Category: Speeches

  • Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 3 May 2016 to Question 35113, what powers his Department can exercise if the Social Housing Regulator is failing to protect tenants from serious detriment by registered providers.

    Gavin Barwell

    The Social Housing Regulator may use its enforcement powers if a Registered Provider of Social Housing has failed to meet a regulatory standard. This includes ensuring that thier stock is adequately maintained and there is no serious detriment to their tenants.

    However, if tenants of Registered Providers are not satisfied with the way the Regulator has handled their case, they will have to access the Regulator’s complaint process. This involves complaining directly to the Regulator, the Regulator will reply within 20 working days. If the tenants are unhappy with the way their complaint was handled at the first stage, they can escalate their complaint to the Regulator’s legal service team as an independent review of the original complaint. If they are still unhappy with the response, then they can refer their complaint to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, who will carry out an independent review.

    If following the Regulator’s complaint procedure they are still unhappy, they can ask their MP to take their complaints to the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to review the handling of their complaint. Full details of how to make a complaint against the Regulator can be found on the Homes and Communities Agency’s website.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lisa Nandy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2016-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what correspondence she has received from legal counsel for the independent investigation into child sexual abuse relating to the conduct of (a) Dame Lowell Goddard and (b) Ben Emmerson QC between the date of their appointment to the inquiry and the dates of their departure.

    Sarah Newton

    The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was established under the Inquiries Act 2005 on 12 March 2015. Dame Lowell resigned as chair of the Inquiry on 4 August 2016. Ben Emmerson QC resigned as counsel to the Inquiry on 29 September 2016.

    The Home Secretary has received no correspondence from Counsel to the Inquiry relating to the conduct of either Dame Lowell or Mr Emmerson between the dates of their appointment to the Inquiry and the dates of their departure.

  • Lord Lexden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Lexden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lexden on 2015-11-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that local electoral registration offices in England and Wales work closely with schools, as has been done in Northern Ireland, to increase the number of young people registered to vote.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in Great Britain already work with their local schools and colleges to identify and register young people.

    In a report before the start of the current canvass of electors in Great Britain, the Electoral Commission called on all EROs to update their local public engagement strategies for the canvass. The Commission noted that strategies should reflect the activity EROs intended to carry out to target under-registered groups, such as attainers.

  • Emma Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Emma Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Reynolds on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to ensure that medical nutrition is integrated into end of life care pathways in clinical commissioning groups.

    Ben Gummer

    Information on annual National Health Service spend on medically assisted nutrition in end of life care is not held centrally.

    It is for clinicians with responsibility for the care of people at the end of life to ensure their patients receive care and treatment appropriate to their needs. Similarly, local commissioners are responsible for ensuring the services they commission meet the needs of their local populations.

    In 2014 we set out five priorities for care of the dying person which should underpin the care being delivered to all dying people. Alongside the priorities, we set out the duties and responsibilities for all staff with responsibility for looking after dying people and implementation guidance for all providers and commissioners of care. The priorities for care state that an individual plan of care, which includes food and drink, symptom control and psychological, social and spiritual support, is agreed, co-ordinated and delivered with compassion.

    In December 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance on the care of dying adults in the last days of life, including guidance on medical nutrition and hydration. Clinicians and commissioners should have regard to this guidance when making decisions about care for people at the end of life.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in England are educated at home; whether those children undertake the national tests that children in schools undertake; and whether checks are made on their parents’ qualifications to be home tutors.

    Edward Timpson

    No data is collected nationally on the number of children educated at home. If a child is educated at home, they can only be entered for National Curriculum Assessments if also registered on the roll of a school in advance.

    It is not necessary to hold any particular qualification to educate a child at home. Parents have a duty under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that a child educated at home receives a full-time education suitable for their age, ability and aptitudes. Although local authorities have no power to monitor the suitability of education provided at home, they have a duty to identify children who are not receiving a suitable education. Authorities may make informal enquiries about the provision made in the home and the attainment of the child. If an authority is not satisfied that the education provided is suitable, it can initiate a school attendance process.

    We are taking steps to ensure the system is as robust as it can be when it comes to protecting young people while at the same time safeguarding the right of parents to determine how and when to education their children.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of people employed by police services who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government announced in 2012 that from 6 April 2016 Tier 2 visa holders who apply for settlement in the UK will be required to meet a minimum annual salary requirement of £35,000. PhD level roles and those in recognised shortage will be exempt from the £35,000 threshold.

    Data of the number of people employed in specific regions of the United Kingdom is not available. The Home Office holds individual records showing the working location of Tier 2 (General) migrants, but centralised records show the registered address of the Tier 2 Sponsor, which is normally that organisation’s Head Office.

    The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. This includes the impact on the top ten occupations and is available on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy for the House to be given an opportunity to debate in advance any decision to use his Department’s cyber strike capability.

    Penny Mordaunt

    We continue to develop the ability of our Armed Forces to deploy a broad range of offensive cyber capabilities as an integrated part of military operations. As with other sensitive defence capabilities, we do not reveal specific details in order to safeguard national security. As we have previously made clear in the context of the war powers convention, we do not propose to define the circumstances in which we would consult Parliament about the use of particular military capabilities.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department’s laptop computers have been lost in the last year.

    Mark Lancaster

    Between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has reported that 39 laptops were lost.

    The MOD treats all losses of assets seriously. All reported losses are subjected to an initial security risk assessment, with further action taken on a proportionate basis.

    It is MOD policy that its laptops are to be encrypted to minimise the impact if a loss were to occur.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who the senior leaders and board members are of the 44 Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprints.

    George Freeman

    The Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) leads for the footprints are as provided below. The names of other members of the footprints are held locally.

    Footprint

    STP footprint lead

    Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

    Mark Adams (Chief Officer, Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG))

    West, North and East Cumbria

    Stephen Eames (Chief Executive, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust)

    Durham, Darlington and Tees, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby

    Alan Foster (Chief Executive, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust)

    Lancashire and South Cumbria

    Dr Amanda Doyle OBE (Chief Clinical Officer, Blackpool CCG)

    West Yorkshire

    Rob Webster (Chief Executive designate, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)

    Coast, Humber and Vale

    TBC

    Greater Manchester

    Sir Howard Bernstein (Chief Executive, Manchester City Council)

    Cheshire and Merseyside

    Louise Shepherd (Chief Executive, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust)

    South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw

    Sir Andrew Cash OBE (Chief Executive, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

    Kent & Medway

    Glenn Douglas (Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust)

    Sussex and East Surrey

    Michael Wilson (Chief Executive, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust)

    Frimley Health

    Sir Andrew Morris (Chief Executive, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust)

    Surrey Heartlands

    Julia Ross (Chief Executive, North West Surrey CCG)

    Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

    TBC

    Devon

    Angela Pedder OBE (Chief Executive, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust)

    Somerset

    Dr Matthew Dolman (Chair, Somerset CCG)

    Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire

    Robert Woolley (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust)

    Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire

    James Scott (Chief Executive, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust)

    Dorset

    Tim Goodson (Chief Officer, Dorset CCG)

    Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

    Richard Samuel (Chief Officer, Fareham and Gosport CCG, South Eastern Hampshire CCG)

    Gloucestershire

    Mary Hutton (Accountable Officer, Gloucestershire CCG)

    Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West

    David Smith (Chief Executive, Oxfordshire CCG)

    Staffordshire

    John MacDonald (Chair, University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust)

    Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin

    Simon Wright (Chief Executive, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust)

    Derbyshire

    Gary Thompson (Chief Officer, Southern Derbyshire CCG)

    Lincolnshire

    Allan Kitt (Chief Officer, South West Lincolnshire CCG)

    Nottinghamshire

    David Pearson (Director, Adult Social Care, Nottinghamshire County Council)

    Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

    Toby Sanders (Accountable Officer, West Leicestershire CCG)

    The Black Country

    Andy Williams (Accountable Officer, Sandwell West Birmingham CCG)

    Birmingham and Solihull

    Mark Rogers (Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council)

    Coventry and Warwickshire

    Andy Hardy (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust)

    Herefordshire and Worcestershire

    Sarah Dugan (Chief Executive, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust)

    Northamptonshire

    John Wardell (Accountable Officer, Nene CCG)

    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

    Dr Neil Modha (Chief Clinical Officer, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG)

    Norfolk and Waveney

    TBC

    Suffolk and North East Essex

    Nick Hulme (Chief Executive, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust)

    Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Luton

    Pauline Philip (Chief Executive, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

    Hertfordshire and West Essex

    Beverley Flowers (Accountable Officer, East and North Hertfordshire CCG)

    Mid and South Essex

    Dr Anita Donley (Independent Chair for Mid and South Essex Success Regime from 1st April)

    North West London

    Dr Mohini Parmar (Chair, Ealing CCG)

    North Central London

    David Sloman (Chief Executive, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust)

    North East London

    Jane Milligan (Chief Officer, Tower Hamlets CCG)

    South East London

    Amanda Pritchard (Chief Executive, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)

    South West London

    Kathryn Magson (Chief Officer, Richmond CCG)

    Note: Entries that are TBC mean that no one is as of yet confirmed in position.

  • Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements will be made to provide submarine operational cover while HMS Ambush in undergoing repairs; and what risks have been identified as a result of those arrangements.

    Harriett Baldwin

    It is UK policy that we do not comment on matters relating to submarine activity or operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

    HMS AMBUSH is undergoing repairs at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, the duration of which is under review.

    On 28 July 2016, the Director General of the Defence Safety Authority convened an independent Service Inquiry to investigate the circumstances of this incident. It would be inappropriate to comment further while this investigation is on-going.