Tag: 2015

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients who opt-out of the care.data programme are not excluded from certain NHS services before that programme is fully implemented.

    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.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the waiting times for (a) all patients and (b) patients with motor neurone disease have been at each specialised augmentative and alternative communication provider for (i) the assessment and (ii) the provision of equipment in each month since October 2013.

    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.

  • Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    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 he is taking to ensure that sufficient numbers of clinicians capable of diagnosing and treating autism are being trained in (a) Hull and (b) England.

    Norman Lamb

    It is the responsibility of local employers to ensure that they have the right numbers of staff, with the right skills available to provide a high quality service to their patients. Locally there should be specialist training for those in roles that have a direct impact on and make decisions about people with autism.

    This will be re-enforced in new statutory guidance on autism for local authorities and the National Health Service which is to be issued shortly. In addition clinical staff such as psychiatrists and clinical psychologists should be undertaking their own clinical professional development. In support of this Health Education England will provide support in raising awareness of autism. In Hull, the clinical commissioning group is working with local providers, particularly Humber NHS Foundation Trust, to recruit additional staff for its Autism Diagnosis Team.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing for security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID’s Peacebuilding Support Programme supports the provincial Government to deliver improved security and justice to 250,000 citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It focuses on strengthening civilian security (police, prosecutions, prisons) and the formal and informal justice sectors. DFID also contributes to a Multi Donor Trust Fund supporting areas of KP affected by militancy and conflict. It helps improve state-citizen trust and reduce the root causes of insecurity through improved infrastructure, economic development and service delivery.

    UK aid to Pakistan also addresses the conditions that might breed violent extremism by reducing poverty, meeting basic needs, increasing economic opportunities and promoting inclusion. It supports the government to build an effective state that is more able to respond to violent extremism through strengthening democratic processes and institutions, delivering better services and improving access to justice.

  • Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the cost of replacing Pacer trains in the Northern rail franchise due to start in February 2016.

    Claire Perry

    In putting together the business base for the new Northern rail franchise, we have discussed the options for phasing out Pacers with the Treasury. Our specifications for the Northern franchise will be set out in the Invitation to Tender document, which will be published shortly.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    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, whether each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve that body’s response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly. Rail North have confirmed through their own processes that they are in agreement with publishing the response as a joint document.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people aged 18 to 24 years are subject to sanctions for (a) jobseeker’s allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in (i) Preston, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) the North West.

    Esther McVey

    The information requested for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance adverse sanctions, by age and geography 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

    “

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

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

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

    Jo Swinson

    The guidance is all staff should ensure they undertake at least 5 days of learning a year as part of the commitment in the Civil Service Reform Capabilities Plan. Learning takes place in many forms including shadowing, taking on development projects, seminars, coaching, e-learning, undertaking research and attending meetings as well as relevant courses.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many jobs are supported by the spirits industry in the UK.

    Priti Patel

    Ernst & Young (EY) have recently published its economic impact analysis of the spirits industry in the UK. The EY report which can be found online includes estimates of the spirits industry’s financial contribution to the UK economy, contribution to economic activity and the number of jobs the industry supports.

  • Gerald Kaufman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Gerald Kaufman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 7 January 2015 from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton with regards to Mrs J Heron.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    A reply to his letter dated 7 January 2015 was issued to the Right Hon. Member for Manchester Gorton on 16 February 2015.