Blog

  • Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of mandatory display of passed plates by all novice drivers for a minimum period.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    None. There is no probationary period for new drivers and no requirement to display a ‘P’ plate. However, the Transport Research Laboratory Report on "Novice Drivers: Evidence review and Evaluation Pre-Driver Training, Graduated Driver Licensing" made a number of recommendations on novice driver safety. One recommendation was that on successful completion of the driving test a driver would be permitted to progress to a probationary licence from age 18. During the 12 month (minimum) probationary licence the driver would be required to display a green ‘P’ plate to identify their licence status and aid enforcement of other recommended restrictions.

  • Frank Dobson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Frank Dobson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Dobson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which members of his Department’s assessment panel which interviewed representatives of the Institute of Education of London University in January 2014 about the proposals to establish a University Training School in Holborn and St Pancras had served in the previous three years as head teacher, deputy or assistant head of a secondary school.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The panel that considered the Holborn University Training School proposal and conducted the interview with the Institute of Education possessed a collective experience in school headship of over 32 years, covering secondary and primary phases. No member of the panel has served in such a role within the last three years.

    Free school interview panels consist of a range of education and independent experts.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to halve the number of young people not in employment, education or training by 2020 in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports a post-2015 target on employment. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

    The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, with particular attention to the most marginalised and people in vulnerable situations in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports the inclusion of ensuring universal health coverage as a target under an outcome-focused health goal. By definition, universal health coverage includes financial risk protection. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

    The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to end child labour by 2030 and protect the rights of and ensure safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers and those in precarious employment in Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports ending child labour and safe and secure working environments for all workers. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

    The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to ensure universal access to adequate and affordable housing and basic services for all, and eliminate slum-like conditions everywhere by 2030 in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports the proposed language of the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June, “to ensure universal access to adequate and affordable housing and basic services for all, and eliminate slum-like conditions everywhere”, by 2030.

    The final goals and targets in the post-2015 development framework will be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the adoption of a target to ensure all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes by 2030 in the Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports a target to ensure all girls and boys complete primary and secondary education with relevant learning outcomes in the post-2015 sustainable development framework. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

    The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Heaton-Harris on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England about ensuring that all trusts provide the necessary facilities and support to ensure that families can be with their babies while they are in neonatal care, as set out in the national service specification for neonatal critical care.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Department and NHS England regularly discuss maternity and newborn care.

    NHS England’s Neonatal Service Specification requires that all commissioned providers of Neonatal Services provide appropriate family facilities. The current service specification states that:

    Facilities should be available to support family centred care including access to parent accommodation, private and comfortable breastfeeding/expressing facilities, and private room for confidential conversations and so on.

    A revised specification has recently been drafted, within which this statement has been strengthened. The revised draft specification has been out to public consultation and the Clinical Reference Group is currently responding to the comments received. It is anticipated that the revised service specification will be included in NHS England contracts with providers from April 2015.

    As part of NHS England’s Service Specification Compliance process, all units will have assessed their level of compliance against the service specification. Where relevant, units will have highlighted where they are not yet meeting this requirement. In those circumstances, the Area Team Commissioner and the relevant provider will have agreed an action plan for achievement of the standard, where is it not currently being met, within 12 months. The actual facilities provided for families are locally determined and the exact number of overnight beds may therefore vary from service to service.

  • Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Heaton-Harris on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the money allocated by his Department to improve birthing environments was spent in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Information on the breakdown of the money allocated by the Department to improve birthing environments in 2012-13 and 2013-14 has been placed in the Library.

  • Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Heaton-Harris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Heaton-Harris on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention savings for neonatal care will be realised.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    NHS England, as part of its direct commissioning responsibilities for specialised services, has an ongoing programme in place to identify both local and national opportunities to identify potential efficiencies as part of its management and prioritisation of available resources.

    NHS England’s Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs), involving lead clinical, patient and professional representatives, are assisting NHS England in this work, particularly in respect of proposals that might be considered nationwide.

    Specialised neonatal care is one of NHS England’s most significant areas of expenditure and the Neonatal CRG has therefore been involved in identifying potential neonatal specific schemes, which may have the potential to deliver savings whilst maintaining safety and quality. The schemes will be subject to a confirm and challenge process to determine their deliverability, before being worked up into schemes which could be implemented on a national basis.

    It is therefore not possible, at this stage in the programme’s development, to quantify the level of savings that might be generated nationally or the specific savings approach that will be adopted.

    It is unlikely that the national schemes currently being considered will generate savings in 20140-15. The schemes are more likely to be transformational in design and therefore are more likely to deliver savings in the longer term.