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  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage primary school children to become active and involved in local sports organisations.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Over 17,500 schools are voluntarily taking part in the Sainsbury’s School Games—over 70% of all schools in England—including approximately 13,000 primary schools. Participating schools can choose from sports formats developed by 31 National Governing bodies for sport. Schools are supported by 450 School Games organisers across the country, who are connecting School Games to community sports clubs to help ensure activity is sustained beyond school.

    In addition, through the primary PE and sport premium, we are investing over £450 million across government (up to and including the academic year 2015/16) to improve physical education and sport in primary schools. Heads are free to choose how they use the funding to secure the greatest impact, which may include working with local sports organisations and/or increasing pupils’ participation in the School Games.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent modern slavery.

    Karen Bradley

    The Government is determined to lead the global fight against modern slavery,
    and have introduced the Modern Slavery Bill to help us do so. The Bill aims to
    give law enforcement the tools to stamp out modern slavery and to enhance protection for
    victims. The Bill was published on 10th June 2014.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that costs of public transport do not increase.

    Stephen Hammond

    I recognise concerns passengers have about impacts of fares on household budgets, which is why for the first time in a decade average regulated rail fares have been capped at inflation for 2014.

    Outside London, bus services are deregulated and fares are mainly a matter for the commercial judgement of bus operators. However, the Government has made a commitment to retain the current Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) rate for the remainder of this parliament and has frozen the fuel duty rate until May 2015.

    Public transport costs in Northern Ireland are a matter for the NI Assembly.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the Giro D’Italia in Northern Ireland; and what plans she has to ensure a positive legacy from the event.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) estimates that the Giro d’Italia “Grande Partenza” was viewed by 775 million people in 165 countries across the world giving this huge audience the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery of Northern Ireland. NITB has estimated that the event should generate 140,000 tourist visits to Northern Ireland.

    Building on the legacy of the Giro d’Italia is, of course, for the Northern Ireland Executive to take forward and I understand that the Assembly has discussed the issue.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 87W, on holiday leave, what assessment his Department has made of the conclusions of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s Report entitled Give us a Break on the lack of awareness and denial of paid holiday entitlement to UK workers.

    Jenny Willott

    The Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s Report, Give us a Break, was a formal submission to the Ministerial Review of Workplace Rights, Compliance and Enforcement and therefore this Department assessed the report along with other submissions to the review. The written Ministerial Statement following the review was laid in parliament on 10th July 2012. We continually review a broad range of evidence. As outlined in reply of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 87W, the right to paid annual leave is an important right, and we would urge workers who feel they are not receiving it to contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline (0800 917 2368) or Acas (www.acas.org.uk) for free and confidential advice.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to record and identify instances where non-pharmacological treatments have caused adverse reactions in patients.

    Norman Lamb

    Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines through the spontaneous reporting scheme; the Yellow Card Scheme. The scheme has been in place since 1964 and collects ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom and includes all medicines, including non-pharmacological treatments such as herbal and homeopathic medicines.

    Reports are received from healthcare professionals and members of the public on a voluntary basis. However there is a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to report suspected ADRs to their products. The MHRA receives approximately 30,000 ADR reports per year. All reports received are rapidly entered onto the MHRA’s ADR database for assessment by a team of medical, pharmaceutical and scientific assessors. The purpose of the scheme is to provide an early warning that the safety of a product may require further investigation and the scheme has a proven track record of identifying safety issues.

    National Health Service organisations will also record details of adverse incidents in local risk management systems and other datasets such as the Hospital Episodes Statistics datasets. Many of these systems rely on accurate coding to enable data extract and analysis, and codes specific to non pharmacological treatments may not always be available.

  • Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said that his organisation will not renounce violence or recognise Israel.

    Hugh Robertson

    I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 June 2014, Official Report, column 91W.

  • Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mike Freer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to European governments to secure as quickly as possible restitution for British citizens who had assets seized by the Nazis.

    Mr David Lidington

    I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 689W. Since January, the British Government has engaged at Ministerial or official level with the Germans, Poles and Russians on restitution and looted art.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department gives local authorities on the suspension of school staff.

    Mr David Laws

    The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 require local authority-maintained schools to establish procedures to regulate the conduct and discipline of staff, including the suspension of staff. This requirement is set out in the Department’s guidance on Managing Staff Employment in Schools. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) also provides detailed advice for all employers including self-governing schools and local authorities on the suspension of school staff.

  • Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK have received support through the Access to Work scheme in each of the last three years.

    Mike Penning

    Please see figures for the last full three financial years for which data is avaiable:

    Numbers helped by Access to Work support in Scotland:

    2010/11: 2,800

    2011/12: 2,510

    2012/13: 2,500

    Numbers helped by Access to Work support in Great Britain:

    2010/11: 35,820

    2011/12: 30,780

    2012/13: 31,500