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Tag: 2015

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on introducing a resolution condemning Bahrain’s human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK remains actively engaged with the United Nations Human Rights Council on Bahrain and we will continue to work closely with other member states and to align ourselves with statements which accurately reflect the situation on the ground. The UK is playing a key role in implementing reforms in Bahrain.

  • Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public health grant was awarded to Tower Hamlets in each year from 2005-06 to 2013-14.

    Jane Ellison

    Tower Hamlets, in line with other local authorities, has only been in receipt of a public health ring fenced grant since 1 April 2013. In 2013/14 Tower Hamlets received a grant of £31,382,000.

  • 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, how many (a) patients and (b) patients with life-limiting conditions have (i) been assessed by each specialised augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provider and (ii) had equipment provided by each specialised AAC provider in each month since 1 October 2014.

    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.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the North West Amublance Service on ambulance cover and ambulance waiting times in (a) Preston and (b) the North West in 2014.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State chaired a teleconference with the heads of all regional ambulance services, including the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, on 12 October 2014 to discuss their contingency plans ahead of industrial action the following week.

  • Sarah Teather – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sarah Teather – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Teather on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been referred to her Department by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement in the UK through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme to date.

    James Brokenshire

    As of 31 December 2014, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had referred 260 people for consideration under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons
    Relocation (VPR) scheme. This data has not previously been published, is based on management information only, and has not therefore been subject to the detailed checks that apply to National Statistics publications.

    In the same period to 31 December, as already published through the quarterly release of Home Office statistics, 143 people had arrived in the UK under the VPR scheme.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Noted below are the values for contracts with private sector providers awarded in each of the financial years, the values show the average annual spend for the financial year.

    2010 – 11

    2011 – 12

    2012 – 13

    2013 -14

    2014 – 15

    £256,880,714

    £568,924,146

    £438,322,765

    £276,327,267

    £1,086,494,704

    The private sector has an important role to play in helping deliver much needed reforms. We remain committed to promoting a diverse market including public, private and voluntary sectors, as well as ensuring rigorous contract management and high standards of behavior.

    We have undertaken a major review of contract management to ensure that we have in place robust and accountable systems. We will continue to improve our commercial capability and share this crucial learning across Government.

    When buying products and services we always seek best value for taxpayers’ money and find savings were possible.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Great Western direct award will specify that guards will be responsible for the opening and closing of doors on the new Intercity Express Programme trains.

    Claire Perry

    Negotiations are continuing between the Department for Transport and First Great Western over the detail of the next franchise Direct Award.

    As a matter of general policy, the Department does not specify numbers of staff or how they should be deployed as this is an operational matter; which the train operator is better placed to manage and understand.

    However, we do support the resilience and efficiency offered by a train fleet and infrastructure which can operate as Driver Only Operation (DOO) as set out in the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Specification which is in the public domain.

  • 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 representatives from each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve Rail North’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 and will be published 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, which Ministers in his Department visited departmental buildings in Preston in 2014; which buildings were so visited and on what dates; who was met on each such visit; and what was discussed on each such occasion at those meetings.

    Steve Webb

    The Secretary of State visited Preston Benefit Centre Barry House, 67-69 London Road, PR1 4DE on 11 April 2014 where he met with DWP staff and discussed a variety of Departmental topics.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

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

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

    Mr Francis Maude

    We want to ensure that the Civil Service is ready to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.

    Through our programme of Civil Service Reform the Government is working to address long-standing weaknesses in four key skills areas: commercial, programme and project delivery, digital delivery, and leading and managing change across the Civil Service.

    Civil Servants are encouraged to take at least five days learning a year but the key point is to ensure that civil servants have the particular skills they need to do their jobs well. The Functional Heads, most of whom report to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service, will set the learning curricula for their functions.

    Most learning is now provided by Civil Service Learning.

    Complete central records are not held on the number of days training, training budgets or training expenditure.