Category: Speeches

  • Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2014-05-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the Law Commission’s draft bill on the regulation of health and social care professionals.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Department worked closely with the Law Commission on its review of legislation governing regulation of healthcare professionals and after almost three years of review, consultation and development the Law Commission published its recommendations, along with a draft Bill on 2 April 2014.

    This work will help us make sure the system is fit for the future and continues to protect patients. The Department is considering the Law Commission’s proposals with great interest and is working closely with the regulatory bodies and the Professional Standards Authority to inform our response to the Law Commission, which we will publish in due course.

  • Michael Fabricant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Michael Fabricant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Fabricant on 2014-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of an extension to Crewe of the first phase of High Speed 2 on the (a) route through Lichfield constituency and (b) need for an additional railway line north of the City of Lichfield connecting the end of Phase one to the West Coast mainline.

    Robert Goodwill

    No decision has yet been made on Phase Two as we are still considering the responses to the public consultation. Sir David Higgins’s proposals would see the Government’s preferred route to Crewe, which formed part of the recent Phase Two consultation, constructed earlier. Therefore, it is not anticipated that Sir David’s proposal alone would affect the route through the Lichfield constituency. However, the route of Phase Two through the Lichfield constituency is clearly subject to the outcomes of the recent public consultation.

    The powers for Phase Two, including the section of line to Crewe, are proposed to be sought via a second hybrid Bill. As such the connection to the West Coast Main Line as part of the Phase One Bill is still required to allow Phase One to operate effectively and to enable destinations such as Stafford to benefit from high speed services.

  • Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2014-05-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government by what date they will revisit the decision on whether to include Gypsies and Irish Travellers as an ethnic category in the NHS National Data Dictionary; and what account they have taken of the recommendation by the National Inclusion Health Board to the Health and Social Care Information Centre to use the 2011 Census ethnic category classifications in national data collection.

    Earl Howe

    NHS England, in collaboration with other bodies, will shortly produce guidance that advises on the codes for data collection, including those for ethnicity. National Health Service organisations continue to use the 2001 codes in order to support consistency with other data systems within the NHS. NHS organisations can choose to use either the 2001 or the 2011 categories.

    Additional codes can be included as appropriate at a local level to reflect the demographic make-up of the local population. This allows local monitoring to take place in a way that supports service planning, decision-making, and key processes such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

    We envisage this position will be revisited, with decisions to change this advice based upon the breadth of utilisation of the new coding system.

    The Department, Public Health England and NHS England are together considering the findings and recommendations in the report from the National Inclusion Health Board.

  • Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hywel Williams on 2014-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the London to Holyhead railway service will remain an express service after the creation of High Speed 2.

    Stephen Hammond

    No such assessment has been made. The opening of High Speed 2 will release capacity for train services on existing lines, including on the West Coast Main Line. Precise details of stopping patterns will be resolved when the relevant rail franchises are let in due course.

    In the meantime, we will shortly announce a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors.

    We are also working with the Welsh Government who are developing a business case for the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

  • Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Buckland on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment on the potential merits of merging health and social care ombudsman services in England.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Government is considering reports of the Public Administration Select Committee into how complaints about public services are handled. As part of this inquiry, the Cabinet Office is undertaking work to further investigate how public services can make best use of complaints and also to take a wider look at the role and powers of the public sector Ombudsmen. The Government will respond to these reports in due course.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Attorney General, what the total cost to his Department has been of challenging the decision of the Information Commissioner on the publication of letters from HRH the Prince of Wales.

    Dominic Grieve

    This case raises issues of constitutional significance, including upholding Parliament’s intentions for the Freedom of Information regime and the Government’s ability to protect information in the public interest. Litigation initiated by The Guardian newspaper has taken place over a four year period including hearings in the Upper Tribunal, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. Eight government departments have had to work together on the Government’s response, at a total cost of £274,481.16 (exc VAT). These costs encompass all costs billed by the Treasury Solicitor, including Counsels’ fees and disbursements. If we are successful in the next stage of legal proceedings the Government would seek to recover a substantial proportion of these costs from the Guardian.

  • Iain McKenzie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Iain McKenzie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain McKenzie on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to address human rights abuses in Pakistan.

    Hugh Robertson

    Pakistan is included as a “country of concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report. We regularly raise the subject of human rights for all Pakistan’s citizens with the Government of Pakistan in accordance with their constitution and international standards. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and other ministers raised human rights concerns with the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent visit.

  • Mr Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Mr Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Andy Slaughter on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of maintained schools have changed their headteacher since September 2011.

    David Laws

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had on the development of guidance on the use of social media for promotion of financial services.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for conduct supervision of regulated financial firms, including their responsible promotion of products and services.

    In 2010 the then Financial Services Authority issued some high-level guidelines on use of ‘new media’ – including social media – for such promotions. Since April 2013 the FCA has been engaging with industry, looking further at how social media interacts with FCA rules, and has committed to issue further guidelines later this summer.

  • Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Prime Minister, whether the appointment of the hon. Member for Wealden as (a) a consultant to Vitol Group and (b) a senior adviser to Atlantic Supergrid Corporation Ltd were considered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and whether any conditions were imposed by the Advisory Committee on either such appointment.

    David Cameron

    In accordance with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code, the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA) provides advice direct to former Ministers about any appointments or employment they wish to take up within two years of leaving office. Details about the ACoBA’s advice is published on its website when appointments are taken up or announced.