The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many incidents of physical injury following restraint there have been in mental health services in each year since 2010.
Alistair Burt
The information requested is not collected centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-04-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups in the West Midlands abide by the guidance issued by the Royal College of Surgeons and accredited by NICE in their consultation on procedures of low clinical value”.”
Lord Prior of Brampton
It is for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to determine how to use the resources available to meet the needs of their patients, taking account of national clinical guidance.
NHS England advises that CCGs across the West Midlands are jointly developing a policy on procedures of low clinical value. The CCGs have stated their decisions will consider all relevant national standards and take into account all proper and authoritative guidance. NHS England is ensuring an equality impact assessment will be undertaken and will be notified when this is completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any studies regarding the not primarily abstractive” test that the Office of Road and Rail makes in respect of open access applications to test its validity.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty’s Government is not aware of any recent studies which specifically test the validity of the Office of Rail and Road’s not primarily abstractive test. However, it has made representations to the ORR on its appropriateness for use on individual open access applications, most particularly in relation to the recent open access applications on the East Coast Mainline.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to continue British access to the Schengen Information System for law enforcement purposes once the UK exits the EU.
Brandon Lewis
Until Article 50 negotiations have concluded, the UK remains a full member of the EU, with all the rights and obligations that brings, and UK authorities continue to cooperate with their counterparts in other EU Member States, including on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The Government is exploring options for cooperation arrangements once the UK has left the EU. However, it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance of negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Lewisham and Greenwich Healthcare Trust on progress towards meeting the Getting it Right First Time requirements since the contract for musculoskeletal services was awarded to Circle Holdings PLC; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Philip Dunne
The provision of local health services is a matter for the local National Health Service.
There have been no meetings between Ministers at the Department of Health and Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on progress towards meeting the Getting it Right First Time requirements since the contract for musculoskeletal services was awarded to Circle Holdings PLC.
Neither have there been meetings between Ministers at the Department and Greenwich CCG regarding the future of the Fracture Clinic Service and physiotherapy service in Greenwich and on whether the service is included in the contract awarded to Circle Holdings PLC to provide musculoskeletal services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-11-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2015 to Question HL381, what steps he has taken following allegations of breaches of bribery and corruption laws by Soco International in Virunga National Park; what guidance his Department provides on the exploration of natural resources by UK listed companies operating in national parks and UNESCO wold heritage sites; and if he will make a statement.
James Duddridge
We are aware of allegations of breaches of bribery and corruption laws made against Soco International in relation to its activities in the Virunga National Park, and have ensured that the relevant law enforcement agencies both here and in the Democratic Republic of Congo are aware of the allegations.
Foreign investment in sectors such as hydrocarbons and the extractive industries can play a vital role in boosting the development of countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, helping lift people out of poverty. Such investment must be conducted responsibly and sustainably, in compliance with local law and conforming to international standards. The government encourage all British companies to uphold the highest of standards, but where they do not it is important that allegations of wrongdoing are investigated and perpetrators are held to account. Anyone with evidence of serious fraud, bribery or corruption should pass this to the Serious Fraud Office.
The government also encourages UK companies to observe the international standards for responsible conduct of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and provides a National Contact Point for the Guidelines complaint process. It was under the UK National Contact Point process that World Wildlife Fund and SOCO reached their 2014 agreement for SOCO to end its operations in Virunga.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Damian Green on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time was between the date of final submission of papers for an immigration appeal and the date of the hearing in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Shailesh Vara
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not collect information on the average time between the date of final submission of papers for an immigration appeal and the date of the hearing.
The average time between the date of receipt of an appeal and the date of the hearing in the 12 months up to 30 September 2015 was 23 weeks.
HMCTS has allocated additional court time between December 2015 and March 2016 to ensure current waiting times for hearings are maintained.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-01-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who may no longer be able to remain in supported housing after introduction of the proposed cap on housing benefit at the rate of local housing allowance.
Justin Tomlinson
Further information is not available.
We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure that they are supported as effectively as possible in advance of the policy taking effect.
As part of this we have commissioned an evidence review of supported housing.
The results of this research will determine our f appropriate exemptions. We are also providing Local Authorities with £870 million over the course of this parliament to ensure vulnerable people are protected.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26546, when he expects to publish the consultation document on introducing fixed recoverable costs in clinical negligence claims.
Ben Gummer
We are planning to go out to consultation shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Smeeth on 2016-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what examination of job roles her Department undertakes when issuing Tier 2 (ICT) visas.
James Brokenshire
Each application for a Tier 2 (ICT) visa must be accompanied by a certificate of sponsorship (COS) issued by the applicant’s sponsor. The COS will set out the job description and the job role the applicant is required to perform, as well as the salary they will be paid and the hours of work they will undertake. The Secretary of State will examine the information on the COS against the codes of practice for skilled workers to ensure the criteria under the Tier 2 (ICT) arrangements are met. The codes of practice set out the relevant skill level and minimum rates of pay that apply to any job.
The Secretary of State may also consider whether the application meets the genuine vacancy requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. This assessment is to satisfy that the information in the certificate of sponsorship has not been tailored specifically to meet the requirements of the Tier 2 criteria.
Entry Clearance Officers within visa sections overseas also have the discretion to conduct additional assessments should they have concerns about specific sponsors. Further compliance checks are carried out after the visa has been issued during compliance visits to ensure roles are genuine and meet the appropriate skill level for sponsorship. Compliance officers routinely assess the credibility of the job roles and collect evidence that the duties of sponsored migrants are in accordance with those stated by the sponsor in the certificates of sponsorship.