Category: Speeches

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-12-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the level of mark-ups on dermatology specials, what consideration they have given to reforming the process by which English NHS tariff prices are set.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Drug Tariff sets out what National Health Service dispensing contractors will be paid for the products supplied as part of providing pharmaceutical services and the fees for providing those services in primary care.

    The current arrangements in the Drug Tariff for paying for specials, including dermatological specials, were introduced in 2011. It is recognised that there can be variations in the price of some specials, which is why we are considering further possible improvements in the arrangements that govern the price the NHS pays. These include expanding the number of products covered by these arrangements and improving the data used to set the prices.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the age of criminal responsibility and its consequences are taught to pupils in schools.

    Lord Nash

    Schools can choose to teach about the age of criminal responsibility and its consequences as part of citizenship education. Citizenship is a national curriculum subject at key stages 3 and 4 in England. In citizenship lessons, pupils learn about the role of law and the justice system in our society; how laws are shaped and enforced and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many custody nurses were employed by the Metropolitan Police (a) in total and (b) in each London borough in each year since 2010.

    Mike Penning

    The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of custody nurses employed by the Metropolitan Police. This information may be held by the Metropolitan Police Force.

  • Rupa Huq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Rupa Huq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rupa Huq on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 6.158 of the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of Tier 2 migration, published in December 2015, if she will commission an in-depth review of skills shortages in the IT industry.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government thanks the Migration Advisory Committee for their report and we are currently considering the findings carefully. We will announce our response in due course.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of households which receive the Warm Home Discount are in fuel poverty.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Based on our estimates, around 15% of those in receipt of rebates under the Core and Broader Group elements of the scheme are households with both low incomes and high energy costs.

    Subject to positive progress on data sharing legislation, Government plans to consult formally later this year on whether in future the Warm Home Discount should be targeted more towards fuel poor households.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens in each country who are in prison and facing the death penalty.

    James Duddridge

    We are currently aware of 13 British nationals in detention abroad who have been sentenced to death. There are a further 54 cases of British nationals who are under trial, appeal or at a pre-trial stage that could lead to a death sentence. Cases with a potential death penalty sentence in Pakistan make up the biggest number (31).

    We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. If a British national has been sentenced to death or faces a charge that carries the death penalty, we will raise the case at whatever stage and level we judge to be appropriate.

  • Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-07-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk to, and effect on, the UK economy and British businesses of the UK being left out of the development by the EU of a digital single market.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The UK remains a member of the EU and will continue to play an active role in the development of the Digital Single Market until the formal and legal process of leaving the European Union has been finalised.

    I will be working with colleagues across government to make sure we understand the potential risks and opportunities for our economy.

  • Sammy Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Sammy Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sammy Wilson on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle the threat from the Asian hornet to the honeybee population in the UK.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    A contingency plan outlining the Government’s response against the Asian hornet is in place. The emergency measures it sets out are tested twice a year by the National Bee Unit ensuring that all field inspectors and support staff are trained in how to respond should an outbreak occur.

    Following a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in Gloucestershire, the National Bee Unit (NBU) enacted our established biosecurity protocols to confirm the scale of the outbreak and eradicate the pest. A single nest was located and destroyed. To date, no more live hornets have been seen in this area.

    The outbreak follows on from a policy review in 2013 whereby the National Bee Unit (NBU) increased the number of risk-based exotic pest inspections it carries out each year. These are targeted at early interception of non-native invasive species such as the Asian hornet. NBU Bee Inspectors also routinely provide advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.

    The Non-Native Species Secretariat has carried out a risk assessment looking at the risks and impacts of an Asian hornet outbreak. The key threat is believed to be against honey bee species, rather than other bee species. Asian hornets will impact on native species through predation, competition and impact on natural pollination.

  • 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 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) adults and (b) children undertake appropriate health checks to prevent diabetes complications.

    Jane Ellison

    Public Health England (PHE) supports local authorities to implement the mandated NHS Health Checks programme. A routine part of NHS Health Checks involves assessing a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes and, for those at risk a diagnostic test is carried out for confirmation of diabetes.

    The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme aims to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes through early detection and timely treatment, if needed, of diabetic retinopathy.

    The Healthy Child Programme ‘Pregnancy and the first five years of life’ provides five core reviews for all pregnant women and young children and provide a framework for health promoting and primary prevention activities around behaviours such as breast feeding, healthy nutrition, physical activity and healthy weight which will influence a child’s future health including onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The reviews are followed up with early intervention and targeted support for families where additional needs have been identified. The Healthy Child Programme ‘0-19’ provides advice and guidance including healthy weight management, nutrition, physical activity and support children with additional health needs including diabetes.

    Improving outcomes for those with diabetes is of great concern to the Government. We will announce our plans in due course.

  • Lord Patten – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Patten – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Patten on 2015-12-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have had discussions with the Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission concerning railway links between London and south-west England.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The government has had discussions on a range of topics with the Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission. The commission will examine all forms of economic infrastructure, including rail transport.