Category: Speeches

Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is he taking to ensure that the General Purpose Frigate programme leverages the wider supply chain built up for the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier programme and takes advantage of skills in design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, and assurance resident outside BAE Systems.

Harriett Baldwin

We have begun the initial pre-concept work to take forward the new General Purpose Frigate (GPFF) programme outlined in the White Paper ‘National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015’. The work is in the very early stages and it is too early to say what either the build strategy or the detailed supply chain arrangements may be.

In addition, as part of his work leading the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Sir John Parker will be considering how to balance the GPFF requirement against export opportunities and industrial capacity.

01/01/2023
Stephen Gethins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to maintain the Assisted Voluntary Returns schemes after 2020.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Assisted Voluntary Returns Service was integrated into the Home Office Voluntary Returns Service (VRS) on 1st January 2016 and provides a range of help and support to those who are here illegally and are seeking to leave the UK voluntarily. The Home Office envisages that the VRS will continue beyond 2020.

01/01/2023
Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2015-11-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department offers to enable personal independence payment (PIP) applicants to attend PIP assessment centres.

Justin Tomlinson

Claimants attending an assessment by public or personal transport can claim back their travel costs. Where public transport is unavailable or the claimant is unable to use it, the claimant can contact their assessment provider to ask if taxi-fares would be payable for their journey.

Alternatively, the option of a face-to-face consultation in the claimant’s home is available if the claimant indicates that they are unfit to travel to a consultation or where travel would require high levels of support.

01/01/2023
Gary Streeter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gary Streeter on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England’s document, Commissioning Intentions 2016/2017 for Prescribed Specialist Services, published in September 2015, what plans are being put in place by NHS regions which will focus on development of hepatitis C Operational Delivery Networks; and how such plans will relate to the national improvement framework for hepatitis C services.

Jane Ellison

NHS England’s commissioning intentions recognise that following their establishment in August 2015, Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) will need to continue to be developed as a mechanism for ensuring equitable access to expert multidisciplinary team care and treatment for hepatitis C. ODNs are working to develop their plans, based on the published service specification and with the support of local specialised commissioning teams and regional Clinical Directors of specialised commissioning. Work is also underway to establish by February 2016 a national network of ODN clinical leads to share good practice. The formation of ODNs provides an opportunity for local collaborative commissioning conversations about hepatitis C pathways beyond the remit of specialised or health and justice services. In addition, the draft hepatitis C improvement framework includes a numbers of areas pertinent to ODN operation and will therefore support further development of their role.

01/01/2023
Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Bahraini government on Mr Hassan Mushaima receiving appropriate medical treatment while in custody.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are aware of the case of Hassam Mushiema and we have raised it with the Government of Bahrain. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments and to appropriately address all reports of ill-treatment of detainees. We also encourage all those with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Ombudsman.

01/01/2023
Lord Mawson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mawson on 2016-02-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for healthcare services provided within police custody being considered healthcare facilities, and being funded, inspected, and regulated accordingly, in the light of the number of vulnerable individuals with complex health-related issues who are brought into police custody.

Lord Bates

The primary function of a police custody suite is to provide safe detention whilst investigating officers gather evidence, statements and conduct necessary interviews relating to any alleged offence. The provision of custody facilities, including healthcare services within police custody suites is the responsibility of individual police forces, and Police and Crime Commissioners have flexibility to prioritise resources according to local need.

Both College of Policing and NHS guidance is available to Police and Crime Commissioners to inform their commissioning of healthcare services. Regulation and inspection of police custody including healthcare provision is performed jointly by the three appropriate inspectorate bodies; Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation, and the Care Quality Commission.

01/01/2023

Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people using the Chorlton Benefit Delivery Centre applied for funeral payments in each month in 2015; how many of those applications were granted; and what the average amount awarded was in each of those months.

Justin Tomlinson

The Table below gives figures for the number of application and awards for Funeral Expense Payments for the Chorlton Benefit Delivery Centre by month for 2015. (Some individuals may have made more than one application in a month.)

Month	Applications Received	Awards	Average Award
Jan	480	290	£1,375
Feb	460	270	£1,229
Mar	360	270	£1,323
Apr	390	270	£1,286
May	440	300	£1,380
Jun	440	310	£1,377
Jul	360	240	£1,382
Aug	310	180	£1,368
Sep	350	220	£1,344
Oct	340	200	£1,369
Nov	350	230	£1,361
Dec	190	130	£1,379

Source: DWP Policy, Budget and Management Information System

Figures for Applications Received and Awards made are rounded to the nearest 10.

Average Award amounts are given to the nearest £1. The average award is calculated by dividing gross expenditure by the number of awards (including awards made on review, reconsideration or appeal).

01/01/2023

Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of businesses which have a mental health workplace policy.

Alistair Burt

The information is not collected centrally.

Public Health England endorses the Workplace Wellbeing Charter National Award for England which is a scheme that recognises the commitment of organisations to promoting wellbeing in the workplace. Over 1,000 organisations in England hold the award.

01/01/2023
Lord Beecham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 18 February (HL5912), when information about taxes paid by and benefits paid to EU migrants which was not available in February became available, and why that answer was not updated with the requested information.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

The analysis on recently arrived non-UK EEA nationals subject to income tax and National Insurance contributions or receiving HMRC administered benefits became available on 12 May 2016 when it was published on HMRC’s publications page on GOV.UK.

No estimate of VAT paid by EU Nationals is held. VAT is levied on most goods and services, with the person’s nationality not generally recorded.

01/01/2023
Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on ensuring financial support will be made available for local businesses in Knowsley and Liverpool once tolls are introduced on the Mersey Gateway bridge.

Andrew Jones

Following the previous Chancellor’s further statement in July 2015 that the Government is looking at extending Mersey Gateway bridge toll discounts to residents of Chester West & Chester and Warrington, officials are currently working through what the proposed further extension means for the scheme both by way of the cost to the Department but also and importantly what this would do to the commercial structure of the contracts already signed for the scheme. Once this is clear we will be able to provide more information.

01/01/2023