The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Stern on 2015-11-09.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many referrals to the RAF mental health care system from members of 13 and 39 squadrons there have been each month over the last year.
Earl Howe
During Financial Year 2014-15, there were fewer than five Regular Royal Air Force personnel from 13 Squadron or 39 Squadron who were seen for an initial assessment at Ministry of Defence Specialist Mental Health Services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Brady on 2015-12-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the efficacy of anakinra for patients diagnosed with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis; and what the (a) target, (b) average and (c) longest time taken to approve that drug for use was in the last 12 months for which data is available.
George Freeman
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not hold information concerning the efficacy of anakinra for patients diagnosed with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis.
Kineret, containing the active substance anakinra, was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2002 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. The licence was extended to include treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes. Anakinra is not licensed to treat idiopathic recurrent pericarditis.
The EMA is required to issue an opinion on applications for new indications within 90 days of receipt of a valid application. This period will be extended if it needs to request supplementary information from the applicant. The applicant will be requested to provide supplementary information within one month, although this may be extended to two months. The assessment of any supplementary information by EMA should be completed within 60 days. The European Commission is required to amend the marketing authorisation within two months of the EMA opinion.
The MHRA does not hold information on average and longest time for approval of variations by EMA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Office on proposals in the Higher Education White Paper on removing HEFCE-funded providers from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Joseph Johnson
The content of the Higher Education Green Paper ‘Fulfilling Our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’ was discussed across Government. Our overall aim is to see a level playing field between higher education providers and, where possible to reduce burdens and deregulate. The Green Paper also makes clear that there may be a case for an exception to this general approach if it is in the interests of students or the wider public. We recognise the importance of the Freedom of Information Act and welcome views on its application to the higher education sector as part of the consultation on the Green Paper.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Nuttall on 2015-12-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many items of correspondence his Department has received from (a) the Chair and (b) other members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health in each of the last five years.
Jane Ellison
The Department would incur a disproportionate cost in calculating how many items of correspondence have been received from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health (APPG) in each of the last five years.
592 letters from the APPG have been recorded as received by the Department’s Ministers over that period. The Group may also have written to officials direct but this information is not collected centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the British Business Bank will support UK productivity.
Greg Hands
The British Business Bank aims to make finance markets work better for smaller businesses. The Bank’s work improves productivity by encouraging investment and promoting a dynamic economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17720, if he will take steps to ensure that magistrates’ courts seek confirmation of income by means of P60s, payslips, certified accounts or letters confirming benefit entitlement when assessing the level of fines on the basis of income.
Andrew Selous
Defendants before the magistrates’ court are already required to complete a “Statement of Assets and other Financial Circumstances” form which the court takes into account when deciding the amount of any fine or other financial imposition. Defendants are also advised to bring copies of any supporting documentation with them on the day of their hearing, as the court may ask to see evidence of their financial circumstances. The form makes it clear that it is an offence to make a false statement or withhold information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2015-11-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of tax credit claimants have a child under the age of five and claim support for childcare costs.
Damian Hinds
This Government is committed to moving from a high welfare, high tax, low wage economy to a lower welfare, lower tax, higher wage society. As the Chancellor made clear, the Government will set out at Autumn Statement how we plan to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.
As announced at Summer Budget, the Chancellor announced that free entitlement childcare would be doubled from 15 hours to 30 for working parents. This will not be rolled out until September 2017, with early implementation in some areas in September 2016.
Information about the age, gender and number of children in receipt of tax credits can be found in HMRC’s Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics, April 2015. Available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-tax-credits-provisional-statistics-2013-to-2009
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.10 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, if he will publish the analysis and methodology used to estimate that the proposed apprenticeship levy will raise £3 billion by 2020-21.
Greg Hands
The government has published the policy costing note for the apprenticeship levy on gov.uk. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480565/SRAS2015_policy_costings_amended_page_25.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proposals he has received from local and regional government on directly electing mayors; and if hewill make a statement.
James Wharton
We have already agreed four devolution deals which will see directly elected Combined Authority Mayors introduced.
The Government is in discussions with other local areas across the country about the opportunities offered by devolution, and what new governance model may suit those areas, building on the 38 proposals received on 4 September.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Greater Manchester Life Science Enterprise Zone will cover the Salford and Eccles constituency.
James Wharton
Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership’s successful bid for a Life Sciences Enterprise Zone covers two sites in central Manchester.
Neither site is within Salford and Eccles.