Tag: 2016

Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the reformed discretionary support scheme for people affected by contaminated blood will consider (a) housing benefit or (b) jobseeker’s allowance in calculating eligibility for financial support for (i) widows and widowers of people affected and (ii) other beneficiaries.

Nicola Blackwood

In 2017/18, as part of the wider reform of the Infected Blood Payments Scheme in England, a new discretionary scheme will replace the current three discretionary schemes. The new discretionary scheme is in design and the relationship between receipt of welfare support and eligibility for discretionary support from the new scheme has yet to be decided.

January 1, 2023
Lord Moonie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-01-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of HM Armed Forces are currently serving in Afghanistan; how many are female, and what roles they are fulfilling.

Earl Howe

As of 18 January 2016, there were 458 members of HM Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan under Operation TORAL. Routine movements and minor changes in requirements mean that this number will vary over time. The UK’s commitment to Operation TORAL nevertheless remains in line with the figure of around 450 personnel announced by the Defence Secretary in his statement of 27 October 2015 ( Ref: UK Military Support to Afghanistan:Written statement – HCWS273).

Out of the 458 personnel, 33 are female. There are 10 UK female officers and 23 other ranks. These personnel undertake a wide range of roles including: medical, force protection, mentors, police, logistics, communications, human resources and administration, and engineering and technical support.

January 1, 2023
Steve Rotheram – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of (a) the number of potential closures of and (b) the reduction in community pharmacies as a result of proposed reductions in funding to such pharmacies.

Alistair Burt

Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020/21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of services or public access to them. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.

We are not able to assess which pharmacies may close because we do not know the financial viability of individual businesses or the extent to which they derive income from services commissioned locally by the NHS or local authorities or have non-NHS related income.

January 1, 2023
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-03-01.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the Financial Conduct Authority’s oversight of anti-money-laundering regulations in the light of consumer complaints about enforced, unannounced and unexplained closures of bank accounts.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley

The Government encourages banks to take a risk based approach in its activities to ensure that measures they take are effective, proportionate and mitigate the risks that they face. In doing so the Government also encourages them to have due regard to financial inclusion.

Whilst it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in these decisions, individuals are able to request a review of the decision to close their bank account using the bank’s formal complaint procedure and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

January 1, 2023
John Healey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what average time the Housing Ombudsman has taken to complete a case in each year since 2009-10.

Brandon Lewis

The Housing Ombudsman is an independent body whose objective it is to resolve disputes involving tenants and leaseholders of social landlords and their voluntary members. The average times taken to complete a case, which are within the Housing Ombudsman’s formal remit are provided below.

2009-10: 23 weeks

2010-11: 15 weeks

2011-12: 17 weeks

2012-13: 23 weeks

2013-14: Not available

2014-15: Not available

2015-16: 41 weeks

The levels of complaints and enquiries have increased year on year since 2006 and there was a 64% increase between 2012-13 and 2014-15, which is partly due to an extension of The Housing Ombudsman’s remit to cover local housing authorities.

At a DCLG Select Committee hearing, in January 2016, the new Housing Ombudsman made a commitment to reduce the backlog of older cases within their formal remit dating back from previous years. Very substantial progress has been made and by 31 March there were only 9 cases outstanding over 12 months old.

January 1, 2023
Madeleine Moon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson’s disease have been transferred from long-term disability living allowance to personal independence payment.

Justin Tomlinson

The available information is in the table below and shows the number of people with Parkinson’s disease who were in receipt of disability living allowance and have successfully claimed personal independence payment (PIP). Full PIP roll out began from July 2015 and is due to take several years to complete. This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.

Claims in payment

Parkinson’s disease

550

Parkinson’s syndrome / Parkinsonism

50

Notes:
1. The source of the data is the PIP computer system.
2. Figures are correct as at 31st January 2016 and have been rounded to the nearest 10.
3. Figures are for DLA reassessment claims only and include normal rules claims and claims under the special rules for terminally ill people.
4. Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
5. Figures are for Great Britain.
January 1, 2023
Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of bilateral investment treaties between the UK and developing countries on the Government’s ability to meet its commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Nick Hurd

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) commit both Governments to provide a reciprocal standard of treatment towards each other’s investors, including: protection and security against discriminatory action, fair and equitable treatment and a commitment not to expropriate without compensation. BITs should not restrict a developing country’s ability to regulate on domestic policies, including those that contribute towards meeting development aims. Since 2012, through the Investment and Sustainable Development Programme, DFID has provided technical and legal assistance to 24 developing countries to develop and negotiate BiTs that best reflect their own interests.

The Sustainable Development Goals sets out several investment-related measures, including the adoption and implementation investment promotion regimes and creation of sound policy frameworks, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies that accelerate investment. The UK is fully committed to supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

January 1, 2023

David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been spent on court reporting and transcribing services in (a) civil and (b) Crown courts in England and Wales in each financial year since 2010.

Sir Oliver Heald

The table below shows the amount spent on court reporting and transcription services in civil and Crown courts in England & Wales for each financial year from 2011 to 2015.

Financial Year	Civil & Family	Crown Courts
2010-2011	Not Available	Not Available
2011-2012	£4,101,318.83	£4,101,339.00
2012-2013	£4,371,822.48	£1,953,877.00
2013-2014	£4,458,233.95	£2,042,664.00
2014-2015	£4,673,564.18	£2,447,053.75
2015-2016	Not Yet Available	Not Yet Available

The Civil and Family figures refer to the value of court reporting & transcription services received by all users of the services where the case was heard:

in County Courts;
in High Court (including district registries); and
in the Court of Appeal (Criminal and Divisions)

The Crown Courts figures refer to the value of court reporting & transcription services received by all users of the services where the case was heard in a Crown Court in England and Wales.

January 1, 2023

Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of curry chefs working in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry

The Government does not hold information on the value of the curry industry, the number of curry houses, trends in the number of curry houses or the number of curry chefs.

Official statistics carry figures on the value and number of restaurants, takeaways and other food service businesses in general, but do not detail specific types of food being served. Similarly while the number of chefs and catering staff will be estimated there is no consideration of their specialisation in terms of cuisine.

January 1, 2023
Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18874, when his Department plans to write to clarify the date captured in the other category; and if he will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr Shailesh Vara

My Department takes the issue of security within courts extremely seriously. Working with our security suppliers, officials continue to analyse the data within the other category to ensure the data provided answers question 18874 and provides detail on “other weapons” as requested.

I will write a letter to honourable member soon and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

January 1, 2023

	Claims in payment
Parkinson’s disease	550
Parkinson’s syndrome / Parkinsonism	50