The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with Castleman disease in each of the last five years.
George Freeman
Information on the number of diagnoses of Castleman disease is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce infant mortality.
Jane Ellison
We have made reducing infant mortality an area of improvement for the National Health Service in the NHS Outcomes Framework. We are also committed to reducing the number of stillbirths and want England to achieve the lowest rate of stillbirth and neonatal death in the world. Reducing infant mortality is also highlighted as an outcome indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.
We want to improve all children’s chances in life by giving families the help they need to keep their children healthy and safe. The 0-5 years Healthy Child Programme, led and delivered by health visitors and their teams, is the key universal programme for the health and well-being of children, and sets out reviews, screening, and support which aim to reduce cot death, prevent ill health and to identify and treat problems early.
MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies – Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK), has been appointed to continue the national programme of work investigating maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths. They aim to identify what has gone wrong and why and make national recommendations on how care can be improved for all mothers and babies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime.
Mike Penning
The Government is undertaking a wide range of measures to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime.
We recently published a revised Victims’ Code which will come into force on 16 November. As a result, victims of all criminal offences, and not just victims of more serious offences, will be entitled to support; and victims will be entitled to support from a wider range of organisations.
Significant work is being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice to improve the experience of victims and witnesses when they engage with the criminal justice system, which includes strengthening the protection available when going to court. We have already doubled the number of Registered Intermediaries available to offer support to vulnerable witnesses and are giving vulnerable victims and witnesses greater opportunity to give evidence away from court using new live-link facilities. This is on top of a range of existing special measures to help reduce the anxiety of attending court, including giving evidence from behind a screen in the courtroom or the use of live-link from another room in court to the courtroom.
Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for commissioning the majority of emotional, practical and specialist support services for victims of crime, based on their assessment of local needs, and receive funding from the Ministry of Justice to do so. In addition, the Ministry of Justice funds services to support those bereaved by murder and manslaughter, female and male victims of rape, victims of road traffic crime and victims of terrorism, and support for victims and witnesses attending criminal courts. To help victims find the services they need, the Ministry of Justice has recently launched the Victims’ Information Service, which includes a website directory of services and a free telephone helpline which can provide immediate assistance and support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had on the influence of major contractors over procurement processes in the Highways Agency.
Andrew Jones
The Secretary of State and Minister for Transport hold frequent discussions with Highways England on all aspects of their performance and delivery of the Road Investment Strategy. Highways England has recently published its Supply Chain Strategy. This sets out its procurement approach and strategies which are being developed with input from highways suppliers and others, to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the Road Investment Strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent meetings Ministers in his Department have had with cancer campaign groups on proposals in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on changes to employment and support allowance for people in the work-related activity group.
Priti Patel
Ministers regularly have meetings with a variety of stakeholders, including cancer charities; as part of their role.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that landlords receive the expected rent payments for tenants in properties in areas where universal credit is rolled out.
Justin Tomlinson
Universal Credit is usually paid directly to claimants as a single monthly sum.
In certain circumstances, such as where a claimant is identified as vulnerable, the Department may make alternative payment arrangements for rent to be paid directly to landlords.
The Department is also conducting a pilot with a selection of landlords from the social housing sector where the landlord can identify claimants with a need for alternative payments arrangements and make recommendations to DWP for rapid implementation of direct payments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-10-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 20 October (HL2620), how much they expect to save in particular in housing benefit payments from the reductions in social rent levied by housing associations.
Lord Freud
Estimates of the total benefit savings due to the reductions in social rent announced in the 2015 Summer Budget were presented in the associated policy costing publication.
The table below shows the amount of the total benefit savings which relates to housing association tenancies. This includes both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.
Estimated reduction in benefit payments to housing association tenants, £millions, cash terms
| 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | |
| Benefit savings relating to Housing Associations | 145 | 425 | 790 | 1190 | 1305 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-10-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the governance arrangements of the Herbal Medicines and Practitioners Working Group report on the regulation of herbal practitioners.
Lord Prior of Brampton
As an independent Working Group the governance arrangements were a matter for the Chair and members of the Herbal Medicines and Practitioners Working Group to determine. The Working Group agreed its terms of reference and membership.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Donaghy on 2015-10-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have carried out of the impact of the increase in School Direct and school-centred initial teacher training on the availability of placements for students on mainstream school-university programmes.
Lord Nash
The National College of Teaching and Leadership does not collect information on placements. These are negotiated between providers and schools as part of their partnership arrangements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2015-10-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to support the people of South Sudan who face starvation.
Baroness Verma
In 2014, the UK was one of the largest donors to the UN Humanitarian appeal which helped to avert famine and ensure that 3.5 million South Sudanese were reached with life-saving assistance. The 2015 appeal is ongoing, and 3.1 million people have been reached so far this year.
Overall, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response in South Sudan, having contributed £172 million since the start of the conflict in December 2013 and a further £88.9 million for South Sudanese refugees in the region. Limited access for humanitarian workers in the Greater Upper Nile states, particularly in Unity State, has increased the risk of famine; as noted in the recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The UK consistently lobbies for all parties to allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
In addition, through DFID, the UK continues to deliver food security programmes in South Sudan, prioritising support to the most vulnerable people.