Category: Speeches

  • Biography information for Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Biography information for Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Tracey Crouch on Health.

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    Norman Lamb

    A range of steps are being taken to encourage and support research into non-drug dementia therapies. Research spending on dementia has increased by nearly 50% since 2010/11, and is on course to meet the Government’s target of doubling public sector research funding on dementia to £66 million by 2015. During the second year of the Prime Minister’s Challenge, research funders have implemented and enhanced initiatives to generate the research evidence needed to make a step change in prevention, treatment and care. Research on non-drug therapies represents a significant part of this effort.

    In December 2012, £22 million of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funding was announced for 21 successful research projects that will pioneer dementia diagnosis and ground breaking treatments. Subsequently the Government allocated £20 million for research on living well with dementia (projects commencing in early 2014) with the NIHR and the Economic and Social Research Council awarding funding research grants focused on improving quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. This research programme represents the world’s largest social science research programme on dementia and care, comprising six major research studies to support living well with dementia initiatives and identifying effective interventions, in the clinic, in the nursing home, and in everyday life.

    The NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research Programme is now also calling for further applications for research funding on dementia services, to address key priorities identified following a James Lind Alliance and Alzheimer’s Society priority setting partnership between patients, carers, researchers and clinicians (held in 2013). This was broad and included all aspects of patient experience and care.

    In addition, one of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and Units (BRUs) with dementia-related research themes, the NIHR Oxford BRC has a theme focussing on cognitive health. For this, the BRC has brought together an alliance of multi-disciplinary researchers to produce an integrated programme of translational research in cognitive health, aiming to produce benefit for patients by harnessing the lifelong adaptive ability of the brain to protect against the onset of dementia and to limit the impact of dementia on people’s lives.

    Within the award of 13 new NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care there is also considerable focus on research into non-drug approaches to dementia care.

  • John Spellar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Spellar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, columns 649-50W on judges: housing, when he expects the review of the spend on judges’ lodging to be completed.

    Simon Hughes

    We expect the review of spend on judges’ lodgings to conclude before the summer.

  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    Damian Green

    The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not record levels of stock held of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables. This information could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

  • Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Ainsworth on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the ability of the National Security Council to foster collective decision-making across Government.

    Mr David Cameron

    The National Security Council is a sub-committee of the full Cabinet. It addresses all elements of national security strategy. It seeks to understand the context, risks and opportunities facing the country; debates policy options; decides courses of action; and monitors and evaluates their implementation. It brings together Ministers and experts on a weekly basis, fostering genuine discussion and collective decision-making on both strategic and operational issues. Regularity of meetings enables Ministers to build up knowledge of particularly complex matters over time and to take well-informed decisions. Specialised sub-committees ensure that appropriate attention is paid to the most complex and technical issues.

  • Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many coastguard operations room staff have applied for voluntary redundancy.

    Stephen Hammond

    As at 14 April 2014, of those Coastguards currently working in a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, 86 have applied for both new posts in the new coastguard structure and voluntary redundancy, 140 have applied for voluntary redundancy only and 128 have applied for a new post in the new coastguard structure only.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Youth Contract in the 20 designated areas of high youth unemployment.

    Esther McVey

    The Department has carried out an evaluation of the Youth Contract, to assess the effectiveness of the programme at a national level. The evaluation does not provide results for specific geographical locations, but the Youth Contract Official Statistics provides regional, Jobcentre Plus district, local authority and Parliamentary Constituency level data for work experience and sbwa.

    The information can be found at:

    Published evaluation reports

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222943/early_impacts_of_work_experience.pdf

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-contract-wage-incentive-wave-2-research

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-contract-customers-experiences

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-perceptions-of-work-experience-and-sector-based-work-academies-rr-842

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-evaluation-of-the-youth-contract-wage-incentive-scheme-rr828

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-youth-contract-findings-from-research-with-jobcentre-plus-staff-in-five-case-study-districts-rr-833

    Official Statistics

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-contract-official-statistics-february-2014

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  • Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 26 March (WA 116), whether Capita has delivered departmental savings and asset realisations.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    Wherever possible, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will look to maximise competition as a way of driving best value for money. The MOD has awarded Capita 43 contracts since 1 April 2009. They may have specific deliverables relating to savings, but these will be dependant on the requirement and will differ in each individual agreement.

  • Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the government of Botswana its decision to allow only the 189 successful applicants in the Bushmen’s case against their government in 2006 to return to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The British Government have had regular discussions with the Government of Botswana regarding the situation of the San (Bushmen). In those discussions we have consistently encouraged the Government of Botswana to seek an inclusive, sustainable and negotiated solution. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the situation of the San communities in Botswana with President Khama when they met on 13 February.

  • – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Randerson on 8 April (HL Deb, cols 1237–9), in the event that the police fail to provide the review led by Lady Justice Hallett with adequate information in respect of whether they are currently seeking evidence on on the runs”

    Lord Bates

    I understand the PSNI are working closely with Lady Justice Hallett’s team to provide access to the information they require in order to fulfil their remit. It will be a matter for Lady Justice Hallett to consider and, if she so wishes comment on, the levels of cooperation received from all relevant parties, and to make recommendations. Her Majesty’s Government will respond appropriately to any recommendations which Lady Justice Hallett makes.

  • Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in piloting new approaches to improving business and skills system engagement and sharing of good practice.

    Matthew Hancock

    These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government’s industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry’s agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.

    The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.

    The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy’s ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer’ initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.

    The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools’ reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.

    The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.

    The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.

    The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.

    My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.

    The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.

    Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities.

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