Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to ring-fencing funding provided to local authorities for childcare.

    Lord Nash

    We have already announced over £1bn more for the early years entitlements within the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which includes £300m per year to uplift the average funding rate to providers. The increase to the funding rate is based on robust evidence from the Review of the Cost of Childcare. We have made clear our commitment to maximise the amount of early years funding which reaches front line childcare providers, and will consult on proposals for achieving this as part of our consultation on early years funding reform later this year.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) in each (a) constituency and (b) sport had de-registered, or were in the process of de-registering, from the CASC scheme by 1 April 2016.

    Damian Hinds

    The new regulations for CASCs were introduced on 1 April 2015. All the changes made were necessary to reinforce the original spirit of the scheme requiring clubs to be open to the whole community, with the promotion of participation in sport as their main purpose.

    The Government consulted widely with the sector on all the changes to the scheme. It was aware that there was confusion about the meaning of participation prior to the consultation period for the new regulations. Responses to the consultation were mostly supportive of the 12 times a year rule for participation.

    The scheme does not permit clubs to impose fees which are a significant obstacle to membership. The vast majority of CASCs charge less than £520 for annual membership. To make membership more accessible, clubs with higher costs associated with membership are required to make provisions for those who can’t afford to pay more than £520 a year. If no suitable arrangements are made this club is not able to be a CASC because it is not considered to be open to the whole community.

    During the development of the new CASC regulations the Government was aware of State aid complaint SA.38208 (2014/NN). At the time, the Government was only asked to provide a response to the complaint. The Government provided this response, explaining why the CASC scheme was not State aid. The Commission’s subsequent ruling confirmed this view.

    Since the introduction of the new regulations all CASCs were given a 12-month period of grace to make any necessary changes to remain in the scheme. The Government wrote to all registered CASCs explaining the new regulations and asked clubs to complete a self-assessment checklist on income, membership and participation levels. They were also asked to contact HMRC if they did not meet the new requirements.

    From 1 April 2016, 500 clubs have been deregistered as CASCs, affecting some 35 different types of sport.

    Since 2010 there has been a steady increase in the numbers of CASCs registered in the scheme. Although the Government does not yet have figures for clubs registered as at 5 April 2016, the breakdown of figures since 2010 is:

    5630 – 5 April 2010

    5976 – 5 April 2011

    6165 – 5 April 2012

    6334 – 5 April 2013

    6571 – 5 April 2014

    6715 – 5 April 2015.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Inter-Ministerial Group on Corruption last met.

    Matthew Hancock

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 June 2016 to UIN: 38864.

  • Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of support for post-traumatic stress disorder provided to (a) serving regular armed forces personnel, (b) serving reserve personnel and (c) veterans.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence is committed to looking after the mental health of our Armed Forces, and our medical services are configured to provide community-based healthcare in line with national best practice. In the UK, we have 14 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs), which are located to be convenient for major centres of military population, and which support the provision of healthcare that is available through Service primary care facilities. The DCMH mental health teams comprise psychiatrists and mental health nurses, with access to clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available, including medication, psychological therapies, and environmental adjustment where appropriate. In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in dedicated psychiatric units through a central contract with an in-patient psychiatric care provider.

    Mobilised Reservists are entitled to the same mental healthcare from the Defence Medical Services as their Regular colleagues. Both current and former Reservists can access the Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme (VRMHP) for a full mental health assessment, followed by a course of treatment at a military Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) if their condition is assessed as attributable to operational experience. We have been actively engaged with the Department of Health to ensure that NHS GPs are aware of this service, and of the referral process.

    Veterans in England, Scotland and Wales are entitled to priority treatment at NHS hospitals for Service-related conditions (subject to the clinical need of all patients) and a Veterans’ Transition Protocol ensures any Service person discharged with a diagnosed mental health disorder is handed over appropriately to the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations. A number of enhancements have been made to the care available for them, including more NHS veterans mental health nurses, follow-up of Service leavers twelve months after discharge, and a 24-hour mental health helpline sponsored by Combat Stress.

  • Mrs Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mrs Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Cheryl Gillan on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish Christine Lenehan’s review of children’s services and learning disabilities.

    Nicola Blackwood

    Dame Christine Lenehan is in the final stages of completing her report into the co-ordination of care, support and treatment for children and young people with complex needs (and behaviour that challenges) involving mental health problems and learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum condition.

  • Lord Wallace of Saltaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which other government buildings in Westminster are being considered for sale to private buyers, on the model of Admiralty Arch and the Old War Office.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    We are continuously reviewing our Estate to ensure best value. If we were to identify properties that are surplus to government requirements and should be sold, we would announce this in the usual way.

  • Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of his Department’s staff have worked for the Centre for Cyber Assessment in each year since its inception.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The Ministry of Defence has contributed members of staff to the Centre for Cyber Assessment since it was established in 2013 but does not disclose the details of these arrangements.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2016 to Question 25939, what proportion of the income from estimated Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme payments for 2016-17 will be brought forward from estimated payments due in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19.

    Ben Gummer

    The Government announced in December 2015 that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) payment percentage for the 2016 calendar year is 7.80%. This represents an increase of 2.64 percentage points as a result of the addendum to the PPRS agreed with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and published alongside the 2016 payment percentage. The income brought forward to 2016 as a result of this agreement will depend on a number of factors, including total branded medicine sales to the National Health Service over the course of the year.

  • Lord Mancroft – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Mancroft – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mancroft on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many hepatitis C patients NHS England is planning to treat in 2016–17.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    NHS England is planning to treat 10,000 patients with chronic hepatitis C in 2016/2017.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to taking to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Antarctica.

    James Duddridge

    The UK is an active member of the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (the Commission) established under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The Commission is an integral part of the Antarctic Treaty System. The Commission has established robust monitoring and enforcement both at sea and through port state controls to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated activities within the Convention Area.

    HMS Protector patrols waters within the Convention Area and during 2015 undertook a circumnavigation of Antarctic waters, undertaking the Commission inspections in collaboration with Australian and New Zealand colleagues.

    The UK undertook unprecedented action against illegal, unreported and unregulated practises during 2015 by tackling individuals and companies who derive economic benefit from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, going beyond those who are directly engaged in such activities. British insurance companies now undertake checks against regional fisheries bodies’ illegal, unreported and unregulated lists and Interpol databases, before any vessel insurance is agreed.