Tag: 2015

  • 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 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed new junior doctor contract on the ability of female doctors to take time out of training for parental leave.

    Ben Gummer

    The proposed new contract will not affect the ability of doctors in training (male or female) to take time out for parental leave. All doctors will be treated the same.

    There will be no change to the existing leave and pay entitlements for those taking a break for maternity or parental leave. Pay on return will be the same as that for other trainees at the same stage of training and/or responsibility. This is consistent with what happens for other public sector staff.

  • Dr Poulter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Dr Poulter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Poulter on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether under the new junior doctor contract proposals, doctors will be prevented from receiving remuneration or other financial support for teaching advanced life support and other medical training courses.

    Ben Gummer

    The principle underpinning the relevant proposals is that junior doctors should not be paid twice for the same time. Junior doctors will be paid by their National Health Service employer for the contractual duties set out in their work schedules. They will be entitled to carry out fee-paying work in periods for which they are not being paid by the NHS employer and to receive payment for that, additional to the payment for their NHS employment. If a fee is paid directly to a junior doctor for work done during time when they are being paid by their NHS employer, the junior doctor will be required to remit the fee to the employing organisation.

    These proposals are – as in other respects – substantively the same as those agreed when the hon. Member was a Minister. As then, it is precisely to look at how these proposals would work that we wish to continue negotiations with the British Medical Association.

  • Lady Hermon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lady Hermon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lady Hermon on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what occasions Ministers or officials of her Department discussed the Immigration Bill with (a) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and (b) the Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    Discussion with interested parties in Northern Ireland on the content of the Immigration Bill has been ongoing since the summer, and has included correspondence at Ministerial level and meetings and workshops at official level with relevant departments in the Northern Ireland Executive. Discussions are also ongoing with the officials of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Clive Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Clive Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she plans to publish the new Health System Strengthening Framework.

    Grant Shapps

    In the government response to the International Development Committee’s report on Strengthening Health Systems in Developing Countries, DFID proposed to develop a framework for future work on health systems. DFID is developing the framework in consultation with the Department of Health and other UK institutions. DFID is due to update the Committee on progress against its recommendations, including the health systems strengthening framework, in November 2015.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will increase the requirements placed on Network Rail to consult local communities on infrastructure planning.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has to comply with all relevant legislation in carrying out works on its network. It also has to comply with the terms of its Network Licence, enforced by the Office of Rail and Road, which includes provision on dealings with stakeholders and maintenance of long term plans for the network. Any changes to these licence requirements are a matter for the Office of Rail and Road.

    Network Rail works with over 60 Community Rail Partnerships (a government initiative). This involves local people in the development and promotion of local and rural routes, services and stations, aiming to increase passenger numbers and freight use and improve the revenue and efficiency of services.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support is available to people earning less than £110 per week net who are the principal carers for elderly relatives with a disability.

    Justin Tomlinson

    This Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by carers.

    A variety of support is available to both carers and the severely disabled people that they care for. Support is both financial, including through the benefit and Tax Credit systems and the Universal Credit service, and in other ways through local councils and health services.

    Carer’s Allowance is designed to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person. For this reason it is not available to people earning more than £110 a week net of allowable deductions and expenses.

    Carers earning more than £110 a week may be entitled to other financial support, such as Universal Credit or Tax Credits if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

    People with a disability can claim benefits in their own right in order to meet their needs. Depending on individual circumstances, such financial support can be through universal, extra costs benefits and/or means-tested benefits. Means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, include an additional amount for people with a severe disability (currently £61.85 a week for a single person) which can be paid to a disabled person to help meet the costs of caring if their carer is not receiving Carer’s Allowance.

  • 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 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people claiming income support (a) are pregnant and (b) gave birth within the last 15 weeks.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • The Lord Bishop of Derby – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The Lord Bishop of Derby – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to require gangmasters to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check as part of their licence application process.

    Lord Bates

    The Government has no current plans to introduce a requirement for a Disclosure and Barring Service check in the Gangmasters Licensing Authority licence application. A public consultation on the role of the GLA in labour market enforcement was published on 13 October and invites views on operation of the licensing regime.

  • Baroness Scott of Needham Market – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Scott of Needham Market – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the cost of increasing public sector salaries to the level of the National Living Wage to be met from within the overall 1 per cent pay increase for such workers announced in the Budget.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    At Summer Budget 2015, it was announced that the Government will fund public sector workforces for an average pay award of 1 per cent for 4 years from 2016-17.

    The impact of the new National Living Wage will be considered during the Spending Review as part of an overall assessment of spending pressures across the public sector.

  • Baroness Young of Old Scone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Young of Old Scone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Young of Old Scone on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to consult stakeholders on the further devolution of forestry, including the cross-border functions and shared services of the Forestry Commission.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The UK Government, after being approached by Scottish Ministers in June, have agreed that officials will work jointly to consider options for the transfer of Forestry Commissioners’ powers and duties, as they relate to Scotland, to Scottish Ministers.

    No decisions have been taken yet and any legislative reforms will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.