government understands, however, that some households with a disability or medical condition have higher than average energy costs.  NHS England provides electricity refunds for users of certain medical equipment in the home, such as oxygen concentrators. If a patient is prescribed an oxygen concentrator as part of their home oxygen therapy, the provider will reimburse the patient for any electricity the machine uses at the standard rate for the electricity provider in that region.\n\nWhile Clinical Commissioning Groups are best placed to support their local populace, the Government has put in place additional support for those on certain disability benefits.  As a result, around six million people across the UK who receive the following disability benefits will receive a one-off payment of £150 in September:\n\n• Disability Living Allowance\n• Personal Independence Payment\n• Attendance Allowance\n• Scottish Disability Benefits\n• Armed Forces Independence Payment\n• Constant Attendance Allowance\n• War Pension Mobility Supplement\n\nThis forms part of the £15 billion package of targeted government support, announced on 26 May 2022, to help with the rising cost of living. This brings the total cost of living support measures announced to £37 billion this year.\n\nHouseholds in Great Britain will get a £400 grant for their energy bills in September.  This does not need to be repaid.\n\nIn addition, there has been a £150 non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England and £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction.\n\nMore than 8 million households on means tested benefits will receive a payment of £650 this year, made in two instalments.\n\nPensioner households will receive an extra £300 to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter. This additional one-off payment will go to the over 8 million pensioner households across the UK who receive the Winter Fuel Payment and will be paid on top of any other one-off support a pensioner household is entitled to.\n\nThe Government is providing an extra £500 million of local support, via the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from this October to March 2023. The Household Support Fund helps those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills. This brings the total amount provided through the Household Support Fund to £1.5 billion since October 2021. The Barnett formula provides a share of this funding to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland so they can decide how to provide support.\n\nDepartment for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy\n\nThis is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/610300)","created_at":"2022-05-09T12:48:35.689Z","updated_at":"2022-06-14T15:29:37.164Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-05-22","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-05-22/debates/D9A4E40A-4E17-4DBA-9C99-06887CF2B0EF/CostOfLivingFinancialSupportForDisabledPeople","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dyz88zG5ZE","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0110/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/pet-financial-support-disabled-people/index.html","debate_summary_url":""},"departments":[],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":585304,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/585304.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"'Owen's Law' - Change the law around allergy labelling in UK restaurants","background":"1.Restaurants to put all information about allergens in their food on the face of the main menu so customers have full visibility on what they're ordering.\r\n2.Servers must initiate a discussion with customers about allergies on all occasions.\r\n3.National register for anaphylaxis deaths","additional_details":"Owen Carey suffered multiple allergies all his life & was used to ordering meals for his restricted diet. On 22/4/17 he ordered a chicken burger at a restaurant, explained his allergies to the server & with no other info on the menu, was assured it was safe. However, the chicken was marinated in buttermilk, to which he was very allergic. He instantly knew something was wrong & 45 minutes later he collapsed & died having suffered a massive anaphylactic reaction. We aim to prevent future deaths.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":12889,"created_at":"2021-05-08T11:08:34.731Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:15:07.644Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-05-13T11:19:49.572Z","closed_at":"2021-11-13T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-05-08T13:06:35.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2021-06-18T13:13:55.000Z","government_response_at":"2021-07-14T12:41:09.964Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-03-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-05-15","debate_outcome_at":"2023-05-17T12:45:42.534Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2021-07-14","summary":"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Owen Carey, and to all those who have lost loved ones as a result of food allergies.","details":"It is essential that all consumers can buy their food with confidence. The Government continues to work with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that can be taken so ensure that future such tragedies are prevented.\n\nThe FSA recently met with the Carey family to discuss their proposals for Owen’s Law.  The FSA has committed to working with government departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), to carefully consider evidence on how to improve the provision of information to people with food hypersensitivity.\n\nLabelling and signage has an important role to play in providing consumers with accurate information. It is also important to ensure that hypersensitive consumer are able to communicate with food businesses when they are ordering their food. The allergy management culture within a business is a critical factor in ensuring hypersensitive consumers are adequately safeguarded when making their food choices.\n\nAll food businesses are under a legal obligation to provide information on the presence of the 14 major allergens in food.  This information can be presented in different ways depending on how the food is packaged. In addition, new labelling rules for ‘prepacked for direct sale’ (PPDS) food are being implemented across the UK from 1 October 2021 and require full ingredients listing, with the 14 major allergens emphasised. This change means more types of food will now be labelled with allergen information, in particular ‘grab and go’ food. \n\nAny new legislation will need to be carefully considered, taking into account what consumers would find helpful, the requirements for businesses and local authorities, as well as the potential for unintended consequences. The FSA has developed a dedicated programme of work on food hypersensitivity and has a strong track record of funding research in this area. The FSA is considering what other evidence it could gather and assess in relation to the Owen’s Law proposals as this is an essential part of the process for evaluating proposed legislative change.\n\nOn the proposal to establish a national register for anaphylactic deaths, DHSC notes the campaign proposal for a fatalities register and concurs that it is essential we learn from recent tragedies. The FSA also recognises the need for improved access to any source of information about fatalities where a food-related allergy is suspected. DHSC wishes to underline its emphatic support of the FSA’s strategy on food hypersensitivity; and in conjunction with the FSA’s ongoing work to collect more information on allergic reactions, DHSC is working to support the FSA to increase information prevalence regarding such fatalities. \n\nFurthermore, DHSC and FSA officials are together considering existing data available from across the medical estate on food-related anaphylaxis cases, and how this might be analysed and used to prevent future incidents and deaths. The intention is to understand what more each Department could do in this area. \n\nDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","created_at":"2021-07-14T12:41:09.961Z","updated_at":"2021-07-14T12:41:09.961Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-05-15","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-05-15/debates/56CD8E04-F2BC-41CA-ADE5-943A63CE7ECE/FoodLabellingAndAllergies","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNo_jUdF4X8","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0103/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/why-are-mps-debating-food-labelling-and-support-for-people-with-allergies/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":589716,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/589716.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Appoint an Allergy Tsar as a champion for people living with allergies","background":"The Government should appoint an Allergy Tsar to act as a champion for people with allergies to ensure they receive appropriate support and joined up health care to prevent avoidable deaths and ill health.","additional_details":"At least 2m people have a food allergy. Since 2012, there has been a 615% increase in hospital admissions for anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. However, allergy remains a \"Cinderella service\" in the NHS. There has been little investment given to NHS allergy services. The care people with allergies receive is often patchy, and at worst has led to avoidable deaths. Without greater priority given to allergies, these problems will continue and more lives may be lost.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":20518,"created_at":"2021-06-25T08:33:34.127Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:14:47.597Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-07-19T09:19:19.489Z","closed_at":"2022-01-19T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-06-25T12:15:05.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2021-07-28T18:28:55.000Z","government_response_at":"2021-08-25T13:51:31.998Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-03-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-05-15","debate_outcome_at":"2023-05-17T12:42:41.207Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2021-08-25","summary":"People with allergies continue to be supported through locally commissioned NHS services. New legislation is also being implemented to support those with food allergies through clearer food labelling.","details":"Most allergy services are commissioned locally through clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). However, to support patients with more complex conditions NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I) directly commissions some specialised services.\n\nWhilst there is currently no specific National Clinical Director or Speciality Adviser for routine allergy services, NHSE/I keeps the position under review and new National Clinical Directors or Specialty Advisers are appointed as necessary. Clinical advice and leadership on specialised immunology and allergy services are provided by the Clinical Reference Group (CRG). To support the implementation of coherent care pathways, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on a range of allergy conditions including food allergy in under 19s, anaphylaxis and drug allergy.\n\nAlthough allergies are very common, most allergic reactions are mild. Occasionally, however, a severe reaction or anaphylactic shock can occur. NHS Digital have confirmed that their data shows finished admission episodes where the primary diagnosis is anaphylaxis between 2011/2012 and 2020/2021 have increased from 3161 to 4359, an increase of 38%. This includes anaphylactic shock due to adverse food reaction, anaphylactic shock due to an unspecified reason, anaphylactic shock due to serum and anaphylactic shock due to adverse effect of correct drug or medicament properly administered. These admissions do not represent the number of patients as a person may have more than one admission within the period. Hospital episode statistics are recorded by financial year and episodes are only included in the data set once they are complete and all clinical information is provided.\n\nThe Government recognises the challenges faced by people with allergies and is taking a number of actions to further support them. This includes the introduction of Natasha’s law which will come into force on 1st October 2021. This will make it a legal requirement for all food retailers and operators to display full ingredient and allergen labelling information on every food item they sell pre-packed for direct sale, ensuring that people with allergies are protected appropriately and giving them confidence in the food they buy.\n\nThe Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is also developing a communications campaign to convey key messages to improve the safe and effective use of adrenaline autoinjectors (AAIs) in the self-administration setting, including the need to carry two pens at all times. The campaign will aim to raise awareness and scientific understanding among patients, carers and healthcare professionals of the key messages associated with these products. Improved understanding of the rationale underlying the key messages is also likely to improve adherence, especially among healthcare professionals.\n\nFurthermore, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which is funded by the Department of Health and Social care, has awarded £2,371,773 for research into food allergy, over the last 5 years. It is currently funding two trials investigating food allergy using oral immunotherapy treatments, including one which compares two treatments for allergy to cow’s milk in babies and another which seeks to overcome severe allergic reactions to peanuts in adults. The NIHR welcomes funding applications into any aspect of human health, including food allergy.\n\nIn terms of relevant training for healthcare professionals, allergy and immunology training remains the responsibility of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) through the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board. A certificate completion of training in allergy and immunology is available to support specialist allergy care. The RCP also runs an accreditation scheme, ‘Improving Quality in Allergy Services’. In addition, the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology also provide training for primary care staff across the country through workshops and educational meetings.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2021-08-25T13:51:31.995Z","updated_at":"2021-08-25T13:51:31.995Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-05-15","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-05-15/debates/56CD8E04-F2BC-41CA-ADE5-943A63CE7ECE/FoodLabellingAndAllergies","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNo_jUdF4X8","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0103/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/why-are-mps-debating-food-labelling-and-support-for-people-with-allergies/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":628226,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/628226.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"We call upon the Government to hold a Public Inquiry into the impact of Brexit","background":"The benefits that were promised if the UK exited the European Union have not been delivered, so we call upon the Government to hold a Public Inquiry to assess the impact that Brexit has had on this country and its citizens.","additional_details":"It is time that the people of this country were told the truth about Brexit, good or bad. We deserve to know how Brexit is impacting on trade, the economy, opportunities for young people and how it has affected the rights of individuals. This can only be done by an independent Public Inquiry, free from ideology and the opinions of vested interests.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":216807,"created_at":"2022-11-14T19:08:15.439Z","updated_at":"2023-11-14T10:45:40.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-11-18T17:15:09.710Z","closed_at":"2023-05-18T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-11-15T08:52:00.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-11-20T20:05:10.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-12-05T15:18:56.259Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2023-01-25T23:53:30.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-03-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-04-24","debate_outcome_at":"2023-04-26T09:21:59.256Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-12-05","summary":"The UK’s departure from the EU was a democratic choice and the UK-EU institutions are functioning as intended. The Government does not believe this to be an appropriate subject for a public inquiry.","details":"The UK’s departure from the EU is the result of a democratic choice and the UK-EU institutions are functioning as intended. The Government does not believe the UK’s departure from the EU to be an appropriate subject for a public inquiry.\n\nThe Government’s policies regarding the UK’s new relationship with the EU are subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Under new scrutiny arrangements, the Government is scrutinised by the European Scrutiny Committee, and the European Affairs Committee and its Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Both the European Scrutiny Committee and the European Affairs Committee are currently holding inquiries into the new UK-EU relationship.\n\nMinisters regularly appear before Select Committees. The Foreign Secretary most recently appeared before the European Scrutiny Committee on 7 November. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly submit written evidence and respond to correspondence from Select Committees.\n\nDetailed information and statistics for UK-EU trade are regularly published by the Office of National Statistics.\n\nThe global economy faces significant headwinds. Since 2020, businesses have had to overcome the COVID pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is challenging to disentangle definitively the impact of these global factors from the long-term effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.\n\nBoth the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Withdrawal Agreement, which established the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, are broadly functioning as intended.\n\nThe TCA that was agreed between the UK and EU in 2020 is the world’s largest zero tariffs and zero quotas deal and the first time the EU has ever agreed such access in a free trade agreement. It also affirms the right of both the UK and the EU to determine their own policies, whilst maintaining overall levels of protection for climate and environment standards and workers’ rights. The UK remains committed to being a global leader in these areas.\n\nWe are opening new opportunities for UK businesses across the globe. Through our 12-point Export Strategy and new Export Academies, we are giving businesses the tools they need to export around the world and reap the benefits of our new trade deals. The Government has secured free trade agreements with 71 non-EU countries. Total UK trade with these countries was worth £240bn in 2021.\n\nThe UK remains an attractive place to invest and grow a business as a low-tax, high-skilled economy. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) measures foreign firms’ investment in the UK. It is a key driver in productivity and innovation. Inward FDI stock increased from $2.2tn to $2.6tn in 2021. The UK has the highest FDI stock in Europe and second highest in the world, only behind the United States, and up from our ranking in 2020 [source: UNCTAD].\n\nForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office","created_at":"2022-12-05T15:18:56.257Z","updated_at":"2022-12-05T15:18:56.257Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-04-24","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-04-24/debates/9F243FD0-3A78-4A39-9969-73B964BF60A9/UK%E2%80%99SExitFromTheEuropeanUnion","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzf1BQFXq8","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0093/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"FCDO","name":"Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":614335,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/614335.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Do not sign any WHO Pandemic Treaty unless it is approved via public referendum","background":"We want the Government to commit to not signing any international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness established by the World Health Organization (WHO), unless this is approved through a public referendum.","additional_details":"The WHO is currently preparing an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.\r\n\r\nWe believe the public must be furnished with the full ramifications of what and how any pandemic treaty could affect them, and be given a public vote on whether the UK should sign up, before the UK Government signs up to this.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":156086,"created_at":"2022-04-08T08:44:03.502Z","updated_at":"2023-07-07T06:53:04.791Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-05-03T15:38:50.215Z","closed_at":"2022-11-17T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-04-08T09:10:09.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-06T15:17:29.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-05-30T14:32:21.521Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-16T21:04:39.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-03-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-04-17","debate_outcome_at":"2023-04-18T05:55:08.117Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-05-27","summary":"To protect lives, the economy and future generations from future pandemics, the UK government supports a new legally-binding instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.","details":"COVID-19 has demonstrated that no-one is safe until we are all safe, and that effective global cooperation is needed to better protect the UK and other countries around the world from the detrimental health, social and economic impacts of pandemics and other health threats. The UK supports a new international legally-binding instrument as part of a cooperative and comprehensive approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.\n\nAt a World Health Assembly Special Session in late 2021, the 194 countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to launch a process to draft and negotiate a new instrument, through the auspices of WHO, to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The negotiating process will be led by member states, including the UK.\n\nThe instrument aims to improve how the world prevents, better prepares for, and responds to future disease outbreaks of pandemic potential at national, regional and global level. It would complement the existing international instruments which the UK has already agreed, such as the International Health Regulations. It would promote greater collective action and accountability.\n\nA treaty is an international agreement concluded between States or with international organisations in written form and governed by international law.  The UK is party to a large number of multilateral treaties, including many through the United Nations (UN) and its specialised agencies such as the WHO. These instruments reflect obligations states have agreed to enter into to further common goals.\n\nThe current target date for agreeing the text of the new instrument is at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.  Over the next two years the UK aims to work towards building a consensus on how the global community can better prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics and will actively shape, develop and negotiate the text. The new instrument would only be adopted by the World Health Assembly if the text achieves a two-thirds vote of the Health Assembly (Article 19 of the WHO Constitution). The Health Assembly is made up of representatives of WHO Member States.\n\nOnce adopted, the instrument would only become binding on the UK if and when the UK accepts (ratifies) it in accordance with its constitutional process. In the UK this requires the treaty to be laid before Parliament for a period of 21 sitting days before the Government can ratify it on behalf of the UK.\n\nThe Government always carefully considers whether domestic legislation will be required to implement the UK’s international obligations when negotiating a treaty. Not every treaty requires implementing legislation and it is too early to say if that would apply here. However, in all circumstances, the UK’s ability to exercise its sovereignty would remain unchanged and the UK would remain in control of any future domestic decisions about national restrictions or other measures.\n\nIf changes to UK law were considered necessary or appropriate to reflect obligations under the treaty, proposals for domestic legislation would go through the usual Parliamentary process and the UK would not ratify the treaty until domestic measures, agreed by Parliament, were in place.\n\nThis process of ratification allows scrutiny by elected representatives of both the treaty and any appropriate domestic legislation in accordance with the UK’s constitutional arrangements. The Government does not consider a referendum is necessary, appropriate or in keeping with precedent for such an agreement. \n\nForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office","created_at":"2022-05-30T14:32:21.519Z","updated_at":"2022-05-30T14:32:21.519Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-04-17","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-04-17/debates/12BE683F-A25C-46E5-9FE9-B9C12CCDA9B7/PandemicPreventionPreparednessAndResponseInternationalAgreement","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4XIl4kwynE","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9550/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"FCDO","name":"Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":617340,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/617340.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Do not require parents to register home educated children with local authorities","background":"Remove the clauses relating to 'Children not in school' from Part 3 of the Schools Bill, and do not pursue compulsory registration of all home-schooled children. We see no evidence that this would be beneficial, and we believe the proposals place a discriminatory burden on supportive parents.","additional_details":"This proposal would allow a local authority to obtain any information it considers appropriate about the family or child, but without specific or sufficient safeguards in place around the use and protection of that data. Home educating parents would be subject to penalties and answerable to unaccountable individuals under no clear standards, with less time to satisfy their demands than a failing school under Ofsted. None of this is reasonable.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":11116,"created_at":"2022-05-26T07:37:02.455Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:13:44.153Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-05-31T14:52:23.694Z","closed_at":"2022-12-14T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-05-26T10:38:39.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-15T13:56:49.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-08-08T15:54:05.871Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-27","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-28T14:54:06.485Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-08-08","summary":"The registers will help local authorities support home educating families; identify children not receiving a suitable education, children missing education, and children otherwise at risk of harm.","details":"Many parents who educate their children at home provide a high-quality education and do so in the best interests of their child. We support parents’ right to home educate when this is the case. \n\nThe Association of Directors of Children’s Services estimated in their 2021 Elective Home Education survey that there were 115,542 children who were electively home educated at some point during the 2020-21 academic year – an increase of 34 per cent on the previous year. However, responses to the government’s 2019 Consultation on Children Not in School (CNIS) suggested that not all children educated at home are being educated suitably. \n\nTherefore, the CNIS system of registration outlined in the Schools Bill is not just necessary to aid LAs to undertake their existing responsibilities to safeguard children and ensure they are receiving a suitable education; but also to help them to discharge their new duty in the Bill to support home educating families. \n\nThe new registration system is not intended to undermine parents’ existing rights to home educate in the way that they choose, nor will providing information for the registers be overly burdensome for parents. LAs may only require parents of eligible children to provide them with the information prescribed in legislation - the child’s name, date of birth and home address, the name and address of each parent (where known), and the means through which they are being educated, for example whether the child is being educated at home or in other out-of-school education settings, and the proportion of their education received there.\n\nThe legislation will allow LAs to record any other information in their registers they consider appropriate and have collected through other channels, but they cannot make families provide any additional information they consider appropriate.\n\nWe take data protection seriously. All LAs will be required to process the personal data they collect and store on their registers in accordance with UK-GDPR. Further safeguards are built into the Bill, including requiring that no individual-level data be published or made accessible to the public. The Secretary of State will also make regulations prescribing specific categories of persons with whom LAs may share information from their registers, when they consider it appropriate to do so for the purpose of promoting the education of or safeguarding children, such as the NHS, other LAs, etc.\n\nLAs will need to follow clear standards set out in legislation and have regard to statutory guidance. If a parent believes that a LA has not acted as per law and guidance, there are several complaints processes through which it can be held accountable. \n\nFor example, parents can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. If the complaint is upheld, that may result in recommendations to the LA on their procedures. The Education Act 1996 also gives the SoS powers to intervene when a LA exercises their functions unreasonably or fails to comply with their duties under that Act, which will include the new registration provisions. \n\nParents can also ask their LA to revoke a school attendance order (SAO), and if the LA refuses, the parent can appeal to the Secretary of State to give a direction. \n\nFinally, if the complaint relates to data sharing or processing, the parent can report the LA to the Information Commissioner’s Office.\n\nAs part of the Bill’s implementation, we will update our guidance for parents to clearly outline the various complaints routes. Also, to help promote positive relationships between LAs and the home educating community, we will develop new statutory guidance for LAs collaboratively, prior to public consultation, with a new implementation forum of LAs, home educators and safeguarding partners– to ensure the system works for everyone. We are also continuing to consider what more we can do to strengthen independent oversight of LAs, such as by exploring alternative routes of complaint.\n\nThe Government does not intend to criminalise parents who fail to provide information for their home-educated child to be registered with the LA, nor does the Bill provide for that. Rather, the consequence of failing to provide certain information is simply to start the SAO process, so that LAs may check that the child is receiving a suitable education.\n\nAs is the legal position now, the process can only lead to a SAO if parents fail to provide evidence that their child is receiving a suitable education. If a parent receives and breaches a SAO, only then may they be found guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or imprisonment at the discretion of the magistrates’ court; and this will only occur if they cannot prove that the child is being suitable educated.  \n\nIt is also important that we ensure the SAO process is as efficient as possible to help minimise the amount of time children could be spending in unsuitable education; the changes being introduced to the process in the Bill seek to achieve this.  \n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2022-08-08T15:54:05.868Z","updated_at":"2022-08-08T15:54:05.868Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-27","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-27/debates/D6459371-4EE3-4C5D-B63F-389BCFC543AC/HomeEducation","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBI9nqOGeVQ","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05108/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/why-are-mps-debating-home-education/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":594065,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/594065.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Do not impose any new requirements on parents who are home educating","background":"The Education Committee has recently recommended introducing a statutory home educated register, and greater assessment of home educated children. These recommendations are in contrast to the views of many parents who home educate.","additional_details":"Ministers have said they are committed to  a registration system for children who are not in school, despite not having published responses to a 2019 consultation on children not in school.\r\nWe believe there is no evidential basis for increased requirements for home education, for registration, assessment or testing. If introduced, these recommendations could stigmatise and even destroy the very essence of home education: it is not school. We, the undersigned, call upon the Government not to introduce any such measures.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":24262,"created_at":"2021-08-04T10:25:57.251Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:13:21.979Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-08-05T15:44:59.288Z","closed_at":"2022-02-05T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-08-04T13:47:45.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2021-08-12T00:25:25.000Z","government_response_at":"2021-08-20T14:24:57.349Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-27","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-28T14:52:44.912Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2021-08-20","summary":"The Government remains committed to a registration system for Children Not in School (CNIS). Further details will be set out in the Government’s upcoming response to its CNIS consultation.","details":"The Education Select Committee is a Parliamentary Committee, independent of Government and its recommendations are not Government policy. Government acknowledges the recently published House of Commons Education Committee report on ‘Strengthening Home Education’ (published on 26 July) and is currently considering its response to the Committee’s recommendations, which we will provide to the Committee in due course. The Department will always consider the views of stakeholders alongside a broad range of evidence when developing elective home education policy.\n\nWe fully support the right of parents to educate their children at home and most who do so educate their children very well, sometimes in challenging circumstances. However, while many home educated children will be receiving a very good education by dedicated parents, who deserve support, there will be others who are deemed to be ‘home educated’ but, in reality, most or entirely all of their education is through attendance at unsuitable settings, such as illegal unregistered independent schools. There is also likely to be a number of children for whom the education being provided is unsuitable, because their parents cannot educate them effectively at home or the child is simply not being educated.\n\nWith the interests of these vulnerable children in mind, we therefore in April 2019 launched a consultation on proposals to introduce local authority registers of children not attending registered independent or state-funded schools, and support for home-educating families (should they want it). This closed on 24 June 2019.\n\nThe Government’s intention with these proposals has always been to ensure that they do not impede those families who are genuinely, and through choice, educating their children at home. The consultation, unlike the Education Select Committee’s report, did not feature any proposals for local authorities to have explicit monitoring or inspection powers. With increasing numbers of children now being educated outside school there is, however, a greater need for local authorities to be able to identify these children, in order to assure themselves about the education being provided; and to offer support to those home educating parents that would like it.  \n\nWe remain committed to a registration system for children not in school. A registration system will help local authorities undertake their existing duties, as well as help safeguard all children who are in scope. Further details on this, as well as on proposals for supporting home-educating families, will be in the Government’s response to the children not in school consultation, which we will publish in the coming months.\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2021-08-20T14:24:57.346Z","updated_at":"2021-08-20T14:24:57.346Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-27","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-27/debates/D6459371-4EE3-4C5D-B63F-389BCFC543AC/HomeEducation","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBI9nqOGeVQ","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05108/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/why-are-mps-debating-home-education/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":622284,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/622284.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Require all businesses and public services to accept cash payments","background":"All businesses (excepting internet-based ones) and public services in which monetary transactions take place should be required by law to accept cash as a method of payment","additional_details":"As many businesses and taxpayer-funded public services are increasingly insisting upon cashless payments, it is important that we safeguard against the potential dangers of this practice. It creates an enforced dependency on banks, even though they cannot always be trusted to act ethically, and is a threat to privacy as people cannot make anonymous payments. If we wish to uphold freedom of choice and the right to privacy, it is imperative that we protect the use of cash.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":25021,"created_at":"2022-08-22T00:47:33.798Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:12:05.637Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-08-24T13:10:30.992Z","closed_at":"2023-03-10T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-08-22T13:45:29.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-09-06T08:04:00.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-09-27T16:01:47.303Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-20","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-21T07:41:02.390Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-09-22","summary":"The Government does not plan to mandate cash acceptance. It is right that organisations choose the forms of payment they accept. The Government has introduced legislation to support access to cash.","details":"The Government does not intend to mandate cash acceptance. The Government’s view is that as technology and consumer behaviour changes, it should remain the choice of individual organisations as to whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card based on their consideration of factors such as customer preference and cost.\n\nHowever, the Government recognises that millions of people continue to transact in cash across the UK, particularly those in vulnerable groups, and engages closely with financial regulators to monitor and assess trends relating to cash. Research undertaken by the Financial Conduct Authority found that 98% of small businesses would never turn away a customer if they needed to pay by cash.\n\nThe Government has recently introduced legislation to protect access to cash as part of the Financial Services and Markets Bill. The Bill establishes the Financial Conduct Authority as the lead regulator for cash access and provides it with appropriate powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of withdrawal and deposit facilities. The Government considers that this legislation will support organisations, including local businesses, to continue accepting cash by ensuring they have reasonable access to deposit facilities.\n\nFollowing the Government’s commitment to legislate, firms are working together through the Cash Action Group to develop new initiatives to provide shared services, such as bank hubs. \n\nHM Treasury","created_at":"2022-09-27T16:01:47.301Z","updated_at":"2022-09-27T16:01:47.301Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-20","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-20/debates/187CA19F-E3A9-48B1-B40A-869CB673F4A1/CashAcceptance","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C3b887HDQ","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0067/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/acceptance-of-cash/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"HMT","name":"HM Treasury","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":605030,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/605030.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Make it unlawful for shops to refuse cash payments.","background":"Make it illegal for retailers and services to decline cash payments.","additional_details":"Businesses small and large across the UK have discriminated on people that is cash to pay for goods. Not everyone wants a digital trail and others simply cannot pay by card.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":33499,"created_at":"2022-01-04T09:53:46.657Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:12:30.496Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-01-05T13:43:56.459Z","closed_at":"2022-07-05T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-01-04T14:51:48.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-04-01T22:43:09.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-04-25T12:20:03.176Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-20","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-21T07:40:59.088Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-04-25","summary":"The government does not plan to mandate cash acceptance. Businesses are able to choose the forms of payment they accept. The government’s proposals for legislation support cash acceptance.","details":"The government does not plan to mandate cash acceptance. While the government recognises the ability to transact in cash remains important to millions of people across the UK, particularly those in vulnerable groups, it remains the choice of individual businesses as to whether to accept or decline any form of payment, including cash or card. This may be based on factors such as customer preference and cost.\n\nNonetheless, the government wants to ensure that people, including those with characteristics of vulnerability, have appropriate access to banking services, which includes payment services. The government works closely together with regulators and stakeholders from the public, private and third sectors. Regarding cash specifically, the government engages closely with financial regulators, including through the Treasury-chaired Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group, to monitor and assess trends relating to cash. In addition, all service providers are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services. \n\nAn important aspect of supporting cash acceptance by businesses is to ensure businesses have access to deposit facilities within reasonable distances. At Budget in March 2020 the government committed to legislate to protect access to cash in the UK. Following this, the government brought forward a consultation on Access to Cash in July 2021. The consultation sought views on legislative proposals to make sure people only need to travel reasonable distances to pay in or take out cash. The government's proposals support the continued use of cash in people's daily lives and help to enable local businesses to continue accepting cash by ensuring they can access deposit facilities. The government has carefully considered responses to the consultation and will set out next steps in due course.\n\nFollowing the government’s commitment to legislate, firms are working together through the Cash Action Group to develop new initiatives to provide shared services. This includes bank hubs. Last year, industry piloted new shared bank hubs in Rochford, Essex, and Cambuslang, Scotland. The hubs provide basic banking services including counter services run by the Post Office, and dedicated space where community bankers from major banks can meet customers of that bank.  \n\nDuring the pilots, £4.65 million of cash was deposited in the two locations, and 92% of the businesses who used the hubs reported that they were more likely to keep accepting cash because of the pilots. Building on the experience of the pilots, industry has committed to extending the opening of these bank hubs until April 2023 and has since announced plans for eight new bank hubs across the UK. The government welcomes the direction set by industry’s commitments and looks forward to seeing what results they deliver for local communities across the UK.\n\nHM Treasury","created_at":"2022-04-25T12:20:03.174Z","updated_at":"2022-04-25T12:20:03.174Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-20","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-20/debates/187CA19F-E3A9-48B1-B40A-869CB673F4A1/CashAcceptance","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C3b887HDQ","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0067/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/acceptance-of-cash/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"HMT","name":"HM Treasury","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":623390,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/623390.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Make suicide prevention a compulsory part of the school curriculum.","background":"We want suicide spoken about in schools in a safe and age-appropriate way. Speaking about suicide saves lives\r\nThe Dept for Education are conducting a review of the RSHE curriculum; this petition calls on the DfE to include suicide prevention within the statutory guidelines of the new curriculum.","additional_details":"Suicide is the biggest killer of under-35s in the UK and over 200 school-aged children take their lives each year. Yet suicide is not currently referenced in the school curriculum.\r\n \r\nHaving recently been invited to hear the former Secretary of State’s statement regarding the new 10-year Suicide Prevention Strategy, we were heartened to learn how seriously Government was taking this critical subject, but we feel efforts need to go further if we are to save lives.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":160688,"created_at":"2022-09-07T12:21:12.553Z","updated_at":"2026-05-12T11:50:59.294Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-09-23T10:58:13.262Z","closed_at":"2023-03-23T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-09-07T13:12:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-09-28T20:01:50.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-10-21T17:55:46.991Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2022-10-10T17:13:10.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-13","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-14T08:21:23.752Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-10-21","summary":"Schools can teach about suicide to older pupils in an age-appropriate way. When we review the RSHE guidance we will look at whether there is more we need to do to support them to do so safely.","details":"The death of any child is a tragedy. Our deepest sympathies are with families of those who have died by suicide, and we need to do everything we can to prevent it.\n\nAll pupils in schools are taught about mental health as part of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum, which we made mandatory in 2020 to ensure that all pupils are taught about important topics. Through health education, pupils learn to recognise the warning signs of poor mental health, in themselves and in others, which could lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. This includes learning about the common types of mental illness, such as anxiety and depression, understanding that experiencing poor mental health is not uncommon and knowing where and how to seek support for themselves or someone else, whose mental wellbeing they are worried about. \n\nSchools can teach older pupils about suicide in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. The RSHE statutory guidance advises that schools should approach teaching about self-harm and suicide carefully and should be aware of the risks to pupils from exposure to materials that are instructive rather than preventative, including websites or videos that provide instructions or methods of self-harm or suicide. The guidance is clear that where teachers have concerns about a specific pupil in relation to self-harm or suicidal thoughts, they must follow safeguarding procedures immediately.\n\nThe Department for Education (DfE) is committed to review the RSHE statutory guidance, which we plan to start in 2023. As part of the review process, the DfE will undertake a public consultation on proposed changes to the current guidance. Respondents will be able to comment on the proposed changes and to propose additional changes for consideration. We expect to complete the review process and publish the updated guidance in 2024.\n\nWe are also offering a grant of £1,200 for eligible state-funded schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead to develop and implement a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. Senior mental health leads can support staff training so that schools cover issues that their pupils need to know about in a safe way.\n\nThe DfE continues to work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) around issues of children and young people’s mental health and how to provide support to pupils as early as possible.\n\nWe are supportive of the important work of Papyrus in suicide prevention and the dept has put together a range of resources so that children and young people, parents, carers, and school and college staff can get the advice and help they need Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges - (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-in-schools-and-colleges).\n\nDepartment for Education","created_at":"2022-10-21T17:55:46.989Z","updated_at":"2022-10-21T17:55:46.989Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-13","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-13/debates/C097CEF6-4C8A-4454-A78D-87A4FE7170DD/SuicidePreventionAndTheNationalCurriculum","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOp5zAd5NO4","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0060/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/why-are-mps-debating-suicide-prevention-and-the-national-curriculum/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":594390,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/594390.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Protect free NHS prescriptions for over 60s","background":"Continue to give free NHS prescriptions to over 60s. The Government is consulting on aligning the upper age exemption for NHS prescription charges with the State Pension age (SPA), which would render many people in their 60s ineligible.","additional_details":"Over 60s are generally more susceptible to health issues, and after pension age, have less money available to pay large sums for repeated prescriptions.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":46495,"created_at":"2021-08-07T15:41:29.450Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:10:39.829Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-08-18T12:23:25.115Z","closed_at":"2022-02-18T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-08-08T08:33:45.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-01-06T16:49:58.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-01-28T14:48:52.362Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-03-06","debate_outcome_at":"2023-03-06T18:32:56.602Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-01-28","summary":"89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge. People who pay for their prescription charges and need many prescription items can save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).","details":"This Government values our older society and recognises their health, social care and economic needs. This petition, which currently stands at 43,077, and the consultation to align the upper exemption age from prescription charges with the state pension age that received over 117,000 responses, are testament to the strength of feeling within our community and we are encouraged to see so many people expressing their views.   \n\nAt this time, no decision has yet been taken on the consultation. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is considering the results carefully and an announcement setting out the Government’s response and course of action will be made in due course.\n\nThe Government would like to stress its commitment to keeping the NHS sustainable whilst protecting the most vulnerable. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge, and extensive arrangements are in place to help those most in need. Eligibility for these exemptions depends on the person’s age, whether they are in receipt of a war pension or certain benefits or tax credits, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, or have a qualifying medical condition. Partners and dependents of the person receiving certain benefits are entitled to free prescriptions too. It is estimated that 34% of those in the age range 60-65 would be exempt from prescription charges if the upper age limit for free prescriptions was raised in line with the state pension age. \n\nPeople who may not be exempt, but who are on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). This Scheme provides help with health costs on an income-related basis.  Those who are exempt from charge for income-related reasons would retain their exemption under the proposals.\n\nFor people who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need many prescription items, they can save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). These can be purchased for either 3 or 12 months and give access to all the NHS prescriptions needed during the period of their validity. A 12-month PPC will save money if more than 11 prescription items are needed in a year, can be paid for in 10 monthly instalments and costs a little over £2 per week when spread over a year.\n\nPrescription charges generate revenue for the NHS of approximately £600m per year, which goes towards essential running costs for frontline services.  Currently, people receive free prescriptions when they turn 60 in England. This has not changed since 1974 for women, and 1995 for men. The state pension age in England is currently 66 and is planned to increase further for men and women to 68 in future years.  In 2019/20, around 60% of people in the 60-65 age group were still economically active and potentially able to meet the cost of their prescriptions. As increasing numbers of people live longer, there are more people claiming free prescriptions. It is projected that by 2066, there will be a further 8.6 million projected UK residents aged 65 years and over, which will be 26% of the total population.  \n\nIncreasing the upper age limit for free prescriptions for people, who previously received free prescriptions based purely on their age rather than their inability to pay, would result in a transfer of resources from people to the NHS. These funds could then be spent on improving services for patients, resulting in health benefits for wider society. However, the Government has not yet taken a decision and continues to weigh up the arguments.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2022-01-28T14:48:52.360Z","updated_at":"2022-01-28T14:48:52.360Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-03-06","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-06/debates/CBEC70A0-047C-499C-A9C5-28851E78B40E/PrescriptionChargesPeopleAged60OrOver","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS85-BU23Lo","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0046/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/prescription-charges-over-60s/index.html"},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":619615,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/619615.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Limit the shooting season of Woodcock","background":"Mark Avery , Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay (Wild Justice) want the opening of the Woodcock shooting season to be pushed back to 1 December. 160,000 Woodcock are shot for fun across the UK whilst their population is declining. The Defra Secretary of State has powers to vary the shooting season.","additional_details":"Wild Justice wrote to Defra and the Northern Ireland authorities in March asking that the Woodcock open season should start on 1 December instead of 1 October (England, Wales & Northern Ireland, or 1 September, Scotland) see letter  https://wildjustice.org.uk/woodcock/we-ask-for-changes-to-the-woodcock-shooting-season/ . No substantive response has been received. This simple conservation measure is supported by science, and some shooters, and requires no new legislation for implementation.","committee_note":null,"state":"closed","signature_count":107918,"created_at":"2022-07-05T11:20:37.682Z","updated_at":"2023-11-14T10:45:40.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2022-07-11T09:43:54.341Z","closed_at":"2023-01-25T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-05T11:52:09.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-07-12T18:41:39.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-07-27T15:52:15.112Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2022-12-30T20:37:10.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-25","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-02-27","debate_outcome_at":"2023-02-28T07:02:08.829Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-10-11","summary":"Defra intends to review the list of species, including woodcock, on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 including the benefits of altering the close season.","details":"All wild birds are protected in accordance with the provisions set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Some species of birds, including the woodcock, are listed on Schedule 2 of the Act and may be hunted during the open season. In England and Wales, the open season for woodcock is from 1 October to 31 January. Outside of this period, the close season helps to make sure that woodcocks are able to breed successfully and move between breeding and wintering grounds.\n\nThe first breeding woodcock survey was undertaken in 2003 and estimated a breeding population of 78,000 pairs in Britain. A further survey in 2013 estimated 55,000 pairs, representing a decline of 29%. As a result, the woodcock has been on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK since 2015. During winter, our resident birds are joined by migrants from breeding populations in Northern Europe and Western Russia, increasing the Great Britain non-breeding population to 1.4 million individuals.\n\nThe reasons for the decline of the breeding population of woodcock in Great Britain are not fully understood but are likely to include: disturbance; habitat loss as a result of land drainage; the drying out of natural woodlands; changes in surrounding woodland management; the maturation of new plantations; and overgrazing by deer. Further work is needed to fully understand the causes of its decline.\n\nDefra is committed to reviewing the protection we afford to wild birds listed on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in particular establishing the evidence underpinning the listing of species such as the woodcock, so we can ensure that recreational shooting is sustainable and does not undermine species recovery. This might include amending the close season for native species such as the woodcock.\n\nWhilst the Department undertakes this review, the woodcock will continue to be supported by a number of measures already in train. We are committed to species recovery in England, and that is why, within the Environment Act 2021, we have set a new legally binding target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. Furthermore, Defra published a Nature Recovery Green Paper consultation on proposals to support our ambitions to restore nature and halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. We are considering the responses to the now closed consultation and the Government will publish its response in due course.\n\nThe woodcock will benefit from a number of woodland grant schemes funded by both the Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Nature for Climate Fund, some of which specifically target management for declining woodland birds. These grants include the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds, which aim to restore vulnerable woodland habitats, improve biodiversity and conserve threatened species, as well as the England Woodland Creation Offer.\n\nMore broadly, environmentally sustainable farming is fundamental to our agricultural transition outside of the EU. We are introducing three environmental land management schemes: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery, and Landscape Recovery. These schemes will pay for activities to create, manage and restore habitats such as woodland, connecting isolated habitats to form networks, and species management, all of which will benefit woodland bird species, such as the woodcock.\n\nDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs\n\nThis is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/619615)","created_at":"2022-07-27T15:52:15.110Z","updated_at":"2022-10-13T16:41:44.868Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-02-27","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-02-27/debates/AD214ECB-2D0C-4077-B834-0D0FFEA96039/OpenSeasonForWoodcock","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHs5se1EyXw","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0041/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":null,"debate_summary_url":null},"departments":[{"acronym":"DEFRA","name":"Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"archived-petition","id":597840,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/597840.json"},"parliament":{"period":"2019-2024","government":"Conservative","dissolution_at":"2024-05-30T00:01:00.000+01:00","response_threshold":10000,"debate_threshold":100000},"attributes":{"action":"Review management of ADHD assessments and increase funding","background":"The Government should commission a review of how Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments are managed by the NHS, including through Shared Care Agreements, and increase funding to reduce waiting times. ","additional_details":"In July 2020, a Freedom of Information request made by the BBC found that over 21,000 people were waiting for ADHD assessment on the NHS. Some people have spent up to 5 years on the waiting list. \r\n \r\nNHS Constitution states it should be no more than 18 weeks from referral to seeing a consultant for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments. ADHD is a chronic mental health issue.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":10574,"created_at":"2021-09-26T06:37:44.700Z","updated_at":"2024-02-20T16:05:27.515Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2021-10-07T16:09:39.190Z","closed_at":"2022-04-07T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2021-09-29T08:12:08.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2022-03-26T21:51:58.000Z","government_response_at":"2022-04-21T11:20:23.812Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":"2023-01-12","scheduled_debate_date":"2023-02-06","debate_outcome_at":"2023-02-07T10:05:00.042Z","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2022-04-21","summary":"It is vital to have timely assessments for ADHD so people can get the right support. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have clear guidelines on improving assessments and diagnosis.","details":"The Department acknowledges that some people are experiencing long waits for an assessment of ADHD. We recognise that it is vital that people receive a timely assessment and diagnosis of ADHD, as this is important in enabling people to access the care and support they need to live fulfilled lives. \n\nThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the organisation that provides guidelines for assessing ADHD and we are guided by NICE’s evidence-based recommendations in these guidelines. We expect all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and NHS trusts to follow NICE’s ADHD guideline ‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management’ to improve the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD in adults and children, and the quality of care and support that people receive. Making a diagnosis can be complex because there is no physical test for ADHD (such as a blood test). The NICE guideline therefore does not recommend a maximum waiting time between referral and an assessment for ADHD. The NICE guideline was last updated in September 2019 and in particular recognises the underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of ADHD in girls and women and the importance of people being able to access support to manage their symptoms and live well with ADHD.\n\nWe have no current plans to review how ADHD assessments are managed by the NHS, as it is for CCGs to commission and provide these services based on the needs of their local population. In addition, under the Health and Social Care Act (2012), it is for commissioners to decide how services are funded in their area.\n\nThe Handbook to the NHS Constitution (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplements-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england) sets out that patients should start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral, with certain exceptions including services that are not consultant-led and services provided or commissioned by local authorities. ADHD assessments do not fall within this guidance and decisions about ADHD services and treatment are made locally by CCGs.\n\nWe and NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I) do not define ADHD as a mental health condition, but a group of behavioural symptoms that often exist in conjunction with many other conditions whose symptoms can overlap and mask those of ADHD e.g. autism, language disorder, dyspraxia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and mental health conditions. \n\nAssessments, diagnosis and the provision of support for people with ADHD are carried out in various care settings. Data on the number of people waiting for an ADHD diagnosis and how long they have been waiting is not collected nationally but may be held locally by some CCGs. NHS Digital are working to improve the quality of relevant datasets, such as the Mental Health Services dataset and the Community Services dataset. Improving data on ADHD will be an important first step in determining where further action may need to be taken to support people.\n\nTo support earlier identification of ADHD, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan NHSE/I are working with local authority children’s social care and education services as well as expert charities to support neurodivergent children, including children with ADHD and their families, throughout the diagnostic process. \n\nI hope this reply is helpful and provides some reassurance of the expectations on CCGs to provide ADHD assessments, diagnosis and support, as well as our work to improve early identification through the NHS Long Term Plan.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2022-04-21T11:20:23.809Z","updated_at":"2022-04-21T11:20:23.809Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2023-02-06","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-02-06/debates/183A24F1-C943-4D2E-8238-4B03AF11D715/AutismAndADHDAssessments","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahisK8jkpEE","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0023/","overview":"","public_engagement_url":"https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/adhd-and-autism-assessments/index.html","debate_summary_url":""},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}}]}