The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison McGovern on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the Access to Work programme has spent on British Sign Language interpreters to date.
Mr Mark Harper
Since 1st April 2007 and up to 30th September 2014, the Access to Work programme has spent £150m on British Sign Language interpreters.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Heald on 2015-02-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222161, what estimate he has made of the extent of the increase in UK GDP provided by falling oil prices.
Priti Patel
As noted in the answer given to the Honorable Member on 2 February 2015, falling oil prices will provide a further boost to the UK’s GDP, which in 2014 grew faster than any other major advanced economy. Cheaper oil and low inflation will support living standards across the country for hardworking families and reduce business costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to inform older people about the implications of digital radio switchover.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Government set out its plans for digital radio in December 2013. We have always been clear that the listener is at the heart of any decision in relation to a digital radio switchover. With digital radio listening under 40% we concluded it was not the right time to announce a switchover or set any dates.
Whilst we are fully committed to a digital future for the UK, a decision about the timetable for a future switchover will only be considered once 50 per cent of all radio listening is on digital platforms and local and national DAB coverage matches FM.
As part of the Digital Radio Action Plan, DCMS worked with the Consumer Experts Group (originally formed to inform the digital TV switchover process) which included representatives from a number of consumer organisations*, including Age UK, in order to ensure the policy on digital radio takes account of a wide range of listeners needs. A paper by the Consumer Experts Group was published by DCMS and is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-scheme-digital-radio-action-plan. The Government will take account of this paper as part of a future consideration of a switchover.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Byles on 2015-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress he has made on addressing manufacturers selling wind turbines which have been de-rated to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs within the feed-in tariff; and if he will make a statement.
Amber Rudd
We are closely monitoring the impact of de-rating wind developers are found to be unfairly exploiting the FiTs scheme we will act to stop it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Davis on 2015-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what training his Department has provided to service and other personnel on the Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel applicable to the passing of intelligence relating to individuals who are at risk of targeted lethal strikes.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
It is the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. This includes matters relating to the training of Intelligence Service personnel.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many IVF cycles have been provided on the NHS in England in each year since 2010.
Jane Ellison
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that the number of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles that have been provided on the National Health Service in England in each year since 2010 is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
NHS-funded IVF cycles |
|
2010 |
20,828 |
|
2011 |
21,397 |
|
2012 |
21,242 |
|
2013 |
22,340 |
|
2014 |
22,238 |
Note: Figures includes cycles in which embryos were created by IVF but not actually transferred to the patient.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department’s leaflet Better information means better care, published January 2014, and the oral evidence to the Health Committee of Dame Fiona Caldicott, 21 January 2015 to Question 705, what steps he is taking to ensure that if patients choose to opt out of care.data this will not have any adverse effect on (a) bowel screening, (b) e-referrals and (c) other services.
Dr Daniel Poulter
The process for objecting (‘opting out’) will be communicated during the care.data pathfinder stage and will apply to the use of identifiable general practitioner data for purposes beyond direct care. The care.data Programme team is working closely with clinical commissioning group pathfinder practices to ensure that it is understood that the opt-out should not impact upon the sharing of information for direct care.
The care.data Programme team is working closely with the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), NHS England and the Department in relation to ‘type 2 objections’. Appropriate communications will be agreed before starting communication activity in pathfinder areas.
For those people who have made an existing ‘type 2 objection’, the HSCIC is committed to ensuring no patient suffers any adverse impact on their direct care through an inappropriate implementation of an objection. This means that information flows to support services such as cancer screening, electronic prescriptions and e-referrals are currently flowing and will continue to do so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the number of patients (a) on waiting lists and (b) with motor neurone disease on waiting lists at each specialised augmentative and alternative communication provider.
Norman Lamb
NHS England has advised that information concerning the number of patients either waiting for an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) equipment assessment or who have had an AAC assessment (and subsequently had equipment provided) received is not collected centrally.
Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has been responsible for commissioning AAC aids for patients with complex disability whose needs require specialised assessment.
For 2014/15 NHS England identified an additional £22.5 million for AAC and environmental controls (devices which manage functions or appliances in a particular environment, usually the home) and the identification of providers was completed last August last year. The 13 AAC providers selected are currently recruiting the additional specialist therapy staff needed to deliver this service many now have new staff now in post or due to start in the next few months.
All 13 of the providers have confirmed that they are accepting referrals and multi-disciplinary assessments are being offered to patients. Priority is being given to patients who have a life limiting condition and every effort is being made to clear any backlog of patients waiting for assessments and to improve waiting times.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the incidence of 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.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding has been allocated to NGOs and other non-state actors since bilateral support to Malawi was suspended in November 2013; and what the expected outcomes of that funding are.
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 Cashgate 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 outside of government systems, in health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, economic development and governance.
Since November 2013 to date the DFID bilateral programme in Malawi has disbursed £ 70.4 million to NGOs, Multilaterals and other non-state channels outside of government systems. Expected outcomes include:
– An important contribution to meeting contraception needs in a country with a high total fertility rate and increasing population pressure. By 2016, the UK’s Malawi Family Planning Programme is expected to support 800,000 additional women to access and use modern methods of family planning.
– Improved access to Water and Sanitation. 750,000 people will have access to clean drinking water sources by 2016.
– Supporting 15,000 girls to benefit from secondary school bursaries by 2016.
– Supporting improved health outcomes. DFID support is currently supplying the bulk of emergency drugs and medical supplies to Malawi’s hospitals.
– Helping to strengthen civil society in Malawi to hold their government accountable for the provision of basic services.
– Supporting 370,000 people to access relief food supplies; provision of emergency water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for 34,000 people; and assisting 54,000 people with seeds and tools to rebuild their lives after recent floods washed their crops away.
Full details of these outcomes and others are available in DFID’s Operational Plan 2011-2016 accessible online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389289/Malawi.pdf .
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