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Category: Speeches

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister’s letter of 10 November 2015 to the President of the European Council, whether the Government has conducted (a) an environmental impact assessment, (b) a sustainability assessment and (c) a carbon emissions assessment of his proposals for a new settlement for the UK in a reformed EU.

    George Eustice

    The Prime Minister has written to the President of the European Council setting out the areas where he is seeking reforms to address the concerns of the British people over our membership of the EU. As the Prime Minister said in his letter, reform in these areas would address the UK’s concerns and provide a fresh and lasting settlement for our membership of the European Union.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-12-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 16 December (HL4512 and HL4513), what when necessary to deliver the carrier strike programme” means precisely.”

    Earl Howe

    Our aim is to ensure that embarked, jointly manned F-35B air squadrons operate to the same harmony guidelines. The overall principle is that we will manage all embarked air squadrons – which will include Fixed and Rotary Wing forces and personnel from all three Services – to ensure that the different harmony guidelines which all three Services routinely apply, do not adversely affect the way in which the operational output of the aircraft carriers will be delivered, and that they do not undermine joint unit or joint force cohesion. This principle will be given practical application as we continue our work to develop the routine carrier, combat air and helicopter operating cycles from 2020.

  • Alasdair McDonnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Alasdair McDonnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alasdair McDonnell on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

    Jane Ellison

    Public Health England’s Be Clear on Cancer campaigns aim to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of specific cancers, and to encourage those with symptoms to see their doctor promptly. A number of factors are taken into account when deciding which campaigns to develop and run, with one of the main criteria being the scope to save lives through earlier diagnosis and whether the cancer has a clear early sign or symptom that the general public can act upon should it arise. Pancreatic cancer is generally asymptomatic at an early stage and it is for this reason that there has not been a campaign focussing on this cancer type to date.

    Public Health England is also looking to develop an approach to raise awareness of generic symptoms that can indicate a wider number of cancers and the need to visit the doctor promptly with these symptoms. This work is currently in development, with the help of a number of experts, including clinicians and charities.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what analysis his Department conducts of personal independence payment medical assessments to (a) help identify common issues which cause repeated appeals and reapplications and (b) ensure a consistent approach across such assessments.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Providers have robust audit and assurance regimes in place to check the quality and consistency of PIP assessments. These arrangements confirm that independent health professional advice complies with the required standards and that it is clear and medically reasonable. They also provide assurance that the assessment and opinion given are consistent so that, irrespective of where or by whom the assessment is carried out, claimants with conditions that have the same functional effect will ultimately receive the same benefit outcome.

    Regular meetings take place with Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service to discuss PIP appeals; feedback is provided to Assessment Providers if there is any indication that the assessment is a factor in appeals or reapplications to inform continuous improvement activity.

  • Melanie Onn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Melanie Onn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Melanie Onn on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average length of time taken to be diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

    Jane Ellison

    Information concerning the average length of time taken to be diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease is not collected.

  • Jenny Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jenny Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jenny Chapman on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Sure Start centres were in operation on 1 March 2016.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    On 1 March 2016 local authorities listed as being in operation 3,331 main children’s centres and sites open to families and children providing children’s centre services as part of a network.

    Children’s centre records are maintained by local authorities and are made publicly available via the department’s “EduBase portal” at: http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/home.xhtml

    “

  • Andy McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Andy McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on extending Driver Only Operation; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

    Claire Perry

    Officials regularly meet with Govia Thameslink Railway. The proposals relating to train doors being operated by drivers have been part of those discussions. Any subsequent change to employee terms and conditions and the management of any such change(s) are a matter for the relevant employer and their employee(s) and/or employee representatives.

  • Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial checks clinical commissioning groups are required to make on companies which tender contracts for patient transport services in the NHS.

    David Mowat

    It is for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to satisfy themselves of the financial viability of any provider of patient transport, or of any other service, to which it intends to award a contract.

    It is for CCGs to determine how best to meet their statutory functions and duties and their standing financial instructions.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Great British Food Unit in opening up new markets for British food and drink exports.

    George Eustice

    In the last year, the Great British Food Unit has opened 24 new export markets and secured improved conditions for an additional 14 markets. It has supported UK companies around the world to secure new exports worth hundreds of millions of pounds. In addition, we have made good progress opening the US and Japanese markets to British beef and lamb.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the procurement contract for the new Hitachi Intercity Express Programme specifies the internal layout and specification of rolling stock.

    Claire Perry

    The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) specification delivers the priorities of both train operators and passenger groups. The contract also makes provision for variation of the interior layout during the life of IEP to response to changes in passenger demand and priorities.