The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to monitor the number of local authorities charging carers for the support they receive to help them in their caring role.
Alistair Burt
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2015 to Question 13008.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many elite football hubs his Department is co-sponsoring with the Football Association in 2016.
Tracey Crouch
The Government’s partnership with the Football Association to improve grassroots football facilities and coaching will see the first two football hubs completed in Sheffield by summer 2016. Advanced discussions are also underway for further hubs in the other pilot local authorities of Liverpool and Birmingham. Other partners are expected to support a shared ambition for over £200 million of total funding to the ‘Parklife’ programme that aims to deliver up to 150 new football hubs in 30 English cities by 2020.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that any new system of appraisal for cancer medicines will include in its remit appraisal for drugs which treat conditions with small patient populations.
George Freeman
NHS England has advised that it intends to jointly consult with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on proposals for a new Cancer Drugs Fund operating model. This will include the future arrangements for the evaluation of cancer drugs, including drugs for rarer cancers with small patient populations. Members of the public and any interested parties will have the opportunity to consider and comment on these proposals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2015 to Question 14345, if her Department will publish a position proper on the criteria it uses to ensure aid graduation is sustainable.
Justine Greening
The Department is currently undertaking a Bilateral Aid Review which will determine the countries that we will provide direct bilateral assistance to over the next five years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suspicious activity reports relating to (a) the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and (b) the Terrorism Act 2000 have been submitted to the National Crime Agency in the last financial year.
Mike Penning
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are submitted to the National Crime Agency under two pieces of legislation: the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for suspicions of money laundering, or the Terrorism Act 2000 for suspicions of terrorist financing.
The National Crime Agency publishes annual SARs statistics. The reporting period for these publications is from October to September. The figures requested fall across this reporting period. Data for April 2014 to September 2014 can be obtained from the 2013-2014 SARs Annual Report, which is available on the NCA website: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/464-2014-sars-annual-report. Data for October 2014 to March 2015 will be available in the 2014-2015 SARs Annual Report, which is due to be published shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what budget his Department has allocated for cycling-related road improvements in each of the next five years.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, to be published in summer 2016, will set out the Government’s plans for investing in cycling and walking.
The Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to cycling and walking, with SR2015 announcing funding support ofover £300m. This includes delivering the £114m Cycle City Ambition programme in full, which includes improved cycling infrastructure on roads, and a new ‘Access’ fund for sustainable travel building on the legacy of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. In addition, the Road Investment Strategy for 2015-20 includes plans to improve 200 sections of the roads network for cyclists. All other funding streams will be considered as part of the process for developing the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.
It is also worth noting that from within the record £6 billion to be allocated to local highways authorities between 2015 and 2021 for road maintenance, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding will be based on footway and cycleway lengths.
SR2015 also announced an additional £250m for a potholes action fund, which will benefits both motorists and cyclists.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christina Rees on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times he has (a) met and (b) corresponded with a minister of the Welsh Government on the draft Wales Bill in the last 12 months.
Dominic Raab
The Wales Office is the lead Government department on the draft Wales Bill, and is the primary point of contact with the Welsh Government on matters related to the draft Bill.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Heappey on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department acts as the enforcement authority for the criminal offences defined in Part XI of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and in consequent trading schemes regulations and exemptions; and if he will make statement.
Nick Boles
Breaches of the Trading Schemes legislation (i.e. the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the regulations made under it) would be referred to the lawyers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Criminal Enforcement to determine whether or not a criminal investigation should be undertaken. The matter may also be referred to the Insolvency Service, to investigate and ascertain whether the offending company should be wound up in the public interest. The 1973 Act does not confer an express enforcement duty on any particular body, however this Department would look to bring a case in appropriate circumstances. Otherwise, enforcement could fall to Trading Standards or possibly the Competition Markets Authority should widespread malpractice be suspected.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the time the DVLA takes to process reapplications for a driving license after a suspension of that license for medical reasons.
Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold specific information about the processing times for driving licence applications, which were submitted following the revocation of a licence for medical reasons.
The DVLA aims to complete 90% of all cases that require further medical investigations within 90 working days and is working hard to identify ways of improving the time taken to deal with these cases. Additional caseworkers and medical advisers have been employed and new processes introduced to speed up the time it takes to receive the necessary information. Longer term, the DVLA is considering digital solutions to improve the service it provides in this area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on setting up the Institute for Coding; and how applications for the £20 million funding can be made.
Mr Edward Vaizey
My officials are working with officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on proposals for the development of the new Institute. Further details on the competition will be announced in the new year.