Category: Speeches

Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the funding formula for GP surgeries on surgeries in (a) Huddersfield and (b) Kirklees.

Alistair Burt

Approximately 55% of general practitioner (GP) practices operate under General Medical Service (GMS) contract arrangements. Typically, at least half of the money that a GMS practice receives is in the form of the ‘global sum’, derived through the Carr-Hill Formula.

The formula, as agreed with the British Medical Association (BMA) before the introduction of the 2004 GP contract, is used to allocate the global sum and related payments on the basis of the practice population, weighted for factors that influence relative needs and costs.

There are indications that the formula does not work as effectively in areas with demographically atypical populations, such as new towns or areas with high student populations. NHS England is working with the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee, NHS Employers, the Department and academic partners on the review to develop a formula that better reflects the factors that drive workload, such as age or deprivation. As part of this work, the effect of any changes on practice funding in specific areas such as Huddersfield and Kirklees will be considered. It is intended that the review of the Carr-Hill formula will inform the 2017-18 GP contract.

A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified one item of correspondence received since 1 May 2015 from university health centres. There has also been a Ministerial meeting related to areas with demographically atypical populations, in this case new towns. It was not possible to identify correspondence received from GP surgeries with atypical patient profiles. This represents correspondence received by the Department’s ministerial correspondence unit only.

01/01/2023
Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the contribution was to the public purse of BBC Worldwide in 2015.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Profits from BBC Worldwide are returned to the BBC. The BBC will publish its annual report and accounts for 2015 outlining the contribution BBC Worldwide has made in that financial year in due course. In the 2014/15 annual report the income the BBC received from Worldwide was £851.3million.

01/01/2023
Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-06-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for small businesses of the UK leaving the EU.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

There will be no immediate changes to the UK’s relationship with the EU, in the way goods can move or services can be sold. The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains open for business and continues to grow and thrive.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is engaging with small businesses about the issues, risks and opportunities arising as a result of the decision to leave the EU. The Government is working to ensure that the UK remains one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business.

01/01/2023
Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the qualifying criteria for servicemen to be considered as mobilised, and how mobilisation is recognised.

Earl Howe

The Reserve Forces are a valuable and highly valued component of the Armed Forces. Under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 the Secretary of State for Defence can authorise the mobilisation of Reserve Forces if it appears to him that it is necessary or desirable to use them to contribute to the delivery of the nation’s security. All reservists are liable for mobilisation. The maximum period for which a reservist may be mobilised is up to one year in a four year period.

We aim to provide at least 28 days notice of mobilisation. In selecting individuals for mobilisation we will, as far as practicable, take into account their personal circumstances, including employment. The flexibility in selecting individuals for mobilisation will depend on the scale, urgency and nature of the threat. Employers and reservists can appeal against a mobilisation.

When a reservist reports for military service, a medical inspection is carried out and their physical fitness is measured to ascertain their wellbeing and fitness to deploy. Training appropriate to the nature of the task will be given prior to deployment.

Once mobilised individuals are paid as regulars and receive relevant allowances. In addition, reservists and their employers are entitled to claim financial assistance which mitigates the financial impact of the mobilisation.

01/01/2023
Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 14616, what estimate her Department has made of the number of signatories to the (a) Cortauld Commitment 3, (b) Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan, (c) Hospitality and Food Service Agreement and (d) Sustainable Clothing Action Plan in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart

The number of signatories to the voluntary agreements in the last five years is as follows:

Courtauld Commitment 2/3 (signatories):
- 53 from Aug 2011
ESAP Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan (signatories):
- 50 at launch, Nov 2014;
- 70 at Nov 2015.
Hospitality and Food Service Agreement (signatories plus supporters*):
- 73 at launch in Jun 2012;
- 171 in Nov 13;
- over 200 in Dec 14
- 226 in Nov 2015.
SCAP 2020 Commitment (signatories plus supporters*):
- 22, at launch in Jun 2013;
- 68 at Dec 2014;
- 82 at Nov 2015.
*Supporters also take an active role in promoting activities which support the Commitments
01/01/2023
Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the average number of hours worked by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency staff in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has not made an estimate on the average number of hours worked by its members of staff in each of the last five years.

01/01/2023
Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the next UK-China Human Rights Dialogue is planned.

Mr Hugo Swire

The UK-China Human Rights Dialogue is an annual event which last took place in Beijing in April 2015. We expect to hold the next round in March or April 2016.

01/01/2023
David Crausby – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many members of staff are employed in the Ministerial correspondence section of his Department.

Jane Ellison

The Department’s Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries unit currently employs a total of 31 permanent staff who work on both public and ministerial correspondence. There are also eight non-permanent workers filling vacancies within the unit who also work on public and ministerial correspondence. In 2015 the unit responded to 42,277 letters from hon. Members, Peers and the public.

01/01/2023

Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many offices were operated by the (a) Skills Funding Agency and (b) Education Funding Agency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles

In response to your question:-

Year	EFA	SFA
April 2012	11 sites	21 sites
April 2013	11 sites	18 sites
April 2014	7 sites	20 sites
April 2015	6 sites*	21 sites
April 2016	6 sites*	15 sites

* In addition a small number of EFA staff are based at a satellite office in Bristol

EFA is co-located on all sites with other parts of the Department for Education and the reduction in the number of sites since 2012 was part of a DfE wide change programme.

01/01/2023

David Lammy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Lammy on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many migrants from other EU countries work in the NHS in London.

Ben Gummer

The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects data on the number of staff working in National Health Service hospital and community health services (HCHS) in England.

Nationality is a self-reported field within the electronic staff record system. The following table shows the number of HCHS staff from other European Union (EU) countries who declared their nationality who work in the NHS in England and in London.

Information on the number of employees from other EU countries working in London is only available for those people working in NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups.

England 30 September 2015	Headcount
	All staff	People from other EU countries working in England	People from other EU countries working in London
Employees in NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups	1,151,138	52,812	17,735
Employees in Central Bodies and Support Organisations	36,456	1,015	n/a
Total	1,187,594	53,827	17,735

Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, NHS Hospital and Community Health Service workforce statistics

Information on how many employees working in the NHS have no recourse to public funds is not available.

01/01/2023