Category: Speeches

  • Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which minister was informed of the move of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills office from Sheffield to London, why they were informed, and whether they had any decision-making role in that move.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Permanent Secretary and Executive Board have made the proposal to relocate policy roles to London. They are responsible for the day to day running of the Department. The proposal is part of the BIS 2020 programme agreed with Ministers to deliver £350m savings and be more effective in delivering Ministerial priorities.

  • Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35252, how many staff in NHS trusts were (a) off-payroll in 2013-14 and (b) paid off-payroll in NHS foundation trusts in 2012-13.

    Alistair Burt

    This information is not collected centrally. The information provided in answer to Parliamentary Question 35252 related to staff within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance on senior off-payroll engagements. Information on other off-payroll staff with the exception of those providing consultancy services is not disclosed in the accounts of National Health Service organisations and not collected centrally.

  • Liz McInnes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Liz McInnes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz McInnes on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the eight key actions recommended in the Public Health England report entitled Sugar Reduction, the evidence for action, published in October 2015, for what reasons all of those actions were not included in the Government’s childhood obesity plan.

    Nicola Blackwood

    We launched Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action on 18 August. Our plan focuses on actions that are likely to have the biggest impact on childhood obesity. The policies in the plan are informed by the latest research and evidence, including from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Carbohydrates and Health, Public Health England’s evidence package Sugar reduction: the evidence for action, other Government Departments, debates in this House and various reports from key stakeholders including the Health Select Committee.

    We are confident that the measures we have announced will make a real difference to obesity rates. Though we are clear in our goals and firm in the action we will take, the launch of this plan represents the start of a conversation, rather than the final word.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2016 to Question 46577 which foreign jurisdictions have made use of the information and resources to which she refers during the last five years; and how much has been received from such jurisdictions in fees.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    As I stated in my earlier response, the National Offender Management Service can provide foreign jurisdictions access to a range of information including accredited programmes and related assessments and training in return for a fee, under a licence agreement. Over the last five years, we have provided intervention and assessment guidance under licence to Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands and training to Ireland. We have received £11,340 in fees. All services and materials currently provided to foreign jurisdictions under a licence agreement are either free or provided on the basis of cost recovery only.

    With regard to services provided under the Just Solutions International brand, which was closed down in September 2015, details are fully documented in a National Audit Office report, available here: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/investigation-into-just-solutions-international/

    “

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) changes in the number of cases of, and deaths from pneumococcal disease (b) the number of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) vaccinations given each year and (c) the cost of delivering that programme of vaccinations on an annual basis since the introduction of PCV in 2006.

    Jane Ellison

    The total number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and case fatality ratios (CFR) since 2006 are shown in table 1.

    Table 1. Total cases of IPD and case fatality ratios (CFR).

    Year

    Total cases1

    CFR2 (%)

    2004/05

    6,175

    not available

    2005/06

    6,250

    not available

    2006/07

    5,419

    not available

    2007/08

    5,481

    not available

    2008/09

    5,569

    not available

    2009/10

    5,203

    13.4

    2010/11

    5,265

    13.6

    2011/12

    4,396

    13.7

    2012/13

    4,477

    13.1

    2013/14

    4,032

    11.9

    1Total cases of laboratory confirmed IPD, England and Wales (excluding cases only confirmed by DNA detection and bronchiolar alveolar lavage (BAL) samples).

    2Proportion of cases of IPD that were found to have died within seven days of IPD onset (excluding BAL) ascertained by tracing GP registration records. Data on CFR prior to 2009 are not available.

    The current PCV offered to infants helps protect against 13 of the 95 known pneumococcal serotypes. The incidence of IPD caused by these serotypes has fallen by 90% in children younger than five years since the introduction in 2005 of PCV in the childhood immunisation programme. The vast majority of IPD cases in this age group are now due to non-vaccine pneumococcal serotypes. In addition, although the vaccine is only given to infants and young children, IPD due to the vaccine serotypes has declined in older children and adults through herd protection. Consequently, there has been a 36% decrease in the number of IPD cases across all age groups between 2005/06 (6,250 IPD cases) and 2013/14 (4,032 IPD cases) in England and Wales (Table 1) because of the infant immunisation programme.

    Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) was introduced in September 2006, with a catch-up campaign for children up to two years of age. The number PCV vaccinations given each year are shown in table 2.

    Table 2. The number of children at 12 months of age vaccinated with primary PCV, and the number of children at 24 years of age who have completed the PCV schedule, by year, in England.

    Financial year

    No. children 12 months vaccinated with primary PCV

    No. children 24 months vaccinated with completed PCV

    2006/07 (Q3&4 only)

    24,823

    51,648

    2007/08

    430,518

    350,049

    2008/09

    570,912

    487,209

    2009/10

    599,786

    561,106

    2010/11

    618,525

    582,614

    2011/12

    641,645

    615,203

    2012/13

    651,933

    636,591

    2013/14

    640,971

    642,023

    2014/15

    617,263

    633,698

    The complete course comprises three doses of PCV vaccine: these are given at two months and four months (the primary doses), and a booster dose at 12-13 months.

    In 2014/15 the NHS incurred approximately £9 million delivering completed courses of PCV and Haemophilus influenzae type b / meningococcal C (Hib/MenC) vaccination. Costs in 2013/14 would have been similar. NHS England does not have details of delivery costs prior to 2013/14. This figure does not include the cost of the vaccine, which is procured centrally by PHE, and is commercially confidential.

  • Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what transitional arrangements are in place for women affected by the planned increase in the retirement age for state pension recipients.

    Justin Tomlinson

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 November 2015 to Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North), Question UIN 15476

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-06.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the change has been in the numbers of people who missed the 31 January deadline for making their tax return between 2010 and 2015.

    Mr David Gauke

    Information on the number of taxpayers who missed the 31st January deadline for making their tax return between 2010 and 2015 is available in the following table:

    Filing Deadline

    31 Jan 2010

    31 Jan 2011

    31 Jan 2012

    31 Jan 2013

    31 Jan 2014

    31 Jan 2015

    Tax Return Year Counted

    2008-09

    2009-10

    2010-11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    Issued

    9.7m

    10m

    10.5m

    10.34m (3)

    10.74m (2)

    11.13m

    Filed on-time by 31 Jan

    8.57m

    8.64m

    9.45m

    9.61m (3)

    10.03m (2)

    10.24m (1)

    % Filed on-time

    88%

    86%

    90.4%

    92.9% (3)

    93.4% (2)

    92.0%

    % Outstanding at 31 Jan

    12%

    14%

    9.6%

    7.1% (3)

    6.6% (2)

    8%
  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-02-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any proposals by the EU to prosecute charities and volunteers who give assistance to migrants arriving in Greece, and what assessment they have made of which articles of the EU treaties might provide authority for any such action.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Government is not aware of any specific proposals by the EU to prosecute charities and volunteers who give assistance to migrants arriving in Greece. The European Commission is currently conducting public consultations as part of an on-going evaluation and impact assessment of the EU legislation on migrant smuggling, to gather views on what improvements could be made. We will consider any proposals if and when they are issued.

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-02-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will issue a response to EDM 1138, Anti-lobbying Clause in Government Grant Agreements.

    Matthew Hancock

    The grants clause announced on 6 February prevents recipients of taxpayer-funded grants from using them to lobby rather than for the purposes for which they were given.

    The clause does not prevent grant recipients from meeting with ministers, responding to public consultations or giving evidence to select committees.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of underwriting a national rent deposit scheme to help more homeless people access the private rented sector.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    One person without a home is one too many and we are committed to doing all we can to prevent homelessness. That is why we have increased central investment to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million. At Budget, we went one step further and announced £100 million to deliver low cost ‘move on’ accommodation to enable people leaving hostels and refuges to make a sustainable recovery from a homelessness crisis, providing at least 2,000 places for vulnerable people to enable independent living.

    We have also protected Homelessness Prevention Grant for local authorities, totalling £315 million by 2019-20. In doing so, we expect them to provide quality advice and assistance to all those that approach them for help. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities, developed by my Department working with local authorities and the voluntary and community sector, already encourages them to use this grant to provide rent deposits, guarantees or rent in advance. Many local authorities, housing associations or charities in England have put such schemes in place.