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  • Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what representations she has received on accusations of mis-selling by Home Energy and Lifestyle Management.

    Andrea Leadsom

    It is not appropriate for me to comment on specific allegations against individual firms. However, I can confirm that in November 2015, acting on information passed to DECC by the Green Deal Ombudsman, I imposed a financial penalty against Home Energy and Lifestyle Management for breaches of the Green Deal Code of Practice related to mis-selling of credit agreements, the obligation under the Code of Practice to act honestly and fairly towards consumers, and the obligation to encourage consumers to obtain alternative quotes. Companies participating in various DECC schemes are expected to adhere to high standards including, where appropriate, those laid out in the Green Deal Code of Practice and the requirements of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. For firms that are authorised Green Deal Providers, consumers may complain to the Green Deal Ombudsman (where the firm is unable to resolve their complaint), and the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body also monitor issues raised involving authorised participants. DECC Officials also work closely with other regulators with an interest in firms working under DECC schemes.

    In the summer of 2015, I established the Every Home Matters review, which contains a strong focus on consumers, and I look forward to receiving the recommendations from this in the coming months.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the level of VAT on energy saving materials.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Decisions on VAT are led by HM Treasury, and the Department has been in regular contact with them regarding the consultation on changes to the application of VAT on energy saving materials.

  • Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what criteria the Government is using to determine the sites of future small modular reactors.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government will address the issue of site identification for small modular reactors in due course, but no potential sites or siting criteria have been identified at present.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to appoint a new envoy on climate change.

    Mr David Cameron

    The Government is committed to tackling climate change by reducing our emissions at home and pushing for ambitious action globally. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Ms Rudd), played a key role in Paris to secure the first global legally binding climate agreement. The focus now is on implementation. There are no plans to appoint a new envoy on climate change at this time.

  • Henry Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Henry Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on animal welfare of the use of glue traps.

    George Eustice

    The Animal Welfare Act 2006 provides protection for animals caught in traps. All traps, including glue traps, must be inspected at regular intervals and trapped animals dealt with appropriately to ensure they do not suffer unnecessarily.

  • James Heappey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    James Heappey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Heappey on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, what her policy is on the extension of the definition of mapped open countryside to caves.

    George Eustice

    Section 2(1) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides for a right of access on foot for the purposes of open-air recreation to land which has been mapped as open country (mountain, moor, heath and down) and registered common land.

    The Government has no plans to extend the definition of mapped land under that Act to apply to caves.

  • Ben Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Ben Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Bradshaw on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26471, whether the UK cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme plans to assess the potential link between oil and gas activities and related seismic testing and the movement of sperm whales to North Sea waters.

    George Eustice

    The UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme is currently working with experts from Germany and The Netherlands to carry out an assessment of all the potential factors, natural and/or human-induced, that may have contributed to the recent sperm whale strandings.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department’s estimate of the number of people who have been affected by HIV or hepatitis C through treatment with NHS-supplied blood or blood products has changed since the publication of Impact Assessment No. 3140 on 21 January 2015.

    Jane Ellison

    The figures provided in Impact Assessment No. 3140 have not been updated since publication on 21 January 2016.

  • Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the reasons for the delay by NHS England on announcing a public consultation on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England does not now consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV to be suitable for prioritisation of specialised commissioning spend as it is a preventative measure. However given the potential benefits in this area, NHS England wants to build on the work to date and will be making available up to £2 million over the next two years to run a number of early implementer test sites. These will be undertaken in conjunction with Public Health England and will seek to answer the remaining questions around how PrEP could be commissioned in the most cost effective and integrated way to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infections in those at highest risk.

  • Mark Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Garnier on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to help pressures on local health care services resulting from an increasing population of elderly people.

    Alistair Burt

    We know there are challenges ahead across the health and care sectors, but the principle with which we will approach the decisions ahead will be to prioritise and maximise funding for frontline services. The Government believes that the answer to these challenges lies in changing the way services are delivered and keeping people well and independent for longer, not in altering the fundamental principles that underpin the National Health Service.

    As a result of the Spending Review, NHS funding will be £10 billion higher in real terms by 2020-21 than 2014-15. And the NHS will not have to wait until the end of the parliament for much of this investment. We will be giving the NHS £3.8 billion more next year, over and above inflation, and almost £6 billion of the £10 billion in the first two years of the six year period. This shows that the Government has listened and responded to what the NHS has said about the level of investment it needs to deliver the Five Year Forward View.

    The Five Year Forward View – the NHS’s own plan – takes account of rising demand from demographic change and sets out new models of care that can meet the changing needs of patients, including better meeting the needs of the frail elderly, and maximising the opportunities presented by new technologies and treatments. The aim of the new care models programme is to secure the future of the NHS for all of us to continue receiving high quality care, when and where we need it.