Tag: 2014

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much he has allocated to each local authority with responsibility for education to expand kitchens in order to provide free school meals for children under seven.

    Mr David Laws

    Capital allocations to local authorities to support the introduction of universal infant free school meals were announced on 18 December 2013. A table showing the allocation to each local authority is available at the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations-for-basic-need-and-infant-free-school-meals

    “

  • Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Baker on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service about the pre-signing of abortion forms.

    Mr Dominic Grieve

    I have had no recent specific discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the pre-signing of abortion forms. I am aware, though, that the CPS has had discussions with the Department of Health on this and I await the outcome of these.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the case for abolishing prescription charges in England.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department does not intend to abolish prescription charges in England, which raise in the region of £450 million each year. This is valuable income, which helps the National Health Service to maintain services for patients.

    An extensive system of exemption arrangements are in place which mean that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge.

    Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) are also available for those who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions. The cost of the annual and three-month certificates have been frozen for the fifth and third years running, at £104 and £29.10 respectively, and will also remain frozen next year. There is no limit to the number of items that can be obtained through a PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing more than 12 items a year, and the three month certificate anyone needing more than three items in that three month period.

  • Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that North Lincolnshire Council has first refusal for the acquisition of the Kirtin in Lindsey base.

    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.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paul Blomfield – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 714, on physical and mental health (parity of esteem), if he will collect and publish mental health spending data for (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) future years.

    Norman Lamb

    NHS England currently collects and publishes information about mental health spending via its Programme Budgeting Data collection and published expenditure data for 2012-13 on 21 February 2014. This is available on its website at:

    www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/prog-budgeting

    We are working with NHS England to support its plans to develop the Programme Budgeting Dataset for 2013-14 to provide a more meaningful analysis of expenditure on mental health conditions.

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities take into account the effect of planning decisions on neighbouring authorities when making those decisions.

    Nick Boles

    The Government’s reforms enshrine the Local Plan as the cornerstone of the planning system. We have confidence that local authorities will show the leadership necessary to work together in order to produce Local Plans that are effective and deliverable on important cross-boundary matters. My Department has also published an on-line set of planning guidance, which includes new advice to local authorities on the Duty to Co-operate across local authority boundaries. Furthermore, adjacent authorities are consulted on planning applications which are likely to affect land in their area, and in making its decision, the determining authority must consider all representations made.

  • Lord Colwyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Colwyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2014-05-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment NHS England has made of the effectiveness of Local Area Teams in commissioning NHS dental services since April 2013.

    Earl Howe

    We are informed by NHS England that the Direct Commissioning Assurance Framework, which was published in November 2013, sets out the methodology for how NHS England can demonstrate effective use of public funds in commissioning safe, high quality and sustainable services within available resources

    The assurance process is evidence-based and draws on a wide range of information and indicators to assess how well services are being commissioned. The evidence used includes local insight from area teams and wider National Health Service functions. A finance and performance delivery dashboard is also used and dental data is an important component of this. Through this process, NHS England is able to ensure that the delivery of NHS dental services is monitored as an important component of the assurance process and that any concerns are addressed promptly.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will raise at the UN the prospects of severe famine in South Sudan.

    Lynne Featherstone

    The UK is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. The ongoing conflict, which has led to the displacement of over 900,000 people within the country, limited the ability of people to plant their crops, and disrupted trade and local markets. There is concern that those in conflict-affected states will experience famine later this year.

    The UK is taking a leading role in responding to the crisis. We have so far contributed £20 million to the United Nations and International Non-Governmental Organisations for emergency humanitarian assistance inside South Sudan. We are considering additional support. We will continue to take every opportunity, including in the United Nations, to raise our concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

  • Naomi Long – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Naomi Long – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Naomi Long on 2014-05-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he will take to implement the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive; and what plans he has to distinguish between high and low risk trusts.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Treasury is leading the on-going negotiations on the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive. The UK is committed to implementing measures to prevent potential misuse of trusts for illicit purposes. We support mandatory requirements on trustees to hold beneficial ownership information on their trusts and together with the new automatic exchange of tax information agreements there will be more transparency and information exchange on trusts than ever before.

  • Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to give free schools more flexibility on requirements relating to (a) the involvement of volunteers and (b) provision of flexi-school places.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    Volunteers in free schools, like maintained schools, can work alongside paid staff members to offer a range of skills and experience that can enhance pupils’ learning. We encourage skilled members of the community to take up a range of voluntary roles in schools from being governors to listening to children read. The Government has reformed child protection policies to remove bureaucracy and enable managers to use their judgement about the checks and supervision required for each individual depending on their circumstances.

    The free school programme encourages innovation and the decision to offer flexi-school places or how to deploy volunteers is one for individual head teachers. However, the free school criteria requires all applicants to meet rigorous standards including demonstrating how they would ensure a high quality education for every pupil and outlining a sustainable staffing structure.