Category: Speeches

  • Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many child victims and witnesses have given evidence from insside a court building in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Damian Green

    We must do everything we can to support child witnesses and help them give their best possible evidence to bring offenders to justice.

    The department does not hold data on the number of child victim and witnesses that use video links to give evidence (either a court building, or from a remote site).

    The list below sets out the number of courthouses in each of the seven HMCTS Regions in England & Wales; criminal justice is a devolved matter for Scotland and Northern Ireland. These facilities enable any victim or witness to appear by video link from a different court location to that of the trial court; it is also possible for third party users to access the court system through a secure bridge.

    HMCTS Region

    Number of courthouses enabled for remote video link.

    Wales

    22

    London

    32

    South East

    52

    South West

    35

    Midlands

    40

    North West

    31

    North East

    37

    Total

    249
  • Matthew Offord – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Matthew Offord – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the role independent pharmacies play in relieving pressures on other health and welfare services; and what steps he has taken to disseminate best practice.

    Norman Lamb

    Pharmacy already plays a vital role in supporting the health of people in their local communities, providing high quality care and support, improving people’s health and reducing health inequalities. However, as we move to more integrated care, there is real potential for pharmacists and their teams to play an even greater role in the future, particularly in keeping people healthy, supporting those with long term conditions and helping make sure patients and the National Health Service get the best use from medicines.

    NHS England’s public consultation, Improving care through community pharmacy – a call to action, which closed on 18 March, has provided an important opportunity to explore the contribution community pharmacists and their teams can make. This will inform a strategic framework for commissioning wider primary care services in the autumn. A copy of the consultation document is at:

    www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/calltoaction/pharm-cta/

    In the meantime, NHS England’s The earlier, the better campaign, launched in January 2014, specifically sought to raise the profile of community pharmacy with the public, to increase the number of people accessing community pharmacy services when they have a minor ailment and reduce pressures on other parts of the NHS.

    On 14 April, the Department and NHS England published Transforming Primary Care – Safe, proactive, personalised care for those who need it most. This sets out plans for more proactive, personalised and joined up care, part of which is harnessing the potential of pharmacists. This recognises the vital role that pharmacists have in optimising medicines use, helping to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and supporting people to manage their own care. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  • David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims have been submitted for personal independence payment in each month since its introduction.

    Mike Penning

    Further to the figures published on 5th June 2014. The table below shows how many claims have been submitted for Personal Independence Payment:

    New claims not made under Special Rules for Terminally Ill People

    New claims made under Special Rules for Terminally Ill People

    All PIP New Claims

    Apr-13

    3000

    200

    3100

    May-13

    4800

    200

    5000

    Jun-13

    23000

    900

    23800

    Jul-13

    34200

    1500

    35700

    Aug-13

    30600

    1300

    31900

    Sep-13

    33800

    1300

    35100

    Oct-13

    35600

    1500

    37100

    Nov-13

    33300

    1400

    34700

    Dec-13

    22000

    1200

    23200

    Jan-14

    38000

    1600

    39500

    Feb-14

    39000

    1400

    40400

    Mar-14

    37900

    1500

    39500

    Apr-13 – Mar 14

    335100

    13900

    349000

    · Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100, therefore totals may not sum due to rounding.

    · Whether a claim is a ‘New claim made under Special Rules for Terminally Ill People’ has been determined at the point of registration.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-official-statistics-june-2014

    “

  • 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 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward from 42 weeks the period for inducing labour in at risk expectant mothers.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The induction of labour is a clinical decision for healthcare professionals. These decisions are based on the latest available evidence and take account of the risk and other clinical factors for each individual pregnancy.

    To assist healthcare professionals, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published clinical guidelines on the induction of labour, which are available on the NICE website at:

    www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12012/41256/41256.pdf.

    The NICE guidelines advise that women with uncomplicated pregnancies should usually be offered induction of labour between 41+0 and 42+0 weeks.

    Women can be deemed high risk for a multitude of reasons. Each reason will carry its own set of criteria for delivery. It is not possible to say that induction for all at risk pregnancies should be brought forward as these should be reviewed according to individual needs.

  • Biography information for Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Biography information for Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Adrian Sanders on Transport.

    1

    Stephen Hammond

    All Train Operating Companies (TOCs) are required under their franchise agreement to have in place a Passenger’s Charter which will include arrangements for compensation for passengers.

    In connection with the severe weather related disruption earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) sought to understand what First Great Western’s proposals on compensation were likely to be. Where discussions have taken place with other TOCs these will also have been to ensure that the DfT was aware of their intentions and not to seek to require these to be changed.

    An improved system of compensation based on delays to individual journeys, known as Delay/Repay, is being introduced for all passengers in place of the system of poor performance discounts and optional Void Days for season ticket holders.　 Introduction is taking place as franchises are let following competitions and opportunities arise within Direct Awards and existing franchises.　 Where discussions have taken place between the DfT and TOCs these will have been in this context.

  • Mark Hoban – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Hoban – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hoban on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that health professionals are trained in the identification and notification of (a) all special educational needs and (b) educational needs related to cerebral palsy in children under two years of age.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Government works with Health Education England, which provides leadership on the training of the health workforce, and the professional regulatory bodies, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which set professional standards, to ensure that health professionals are appropriately trained in identification and support of children with special educational needs, or cerebral palsy.

    Clinical commissioning groups are under a statutory duty to make arrangements to notify the local authority where a provider is of the opinion that a child under compulsory school age has special educational needs (having first discussed this with the child’s parents). The Children and Families Act introduces new arrangements for local authorities and health services to work together to support children with special educational needs.

  • 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, if she will introduce legislative proposals to protect police dogs by recognising them as an extension of their handler as a police officer.

    Simon Hughes

    The Government agrees that attacks of any sort on police dogs, horses or any other police animal should be dealt with severely under the criminal law. However, it is not necessary to create a new offence in order to do this.

    An attack on a police dog can be treated as animal cruelty under s4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The maximum penalty is six months imprisonment, or a fine of up to £20,000, or both.

  • Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson on Work and Pensions.

    1

    Mike Penning

    The information you have requested is not available.

  • Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Agreed Conclusions of the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, if she will support the inclusion of a specific target on women’s full, equal and effective participation in all fields and leadership at all levels of decision-making within the post-2015 development framework.

    Lynne Featherstone

    I am pleased that the Agreed Conclusions reached by member states at the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) included a call for a dedicated goal on gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment and the human rights of girls and women. It also called for ending all forms of violence against women and girls; economic empowerment; leadership and participation in decision making; and ending harmful practice, including Child, Early and Forced Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation.

    The UK statement at the CSW highlighted the need for a dedicated goal on gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women in the post -2015 framework. We are working with others across the international community, including civil society, to ensure that this is achieved.

  • Biography information for Michael Dugher – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Biography information for Michael Dugher – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Michael Dugher on Education.

    1

    Matthew Hancock

    Dominic Cummings has not accompanied the Secretary of State on any official visits in 2014.