The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was raised by business rates in the Newcastle upon Tyne local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr Marcus Jones
In 2013-14, the total business rates income raised in Newcastle upon Tyne was £128.5 million. Based on their own estimates, the total business rates income in 2015-16 is expected to be £154.1 million
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that bookmakers have a code of conduct relating to fixed odds betting terminals.
Tracey Crouch
It is a licence condition that bookmakers adhere to social responsibility requirements, as set out in the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, including specific requirements on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). In addition, the Association of British Bookmakers recently published its revised Code on Social Responsibility, which also requires its members to have in place measures on FOBTs to help players stay in control.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average length of a consultation period is in his Department.
Joseph Johnson
So far in this Parliament, the mean length of a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) consultation is 50 days, so just over 7 weeks. BIS consultations follow the Government’s consultation principles which can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255180/Consultation-Principles-Oct-2013.pdf
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2015-10-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects HM Revenue and Customs to report on its investigations into alleged non-compliance by care sector companies with national minimum wage legislation.
Mr David Gauke
The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review all complaints that are referred to them. Care sector complaints are a priority area and are fast-tracked for investigation.
HMRC have published an extensive evaluation of NMW enforcement in the social care sector over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013; there are no plans to publish an additional report on this sector at present:
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of its total budget each local authority Adult Social Services department in England spent on employment support services in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mr Marcus Jones
Information on expenditure by local authorities in England on employment support services is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keir Starmer on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve levels of primary school literacy in England (a) generally and (b) among the poorest socio-economic groups.
Nick Gibb
The government is committed to raising standards of literacy in schools so that every child masters the basics of reading and writing at a young age. Our primary national curriculum for English has been designed with the aim that all children leave primary school fully literate and ready to succeed at secondary school.
This government has placed phonics at the heart of the early teaching of reading.The result from this year’s phonics screening check show that, three years on from its introduction, 120,000 more six-year-olds are now on track to become excellent readers.
This year’s figures show that 99 per cent of pupils who reach or exceed the pass mark in the phonics check go on to achieve at least the expected standard in Key Stage 1 reading, underlining the importance of developing the ability to decode words effectively at an early age. The proportion of six-year-olds achieving the expected standard has risen by 19 percentage points to 77 per cent since 2012.
Over the next five years, we have set ourselves an ambitious challenge to make children in this country the most proficient readers in Europe. We are determined to make sure that every child, no matter where they live or what their background, learns to read well and read widely. We are working with David Walliams to support our mission to tackle child illiteracy and we are funding the Reading Agency to set up 200 new book clubs in schools.
The government is determined that every child receives an education which allows them to achieve to their potential. This is why we introduced the pupil premium in 2011, giving schools extra funding to focus on their disadvantaged pupils. During the last Parliament, the government provided over £6 billion of additional funding to schools through the pupil premium. We are continuing to tackle educational inequality and we have committed to providing a further £2.5 billion of pupil premium this year alone.
The result of the government’s reforms is that disadvantaged pupils are catching up with their peers at both primary and secondary level.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Poulter on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of households are still with their home, regional incumbent, supplier for electricity and gas.
Andrea Leadsom
DECC estimate, that at the end of June 2015, 33 per cent of domestic electricity customers (9.2 million) and 37 per cent of domestic gas customers (8.3 million) in Great Britain were still with their home supplier.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with Interserve about members of his Department’s cleaning staff facing disciplinary action over a pay dispute.
Mr David Lidington
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials asked Interserve to comment in light of allegations from Citizens UK that Interserve cleaners had been disciplined because of a letter written to The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) in July about the London Living Wage. Interserve replied to to say that they had carried out an investigation to establish whether the letter had breached their confidentiality agreement with their staff. Interserve has since confirmed that their investigation has concluded and that no disciplinary action will be taken against the staff members concerned.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to review the adequacy of waiting times to access NHS physiotherapy services; and if he will make a statement.
Alistair Burt
The Department has not undertaken a review of NHS physiotherapy service provision. However, scoping work has started regarding the ability for patients to self-refer to musculoskeletal physiotherapy within primary care.
The provision of physiotherapy, as for all health services is decided by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and it will take into account the needs of the population overall. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will vary in response to local needs.
As defined in the NHS Constitution, patients have the right to expect to be seen and treated within national operational standards ensuing timely diagnosis and treatment, equality of care and patient choice.
The 18 weeks commitment is a universal right. This commitment should be delivered for every patient, in every specialty and in every organisation unless the patient chooses otherwise or it is not in their best clinical interest.
In June this year, NHS England, Monitor and the Trust Development Authority jointly wrote to CCG Accountable Officers and Clinical Leaders and Chief Executives of NHS Providers setting out the changes to the Referral to Treatment operational standards and reporting arrangements. A copy of that letter, which outlines the changes in more detail, is attached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11738, what review his Department has conducted of the working conditions of junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.
Ben Gummer
The working conditions of junior doctors are a matter for employers. The new contract for doctors and dentists in training will introduce new, stronger limits on working hours and patterns and place a continued contractual obligation on employers to abide by those, ensuring a safer National Health Service for patients all days of the week.