Tag: 2015

Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the provision of counselling and support to those with Crohn’s disease.

Norman Lamb

The Department has made no assessment of the incidence of Crohn’s disease. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2012 guideline Crohn’s Disease Management in Adults, Children and Young People, states that there are currently at least 115,000 people in the United Kingdom with Crohn’s disease.

The NICE guideline sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with Crohn’s disease. This includes, ‘Minimising psychological concerns and possible side effects of treatment are fundamental to best practice for all people with Crohn’s disease, whatever their age’, which could include access to psychological support, if appropriate. The guideline also recommends that clinicians give patients with Crohn’s disease contact details for relevant support groups. The full guideline can be found at the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg152.

November 2, 2022
Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to provide additional support for girls with autism.

Norman Lamb

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on autism recommends a multi-disciplinary diagnostic pathway, involving different professionals according to the child’s presentation, and it highlights that girls are an at-risk group for under-diagnosis.

Responsibility sits with clinical commissioning groups to ensure that diagnostic services are commissioned in their area in accordance with the NICE guidance.

November 2, 2022
Anas Sarwar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to work with the government of Malawi to enhance financial controls and transparency in that country, with a view to restoring bilateral support by the UK.

Mr Desmond Swayne

General budget support to Malawi was suspended in 2011 due to concerns relating to human rights and public financial management. Tightly managed sector budget support for health and education was continued by all donors but following the Cash-gate scandal in November 2013 this too was suspended. There can be no consideration of putting UK funding through Malawi government systems until the integrity of the Government’s financial management systems has been restored and independently verified. However, the UK is still committed to poverty reduction and supporting poor people in Malawi, through a large programme of ongoing investments delivered, in health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, economic development and governance.

In the wake of the Cash-gate corruption scandal in 2013, we have funded a forensic audit as well as technical assistance to the investigation agencies to help bring the culprits to court and continue to support public financial management reforms.

November 2, 2022
Shabana Mahmood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Shabana Mahmood on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Prime Minister, when and how he was first made aware of files relating to HSBC and tax evasion.

Mr David Cameron

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson) on 11 February 2015, Official Report, columns 774-775.

November 2, 2022
Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers he has to vary, suspend and terminate the current tendering process for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

As part of the Department’s standard procurement process, the Secretary of State expressly reserves the right to make whatever changes he sees fit to the structure and timing of the procurement process or to cancel the process in its entirety at any stage. This arrangement is not particular to the Northern and Transpennine Express franchises.

November 2, 2022
Kate Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many challenges to benefits sanctions have been overturned as a result of tribunal interventions where his Department has not made reasonable adjustments under disability equality law; how his Department takes into account information from social services or health service staff before imposing such sanctions; and what processes ensure that adjustments are made before such sanctions are imposed on disabled claimants.

Esther McVey

The exact information you request on tribunal Interventions is not available.

However, Decision Makers ensure that all relevant claimant circumstances are carefully considered before imposing any sanction. This may include information from social services and health service staff if it was relevant to the case. We do not sanction vulnerable claimants without making every effort to contact them or their carer/healthcare professional first. Clear and detailed guidance is used by Decision Makers to ensure that the necessary processes are followed in a consistent manner.

November 2, 2022
Ann McKechin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann McKechin on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker’s allowance applications processed by (a) Maryhill Job Centre and (b) Partick Job Centre were subject to monetary sanctions in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013 and (iv) 2014; and what the average length of such sanctions was in each such year.

Esther McVey

The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) decisions to apply a sanction by Jobcentre Plus office is published at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Information requested on the average length of sanctions is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

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November 2, 2022
Austin Mitchell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Austin Mitchell on 2015-02-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the derivatives exposure is of each bank regulated by the UK authorities.

Andrea Leadsom

HM Treasury does not preserve specific information relating to the value, maturity or exposure of derivatives. Aggregate data on the derivative positions of UK banks is collected every quarter and made publicly available online by the Bank of England. The specific balance sheet position on derivatives for each bank will be published regularly in their annual report to shareholders.

November 2, 2022
Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Mrs Helen Grant

In line with the Civil Service wide commitment, DCMS provides guidance to staff and managers encouraging them to spend at least 5 days a year on their learning and development.

November 2, 2022

Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department’s training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Nick Gibb

The Department for Education holds a central training and development budget covering core education and training undertaken through Civil Service Learning. This includes development in core Civil Service skills including leadership and management, financial management and analysis. The table below shows the centrally managed budget for each of the past three financial years.

Financial Year	Budget
12/13	£700,000
13/14	£700,000
14/15	£600,000

Additionally, directorates across the Department spend an element of their budgets on training and development which varies dependant on in-year development needs. The table below shows both central training and development spend and Directorate spend for each last 3 financial years.

Financial Year	Total spend	Average number of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)	Average spend per member of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)
2014/15 (covering the period April to December only)	£1.3m	3353.7	£390
2013/14	£2.2m	3539.4	£620
2012/13	£3.2m	3801.1	£840

In addition to formal training, the Department for Education encourages staff to take advantage of a variety of different professional development opportunities not captured by this expenditure, including job shadowing, on-the-job training and peer mentoring.

November 2, 2022