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Tag: 2015

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Matthew Pennycook – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether it is her policy to allow alternatives to in-home displays to be used in the smart meter rollout.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Energy suppliers are required to offer their domestic customers an In Home Display (IHD) where they install a smart metering system, enabling consumers to visualise how much energy they use, when they use it and how much it costs them in near real time. There is strong evidence that IHDs are instrumental to energy savings, as set out in the Smart Metering Impact Assessment and the findings of the Early Learning Project published in March 2015. IHDs facilitate a significant proportion of the expected benefits of the smart metering programme (some £4.3 billion).

    Energy suppliers are able to offer their customers, where they so choose, other engagement tools in addition to the IHD. However there is a lack of evidence on the enduring consumer benefits of alternative engagement tools within Great Britain. The Government is currently consulting on proposals to allow suppliers to undertake, with the Secretary of State’s approval on a case by case basis, trials of alternative energy use engagement tools to IHDs. This will help DECC to gather evidence on the performance of other approaches, to understand if the IHD requirement remains optimised for the costs and benefits accruing to consumers.

    The consultation can be found on the following weblink:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smart-meter-in-home-display-licence-conditions.

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  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made in reforming the Data Access Advisory Group; and what plans there are to update the Caldicott principles.

    George Freeman

    The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has developed proposals to establish the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data (IGARD), which will replace the current Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG). The new group will have an expanded remit, which is designed to drive improvements in decision-making in respect of data releases, specifically through increasing transparency, accountability, participation, quality and consistency.

    HSCIC has recentlyconcluded a consultation with the public and key stakeholders on the draft Terms of Reference for IGARD.The consultationran from 16 June to 31 August 2015. Forty-three organisations and individuals responded via the online web form, by electronic document and by letter. These responses will inform the process of managing the transition from DAAG to IGARD.

    Revised Caldicott principles were outlined in the Government’s response to the Caldicott Review Information: To Share or Not to Share published in September 2013. This document is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/caldicott-information-governance-review-department-of-health-response

    There are no plans to update these principles.

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  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department’s policy is for the handling and release of patient data over the next five years; and what principles have informed that policy.

    George Freeman

    The Personalised Heath and Care 2020 National Information Board Framework for Action published in November 2014 outlined the Governments policy for handling and release of patient data over the next five years. The document is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personalised-health-and-care-2020

    The principles supporting this policy were outlined in Dame Fiona Caldecott’s Information Governance Review published in March 2013. The document is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-information-governance-review

    “

  • David Burrowes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Burrowes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 8 September 2015 to Question 47 by the Minister of Immigration to the Home Affairs Committee, how many Syrian refugees will be accommodated in order to meet the UNHCR requirement for 130,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees by 2016.

    Richard Harrington

    As the Prime Minister announced on 7 September, the Government will expand existing resettlement schemes to resettle 20,000 Syrians in need of protection during this Parliament. This is in addition to the thousands who receive protection in the UK under normal asylum procedures and through the refugee family reunion route. The UK is making a serious and substantial contribution to resettling vulnerable Syrian refugees. We will continue to work with the UNHCR and play our full part in helping these vulnerable people.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for which each emergency protection order was granted to a local authority in England and Wales in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) January to March 2015.

    Caroline Dinenage

    This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-02-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters were employed in the hunt for a suspected Russian submarine to the west of the United Kingdom this year.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    We do not discuss the detail of maritime operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-02-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 11 September 2014 (HC Deb, cols 664–5W), what is the minimum number of fresh eggs required for the nuclear DNA to be extracted and moved elsewhere in order to generate each reconstructed embryo by pronuclear transfer; what consideration the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given to the appeal for additional egg donors publicised via chroniclelive.co.uk on 3 February; whether the HFEA holds records for any licensed centres in which the incidence of hospitalisation due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is equal to or greater than that described in the journal Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183–7); and what changes the HFEA has introduced since the publication of the McCracken Report to mitigate the risks of OHSS in accordance with recommendations 10 and 11 and in the light of paragraphs 4.40 and 4.44 therein.

    Earl Howe

    The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it is not in a position to know the minimum number of fresh eggs required for mitochondrial donation. Subject to the approval process agreed by the HFEA, this will be a matter for clinical teams involved.

    The HFEA will be developing its expectations as regards donation for treatment or clinical use, taking into account information for patients and donors and consent requirements.

    The HFEA has also advised that it does not hold information on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) that would allow it to undertake an analysis of the incidence of hospitalisation due to OHSS.

    The McCracken report was considered by the HFEA at its meeting in September 2013. As regards recommendation 10, about the HFEA’s regulatory focus, it was agreed by the Authority that this would form the basis of the HFEA’s development of its strategy for 2014-17. The HFEA strategy was agreed by the Authority in July 2014 following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The strategy does not expressly set out the actions it proposes to take as regards OHSS. The HFEA advised that it continues to discuss with key stakeholders, including professional groups, what actions, if any, can be taken jointly by those stakeholders.

    In relation to recommendation 11, the HFEA advises that an information sharing agreement with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is working well in practice and that any concerns identified by the HFEA are discussed and necessary action is taken by the respective body.

  • Lord Teverson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Teverson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Teverson on 2015-02-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that Post Office accounts can accept monies belonging to customers of credit unions and other providers of low cost lending when those customers and members need to be paid back monies due to them.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Post Office is one of the leading challengers in the UK financial services market and offers services under its Post Office Money brand and also services on behalf of third parties. Presently more than 95% of UK current accounts are accessible across Post Office’s counters. Post Office already works with a number of Credit Unions, and customers of these organisations are able to undertake basic financial transactions at Post Office branches. Post Office is also working with the Association of British Credit Unions on its Credit Union expansion project; this is ongoing and Post Office hopes to play a role in any solutions identified.

    All of Post Office’s contracts – including with Credit Unions – are commercial arrangements and it would not be appropriate for Government to intervene in these. We support Post Office’s strategy to grow its successful financial services business to reach more customers, including potentially those of the Credit Union sector.

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2015-02-11.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of debt owed to HM Revenue and Customs in unpaid taxes.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) publishes the total unpaid tax debt owed to HM Revenue and Customs within its Annual Reports and Accounts. The latest is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/330670/HMRC-annual-report-2013-14.pdf

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  • David Simpson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    David Simpson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment she has made of the effects of compulsory school starting ages in Sweden and the UK.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Department for Education has not made any comparative assessment of the effects of compulsory school starting ages in Sweden and the UK.