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  • Lord Ahmed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Ahmed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2016-05-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 27 April (HL7738), what assessment they have made of the impact of their representations on the government of Israel with regard to house demolitions, in the light of the number of deaths and injuries caused during such incidents in the first three months of 2016.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Government remains extremely concerned at the large increase in demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the start of 2016, compared to the monthly average in 2015. We are not aware of any deaths which have resulted from demolitions. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv continues to regularly raise our concerns on demolitions with the Israeli authorities. As a result of these representations, the UK’s humanitarian and legal concerns on demolitions have been made clear.

  • Lord Ahmed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Ahmed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2016-05-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 26 April (HL7737), what representations they have made to the government of Israel about why it rejected Turkey’s proposal of a floating power-generating ship to help solve the electricity crisis in Gaza.

    Baroness Verma

    The UK has not made representations to Israel about this specific issue. We are in regular discussion with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and other development actors, specifically the UN and EU, about Gaza’s energy crisis. Improving Gaza’s provision of electricity will in turn improve Gaza’s water supply and wastewater treatment. We regularly call on both parties to work on solutions to increase the electricity supply, including press for the extension of the 161 power line and progress towards the conversion of the Gazan power station to gas.

  • Margaret Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Margaret Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Greenwood on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of NHS trusts were in deficit at the end of 2015-16; and what the total size of that deficit was.

    Alistair Burt

    Final figures for 2015-16 are not yet available, but we know that the deficit will be bigger this year, and that there is significant pressure. This is why we are investing the additional £10 billion the National Health Service has said it needs to implement its own plan for the future, with £6 billion frontloaded by the end of next year.

  • Peter Heaton-Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Peter Heaton-Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Heaton-Jones on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the Success Regime review at North Devon District Hospital does not lead to a reduction in services provided at that hospital.

    Ben Gummer

    The Success Regime aims to improve the quality and sustainability of health and care services for local people.

    North, East and West Devon’s ‘Case for Change’ sets out the underlying challenges and opportunities. Change will be led by clinicians, in the best interests of communities. No specific proposals have been identified and the programme welcomes input from the people of North Devon. Hospital-based services will continue to be important across Devon, including in the North of the county.

  • Bob Blackman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Bob Blackman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on approving the business case for rebuilding the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

    George Freeman

    A Full Business Case for the new inpatient ward at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital was submitted to NHS Improvement for review on 6 April 2016 and is due for consideration in June 2016. This remains a priority project for the Department and NHS Improvement.

  • Lucy Allan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lucy Allan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Allan on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has for future changes in doctors’ remuneration.

    Ben Gummer

    It is the responsibility of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) to make recommendations to government on the remuneration of doctors and dentists working in the National Health Service. We are also taking forward contract reform for consultants and junior doctors. The General Practitioner (GP) contract for 2016/17 will see an investment of £220 million for 2016/17 – part of this will provide a pay uplift of 1% for GPs.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department monitors implementation of price caps for agency staff.

    Ben Gummer

    Hourly price caps are one part of a series of tough financial controls we introduced last year to help the National Health Service tackle overspending on agency staff. NHS Improvement consulted on the price caps before they were introduced and, with NHS England and the Care Quality Commission, has been monitoring their implementation on a weekly basis.

  • Ian Blackford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Ian Blackford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of recent trends in life expectancy.

    Jane Ellison

    We welcome the overall trend to longer life expectancy. Annual fluctuations in life expectancy do occur, but the overall trend remains positive. We are committed to helping people live longer, healthier lives. Tackling health inequalities amongst people of ages is embedded in policy right across the Department.

  • Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed increase in charges for NHS dentistry on people’s ability and inclination to visit a dentist regularly.

    Alistair Burt

    In considering the possible impact on patients of the increased charges for 2016/17 and for 2017/18, we concluded that the existing exemptions and Low Income Scheme will protect the most vulnerable, ensuring there should be no significant impact on an individual’s inclination to visit the dentist.

  • Wendy Morton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Wendy Morton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Wendy Morton on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made on improving safety in maternity care.

    Ben Gummer

    In November, we announced a national ambition to halve the rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth by 2030. Since then progress has included the launch of the ‘Spotlight on Maternity’ initiative and distribution of a £2.24 million capital fund for safety equipment.