Dods Daily - your guide to what's happening in UK politics today

Events: Thursday 8 December 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made an announcement on investment in skills training and university and college facilities

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has made an announcement on increasing hearing capacity for immigration cases

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has made an announcement on devolution deals for Suffolk and Norfolk

Pensions Minister Laura Trott has made an announcement on pension credit

Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer speaks at a Labour Party Business Conference event (10:35am), also speaking is Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves (11:15am)

Health Minister Helen Whately speaks at the Institute for Public Policy Research State of Health and Care Conference 2022 (12:45pm), also speaking is Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting (2:45pm), Lord Bethell on “Health inequality and the economy” (4:35pm) and Lord Ara Darzi (1:10pm)

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper speaks at a Resolution Foundation event on “The experts strike back? Book launch for Politicians and economic experts by Anna Killick” (6:00pm)

Shadow International Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds speaks at a Fabian Society ‘in conversation with’ event on (6:30pm)

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey and Lord Neil Mendoza speak at the Local Government Association Commission on Culture and Local Government report launch (4:00pm)

Reports: Thursday 8 December 2022

The House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee has published a report on adult social care

The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has published a report on the assessment of venous thromboembolism risks associated with pregnancy and the postnatal period

The Higher Education Policy Institute has published a report on student views on careers services and employment

The NHS Race and Health Observatory has published a report on ethnic health inequalities in maternal and neonatal health in England

Policy Exchange has published a report on UK leadership in international organisations

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has published a report on jobs

The Sutton Trust has published a report on the recent evolution of apprenticeships

UCAS has published research on undergraduate university applications

The Local Government Association publishes a report on the role of culture in pandemic recovery (4:00pm)

Sport UK publishes a report on the number of children and young people taking part in sport and physical activity across England

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation publishes a report on low income households and energy

Statistics: Thursday 8 December 2022

The Office for National Statistics publishes statistics on i. Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2021 ii. Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators: 8 December 2022 iii. Business insights and impact on the UK economy confidence intervals: 8 December 2022 iv. Labour market and travel to work: Census 2021 in England and Wales

HM Revenue & Customs publishes statistics on Local sites and numbers of employees linked to businesses involved in international trade in goods, by subnational areas of the UK 2020

Home Office publishes statistics on Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, quarterly update to September 2022

The Department for Education publishes statistics on LA and school expenditure: 2021 to 2022 financial year

The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on Tribunals statistics quarterly: July to September 2022

The Ministry of Defence publishes statistics on MOD diversity dashboard: 2022

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities publishes statistics on Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2021 to 2022 final outturn

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy publishes statistics on Renewables obligation: certificates and generation, August 2022

The Department for Education publishes statistics on i. Participation Measures in Higher Education: 2020 to 2021 ii. Pupil attendance in schools

The Department for Work and Pensions publishes statistics on i. The Pensions Regulator: Annual report on UK defined benefit and hybrid schemes, 2022 ii. ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: December 2022

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publishes statistics on i. Family Food 2020/21 ii. Latest official statistics on pre-movement and post-movement testing for tuberculosis (TB) in cattle in Great Britain – up to June 2022

The Department for Transport publishes statistics on International road freight statistics: July 2021 to June 2022

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport publishes statistics on DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates 2020: Business Demographics

UK Defence and Security Exports publishes statistics on Pre-announcement of the release of UK defence and security export statistics for 2021

NHS England publishes statistics on i. Mixed Sex Accommodation breaches for October 2022 ii. Integrated Urgent Care Aggregate Data Collection (IUC ADC) – for November 2022 (Provisional statistics) iii. Referrals for first consultant-led outpatient appointments for October 2022 iv. A&E attendances and emergency admissions for November 2022 v. Ambulance Quality Indicators Systems Indicators for November 2022 vi. Ambulance Quality Indicators Clinical Outcomes for July 2022 vii. NHS 111 / Integrated Urgent Care Patient experience survey for April 2022 to September 2022 viii. Prevent Duty Aggregate Data collection for Q2 2022-23 ix. 2-hour Urgent Community Response Performance metrics for October 2022 (provisional), and September 2022 (final) x. Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients for October 2022 xi. Integrated Urgent Care Aggregate Data Collection (IUC ADC) for October 2022 (Official statistics) xii. Diagnostic waiting times and activity for October 2022 xiii. Referral to treatment waiting times statistics for consultant -led elective care for October 2022

NHS Digital publishes statistics on i. Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics, Performance September, Provisional October 2022 ii. Provisional Accident and Emergency Quality Indicators for England, October 2022, by provider iii. Psychological Therapies: reports on the use of IAPT services, England, September 2022 Final including a report on the IAPT Employment Advisers pilot iv. Out of Area Placements in Mental Health Services, September 2022 v. Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities, Experimental Statistics 2021 to 2022 vi. Provisional Monthly Hospital Episode Statistics for Admitted Patient Care, Outpatient and Accident and Emergency data, April 2022 - October 2022 vii. Autism Statistics, October 2021 to September 2022 viii. Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, August 2021-July 2022

The UK Health Security Agency publishes statistics on i. National Norovirus and Rotavirus Report, week 49 report: data up to week 47 (27 November 2022) ii. National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: week ending 4 December 2022 iii. Weekly all-cause mortality surveillance: week ending 4 December 2022

The Office of Rail and Road publishes statistics on i. Signals passed at danger (SPADs): July to September 2022 ii. Passenger rail performance: July to September 2022

Sport England publishes statistics on Active Lives Children and Young People Survey: Academic Year 2021-22

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency publishes statistics on i. Quarterly Carers Statistics for Northern Ireland (September 2022) ii. Northern Ireland Air Passenger Flow Statistics: Quarter 3 (2022) iii. Northern Ireland Planning Statistics: July to September 2022 iv. Northern Ireland tourism latest alternative data sources: December 2022

The Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) publishes statistics on Electricity Consumption and Renewable Generation in Northern Ireland: Year Ending September 2022

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) publishes statistics on Bathing Water Quality Northern Ireland 2022

Written Ministerial Statements

1. International Cooperation on Telecoms Diversification (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

2. Devolution in England (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

House of Commons Business: Thursday 8 December 2022

Commons Chamber

9:30am: Cabinet Office

Main Business

Business Statement

Backbench Business: General Debate on the Twelfth Report of the Health and Social Care Committee on cancer Services (HC 551) and the Government’s response

Backbench Business: General Debate on the future of BBC Radio

Adjournment Debate: Tackling anti-social use of e-scooters (Jessica Morden, Lab, Newport East)

Westminster Hall

1:30pm: International Human Rights Day 2022 (Margaret Ferrier, Ind, Rutherglen and Hamilton West)

Delegated Legislation Committees

Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee (11:30am, Room 12)
The draft Extraterritorial US Legislation (Sanctions against Cuba, Iran and Libya) (Protection of Trading Interests) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022
Witnesses: TBC

Commons Committees

Public Accounts Committee (9:30am, The Grimond Room)
Digital Services Tax
Witnesses: Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary at HMRC, Jon Sherman, Director of Business, Assets and International directorate at HMRC, Mike Williams, Director Business and International Tax at HM Treasury

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (10:00am, The Wilson Room)
The work of Arts Council England
Witnesses: Dr Darren Henley CBE, Chief Executive at Arts Council England, Tonya Nelson, Area Director, London at Arts Council England, Pete Massey, Director, Northern Economy and Partnerships, North at Arts Council England

House of Lords Business: Thursday 8 December 2022

Lords Chamber

11:00am: Oral Answers

- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green) to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of (1) foreign mining companies, and (2) other external actors, to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

- Baroness Sugg (Con) to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect media freedom around the world.

- Baroness Meyer (Con) to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Probate Department’s recommended wait time for the granting of probate of 10 days is being achieved; and if not, (1) what is the current average waiting time, and (2) what steps they are taking to reduce the delay.

- Baroness Randerson (Lib Dem) to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potential impact of rail strikes called for 24 to 27 December on (1) passenger services, and (2) rail maintenance projects, scheduled for this period.

Main Business

Debate: The case for a strategy towards the arts and creative industries considering the UK’s world leading position and benefits to the economy and levelling up

Short Debate: Independent Cultural Review of the London Fire Brigade, published on 26 November

Debate: Independent Review of Children’s Social Care

Lords Committees

No committee meetings have yet been scheduled.

Scottish Parliament: Thursday 8 December 2022

In Plenary

11:40am: Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11:40am: General Questions

12:00pm: First Minister's Questions

Members' Business — Bob Doris: How Will We Survive: Steps to Preventing Destitution in the Asylum System

2:30pm: Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2:30pm: Portfolio Questions
- Education and Skills

Ministerial Statement: Scottish Attainment Challenge – Local Authority Stretch Aims for Recovery and Accelerating Progress in 2022-23

Scottish Government Debate: International Human Rights Day

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5:00pm: Decision Time

In Committee

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee (9:00am, The Burns Room)
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Witnesses: Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Elliot Robertson, Head of EU Secretariat, and Chris Nicholson, Solicitor and Head of Branch, Constitutional Reform and External Affairs, Scottish Government.

Public Audit Committee (9:00am, The Clerk Maxwell Room)
Major ICT Projects
Witnesses: Sharon Fairweather, Director of Internal Audit and Assurance, Geoff Huggins, Director Digital, and Yorath Turner, Deputy Director, Digital People, Strategy and Corporate Services, Digital Directorate, Scottish Government

Social Justice and Social Security Committee (9:00am, The Fairfax Somerville Room)
Subordinate legislation: The Winter Heating Assistance (Low Income) (Scotland) Regulations 2023
Witnesses: Frazer Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Action Scotland; Dr Mark Simpson, Acting Co-Chair, Scottish Commission on Social Security.

COVID-19 Recovery Committee (9:30am, The Livingstone Room)
Road to recovery: impact of the pandemic on the Scottish labour market
Witnesses: Richard Lochhead, Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Lewis Hedge, Deputy Director, Fair Work and Labour Market Strategy, and Dr Alastair Cook, Principal Medical Officer, Mental Health Division, Scottish Government.

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee (9:30am, The Fleming Room)
Cross-Party Group - Withdrawal of recognition: The Committee will decide whether to withdraw recognition from the Cross-Party Group on the Prevention and Healing of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Welsh Parliament: Thursday 8 December 2022

In Plenary

The Welsh Parliament is not sitting in plenary.

In Committee

Remuneration Board (IRB(06-22)) (9:00am, Remote Meeting)
Senedd Reform

Cost of living/Energy costs

Annual Review of the Determination

Employers' insurance

Support Staff Pension Scheme: Group personal Pension

Children, Young People and Education Committee (9:15am, Committee Room 4)
Scrutiny of Qualifications Wales Annual Report 2021 – 2022
Witnesses: David Jones, Chair, and Philip Blaker, Chief Executive, Qualifications Wales

Northern Ireland Assembly: Thursday 8 December 2022

The Northern Ireland Assembly is not sitting in plenary and no committee meetings have yet been scheduled.

 

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