Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the spread of hepatitis C.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department recognises the public health importance of hepatitis C in the United Kingdom. Following a Tuberculosis/Hepatitis C summit held in London in March, Public Health England (PHE) has a comprehensive range of measures in place to tackle the spread of hepatitis C through surveillance, research, advocacy and commissioning-support activities. PHE is working with local authorities on action plans and work programmes to drive improvements in the prevention, awareness raising, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C across the UK at a local level.

    These activities are undertaken by PHE’s local and national teams and in collaboration with NHS England and third sector partners. The Department works with NHS England to identify the most appropriate way to commission services, to ensure that the right cohorts of patients are able to access treatment when they need it. Particularly in the patients with liver disease from hepatitis C, access to care has specific challenges, and commissioning services will aim to reduce any inequities.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many failed 18-year-old asylum seekers received some payment to assist in their deportation from the UK.

    Lord Bates

    The number of people who applied for asylum in the UK as a child and later received an assisted return package as an adult to support a voluntary return to their country of origin is given in the table below. It is not Home Office policy to deport asylum seeking children.

    Year

    Asylum seeking children receiving an assisted voluntary return

    2011

    75

    2012

    89

    2013

    76

    2014

    46

    2015 (to September)

    31

    The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

    “

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information will report its findings.

    Matthew Hancock

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West on 3 February 2016 to UIN: 24662.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many people involved in investigating allegations of child abuse made against George Bell consulted his papers and diaries in Lambeth Palace Library in the last three years.

    Mrs Caroline Spelman

    In 2013 and 2015 three staff members viewed various sections of the bishop’s personal papers held at Lambeth Palace Library on two separate occasions. has no record in the last three years of any of the individuals involved in these investigations making an application to view the papers and diaries of George Bell that are held in the Library.

    “

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on Wales of measures announced in the Budget 2016.

    Alun Cairns

    Last month’s Budget demonstrated the scale of this Government’s ambition for Wales, delivering a historic City Deal for Cardiff and a commitment to Swansea Bay, cutting tax for 1.4 million Welsh men and women, as well as opening the door for a growth deal for North Wales.

  • Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 27 April (HL7786), what temporary measures they plan to take, pending the review by the Lord Chancellor of the recommendations arising out of the review of extremism, to ensure that literature of a homophobic nature is not handed out by prison chaplains.

    Lord Faulks

    Prison chaplains are already aware that they should not distribute any unacceptable material, including material of a homophobic nature, to prisoners. My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Justice is considering the recommendations of the review of Extremism. As the Secretary of State told the House on 26 April, a summary document will be published in due course. The full report cannot be published due to sensitive security issues.

  • Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what success Genomic England has had in engaging the NHS with (1) the number of informed consents captured by each of the 13 Genomic Medical Centres (GMCs), (2) the number of samples supplied by each of the 13 GMCs to Genomic England, (3) the number of usable samples received from each of the 13 GMCs by Genomic England, (4) the number of Binary Alignment Map files generated to date for each of the 13 GMCs, (5) the number of variant files (VCF) generated to date for each of the 13 GMCs, and (6) the number of clinical reports returned to patients for each of the 13 GMCs, in (a) the rare disease and (b) the cancer programme.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Genomics England (GeL) and NHS England have confirmed that:

    The total number of informed consents as reported by NHS Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs) is 9,939. The breakdown by NHS GMC can be found in the table below.

    The total number of samples sent to the United Kingdom biobank from NHS GMCs is 6,777. The breakdown by GMC can be found in the table below.

    Over 99% of samples have passed quality control first time in the biorepository, and the others are being followed up with NHS GMCs directly to obtain replacement samples.

    In terms of the number of Binary Alignment Map files generated to date, GeL does not break its figures down in this way. It has confirmed that the number of completed Whole Genome Sequences (WGS) is 10,079 consisting of 8,408 rare disease and 1,671 cancer.

    In terms of the number of variant files generated to date, GeL does not break its figures down in this way. It has confirmed that the number of completed WGS is 10,079 consisting of 8,408 rare disease and 1,671 cancer. GeL is in the process of developing rare disease and cancer reports and is discussing these with clinical sites. GeL has returned 39 reports to pilot sites and expects the number of reports to increase steadily over the coming year.

    NHS GMC

    GMC self- reported recruitment

    Samples received at UK Biobank

    North East and North Cumbria

    426

    357

    West London

    307

    262

    Greater Manchester

    666

    232

    South London

    1,436

    1,316

    East of England

    923

    795

    Oxford

    927

    678

    South West

    337

    221

    North Thames

    2,483

    1,290

    Wessex

    638

    510

    West Mids

    1,327

    786

    North West Coast

    434

    321

    Yorks and Humber

    35

    0

    Total

    9,939

    6,777

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the ability of local authorities to support business growth and economic development within their areas ahead of them fully retaining business rates.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Government is committed to reforming the local government finance system to make local authorities more self-sufficient, including by allowing them to retain locally-raised business rates. This will ensure that authorities benefit from business rates growth providing them with an important incentive to support and develop their local economies. The reforms including the nature of the incentives to boost growth are subject to an ongoing consultation.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of demographic changes in the last ten years on the demand for local authority services, and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Spending Review took account of the demographic pressures facing local authorities and set out a sustainable basis for local authorities to discharge their functions over this parliament.

    The Department is also conducting the Fair Funding Review which is a thorough assessment of the relative needs and resources of local authorities. The treatment of demographic changes is a key part of this. The Review will determine the funding baselines for individual local authorities under 100% business rates retention.

  • Clive Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of Green Deal Home Improvement funding that was allocated to deprived areas.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund was available to owners and occupiers of residential property situated in England or Wales. Provided such applicants met the scheme eligibility criteria, they were free to apply. Funding was not centrally allocated to any particular areas based on deprivation or any other criteria.