From 25 November to 10 December, the United Nations is making a worldwide call to action during 16 Days of Activism to help end violence against women and girls.
The Scotland Office has joined other UK Government departments, the Scottish Government, local authorities and partner organisations across the country in supporting the campaign against gender-based violence.
Violence against women in all its forms, whether on the street, in the home or – increasingly – online, is unacceptable. One incident is one too many.
Here, in her own words, Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill explains why she and Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray signed the pledge to help end these atrocious crimes, and why she’s urging everyone in Scotland to back her:
“Women have always known, because we are taught and told and trained, from very early on in our lives, that we are not safe – not on the street, not in the park, not in the club, not in the pool, not on a date.
“We learn that our own bodies can be a source of vulnerability or an object over which other people feel entitled to ownership and control. For me and for so many of my friends, that is such a fact of life we don’t even talk about it until there’s another horrific headline about a woman or girl we know could so easily have been us.
“This government won’t stand for half the population living like that.
“Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is overseeing an unprecedented Government mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. No government has sought to do this before, and we recognise the scale of the challenge we are facing. But the time has come for us to treat these appalling crimes like the national emergency that they are.
“In Scotland, as globally, the figures are stark and unacceptable. In the last year, 14,484 sexual crimes were recorded by Police Scotland. And during the same period, there were 63,867 incidents of domestic abuse, an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.
“You will know some of these women. You might not know that you know them, but you do. They are in every town, every workplace, every friendship circle.
“The trauma of survivors runs deep. So too does our commitment to ensure all women and girls across Scotland can breathe freely, sure in the knowledge their safety is a priority. “
Minister Kirsty McNeill and Secretary of State Ian Murray sign the pledge
She went on: “That’s why this past week, and until December 10, the Scotland Office has joined other government departments, the Scottish Government, our 32 local authorities and organisations across the country in supporting the United Nations’ 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, the annual campaign to raise awareness and commit to change.
“Secretary of State Ian Murray and I have signed the White Ribbon pledge and we’ve been inviting Scottish MPs into our base on Whitehall to do the same.
“By supporting the White Ribbon Scotland charity – whose emblem is the global symbol detesting gender-based violence – each one of us has pledged never to ‘commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms’.
“Whether it’s domestic abuse behind closed doors or harassment on our streets, we’re sending a clear message: it ends now.
“One of my earliest ministerial visits was to Edinburgh Women’s Aid, to hear from survivors about the work that had changed and, in some, cases saved their lives. There can be no doubt about the stakes. Let there be no doubt either about our determination to work together – Scottish and UK governments, Police Scotland, local authorities and more – to build a safe Scotland for all women and girls.”
International community convene at Humanitarian Conference in Egypt to collaborate on boosting aid in Gaza
International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds will attend a humanitarian conference in Cairo today [Monday 2 December], meeting with international partners, to discuss how to urgently alleviate suffering in Gaza, as part of a three-day visit to the region.
The Minister will announce £19 million of funding for Gaza, including £12 million in funding to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and World Food Programme (WFP).
The UK has now committed £99 million to the OPTs this financial year, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank delivered through partner agencies. The UK’s humanitarian programme in Gaza has meant half a million people have received essential healthcare. 284,000 people have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
To demonstrate the UK’s ongoing commitment to achieving stability in the region and to discuss how to improve economic stability for all Palestinians, Minister Dodds will then travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel.
The Minister will see first-hand the vital work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) at a refugee camp in the West Bank. She will also highlight the £7m of new UK funding that will go to UNRWA’s Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza. It will support the international response to deliver essential services such as food, shelter and healthcare as winter conditions add to the already dire humanitarian situation.
To underline UK support for the Palestinian Authority and their essential political and economic reform agenda, the Minister will meet with Palestinian Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Wael Zakout.
Development Minister Anneliese Dodds said: “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Gazans are in desperate need of food, and shelter with the onset of winter. The Cairo conference will be an opportunity to get leading voices in one room and put forward real-world solutions to the humanitarian crisis.
“The UK is committed to supporting the region’s most vulnerable communities, pledging additional funding for UNRWA, and to supporting the Palestinian Authority reforms.
“Israel must immediately act to ensure unimpeded aid access to Gaza. I will meet counterparts both in Israel and the OPTs to discuss the need to remove these impediments, bring about a ceasefire, free the hostages and find a lasting solution to the conflict.”
The Minister will also confirm the UK has provided £6 million each to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office for Coordinated Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) pooled humanitarian fund. This has gone towards lifesaving health, food, water, sanitation and protection services for Palestinians.
This year the UK contribution to WFP will enable it to procure 4,465 metric tons of fortified wheat flour, sufficient to cover the needs of more than 451,000 severely food insecure people across Gaza for one month.
Whilst in the OPTs, the Minister will also visit a community in Area C of the West Bank that is subject to settler violence and is at risk of demolition and displacement.
Minister Dodds will then arrive in Israel, holding meetings with Israeli representatives. She will call on Israel to remove impediments to getting aid into Gaza and discuss finding a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The Minister will also meet the families of UK and UK-linked hostages in Israel and will reiterate that the UK continues to exercise every possible diplomatic lever to see the hostages immediately and unconditionally released.
Concluding the visit, the Minister will highlight that it is in the long-term interests of the Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region to agree to a ceasefire deal urgently and bring this devastating conflict to an end.
Later this week the Prime Minister will set out ambitious milestones for change that will deliver ‘real, tangible improvement to the lives of working people across the country’
PM to galvanise action across government and beyond with radical next phase of Mission delivery
Measurable milestones will be set out in new Plan for Change, that will put working people’s priorities first
Relentless prioritisation will ensure that the government delivers for working people this Parliament
The Prime Minister will set out ambitious milestones for change that will deliver real, tangible improvement to the lives of working people across the country in this Parliament, later this week.
The Plan for Change will mark the next phase of Mission-led government, as the PM continues to take an unrelenting approach to delivering on the priorities of working people.
The Missions – growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, secure power through clean energy and opportunity for all – are part of a decade of national renewal, built on the foundations of a stable economy, national security and secure borders.
The government has already made significant progress on its Missions since July; fixing the foundations of the country and kicking off the first steps to deliver real change. This has included stabilising the economy, establishing a new Border Security Command that will smash the gangs and tackle small boat crossings, and investing an extra £22bn building an NHS fit for the future including an extra 40,000 appointments.
This action has all taken place having inherited the unprecedented twin challenges of crumbling public services and crippled public finances. The government has had to make difficult decisions, including reforming agricultural property relief and targeting the winter fuel allowance.
Having taken action to fix the foundations and kick off the First Steps, the Plan for Change will set out ambitious but achievable milestones on the Missions that will be reached by the end of the Parliament, driving real improvements in the lives of working people.
Achieving them will demand that the attention and resources of government are relentlessly focused on making sure the Missions are delivering on what matters most to working people in every corner of the UK.
The milestones are part of the Prime Minister’s drive to do government radically differently, and will reflect the priorities of working people, allowing them to hold government to account on its progress.
Work to deliver them will be underpinned by innovation and reform, alongside close working with partners across business, civil society, and local government.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This Plan for Change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation.
“Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway. It means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people.
“We are already fixing the foundations and have kicked-started our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing £22bn in an NHS that is fit for the future.
“Our Plan for Change is the next phase of delivering this government’s mission. Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this government was elected on mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people.
“Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited we will not achieved this by simply doing more of the same which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform.”
The relentless prioritisation will be at the heart of the choices made in the next Spending Review – which will look at every pound the government spends, line by line, taking a zero-based approach to how departments are funded.
The milestones will be underpinned by an ‘ambitious programme of public sector reform’, building on the reform work already started on planning, national infrastructure, pensions, industrial strategy, and the labour market.
As part of this work, the Prime Minister will also charge the new Cabinet Secretary and all Cabinet Ministers to reform Whitehall so that it is geared to Mission delivery rather than working in the traditional silos that focus on fiefdoms not outcomes.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart has called for the UK Government to consider a pilot proposal in Scotland which would give people seeking asylum the right to work in some parts of Scotland.
The Scottish Right to Work Pilot Proposal proposes a number of changes to current UK policy, including enabling the right to work from six months instead of twelve months, and removing restrictions on the types of work they can undertake. Additionally, those on the pilot would have access to support around key topics such as employability and language learning.
A report from the Scottish Government’s independent Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population, published in December 2023, shows that granting people who are seeking asylum the right to work at an earlier stage could improve their wellbeing and integration, reduce their risk of exploitation, and have longer-term benefits to our economy and public service delivery.
Equalities Minister @KaukabStewart has asked @GOVUK to consider a pilot proposal to give people seeking asylum in some parts of Scotland the right to work after 6 months and remove some restrictions on the type of work they can undertake.
Ms Stewart said: “Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum. We believe that giving people seeking asylum the right to work from an earlier point can have a positive impact on them, their families and our communities.
“This means that following a positive decision they will be better equipped to support themselves and their families.
“These measures would also enable asylum seekers to integrate more quickly, making a positive contribution to our workforce and economy by reducing the cost and demand on our public services.
“We ask that the Home Office engages with us to take forward this pilot proposal, in collaboration with our partners.”
UK Government to bring forward statutory levy on gambling operators to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms
Government to bring forward statutory levy as first step to strengthening harmful gambling protections
Mandated levy to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with half of funding to directly benefit NHS-led gambling treatment system
Government also confirms online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18 to 24
The Westminster government has taken its first steps towards strengthening gambling harm legislation today, confirming plans to implement a statutory levy on gambling profits and online slot stake limits to help tackle the issue of gambling addiction.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has outlined how a levy on gambling operators will be designed and implemented as the government moves forward on its manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm.
The landmark levy will be charged to all licensed operators and will guarantee increased, ringfenced and consistent funding to prevent and tackle gambling harm.
Under the current voluntary system not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share.
The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots, a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play.
Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds.
Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross said: “Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected.
“The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm.
“We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots.
“These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely.”
From October 2023 to January 2024, the government sought views from clinicians, academics, the industry and the wider public on how the levy should be designed and implemented.
In its response to this consultation, the government has confirmed 50% of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system. This will include referrals and triage, through to recovery and aftercare.
Prevention is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling harm. 30% of levy funding will go towards investment in this area, which could include measures such as national public health campaigns and training for frontline staff. The government is taking the time to get the important decision on the future of prevention right and will publish next steps in the coming months.
The remaining 20% of funding will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission to develop bespoke Research Programmes on Gambling, undertaking vital research to inform future policy and regulation.
Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said: “Problem gambling can completely ruin lives and the issue has skyrocketed, with NHS services treating record numbers and our latest data showing a staggering 129% increase in service referrals compared with the same period last year.
“I am delighted to welcome this commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families and the voluntary sector have been calling for so we can treat this growing problem – and we will continue to work with government to do all we can to protect problem gamblers from this billion-pound industry.”
Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms at NHS England, said: “Gambling harms have a devastating effect on people’s lives. We know that 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether family members or gamblers already experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold.
“We recognise the need for more action, which is why I am thrilled to support the Government’s new levy, which will help us address the negative impact of gambling harms on communities using treatment, prevention and research through an independent evidence-based strategy at last.”
Funding from the levy will be distributed to the NHS and UKRI, the umbrella body for research councils, by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the government. The gambling industry will have no say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent.
The levy will be charged to all licensed gambling activity at varying levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity to ensure impacts are proportionate. Rates take into account the difference in operating costs and the levels of harmful gambling associated with different gambling activities.
Minister for Health Andrew Gwynne said: “Tackling gambling harm is a crucial part of our commitment to support people to live longer, healthier lives.
“This levy will provide an important funding boost for the NHS, whilst also enabling independent research and more effective prevention initiatives.
“By making NHS England responsible for all treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harms in England, we will ensure people are getting the most effective care possible.”
Technological developments in recent years have paved the way for a dramatic shift in the ways people gamble. Gambling has moved away from betting shops and casinos to people being able to play anywhere, anytime, on their phones, leading to a significant increase in online gambling behaviour.
The levy and online slot stake limits announced today complements a raft of major changes the government and the Gambling Commission is delivering to make gambling safer in an age of technological advances. This includes including financial risk checks to better alert operators to risky behaviours and tighter controls on marketing.
The disclaimed audit opinion from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Gareth Davies, on the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) 2022-23 is the first ever.
The cause is the severe backlogs in English local authority audits, with the consequence that there is inadequate assurance over material amounts throughout the WGA.
The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets and liabilities. It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective.
The PAC Chair’s statement can be found here PAC Chair’s statement – WGA.pdf. The link to the WGA 22/23 can be found in the notes to editors.
Backlogs in firms’ audits of England’s 426 local authorities have led to the National Audit Office (NAO) disclaiming the 2022-23 WGA for the first time.
As well as local authority accounts, the WGA combines the accounts of over 10,000 public bodies, such as central government departments, devolved administrations, the NHS, academy schools and public corporations.
Within his audit report, the NAO’s head, Gareth Davies, said he had been “unable to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence upon which to form an opinion”.
Just over 10% (43) of England’s 426 local authorities submitted reliable data to the WGA.
Of the near 90% of local authorities that failed to submit reliable data, 46% (196) submitted information that hasn’t been audited, and 44% (187) did not submit any data at all.
The Government is taking steps to address the backlog in audited accounts for English local authorities, including the use of fixed dates by which each year’s audits must be completed.
This process is unlikely to allow the disclaimer on WGA to be removed for 2023-24, but it does offer a medium-term solution to the problem.
The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets, liabilities, income and expenditure. This means that long-term costs to the public purse such as clinical negligence and nuclear decommissioning are visible to policy makers and Parliamentarians.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO said:“It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the Whole of Government Accounts for 2022-23.
“It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective”.
The disclaiming of the WGA is in relation to local authority audit omissions and unaudited returns. The impact of this impact is so large and pervasive that the Comptroller and Auditor General is unable to give any opinion on the WGA at all. The C&AG continues to provide assurance over all central government departments via their statutory departmental accounts on an annual basis, and the disclaimer of the WGA does not impact upon the opinions he gives on those accounts.
Votes on the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill will move the UK one step closer to becoming smoke-free
Vote will move the UK one step closer to becoming smoke-free, shielding the next generation from the harms of smoking.
Ambitious plans to protect children from vaping, including ban on vape advertising and sale of vapes in vending machines, in addition to restricting vape flavours, packaging and shop display.
Bill bolstered by additional £10m of support for enforcement and £70m for stop smoking services.
MPs will today (26 November) vote on the world-leading Tobacco and Vapes Bill, moving the UK one step closer to protecting future generations from the harms of smoking and vaping.
The ambitious Bill includes plans to clamp down on youth vaping with many of the measures specifically aimed at protecting children.
Subject to consultation, the sale of vape flavours that overtly appeal to children – such as bubble gum, gummy bear and cotton candy – could be brought to an end, alongside restrictions on vape packaging that is designed to appeal to young people.
The Bill will bring in a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship which will include displays that will likely be seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas, and in shop windows, bringing this in line with current tobacco restrictions.
All vaping and nicotine products will be banned from being sold to under 18s – closing loopholes on non-nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches. Vapes will also be banned in vending machines, where they can be easily accessed by children. The free distribution of these products will also be banned.
If passed, the Bill will progress to the next parliamentary stage, bringing the UK one step closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.
The Bill will help achieve one of the three key shifts in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, to move from sickness to prevention.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: “The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we’re going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction.
“It is unacceptable that these harmful products are being deliberately targeted at children with brightly coloured packaging and flavours like ‘gummy bear’ and ‘rainbow burst’.
“The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the protection that children and young people need to avoid a life imprisoned by addiction. That’s why it’s so incredibly important it is voted through.”
To support current smokers to quit smoking, the government will provide £70 million for stop smoking services. This is in addition to all hospitals integrating ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care, making every clinical consultation count.
To bolster enforcement, the government will provide an additional £10 million for Trading Standards to crack down on illicit trade. This comes off the back of new data from National Trading Standards (NTS) that show over 1 million illicit vapes were seized inland by Trading Standards in 2023-24, a 59% increase compared to the previous year.
In a separate programme coordinated by NTS, 19 million illicit cigarettes and 5.2 tonnes of illicit hand-rolled tobacco were seized by Trading Standards in 2023-24. This is on top of the over 1 billion illicit cigarettes and 92.4 tonnes of illicit hand-rolled tobacco seized by HMRC and Border Force.
The Bill will also include powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will introduce on the spot fines of £200 to retailers found to be selling these products to people underage.
Expanding the use of highly effective standardised packaging to all tobacco products will also be explored.
Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said: “If this major piece of legislation is passed, it will accelerate a smokefree generation and lead to children never being trapped by addiction to cigarettes with lifelong harms to their health.
“The rising number of children vaping is a significant concern, and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help prevent marketing vapes to children, which is utterly unacceptable. Smoking results in direct harm across a person’s life course but also causes harms to others around them, including children, pregnant women and the medically vulnerable.
“Reducing the number of vulnerable people exposed to second-hand smoke, as well as preventing non-smokers taking up vaping is important and will improve the health of the nation.”
NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “Vaping among young people is a significant and growing concern and we wholeheartedly welcome the Government’s commitment to tackle this as part of the measures outlined in this bill.
“Smoking also remains the leading cause of preventable deaths and has a huge impact on the NHS, costing billions every year and we look forward to working with the government and partners to ensure the next generation grow up smoke and vape free.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will give government the powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces: with children’s playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals all being considered in England, subject to consultation. These powers will also allow places that are currently smoke-free to be made vape-free, subject to consultation.
Sarah Sleet, chief executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “The announcement of additional funding for smoking cessations services is desperately needed to help the tens of thousands of existing smokers who want to quit, which is incredibly difficult to do without support.
“Stop smoking services have suffered drastic cuts in recent years, but when they are appropriately funded they do a fantastic job of supporting people to stop smoking for good.
“Today’s vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the crucial next step towards protecting younger generations from the harms of smoking, by stopping them from ever taking up cigarettes.
“However, it’s only by tackling the whole problem that we can truly begin to put a stop to the devasting effects this deadly addiction has on the health of the nation, and the huge burden it places on the NHS.”
Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health said: “Every day around 350 young people start smoking, and two thirds of long-term smokers will die due to smoking.
“Passing this Bill is a vital way the Government can start to end the unprecedented harm caused by tobacco, protecting the health of the next generation by ensuring they won’t become addicted to smoking.
“Alongside the legislation funding is necessary to help the millions who currently smoke to quit and accelerate the creation of a smokefree country and the announcement today is welcome.”
Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “Tobacco still causes around 160 cancer cases every day in the UK. But with strong political will and bold action, these staggering numbers can be turned around.
“By voting in favour of this historic legislation, MPs have the power to help save lives and make the UK a world leader in tobacco control.
“Raising the age of sale of tobacco products and funding cessation support will save people from a deadly and costly addiction. I urge politicians to prioritise the health of the nation and help end cancers caused by smoking for good.”
In England, the Health and Social Care Secretary launched Change.NHS.UK to encourage the biggest conversation ever about the NHS to help inform the plan.
Mental Health Bill will give patients enhanced rights to make decisions regarding their own care, ensuring their voice is heard throughout the treatment process
Landmark reforms to better care for mental health patients one step closer to becoming law, with Second Reading of the Mental Health Bill in the House of Lords today
The Bill will also address inadequate care of people with a learning disability and autistic people, as well as reducing the number of unnecessary detentions
Long awaited legislation to reform care for mental health patients is one step closer to becoming law, as the Mental Health Bill has Second Reading in the House of Lords today (25th November 2024).
The Mental Health Bill, introduced earlier this month, will modernise the Mental Health Act, giving patients a greater say in their care, along with bolstered support from family and friends as part of treatment to ensure that their interests are protected and that their voice is heard throughout the treatment process.
Last year, over 50,000 people were detained under the Mental Health Act, but an independent review of the Mental Health Act, chaired by Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal Society of Medicine, found rising rates of detention under the act, along with racial disparities, and poor patient experience especially for autistic people and those with a learning disability, with patients being detained unnecessarily and for longer than needed.
Alongside making it legal requirement for each patient to have a care and treatment plan, the Bill will also give patients the right to an Advance Choice Document, which can be used by patients to set out what they want their care to look like in the event of a mental health crisis.
These changes will ensure that care is tailored to individual needs and encourage patients to remain in contact with health services and continue to engage with treatment.
Police and prison cells will also no longer be used to place people who need care under the Mental Health Act. Instead, patients will be supported to access a suitable healthcare facility that will better support their needs.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: “The Mental Health Act is there to protect people when they’re at their most vulnerable, and in many cases, it has saved lives. But it is hugely outdated, depriving people of their liberty, especially autistic people and people with a learning disability.
“We are now one step closer to bringing forward the essential reforms that will transform the care of some of our most vulnerable people, meaning patients receive the right care in the right place.
“Modernising the act will strengthen the decision-making processes, helping to better support people, and giving them the appropriate and compassionate care they need.”
The Bill will help deliver the government’s commitment to transform mental health care, giving it the same focus and attention as physical health.
It will also address unnecessary detentions for people with a learning disability or autistic people. At the end of October 2024, 1,880 people with these conditions were detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, and research suggests that some would be better suited to care in the community.
If passed, the Act will limit the length of time that they can be detained under the Act if they do not have a co-occurring mental health condition that needs hospital treatment and have not committed a criminal offence.
Claire Murdoch, NHS national mental health director, said: “This Mental Health Bill is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that patients experiencing serious mental illness and crises receive safe, modern, evidence-based care, and that the needs and wishes of patients and their loved ones are central to their care and better mental health outcomes.
“This comes alongside the NHS’s work to transform mental health services which are treating record numbers with existing resources – either through intervening earlier with hundreds of NHS teams working in schools, or trialling new 24/7 crisis mental health hubs to prevent people needing hospital care in the first place, and if an admission to hospital is needed the health service is working with local services to ensure this is delivered in a safe and therapeutic environment close to people’s homes.
Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: “This marks another important milestone towards the long overdue reforming and updating of the Mental Health Act to ensure people with severe mental illness are given greater control over their treatment and are not subjected to unnecessary detentions.
“Our members have long called for these reforms to address the unacceptable disparities in rates of detention for people from some ethnic minority backgrounds.
“The Bill should also stop patients with a learning disability and autistic people from being detained long-term, unless they also have a severe mental illness for which detention may be needed.
“This is a welcome step towards these vital reforms, and we look forward to working with the government to ensure there is enough capacity to implement the Bill’s plans.”
Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive, Rethink Mental Illness: “In the depths of a mental health crisis, everyone deserves care that respects their rights and gives them a say in their treatment. Today marks another milestone in the journey to reform the Mental Health Act, bringing us closer to vital legislation that’s fit for the 21st century.
“After years of tireless campaigning, we’re determined that this legislation fulfils its potential. We will support efforts to ensure the Bill passes through parliament to deliver meaningful, positive change for the tens of thousands of people detained under the Mental Health Act every year.
“In tandem, we will look to the new Ten Year Plan for the NHS to provide the resources and support necessary to ensure people receive the right care and treatment at the right time, to prevent people from experiencing a mental health crisis.”
Measures in the Bill will ensure patients, staff and the general public are better protected, through improved decision making and new processes requiring clinicians to seek a second opinion before discharging a patient. Discharge processes will also be reviewed more broadly and will include a safety management plan for the patient, to keep them and others safe.
Police chiefs, industry executives and transport bosses called to Downing Street to crack down on spiking and protect women and girls
Spiking will become a new criminal offence in England and Wales
Commitment to halve violence against women and girls is central to the government’s mission to make our streets safe
Police chiefs, industry executives and transport bosses must work together to keep women and girls safe, the Prime Minster will urge when he convenes leaders in Downing Street later today.
Reiterating his personal commitment to halve violence against women and girls, the Prime Minister will also confirm that his government will make spiking a new criminal offence. This will send a clear signal that this is a crime, and perpetrators should feel the full force of the law, empowering victims to report offences and giving them confidence the justice system will support them.
Speaking to leaders later today, the Prime Minister will set out how the new offence is just one of part of the solution. He will demand coordinated action across the police, transport network and venues to stamp out this cowardly act and take back our streets.
This will include training thousands of staff working in the nighttime economy on how to spot and tackle spiking. Piloted from December, the training will help equip staff with the skills they need to prevent incidents, support victims and help police collect evidence. This will be rolled out to up to 10,000 bar staff across the country by spring next year.
At today’s meeting, which comes just weeks before Christmas and when violence against women and girls is known to rise, the Prime Minister will hear from police forces and industry leaders about the tactics already being used to keep women safe and urge other forces and venues to follow their lead.
Chief Constable Jason Hogg, Thames Valley Police, will set out how his force has deployed plain clothed officers into areas around bars and clubs to spot predatory sexual behaviour. This tactic is now being used by over 20 forces across England and Wales.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, British Transport Police will set out work being undertaken to keep women safe using public transport. This includes relaunching the text-to-report number, 61016, that is now free across all major networks, allowing women to discretely contact British Transport Police for help if they are or someone else is being harassed on the train. In one case, a victim texted 61016 to alert the police, officers met the train, and the offender was arrested just half an hour later.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality and Chair of Institute of Licensing, will discuss supporting the Home Office in its plans to roll out nationwide training to make sure all door and bar staff know how to prevent spiking and have the skills needed to act if they suspect someone has been spiked.
Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, the NPCC lead for VAWG, will talk about the ongoing scale and threat of violence against women and girls, its prevalence in the night-time economy and what policing needs to tackle offenders and reduce the number of victims enduring abuse.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “My government was elected on a pledge to take back our streets, and we will never achieve this if women and girls do not feel safe at night.
“Today, I will bring together police chiefs, heads of industry and transport bosses to demand coordinated action to stop women being targeted, whether they are out with friends or simply travelling home.
“Cracking down on spiking is central to that mission.
“We know it can be incredibly difficult for victims to come forward to report this awful crime, and these cases can be very hard to prosecute. We must do more to bring the vile perpetrators who carry out this cowardly act, usually against young women and often to commit a sexual offence, to justice.
“That is why I made a promise that, if elected, I would make spiking a new criminal offence. Today, I am proud to have come good on that pledge.”
Action against spiking is just one of the measures being taken to meet the government’s unprecedented manifesto commitment to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, a fundamental part of the mission to make our streets safe.
Within the first few months of being in office, the government has already announced plans to launch new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to give greater protection to victims, and that domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms. More announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims.
“That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide.
“People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever this appalling crimes take place.”
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “Our pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are where Brits go to enjoy themselves and our priority is to ensure everyone can do that safely.
“I’m pleased that we’re able to support the Home Office in its plans to roll out a nationwide training programme as part of these efforts, to help ensure all staff know how to prevent spiking and have the skills to act if they suspect someone has been spiked.
“This is all part of hospitality’s unwavering commitment to keeping customers safe and ensuring our teams have the knowledge and skills they need.”
Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said: “Christmas should be a time for celebration and community but all too often perpetrators of vile crimes like spiking take advantage of festivities to target women and girls.
“As a society we cannot accept that, and this government is taking firm action to keep them safe – from creating a new criminal offence of spiking to working hand-in-hand with police and business to crack down on this behaviour.
“These are just some of the steps that will allow us to achieve our aim of halving violence against women and girls.”
Assistant Chief Constable Samantha Millar, National Police Chiefs’ Council Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Programme Director, said: “Spiking can have a significant, traumatic impact on victims and feelings of safety in the night-time economy, particularly for women and girls.
“Spiking is a complex offence to investigate as drugs can pass through the system quickly and there is often a lack of evidential opportunities, which is why quick reporting and early evidence gathering, including forensic testing, is key.
“Police forces across the country have been working proactively to stop spiking from happening in the night-time economy and improve feelings of safety for women and girls. This includes regular, targeted patrols of busy town centres and visiting organisations, such as universities, to raise awareness of the symptoms of spiking.
“Forces also work closely with bars, pubs and clubs to tackle spiking, and during the first national spiking police week of action in March, forces collectively visited over 1900 licensed venues to ensure that staff understood how to support victims.
“I hope that the policing response to protect women and girls in the night-time economy shows how committed we are to making our streets safer. I would encourage anyone who is a victim of spiking to report it to the police, you will be listened to, and you will be taken seriously.”
Public health minister and NHS national director visited Wigston, Leicestershire as more than 100 people from across the Midlands took part in a debate on future of NHS
The second national event will ensure views from the communities in the Midlands help to shape the government’s plans to build an NHS fit for the future
Over one million visits to change.nhs.uk, after rallying cry was issued to ‘entire nation’ to help shape 10 Year Health Plan
The biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS came to the Midlands yesterday (Saturday 23 November) as part of a nationwide series of public debates about how to fix the health service.
More than 100 people from the region visited Wigston in Leicestershire to discuss their views of the NHS, share their experiences, and offer their suggestions for delivering an NHS fit for the future.
Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne and NHS England’s National Director for Urgent and Emergency Care Sarah-Jane Marsh both attended. They asked people for their opinions on NHS reform and how the government’s 10 Year Health Plan can help tackle disparities in the region.
Addressing the event, Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention said: “I want to say a big thank you to so many people coming out so that you can be part of this 10 Year Health deliberation.
“We can’t change the NHS and make it better without you. When we say that the NHS is broken but not beaten, it’s not beaten because the staff are incredible, it is because the NHS is not where we need it to be.
“The NHS makes me proud to be British, it’s still the incredible service that was set up after the Second World War. But the NHS of 1948 is not an NHS that is fit for the future, with people living longer now and with more complex conditions.
“This opportunity allows us to recreate an NHS that’s fit for the future. Central to this is our three shifts from: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention.
“It’s exciting times and we’ve got a big task ahead. You are part of it and we can’t do it without your ideas. Let’s fix our NHS for the better.”
Sarah-Jane Marsh, National Director of Urgent and Emergency Care and Deputy Chief Operating Officer for NHS England said: “As someone with over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS in the Midlands – including almost 14 years as CEO of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital – I know how vital it is to hear from patients and their families directly, so it is truly fantastic that more than a million people have already come forward to let us know about their experiences.
“The 10 Year Health Plan is our chance to help the NHS continue to innovate and adapt, and make best practice, normal practice across the country.
“That’s why we want even more people to come forward and share their views, so if you work for the NHS or are a patient, family member or simply someone with a good idea, please share with us what we do well, what we need to do better, and your ideas for the future – we are waiting to hear from you.”
The minister and national director also visited a mobile vaccination unit in Loughborough, met a super vaccinator, who offers a full range of childhood vaccines and seasonal and adult vaccines. They saw first-hand the impact that the mobile vaccination unit and super vaccinators are having on the community.
Last month, the government issued a rallying cry to the nation – including all 1.5 million NHS staff, patients, experts, and the wider public – to visit the online platform change.nhs.uk to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS and to help shape the plan.
Change.nhs.uk has already received over one million visits. It will be live until spring 2025 and is available via the NHS App.
Thousands of ideas to fix the health service have been submitted, with suggestions including:
Establishing an NHS research health company that can be used to get insights on early prevention
Digital records, so records from all hospitals are available to view at all GP surgeries
Pop-up / mobile clinics to meet surge demand for services in areas of need
Stop giving out paper leaflets and sending letters, and limit this to those who do not have access to IT to reduce waste
All submitted ideas will be carefully considered as part of the engagement process so that we can better understand the priorities of the public, patients and people working in health and care.
It comes after the government announced a package of tough reforms to cut wasteful spending and ensure the health service delivers greater value for money – so more goes back to the frontline of care to benefit patients and staff everywhere.
People in the Midlands – an NHS region – are being affected by a range of health issues. The latest data shows there were:
over 1.4 million patients on the waiting list in the Midlands, with nearly 50,000 waiting more than a year
over 100,000 patients on the waiting list at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, with more than 2,000 waiting more than a year
nearly 130,000 patients on the waiting list at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, with more than 2,500 waiting more than a year
over 300,000 patients waiting for diagnostic tests and scans in the Midlands
there are over 25,000 patients waiting for diagnostic tests and scans at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
At the end of September 2024, data shows there were:
over 100,000 patients waited more than four weeks for a GP appointment in the Midlands
nearly 15,000 patients waited more than four weeks for a GP appointment at NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB
The public engagement exercise will help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by 3 big shifts in healthcare:
hospital to community
analogue to digital
sickness to prevention
As part of the first shift from ‘hospital to community’, the government wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres, which will be closer to homes and communities. Patients will be able to see family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors or mental health specialists, all under the same roof.
In transforming the NHS from analogue to digital, the government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results and letters in one place, through the NHS App.
By moving from sickness to prevention, the government wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in ill health and prevent illnesses before they happen.
