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Tag: 2015

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what feedback his Department has received from (a) service users, (b) employers and (c) GPs on the Fit for Work service since its launch.

    Justin Tomlinson

    An evaluation strategy is in place for Fit for Work. As part of this, a formal process evaluation is being undertaken. The formal evaluation will include feedback from employee users of the service, GPs and employers. Return to work will also be covered. Monthly performance group meetings take place between the Department and the providers in both England/Wales and Scotland together with weekly meetings to discuss management information and performance issues.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Diplomatic Service personnel were employed in Asia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    There were the following number of Diplomatic Service personnel in Asia:

    2015 – 419 (total FCO employees – 487)
    2014 – 437 (total FCO employees – 519)
    2013 – 479 (total FCO employees – 552)
    2012 – 471 (total FCO employees – 535)
    2011 – 460 (total FCO employees – 535)

    The reduction in Diplomatic Service personnel reflects the localisation of support grade roles, which are now filled by locally engaged staff.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls have been made to the Fit for Work helpline in each month since its launch.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The number of calls made to the Fit for Work helpline each month since the launch of the service is :

    December 2014 54
    January 2015 198
    February 2015 316
    March 2015 364
    April 2015 331
    May 2015 408
    June 2015 501
    July 2015 602
    August 2015 653
    September 2015 852
    October 2015 965
    November 2015 1084

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the potential merits of making available on the NHS radioactive dye to diagnose cancer.

    Jane Ellison

    There have been no discussions with the Royal Colleges on this matter.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-12-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence they have, if any, to show that sponsored academies are more successful at improving in terms of Ofsted status, when compared to similar maintained schools.

    Earl of Courtown

    Ofsted inspection reports for sponsored academies are readily available, as is information on exam performance.

    Sponsored academies are transforming some of the worst underperforming schools under the guidance of an expert sponsor. Becoming an academy enables us to move quickly to replace poor leadership and governance in these failing schools, giving strong leaders the freedom to make decisions that will drive up standards balanced with tough accountability.

    The latest Ofsted Annual Report (December 2015) stated that: “Sponsor-led academies were initially created to raise attainment in schools with long-standing poor performance, often in very deprived areas. Attainment in these schools has increased over time, with the longest standing academies having the strongest performance.”

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the Government has made of potential links between alcohol intake by middle-aged people and the incidence of dementia; and whether the Government plans to make a statement on its policy on this matter.

    Jane Ellison

    Reducing the incidence of dementia, improving the treatment and care of people with dementia and improving dementia research, is a key priority for the Government. That is why in February 2015, the Prime Minister launched his Challenge on Dementia 2020 as a successor to the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2012-2015.

    Under the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020, we want to see improved public awareness and understanding of the factors which increase the risk of developing dementia (including alcohol consumption), and how people can reduce their risk by living more healthily for example by increased identification of effective ways in which people can reduce their personal risk of developing dementia, including cardio-vascular and cognitive strategies, and ways of encouraging these approaches to improve public health.

    Public Health England’s strategy for the next five years identifies reducing the risk of dementia, its incidence and prevalence in 65-75 years, as one of seven key priorities. This includes action to support people to live healthier lives.

  • Lord Rana – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Rana – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rana on 2015-12-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the future after 2016 of existing projects currently funded by UK aid in India.

    Baroness Verma

    An exit and sustainability plan has been agreed between DFID and partners for every closing programme. In November 2012, we announced we would end our programme of financial aid grants to India by the end of 2015. That is exactly what we are doing. We set this three year transition period so that we could responsibly fulfil commitments to existing financial grant aid projects – all of which will be completed by end of 2015 – after which we will only provide support in the form of private sector expertise and technical assistance

  • Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he had with EMIS Health on data protection.

    George Freeman

    No discussions between My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and EMIS about data protection have taken place.

  • Lord Young of Cookham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Young of Cookham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Young of Cookham on 2015-12-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to reduce smoking within the NHS as part of implementing the radical upgrade in prevention and public health” called for in NHS England’s Five Year Forward View.”

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Smoking continues to be the leading cause of premature death and health inequality in England, placing a significant burden on the National Health Service.

    The Department remains dedicated to the delivery of effective and robust tobacco control and has committed to developing a new tobacco control strategy to further reduce the prevalence of smoking, working with NHS England and Public Health England (PHE) to identify interventions that will make the best contributions to achieving this.

    Training material and guidance has been developed to support health professionals deliver effective interventions to pregnant women who smoke.

    PHE will continue to support local authorities by developing and distributing information and advice for the commissioning of effective smoking cessation services.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the role of the National Crime Agency in (a) West Africa and (b) the Sahel region.

    Mike Penning

    The National Crime Agency (NCA) engages with a range of overseas partners in the both West Africa and the Sahel Region to tackle serious and organised crime threats to the UK, including drugs trafficking, money laundering, organised immigration crime and child sexual exploitation and abuse. This engagement is subject to continuous review by the NCA and is being expanded to enable the UK to respond to changing or emerging threats such as organised immigration crime. The Prime Minister announced the creation of a new multi-agency Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) Taskforce in June to tackle people smuggling in June and as part of this Taskforce the NCA has expanded its coverage in West Africa from where it also covers the Sahel.