Tag: 2016

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provisions are in place at detention centres for people suffering with mental health conditions.

    Ben Gummer

    People detained in immigration removal centres (IRCs) should receive an equivalent range and quality of treatment and services for their mental health needs to those in the community with similar clinical needs.

    Health care in IRCs in England is commissioned by NHS England, who commission evidence-based treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

    NHS England commissions services against service specifications which define the standards of care expected from healthcare providers.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41528, with which Government departments Rupert McNeil, the Chief People Officer, has met to discuss future skills and staff planning.

    Ben Gummer

    The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s agenda. Following the decision to exit the European Union, Rupert McNeil, the Chief People Officer, is working closely with departments and functions across government to understand the capabilities required, and is in the process of meeting all Departmental Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Function to further inform this work.

    Work is also on-going to establish the new Department for Exiting the European Union and the new Department for International Trade and all departments are currently reviewing their own structures and resources to ensure we get the best deal for the whole of Britain.

  • Lord Stevenson of Balmacara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Lord Stevenson of Balmacara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara on 2016-10-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the UK will ratify the Unified Patents Court Agreement.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The result of the referendum has given rise to a number of issues concerning the UK’s future involvement in a unified patent system. I cannot yet confirm whether the UK will ratify the agreement on a Unified Patent Court but we are actively looking at options, considering the legal and political context.

    As I stated at the recent Competitiveness Council, I hope to be able to provide more information when the Council next meets at the end of November.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Written Statement of 23 February 2015, HCW5292, if he will extend the anti-sock puppet clause to cover the issuing of grants and contracts made by local authorities in respect to the activities of third parties.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    It is for local authorities to decide how to disburse their funds, and what if any conditions to attach to any grants or contributions they make available, in accordance with the functions Parliament has given them and their duties to secure value for money in the use of taxpayers’ money.

    Local authorities are accountable to their electorate, including for their use of taxpayers’ money and any member of the public with a concern about the way in which a local authority is using public money should take the matter up with the local authority directly, or contact the local authority’s independent auditor.

    We will keep these matters under review and are open to representations on this issue.

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-02-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential cost to the NHS of introducing a national prostate cancer screening programme.

    Jane Ellison

    The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recently examined and consulted upon the international peer reviewed evidence regarding prostate cancer screening. The UK NSC recommended against a systematic population screening programme for prostate cancer. This is because the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is not an accurate enough test for prostate cancer. Additionally, the UK NSC identified that there is still an incomplete understanding of which prostate cancers are aggressive and require treatment and which are safe to actively monitor. There is a significant amount of research activity underway, but currently the evidence suggests that a systematic screening programme would do more harm than good.

  • Andrew Murrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Murrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Murrison on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department’s guidance to overseas missions on hospitality for senior UK figures was last reviewed.

    Mr David Lidington

    Overseas Missions provide hospitality to guests to support the Government’s objectives overseas.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s guidance to staff on visits by Parliamentarians to our posts overseas was reviewed and updated in 2015.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the level of VAT on energy saving materials.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Decisions on VAT are led by HM Treasury, and the Department has been in regular contact with them regarding the consultation on changes to the application of VAT on energy saving materials.

  • Simon Hoare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Simon Hoare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Hoare on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26606, whether it is his Department’s intention that all patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis will have access to the drugs previously covered by the Risk Sharing Scheme (a) until and (b) beyond the conclusion of the NICE Multiple Sclerosis MTA in 2017.

    George Freeman

    The Multiple Sclerosis Risk-Sharing Scheme will remain in place until the publication of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) final updated technology appraisal guidance on disease modifying therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

    As long as they are clinically eligible, new and existing patients can continue to access these therapies as part of the Scheme.

    Once NICE’s appraisal has been completed, the normal access arrangements will apply. National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended by NICE within three months of NICE’s guidance being published. In the absence of a positive recommendation from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund treatments based on an assessment of the available evidence.

  • Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reform of access to legal aid in cases of domestic violence on children; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    When reforming legal aid the government was careful to protect legal aid for the highest priority cases, including those relating to domestic violence and child abuse.

    The government is committed to undertaking a post-implementation review of the reforms within 3 to 5 years of their implementation.

  • Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure continued cooperation with EU member states to prevent money laundering after the UK leaves the EU.

    Simon Kirby

    Money laundering is a global problem that can undermine the integrity and stability of our financial markets and institutions. The UK was a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which sets the global standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and the EU Commission and a majority of EU Member States are also FATF members. The UK will continue to play a leading role in tackling illicit financial flows through working with the FATF to ensure that standards are implemented effectively and through engaging bilaterally with countries on operational issues.