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  • Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timetable for (1) the completion, and (2) the publication, of the hepatitis C improvement framework.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Completion and publication dates for the hepatitis C framework have not yet been confirmed. In the meantime, Public Health England continues working with NHS England and Operational Development Networks to establish a process of monitoring treatment access and uptake.

  • Lord Knight of Weymouth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Knight of Weymouth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the Small Schools Taskforce report relating to the provision of free school meals in small schools.

    Lord Nash

    A decision has not yet been made on the publication of the taskforce report.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the funding of free school meals for infants schools will be protected in the forthcoming spending review.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The continuation of universal infant free school meals was a commitment in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto.

    The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all of its programmes.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for a sugar tax on sweetened drinks in order to tackle the rise in obesity.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    There are no plans to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. However, we keep all taxes under review, with decisions being a matter for the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

    Calorie reduction, including sugar reduction, is being considered as part of the development of the Government’s childhood obesity strategy which is due in the coming months.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional resources will be made available to enable local authorities to introduce clean air zones.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The Government is currently consulting on draft plans to address nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK, including proposals for a framework for Clean Air Zones in England. The principal responsibility for deciding whether to introduce a Clean Air Zone, or other appropriate measures to tackle air quality, will rest with relevant local authorities. The Government is considering the appropriate incentives required to help secure the delivery of the air quality plans.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timescale for complying with the Supreme Court judgment about tackling illegal levels of diesel fumes in British cities.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The Supreme Court’s judgement ordered the Government to prepare revised air quality plans and submit them to the European Commission by the end of 2015.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for establishing a national testing regime routinely to measure vehicle emissions under real operating conditions.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    There has been no assessment made at national level.

    The government has been at the forefront of action at a European level to introduce real driving emissions (RDE) testing, to ensure tests of all new passenger cars and vans accurately represent performance out on the road and ensure public confidence. We will continue to press for the introduction of RDE at the earliest opportunity.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations, if any, they have made to British Members of the European Parliament about voting against European Union legislation requiring countries to carry out spot checks on the emissions of vehicles under real operating conditions.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    In July this year, Defra prepared a voting brief for British MEPs concerning the revised National Emission Ceilings Directive. This advised MEPs to oppose an amendment which included the introduction of spot checks on vehicle emissions under real operating conditions, because the aim of the amendment and how it related to existing regimes was unclear. The Government supports the implementation of real driving emissions testing for vehicles but strongly believes that this should be addressed in the appropriate legislation to ensure clarity.

  • Lord Jay of Ewelme – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Jay of Ewelme – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jay of Ewelme on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken, and to what effect, to secure the release of Andy Tsege from prison in Ethiopia; and what representations they have made to the government of Ethiopia about allowing Mr Tsege’s lawyer to travel to that country.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The British Government remains deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national, Andargachew Tsege, in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has raised this case with Dr Tedros, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, on 18 occasions. Most recently on 21 October. He welcomed the improvement in consular access to Mr Tsege, following the Government’s intervention, but noted it must be more regular and must include access to a lawyer. Mr Tsege should be given the ability to challenge his detention through due legal process.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the assessment by Monitor that the capping of agency staff rates could result in a shortage of staff working for the National Health Service.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Price caps for agency staff: proposed roles and consultation was published by the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) and Monitor on 15 October 2015. A copy has been attached. The aim of the price caps is to reduce spending on agency staff and to bring the pay of agency workers in line with those of substantive staff employed in the NHS.

    The NHS TDA and Monitor are currently consulting on these proposals. Any decision on introducing price caps will be subject to the results of the consultation.

    The proposed price caps do include mechanisms that enable an overriding of the rules should there be any potential compromise to patient safety.