Category: Speeches

  • Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 31W, on the Environment Agency, whether the review of existing workloads against enforcement priorities and available budgets each area of the Environment Agency is conducting has a minimum percentage cut of workload and expenditure against which it is being assessed.

    Dan Rogerson

    The Environment Agency was reviewing its baseline total enforcement and legal casework to match them to its budget. The planning assumption had been that baseline funding would reduce from £24m in 2013/14 to £20.5m in 2014/15. As part of this, the Environment Agency was reviewing the current portfolio of enforcement cases to understand the implications of a potential 25% reduction.

    However, the announcement in the budget statement of an additional £5m for tackling waste crime means that the Environment Agency is reviewing its planning assumption and associated workload.

  • Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on redundancy payments for special advisers since May 2010.

    Hugh Robertson

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), to today’s Parliamentary Question 200473.

  • Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish his Department’s equality impact assessment of its policy on uniforms for male and female prisoners.

    Jeremy Wright

    The requirement for prisoners to wear uniform is set out in the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework, Prison Service Instruction 30/2013. During the review of this policy in 2013 an Equality Impact Assessment was completed and I have placed a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the benefits of nurse-led patient health checks immediately before GP consultations.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    We understand from NHS England that, to date, no assessment has been made of the benefits of nurse-led patient health checks immediately before general practitioner appointments.

    However, practice nurses play an invaluable role as part of the multidisciplinary practice team. For example, in some areas nurses will deliver the NHS Health Check Programme, which aims to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

    NHE England will also shortly be employing a practice nurse advisor who will be working at national level to help inform and disseminate best practice in relation to health checks and the Chief Nursing Officer will work closely with the Medical Director to support further work on the Health Check Programme.

  • Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Mearns on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which books are available to be bought from the shop in prisons in England.

    Jeremy Wright

    Prisoners are able to purchase any book through prison retail, other than where there are reasons to believe the book is not suitable. It is for Governors locally to determine when a particular book is not suitable, based on the prisoner’s risk profile and the nature of the book itself. There is no centrally approved list of books.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost of GP visits was in each year since 1984 in which information is available.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Data on the total cost of general practitioner visits is not available. The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects data on the total expenditure on general practice, both including and excluding the cost of dispensed drugs. The latest available data is from 2012-13, and the earliest available data is 2003-04.

    Total Spend on general practice, 2003-04 to 2012-13 (£ million)

    Year

    Total Spend

    Total Net of Dispensing

    2003-04

    5,811

    5,006

    2004-05

    6,914

    6,061

    2005-06

    7,747

    6,864

    2006-07

    7,757

    6,943

    2007-08

    7,867

    7,053

    2008-09

    7,961

    7,145

    2009-10

    8,321

    7,514

    2010-11

    8,350

    7,543

    2011-12

    8,397

    7,607

    2012-13

    8,459

    7,690
  • Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2014-03-31.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their announcement in July 2013 that the consultation on caste legislation was expected in February or March 2014, why it has not yet been issued.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Government is currently considering two issues which have developed and which have potential implications for the consultation.

    In February, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published helpful research designed to inform the introduction of new legislation on caste, as outlined in the July 2013 announcement. However, that announcement said: ‘…work will also be undertaken to determine information about the extent of caste discrimination in Britain that can be used as a comparative baseline for any future consideration of the effectiveness of caste legislation.’

    We had intended to reflect consideration of this work in the public consultation process. However, further discussions between Government and the EHRC about the research needed for it have revealed concerns that not only might this be difficult to commission successfully, but it could be seen as intrusive and might have an adverse effect on good relations in the relevant communities. We are therefore considering how best to proceed with the consultation in the light of this.

    Another recent development is the judgment in the Employment Tribunal case of Tirkey v Chandok which concluded that there is already legal protection against caste discrimination through the race provisions of the Equality Act 2010. We need to review recent case law to consider whether and how it may affect the way in which we implement the legislation.

    We would expect the public consultation document, including our conclusions on these matters, to issue in the Autumn.

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

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) NHS England and (b) Public Health England on improving treatment for gambling addicts.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department does not hold information on what specific training is provided to alcohol and drug treatment staff. Ensuring competent staff is the responsibility of local commissioners and providers.

    Public Health England (PHE) is working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the national gambling treatment service to identify how it can strengthen training, and are promoting the work of the Royal College of General Practitioners who have developed an online gambling diagnosis and treatment training resource that is available free to all health professionals.

    PHE promotes the Royal College of General Practitioners’ online training resource among all health professionals. PHE has developed guidance for local authorities on gambling and is exploring what the local needs are and where evidence allows it to intervene. However, PHE does not wish to undermine the treatment available through the national provider GamCare until evidence emerges that this is not meeting current need.

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with PHE and NHS England on a range of health issues. PHE is also working with NHS England and the Local Government Association to explore what the current need is locally so it can get a better picture; and decide whether PHE needs to act through prevention and restrictions on gambling shops; or through changes to the current GamCare treatment network.

  • Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-31.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was total cost associated with the charges dropped against three Tottenham Hotspur supporters in March relating to the chant of yids”.”

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    The Home Office does not hold the information requested. The Crown Prosecution Service has no specific policy relating to the chanting of the word "yids" by Tottenham Hotspur supporters and incurred no legal advice costs on this specific issue. The case against the three Tottenham Hotspur supporters was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service prior to the adjourned date of the hearing, without parties having to attend court, and without the associated costs being incurred.

    The Crown Prosecution Service National Football lead has been consulted on a number of occasions regarding whether the use of the word "yid" could amount to a criminal act. The general advice given on each occasion was that each case depends on its specific facts. In relation to the case that was dropped against the three Tottenham Hotspur supporters, the police contacted the Crown Prosecution Service prior to charge. Advice was given that there was a realistic prospect of conviction. It subsequently transpired that the further evidence was not available and the case was therefore discontinued. Prior to the discontinuance a meeting took place between senior police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service officials.

  • Gerald Kaufman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gerald Kaufman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 2 May 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr RO Estemogbo.

    James Brokenshire

    I wrote to the Rt. Hon. Member on 16 June 2014.