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  • Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Baker on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of regulatory changes allowing registered medical practitioners to form an opinion about the mental or physical health of a female patient without meeting or examining her; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The approach to abortion in the United Kingdom is set out in the Abortion Act 1967 and this remains unchanged. The Act sets out that two doctors must certify that in their opinion, which must be formed in good faith, a request for an abortion meets at least one (and the same) of the grounds set out in the Act.

  • Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Baker on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service about the pre-signing of abortion forms.

    Mr Dominic Grieve

    I have had no recent specific discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the pre-signing of abortion forms. I am aware, though, that the CPS has had discussions with the Department of Health on this and I await the outcome of these.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms his Department has in place to monitor standards in care homes for the elderly.

    Norman Lamb

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the 2008 Act) all providers of regulated activities, including National Health Service and independent providers, have to register with the CQC and meet a set of requirements of safety and quality.

    The CQC is currently introducing a new system of inspection of social care providers. This new system of inspection will be structured around five key questions that matter most to people – are the services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs. The new inspections will make more use of people’s views and will use expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care. The CQC has been piloting this new approach in 252 of social care providers since April 2014.

    The Department is also working with the CQC to develop fundamental standards, which will set out the line below which care should never fall – they will be requirements that all providers of health and social care registered with the CQC must meet. The CQC will be able to take action including prosecution where providers are not meeting these standards. These fundamental standards will apply to all registered providers across health and adult social care.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the use of CCTV in care homes.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department currently has no plans to require the installation of CCTV in care homes. However, we do have to recognise that recent cases of abuse and neglect have been exposed as the result of hidden cameras. We acknowledge that there are occasions when it may be appropriate for their use to be considered.

    The Care Quality Commission is exploring whether hidden cameras might be used as part of its investigations. It is consulting widely on the use of covert surveillance and will take account of a wide range of views before making its decision.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms are in place to allow families of patients in care homes to report concerns about standards of care.

    Norman Lamb

    Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 requires all care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to “have an effective system in place for identifying, receiving, handling and responding appropriately to complaints and comments made by service users, or persons acting on their behalf”.

    Where a person’s care is provided or arranged by their local authority, complaints and concerns should be directed initially to the local authority, which remains responsible for the quality of care. If a person has arranged their own care, they should pursue the matter directly with the provider in the first instance.

    In both cases, should complainants not be satisfied with the response, they are entitled to ask the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate.

    People may also raise concerns with the CQC, as regulator of health and adult social care services. Under the 2008 Act, the CQC does not have the responsibility for investigating specific complaints about social care providers. However, where there are concerns about a provider which is registered with the CQC, such concerns should be brought to its attention. The CQC will use this information, together with local information from partners and the public, to help it decide when, where and what to inspect.

    The CQC is currently introducing a new system of inspection of social care providers. This new system of inspection will be structured around five key questions that matter most to people – are the services safe, caring, effective, well-led, and responsive to people’s needs. The new inspections will make more use of people’s views and will use expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care. The CQC has been piloting this new approach in 252 of social care providers since April 2014.

  • John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Glen on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the quality and content of advice published by independent abortion providers accords with that of his Department and the Royal colleges.

    Jane Ellison

    Medical practitioners carrying out terminations of pregnancy must comply with the Abortion Act 1967. Independent sector providers approved to perform abortions by the Secretary of State for Health must comply with the Required Standard Operating Procedures as a condition of approval.

  • John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Glen on 2014-04-30.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax has been collected from insolvency litigation (a) through the Specialist Investigation Unit and (b) in all other insolvency litigation cases handled by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 2010.

    Mr David Gauke

    HMRC does not maintain centrally held records of the amount it collects through insolvency litigation.

  • John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Glen on 2014-04-30.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of how much tax will be collected annually from insolvency litigation following reforms to insolvency litigation through the 2012 Legal, Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.

    Mr David Gauke

    No assessment has been made of how much tax will be collected annually from insolvency litigation following reforms to insolvency litigation through the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.

  • Michael Connarty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Michael Connarty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Connarty on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department’s priorities are for provisions to be included in the forthcoming Modern Slavery Bill.

    Karen Bradley

    The Modern Slavery Bill is an important step in the fight against modern
    slavery. The provisions in the Bill are designed to protect victims and
    strengthen the law enforcement response. Increased sentences, restricting the
    activities of those who pose a risk to others and introducing an Anti-Slavery
    Commissioner will ensure that law enforcement have the tools they need to
    prosecute and convict the perpetrators of this abhorrent crime, whilst at the
    same time protecting more people from becoming victims of this appalling crime.

  • John Randall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    John Randall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Randall on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that assets of human traffickers are frozen within 48 hours of their arrest; and if he will make a statement.

    Karen Bradley

    The Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, published in October 2013, sets out
    how the Government will make it harder for criminals to use, hide and move the
    proceeds of crime. The Government will, as soon as parliamentary time allows,
    seek to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act to enable assets to be frozen more
    quickly and easily.

    Section 60B of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 allows for relevant land vehicle,
    ship or aircraft to be detained where a person has been arrested for a human
    trafficking offence. These powers will be brought forward and consolidated
    into the Modern Slavery Bill.