The below Parliamentary question was asked by Khalid Mahmood on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the role of independent training providers in post-16 years’ education.
Robert Halfon
Independent providers deliver a wide range of post-16 education, including apprenticeship training, and the Government expects that to continue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the public purse received in reimbursement from each non-EEA country with reciprocal healthcare agreements with the UK for health care provided to their nationals for each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.
Alistair Burt
Regarding non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including those with reciprocal healthcare agreements with the United Kingdom, we can confirm that no reimbursements are made from the public purse in respect of healthcare provided to UK citizens.
For non-EEA countries without a reciprocal agreement in place with the UK, it would be for the individual to pay for any healthcare needed and for that reason appropriate travel and medical insurance is highly advisable. Similarly, for those non-EEA countries with whom the UK does have a reciprocal healthcare agreement, no money changes hands between the parties to the agreement. The basis of these agreements is reciprocity – that is, necessary healthcare is provided in most cases free of charge to the visitor and the associated costs are absorbed by either side.
The information requested on the amount received in reimbursement from EEA countries in only available for the country totals of cash payment for 2007-08 to 2014-15. That information is provided in attached table. We do not hold totals for amounts before 2007-08, as the information is hot held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Kawczynski on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect Libya from further infiltration by Daesh.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are extremely concerned about the growing threat from extremist groups in Libya, including Daesh and groups affiliated with it. These groups pose a threat to the stability of Libya and the region, and potentially to the UK and our interests and citizens overseas. We are working closely with international partners to deepen our understanding of Daesh’s presence in North Africa, including in Libya, and to develop a comprehensive approach to defeat it. This includes working closely with Libya’s neighbours to enhance their ability to protect themselves against threats from terrorists in Libya, and prevent fighters and weapons being smuggled across the region. We are supporting UN-led efforts to establish a Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, which will be crucial in the long term to tackling the Daesh threat present in that country and across the region.
I joined international and regional Ministers at the Rome Conference on 13 December to underline our firm commitment to providing the new GNA with full political backing and technical, economic, security and counter-terrorism assistance, as requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with (a) public sector employers, (b) private sector employers and (c) UnionLearn on the implications of the Apprenticeship Levy on staff training budgets.
Nick Boles
Ensuring that the apprenticeships levy works for all employers is a key priority for BIS. As such, we are engaging with both public and private sector employers, representatives from Unionlearn, and wider Government Departments on how the levy will operate and how they will build apprenticeships into their workforce training plans. We will be continuing engagement over coming months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many times the Ministerial Committee for Syrian Refugees has met.
Richard Harrington
The Ministerial Committee for Syrian Refugees has met on three occasions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to reduce the burden of EU regulation on businesses.
Anna Soubry
The February 2016 EU Reform settlement, secured by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, sets out concrete steps to reduce the burden of EU regulation on business. These include regulatory simplification (including the withdrawal or repeal of legislation); a specific focus on reducing the burden on SMEs and micro-enterprises; and establishing burden reduction targets in the most onerous areas for business.
We will now work with Member States to hold the EU institutions to account, overseeing the agreement and implementation of these measures.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nadine Dorries on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the future of the EU sanctions regime against Russia; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Lidington
The UK strongly supports the EU’s strategy for resolving the Ukraine crisis through diplomacy underpinned by sanctions pressure. Sanctions on Russia are an important way for the EU to support a peaceful resolution of the crisis through full implementation of the Minsk agreements. As the European Council made clear in March 2015, sanctions against Russia must remain in full until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the recommendations of the First Report of Session 2015-16, from the Women and Equalities Committee, HC 390, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the implications for sex-specific health planning and provision of amending the Equalities Act 2010 to remove the protection for single-sex provision; and if she will make a statement.
Caroline Dinenage
The Government has welcomed the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.
The report provides a substantial number of recommendations covering almost a dozen public bodies, including several recommendations which call for significant changes to legislation and reforms to the NHS. Government is carefully considering these recommendations.
We continually engage with stakeholders from women’s and transgender communities and we would consider their views before making any changes to legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the vote to leave the EU on her policy on the EU nature directives; and if she will make a statement.
Rory Stewart
Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for farming, fisheries, food and drink, rural affairs and our environment remain in place.
Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.
The priorities for negotiating our exit from the EU will be a matter for the new Prime Minister and their Cabinet.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Redfern on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cancer referrals in England were not made within the two week waiting time target for each of the last three years.
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen
The Handbook to the NHS Constitution, which is attached, sets out the right for patients to be seen by a cancer specialist within a maximum of two weeks from general practitioner (GP) referral for urgent referrals where cancer is suspected. The operational standard is that 93% of patients should wait less than two weeks from GP urgent referral to first consultant appointment. This standard has been met in each of the last three years.
The information for how many patients waited more than two weeks from GP urgent referral to first consultant appointment is shown in the table below.
Table: Two week wait from GP urgent referral to first consultant appointment, in England, 2013/14 to 2015/16
|
Year |
Number of patients that waited less than two weeks to be seen |
Number of patients that waited more than two weeks to be seen |
Total number of patients referred |
Performance against the standard |
|
2013/14 |
1,297,849 |
63,496 |
1,361,345 |
95.3% |
|
2014/15 |
1,459,084 |
90,610 |
1,549,694 |
94.2% |
|
2015/16 |
1,624,981 |
101,140 |
1,726,121 |
94.1% |
Source: Cancer waiting times quarterly time series, NHS England