The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to implement the recommendation in the Smith Commission Report on post-study work visas; and if so, how.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
We will shortly be publishing the Government’s response to the recommendations made in the Scottish Affairs Committee’s report: “Post-study work schemes”.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2015-11-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their aim to halve the number of unemployed disabled people, whether they will conduct a review into the way the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment for enhanced rate mobility is working; and on what grounds they would consider changing the PIP assessment for enhanced rate mobility.
Baroness Altmann
The Government is committed to giving all disabled people the opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions. Work is an important part of this, which is why the Government has committed to halving the disability employment gap, requiring us to transform policy, practice and public attitudes.
Enhanced rate mobility payments within Personal Independence Payment are intended for those who face the greatest barriers to their mobility. We believe that the assessment criteria, which was designed in close consultation with disabled people and disability groups, achieve this by targeting support to those who need it most.
We currently have no plans to review how the PIP assessment for enhanced rate mobility is working.
Access to Work (ATW) provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. The type of support provided is tailored to an individual’s needs and can include travel to work, support workers and specialist aids and equipment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the length of time it would take to deploy 10,000 armed forces personnel in the event of a civil emergency.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence has developed a comprehensive deployment plan for this force in cooperation with the police and Home Office; this includes timescales to deploy.
I am withholding information about response times for reasons of operational security.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his oral evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee of 2 December 2015, Question 9, what his definition is of a constitutional long stop.
Dominic Raab
As the Prime Minister said on 10 November, we need to examine the way that Germany and other EU nations uphold their constitution and sovereignty. The issue that the Prime Minister raises requires serious thought, consultation within government and then space afterwards in order to allow proper debate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on patient access to medicines of planned reductions to the community pharmacy budget.
Alistair Burt
Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020/21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of services including public access to medicines. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.
Our proposals are about improving services for patients and the public and securing efficiencies and savings. A consequence may be the closure of some pharmacies but that is not our aim.
We are not able to assess which pharmacies may close or the number of people who may lose their jobs, because we do not know the financial viability of individual businesses or the extent to which they derive income from services commissioned locally by the NHS or local authorities or have non-NHS related income.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2016-03-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Dublin III Regulation asylum process; what her proposals are for its reform and improvement; and if she will make a statement.
James Brokenshire
The Dublin Regulation is an important tool in our ability to manage asylum claims in the EU. The Government recognises that improvements can be made to the operation of the Regulation through simplification, greater flexibility and encouragement of maximum compliance. The underlying principles, however, such as claiming asylum in the first safe country, reuniting families where possible, prevention of secondary movement and assigning responsibility of a claim as soon as possible all remain sound.
We are cooperating fully with the European Commission’s review of the Dublin Regulation and will continue to make the case these long established principles should continue to be the basis for any future regulation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2016-04-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation has taken place, or is planned, with the governments of British Overseas Territories, specifically Montserrat, to make provision for those born before 1 July 2006 to fathers not married to their mothers to register as full British Citizens, as provided under section 65 of the Immigration Act 2014.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
A forthcoming review of British nationality law will look at what does and does not work in the current system, and how citizenship should be obtained in the future. As part of that review, we will consult with the overseas territories.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men have been diagnosed with psoriasis in England in each of the last five years.
Jane Ellison
Information concerning the number of men diagnosed with psoriasis in each of the last five years is not collected. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the United Kingdom.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-07-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the result of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, what plans they have for ensuring that the conditional approval of the European Medicines Agency for new treatments continues to have validity in the UK.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The previous Prime Minister was clear that the negotiation for Britain’s future relationship with Europe needed to begin under the new Prime Minister, and we now have got to look at all the detailed arrangements.
The Department has launched a ministerial industry strategy group to prepare for the renegotiation on the new European Union/United Kingdom relationship, which includes looking at the relationship between the UK and the EU medicines regulatory framework.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Hodge on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the register of persons with significant control, how many companies have registered a shell company in an offshore tax haven as the persons with significant control of that company since 6 April 2016.
Margot James
Companies House does not hold figures on the number of companies that have registered a shell company in an offshore tax haven as their PSC. Companies can legitimately register a company as their PSC if that company meets the conditions of control, is the first legal entity in a company’s ownership chain and they are subject to their own disclosure requirements.
A full explanation of the rules can be found in BEIS guidance.
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