The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines, and significant licence extensions for existing medicines, should be routinely funded by the NHS. The NICE is able to recommend most new medicines for use by the NHS, including as a result of commercial agreements negotiated between NHS England and the company, in line with the commercial framework for new medicines.

The NICE develops its guidance in line with its published health technology evaluations manual, which sets out the circumstances in which its Appraisal Committees are able to apply flexibility in the evaluation of specific treatments. The NICE is, for example, able to apply a modifier in the evaluation of medicines for severe diseases that means that its committees are able to recommend medicines at a higher cost-effectiveness threshold than for less severe diseases. The NICE appraises combination therapies using the same methods that it uses for appraising single drug therapies.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on visas granted, by nationality, main applicants, and dependants are published in table Vis_D02 of the Entry clearance detailed dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate up to the end of 2023. Please note the published statistics do not identify how many visas were issued to dependants of people who have been repatriated since 7 October 2023.

Department ministers and officials regularly meet with a range of organisations, with an interest in securing patient access to new cancer medicines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits, including medicines for myeloma. The NICE aims to publish guidance on all new medicines close to the point of licensing wherever possible, and has recommended many cancer medicines for NHS use that are now available to NHS patients, including through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

The Department regularly meets with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to discuss a range of issues, including in relation to the NICE’s methods for the evaluation of medicines. In 2022, the NICE introduced a number of changes to make its methods and processes fairer, faster, and more consistent. This includes the introduction of a broader severity modifier, in place of the end-of-life modifier. Since the changes were introduced, 79% of the NICE’s appraisals of cancer medicines carried out under the updated methods have recommended the use of the treatment for some or all of the eligible patient population, either for routine use or use through the Cancer Drugs Fund. The approval rate for all cancer appraisals carried out since 2009, when the end-of-life modifier was introduced, is 78%.

The National Sexual Assault Referral Centre’s (SARC) Service Specification, as reviewed and updated in June 2023, now reflects the offence of non-fatal strangulation (NFS). The specification states: Appropriate medical and forensic interventional support is provided to all service users presenting with sexual assault and/or sexual abuse where the presenting need also indicates non-fatal strangulation. It is widely acknowledged that many victims of sexual assault will have also experienced domestic abuse.

For cases of non-fatal strangulation not associated with sexual assault, victims’ immediate healthcare needs can be treated in other acute healthcare settings such as emergency departments. The Institute for Addressing Strangulation recently published guidelines for clinical management of non-fatal strangulation in acute and emergency care services.

The Home Office allocated £243,662 in the financial year 2022/23 and £168,449 in the financial year 2023/24 to Hestia Housing for the delivery of the Ask for ANI scheme.

In the financial year 2022/23, we also allocated £45,323 to develop an e-learning module and accompanying communications assets to complement the launch of the Ask for ANI in Jobcentre and Jobs and Benefits Offices pilot sites.

The Home Office has also commissioned an independent evaluation to understand how the scheme has been implemented across the Jobcentre and Jobs and Benefits Offices pilot sites. This evaluation is yet to be concluded but has so far cost £116,087.

The Home Office allocated £243,662 in the financial year 2022/23 and £168,449 in the financial year 2023/24 to Hestia Housing for the delivery of the Ask for ANI scheme.

Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) was launched across pharmacies in the UK during the unprecedented emergency of the pandemic in January 2021. Since then, there have been 186 reported disclosures from across the UK where victims have been supported by pharmacists to access support from the police or domestic abuse services. Of those disclosures, 38 were in 2022 and 50 in 2023. This however is likely to be an underestimate as participating pharmacies are encouraged but not required to report disclosures to the Home Office.

The Ask for ANI scheme is currently being piloted in 15 Jobcentre Plus sites across England, Scotland and Wales and 4 Jobs and Benefits Offices in Northern Ireland. An independent evaluation has been commissioned to understand how the scheme has been implemented across the pilot sites which will conclude this summer. As the evaluation is ongoing, we are not able to share numbers of disclosures in pilot sites at this stage. A decision on the publication of the evaluation will be made in due course.

Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) was launched across pharmacies in the UK during the unprecedented emergency of the pandemic in January 2021. Since then, there have been 186 reported disclosures from across the UK where victims have been supported by pharmacists to access support from the police or domestic abuse services. Of those disclosures, 38 were in 2022 and 50 in 2023. This however is likely to be an underestimate as participating pharmacies are encouraged but not required to report disclosures to the Home Office.

The Ask for ANI scheme is currently being piloted in 15 Jobcentre Plus sites across England, Scotland and Wales and 4 Jobs and Benefits Offices in Northern Ireland. An independent evaluation has been commissioned to understand how the scheme has been implemented across the pilot sites which will conclude this summer. As the evaluation is ongoing, we are not able to share numbers of disclosures in pilot sites at this stage. A decision on the publication of the evaluation will be made in due course.

Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) was launched across pharmacies in the UK during the unprecedented emergency of the pandemic in January 2021. Since then, there have been 186 reported disclosures from across the UK where victims have been supported by pharmacists to access support from the police or domestic abuse services. Of those disclosures, 38 were in 2022 and 50 in 2023. This however is likely to be an underestimate as participating pharmacies are encouraged but not required to report disclosures to the Home Office.

The Ask for ANI scheme is currently being piloted in 15 Jobcentre Plus sites across England, Scotland and Wales and 4 Jobs and Benefits Offices in Northern Ireland. An independent evaluation has been commissioned to understand how the scheme has been implemented across the pilot sites which will conclude this summer. As the evaluation is ongoing, we are not able to share numbers of disclosures in pilot sites at this stage. A decision on the publication of the evaluation will be made in due course.

The National Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Service Specification as reviewed and updated in June 2023 now reflects the offence of non-fatal strangulation. The specification states ‘Appropriate medical and forensic interventional support is provided to all service users presenting with sexual assault and/or sexual abuse where the presenting need also indicates non-fatal strangulation.’ It also references the Institute for Addressing Strangulation guidelines. From April 2024, all SARCs will collect data on incidences of non-fatal strangulation where it is part of a sexual assault/rape and thus has necessitated attendance at a SARC.

In 2022-23 no females were held in spaces intended as male-only, which remained the case on 23 May 2023.

Girls committed into custody will be located in Secure Children's Homes, Oakhill Secure Training Centre, or Wetherby Young Offenders Institution, depending on their specific circumstances. All are mixed-gender settings, and girls may mix with boys in education and other activities, where appropriate. Youth Custody Service staff are trained to work with girls in a gender-responsive way, and regimes, services, activities, and interventions are tailored to meet their individual needs.

Where girls are placed into units which previously housed boys only, significant work is done to refurbish and ensure the environment is appropriate.

The Control of Pollution Act 1974 enables local authorities to serve a notice imposing requirements on construction or demolition works, including the hours during which the works may be carried out. Generally, local authorities require construction work to be carried out between the hours of 8am and 6pm on Monday-Friday, and 8am-1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

We do not consider it appropriate to specify permitted hours for construction works in national law. Local authorities are the main enforcers of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and decisions around managing noise are best taken by them using their knowledge of the specific context.

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) outlines that noise needs to be considered when development may create additional noise, or would be sensitive to the prevailing acoustic environment. The PPG details how noise, including during construction, should be considered during both plan making and decision making. The National Planning Policy Framework also states that planning policies and decisions should mitigate and reduce to a minimum potential adverse impacts resulting from noise from new development – and avoid noise giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and the quality of life.

Defra has convened the Interdepartmental Group for Costs and Benefits (Noise subject group) to review the available evidence relating to the health effects from environmental noise exposure. This includes construction noise, and the group has published two reviews on this subject which are available at:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32357581/ and

https://icl-ref-dryad.maxarchiveservices.co.uk/index.php/j-arup-2020-review-of-evidence-relating-to-environmental-noise-exposure-and-specific-health-outcomes-in-the-context-of-the-interdepartmental-group-on-costs-and-benefits-pdf

It is not possible to have a single objective noise-based measure which would apply to all situations without giving rise to unintended consequences. This is because effect levels are likely to be different for different noise sources, different people and at different times. We therefore consider it best to allow local authorities some flexibility to make decisions using their specific knowledge of the local context.

The Control of Pollution Act 1974 enables local authorities to serve a notice imposing requirements on construction or demolition works, including the hours during which the works may be carried out. Generally, local authorities require construction work to be carried out between the hours of 8am and 6pm on Monday-Friday, and 8am-1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

We do not consider it appropriate to specify permitted hours for construction works in national law. Local authorities are the main enforcers of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and decisions around managing noise are best taken by them using their knowledge of the specific context.

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) outlines that noise needs to be considered when development may create additional noise, or would be sensitive to the prevailing acoustic environment. The PPG details how noise, including during construction, should be considered during both plan making and decision making. The National Planning Policy Framework also states that planning policies and decisions should mitigate and reduce to a minimum potential adverse impacts resulting from noise from new development – and avoid noise giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and the quality of life.

Defra has convened the Interdepartmental Group for Costs and Benefits (Noise subject group) to review the available evidence relating to the health effects from environmental noise exposure. This includes construction noise, and the group has published two reviews on this subject which are available at:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32357581/ and

https://icl-ref-dryad.maxarchiveservices.co.uk/index.php/j-arup-2020-review-of-evidence-relating-to-environmental-noise-exposure-and-specific-health-outcomes-in-the-context-of-the-interdepartmental-group-on-costs-and-benefits-pdf

It is not possible to have a single objective noise-based measure which would apply to all situations without giving rise to unintended consequences. This is because effect levels are likely to be different for different noise sources, different people and at different times. We therefore consider it best to allow local authorities some flexibility to make decisions using their specific knowledge of the local context.

The safety of women and girls across the country is a key Government priority. We are taking a range of steps to tackle perpetrators and prevent re-offending to protect all victims. For example, the Home Office recently concluded a £36 million competition to increase the availably of interventions for domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators.

Police can also put in place measures to protect victims of domestic abuse or stalking, including pre-charge bail conditions, and applying for protective orders, such as Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) or Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). In the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government legislated for a new Domestic Abuse Protection Notice and Order, which will go even further in protecting victims from all forms of domestic abuse. Courts will be able to impose conditions such as electronic monitoring and attendance on a behaviour change programme, alongside mandatory notification requirements to protect the victim. The new notice and order will be piloted from Spring 2024 in three police force areas and with the British Transport Police.

It is critical for the safety of victims that women's refuges and other types of domestic abuse safe accommodation can keep their locations secret.

I would welcome a meeting with the hon. Member for Birmingham Yardley and representatives of Women's Aid to discuss this issue.

The safety of women and girls across the country is a key Government priority. We are taking a range of steps to tackle perpetrators and prevent re-offending to protect all victims. For example, the Home Office recently concluded a £36 million competition to increase the availably of interventions for domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators.

Police can also put in place measures to protect victims of domestic abuse or stalking, including pre-charge bail conditions, and applying for protective orders, such as Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) or Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). In the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government legislated for a new Domestic Abuse Protection Notice and Order, which will go even further in protecting victims from all forms of domestic abuse. Courts will be able to impose conditions such as electronic monitoring and attendance on a behaviour change programme, alongside mandatory notification requirements to protect the victim. The new notice and order will be piloted from Spring 2024 in three police force areas and with the British Transport Police.

It is critical for the safety of victims that women's refuges and other types of domestic abuse safe accommodation can keep their locations secret.

I would welcome a meeting with the hon. Member for Birmingham Yardley and representatives of Women's Aid to discuss this issue.

The information requested is not held for the period specified. HM Prison and Probation Service mandated that enquiries to police and children’s services should be made in all cases where there is a recommendation for an electronically monitored curfew from April 2022 (in addition to those cases where they were already required).

We are investing an extra £5.5 million a year to recruit probation staff who are specifically responsible for accessing domestic abuse information held by police forces and children’s safeguarding information held by local authorities. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has worked with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, the Department for Education and the National Police Chiefs’ Council leads for Domestic Abuse and Public Protection to provide support at national level to Probation Regions to access information from police and children’s services. The then Chief Probation Officer also wrote to all Children’s Services Directors and Chief Constables to alert them to the introduction of mandatory checks for domestic abuse and in relation to child safeguarding in electronic monitoring cases. The Chief Probation Officer highlighted the additional investment and placed the new mandatory checks in the context of the shared priority of the safety and welfare of adults and children who may be at risk.

HM Inspectorate of Probation published the Thematic Inspection on Electronic Monitoring in January 2022. HMPPS mandated that enquiries to police forces and children’s services should be made in all cases where there is a recommendation for an electronically monitored curfew from April 2022 (in addition to those cases where they were already required). The then Chief Probation Officer and the Executive Director for HMPPS Wales and Public Protection held an all staff event to reinforce the importance of making enquiries. The new Chief Probation Officer has been clear with all staff that this is one of her top priorities.

We are investing an extra £5.5 million a year to recruit probation staff who are specifically responsible for accessing domestic abuse information held by police forces and children’s safeguarding information held by local authorities. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has worked with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, the Department for Education and the National Police Chiefs’ Council leads for Domestic Abuse and Public Protection to provide support at national level to Probation Regions to access information from police and children’s services. The then Chief Probation Officer also wrote to all Children’s Services Directors and Chief Constables to alert them to the introduction of mandatory checks for domestic abuse and in relation to child safeguarding in electronic monitoring cases. The Chief Probation Officer highlighted the additional investment and placed the new mandatory checks in the context of the shared priority of the safety and welfare of adults and children who may be at risk.

HM Inspectorate of Probation published the Thematic Inspection on Electronic Monitoring in January 2022. HMPPS mandated that enquiries to police forces and children’s services should be made in all cases where there is a recommendation for an electronically monitored curfew from April 2022 (in addition to those cases where they were already required). The then Chief Probation Officer and the Executive Director for HMPPS Wales and Public Protection held an all staff event to reinforce the importance of making enquiries. The new Chief Probation Officer has been clear with all staff that this is one of her top priorities.

Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and are on low incomes may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through the Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment schemes.