Category: Speeches

  • Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.

    Jane Ellison

    The NHS England Specialised Commissioning team introduced nationally developed service specifications for a range of areas, including prostate cancer, during 2013-14. Prior to 2013, prostate cancer was routinely commissioned by primary care trusts, and as such an assessment of the changes in the level of access to prostate cancer treatments since 2010 is not technically feasible.

    Routinely commissioned treatments for prostate cancer are: (i) radical prostatectomy; (ii) radical external beam radiotherapy; and (iii) radical brachytherapy. In addition, NHS England routinely commissions systemic treatments for prostate cancer, including hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published technology appraisal guidance which recommends docetaxel (Taxotere) for hormone-refractory prostate cancer and abiraterone (Zytiga), in combination with prednisolone or prednisone, for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with one docetaxel-containing regimen. NICE is also currently developing technology appraisal guidance on a number of other drugs for prostate cancer.

    National Health Service commissioners are legally required by regulations to fund those treatments recommended by NICE in its technology appraisal guidance.

    Five-year survival rates improved from around 42% in the late 1980s to 79.7% in 2007 (currently 80.2% according to data for 2006-2010 published in October 2012) due in part to the effects of increased Prostate Specific Antigen testing and earlier detection. However, survival rates in England are still lagging behind comparable countries in Europe.

    Cancer Research UK has estimated that men with advanced, incurable prostate cancer treated in trials or under drug access schemes at the Royal Marsden Hospital survived on average 41 months, compared to between 13 and 16 months 10 years ago.

    The Government’s Mandate to NHS England sets out an ambition to make England one of the most successful countries in Europe at preventing premature deaths from all cancers, including prostate cancer. Cancer indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework and the Public Health Outcomes Framework will help NHS England to assess progress in improving cancer survival and mortality for men with prostate cancer.

  • Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the cost of one water cannon, (b) annual storage costs of one water cannon and (c) annual maintenance costs of one water cannon.

    Damian Green

    The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in the House Library.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN03-010 Impact to outputs of defence electronic warfare center due to five yearly electrical testing.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    DIN reference 2014DIN03-010 “Impact to outputs of Defence Electronic Warfare Centre due to five yearly electrical testing” was cancelled and withdrawn by the Sponsor on 22 April 2014.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with members of the US Administration on recent developments in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I and officials in the NIO have remained in close contact with the US Administration on Northern Ireland matters such as the discussions to make progress on flags, parades and dealing with the past.

    I have also discussed with representatives of the US Government the importance of rebalancing the economy and building a genuinely shared future for everyone in Northern Ireland. I am grateful for all their support for a better future for Northern Ireland.

  • Lord Beecham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Beecham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to review the arrangements for providing court interpreters in the light of recent criticism by the President of the Family Division.

    Lord Faulks

    The arrangements for the provision of interpreters are kept under review.

    There has been dramatic improvements in performance in the last two years. The Ministry continues to manage contracts to ensure this improvement is maintained.

  • Tom Greatrex – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tom Greatrex – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form on 25 December 2013.

    Esther McVey

    Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.

    Claimants with sincerely held religious beliefs can restrict their availability during religious festivals and holidays.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Lord Berkeley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the consultation on the proposal to introduce Contracts forDifference auctioning was published; when the European Commission adopted the final state aid guidelines for environmental protection and energy for 2014–2020; and when the Government’s response to the consultation was published.

    Baroness Verma

    The move to competitive allocation of Contracts for Difference has been a long-standing feature of Electricity Market Reform. In early 2014, the Government consulted on proposals to move straight to competitive allocation for some technologies. This consultation ran from 16 January 2014 to 12 February 2014; the Government’s response was published on 13 May 2014.

    EU Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020 were adopted in principle on 9 April 2014. Prior to that adoption, the Commission worked with member states on the development of the guidelines, including draft versions and receiving comments.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to increase the amount of government spending allocated to Northern Ireland.

    Mr Andrew Robathan

    The Government continues to provide considerable additional support and, as a result of spending decisions announced at Budget, the Executive will receive positive Barnett consequentials of over £21 million. However, the long term answer for the Northern Ireland economy is a private sector revival and not increases in Government spending.

  • Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether officials or Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Home Office or the Cabinet Office have met Bello Adoke, the Nigerian Attorney General, since 2012; and if so, what was the date of each meeting.

    Baroness Warsi

    Given the the range of frequency of the many meetings by Government officials with the Nigerian Attorney General I am unable to offer a full list of these. However, I can confirm that from the list of Government departments requested, at Ministerial level only the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, my Hon. Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Mr Wright), has met the Attorney General, Bello Adoke, in Abuja on 9 January 2014.

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2014-03-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the difference both in absolute terms and in percentage terms in the compensation for those affected by HS2 who (1) live in the Rural Support Zone, and (2) live outside it.

    Baroness Kramer

    The Government is not yet able to confirm the outcome of the recent consultation on property compensation for Phase One of HS2, but expects to make an announcement soon.