The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many HSA4 forms submitted in each month since 2010 are pending completion.
Jane Ellison
The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer question 188564 tabled on 13 February 2014 for Answer on 24 February 2014, and question 188387 tabled on 12 February 2014 for Answer on 26 February 2014.
Mr Philip Dunne
I responded to the hon. Member today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to encourage car manufacturers to manufacture cars powered by road fuel gases for the UK market.
Michael Fallon
We want the UK to be at the forefront of the design, development, manufacture and use of low emission vehicles, delivering economic growth opportunities and contributing to the decarbonisation of road transport.
As part of the Automotive Industrial Strategy, Government and industry will invest around £1 billion over the next 10 years in an Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to research, develop and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies. The APC is technology neutral, so can support new road fuel gas technologies if they offer significant low carbon advantages. This investment will secure up to 30,000 jobs. The Government will allocate £100 million for ULEV-specific research and development for the period 2015-2020 as part of the £500m OLEV package. This represents an increase of over 20% in support from the previous package (which was £82m over the period 2010 – 2015).
We have also allocated £4m to ensure the UK has the gas refuelling facilities HGVs need to support our freight and logistics operators in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their business.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms his Department has in place to monitor standards in care homes for the elderly.
Norman Lamb
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the 2008 Act) all providers of regulated activities, including National Health Service and independent providers, have to register with the CQC and meet a set of requirements of safety and quality.
The CQC is currently introducing a new system of inspection of social care providers. This new system of inspection will be structured around five key questions that matter most to people – are the services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs. The new inspections will make more use of people’s views and will use expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care. The CQC has been piloting this new approach in 252 of social care providers since April 2014.
The Department is also working with the CQC to develop fundamental standards, which will set out the line below which care should never fall – they will be requirements that all providers of health and social care registered with the CQC must meet. The CQC will be able to take action including prosecution where providers are not meeting these standards. These fundamental standards will apply to all registered providers across health and adult social care.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a maximum charge for homecare and other non-residential social services.
Norman Lamb
Through the Care Bill we are making the biggest change to the care and support system in more than 65 years. The Bill reforms what people pay for care and support and how they pay to create a system that is a fair partnership between people needing care, their families and tax-payers.
The reforms will place a cap on lifetime care costs. This means that people will no longer face the possibility of catastrophic care costs, providing peace of mind and enabling them to plan for their future. New regulations and guidance on how to financially assess people will ensure that, while they are contributing towards the cost of their care, they will only pay what they can afford.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to apply in all circumstances the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s principles that local councils should have first refusal when assets are being disposed of.
Mr Mark Francois
There is no such principle. In accordance with Treasury guidelines the Department is required to achieve best value for money in the sale of each site.
In the case of Kirton in Lindsey, following the aborted sale to the Homes and Communities Agency, the MOD decided to proceed straight to the open market. The department will be happy to receive a tender from North Lincolnshire District Council to be considered along with all other bids in fair and open competition.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Pension Regulator to conclude its investigation into the Carrington Wire pension scheme.
Steve Webb
This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator which has operational independence.
Inevitably in complex cases involving foreign companies where it appears that scheme abandonment may have taken place, it can take some time for the Regulator to complete the thorough investigations needed to establish whether the legal tests in relation to its ‘anti-avoidance’ powers, including the power to issue contribution notices, are met.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Henderson on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise psychological abuse and coercive control in domestic violence situations.
Norman Baker
I will write to the Hon. Member.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2014-05-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define the challenges referred to in the Department of Health’s April 2014 publication Living Well for Longer that they have laid before the drinks industry to reduce alcohol harm to health that is linked to premature avoidable deaths.
Earl Howe
In July 2013, the Government set a challenge to the alcohol industry to ask them to do more to reduce alcohol harm through the Public Health Responsibility Deal alcohol network. The challenge was formally set out in the 17 July 2013 Government’s response document Next steps following the consultation on delivering the Government’s alcohol strategy. It says:
“The Government believes that the alcohol industry can go further to show that voluntary action can deliver the significant changes needed. It is now challenging industry to take action in other areas, increasing their level of ambition and ownership of the issues, to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder and health harms, tackle the harmful effects of binge drinking and to support growth in local economies. This includes seeking rapid action in the following areas: supporting targeted local action; tackling the high strength or high volume products that can cause the most harm; promoting and displaying alcohol responsibly in shops; and improving education around drinking.”
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies on voluntary restrictions by network providers of adult content of recent proposals from the European Parliament on a European single market for electronic communications.
Mr Edward Vaizey
We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.